Barack Obama actually said...

"What I didn't want to be is a distraction just for a photo-op. What we're going to do is examine over the next couple of days the severity of the damage, how we can be most helpful. If I can be helpfu..."

"Every conversation I have had indicates that the state, the federal, and local municipalities have coordinated themselves well. We have seen the evacuation of two million people, with relatively few g..."

"One of the pledges that I have made when I was a senator, and one of the pledges that I intend to keep as president, is to make sure that we rebuild New Orleans and its vitality and its place in Ameri..."

"The American people are generous, and they understand that, during moments of crisis, we need to come together and provide people help."