From a Hunt Downer campaign release this afternoon:

Recently retired Major General Hunt Downer, candidate for Congress in Southeast Louisiana, has slammed the “academic” and “disengaged” approach of the White House to the ongoing oil spill disaster afflicting Southern Louisiana. Calling for the President to “stop golfing and start leading”, Gen. Downer said:

“The President has spent so much time studying that he forgot how to make things happen. His approach has all the hallmarks of a disengaged White House, more eager to find a simplistic political sound bite than develop a comprehensive response to the disaster. Today, the White House was quoted by THE HILL as defending the President’s golfing habits by saying it is done to ‘clear his mind.’ If the defense of the President spending so much time on golf instead of in the Gulf is to clear his mind.then the President’s mind must be as empty as his promises to our people.”

“When Governor Jindal led from the front, proposing a coastline reconstruction plan, the President called for a study, allowing oil to reach our shores. When we cried out for sand berms, the President pulled out the red tape, hoping the disaster would just go away. When business leaders cried out for a recovery plan, the President slapped a moratorium on drilling that will destroy our local economy. This isn’t the politics of Hope and Change; it’s the politics of despair and destruction.”

“Last week, we expected the President to show decisive leadership. Unfortunately, he delivered a monotone and depressing lecture from the Oval Office, and tried to use our plight to garner support for his “job-killing” cap and trade proposal which would further damage the economy of this region.”

“I love my country, and I respect the office of the President; but the bottom line is this — the people of South Louisiana want the administration to either get in line with them, or get out of the way. We need a little more ‘damn the torpedoes.full steam ahead’ from the President and less golfing. It’s time for the President to stop golfing, roll up his sleeves, and show some leadership.”