Bill Clinton: “I hope we will be able to address this important matter. I believe it is essential for the people who have been directly…”

“I hope we will be able to address this important matter. I believe it is essential for the people who have been directly affected along the Gulf Coast, and really for all Americans, that we have an independent commission consisting of people who have no direct involvement in either the administration or congressional activities, similar to what we had with the 9/11 Commission that I believe discharged its responsibility to the American people with such a high degree of civic-mindedness and public citizenship. When I was in Houston last Monday a week ago, I met with a number of the people who had been evacuated out of New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. They kept asking me questions I certainly could not answer: What happened to the buses that were supposed to pick them up and take them out? Why wasn't there adequate security at the Superdome or the convention center? How come helicopters were flying overhead and never coming to pick them up? This morning I heard on the radio an interview with a gentleman who is the president of one of the parishes surrounding New Orleans. I believe his name is ``Junior'' Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez said he couldn't get any help at all. He kept trying to get help and he kept waiting for help and nothing happened.…”