Ray Nagin is Freaking Out

It's not good for a mayor in a disaster area to freak out.

In interviews lately: "I keep hearing that it's coming. This is coming. That is coming. My answer to that is B.S. Where is the beef?" From cnn.com, mayor blasts feds: "Get off your asses." He shoots off at the mouth every chance he can.

It's one thing to show empathy... to demonstrate that you care as much as your people do... to show them that you are feeling their pain. It's another to freak out. Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans, is freaking out. He's a mirror to the people's frustration and despair. But the people don't need a mirror right now. They need answers. Just listen to them. They're standing outside the Superdome on television chanting "we want help" and "we want answers."

He's supposed to be a leader. People look to their leaders for comfort, to hear that there's a plan. Ray Nagin needs to realize that all the thousands of people helping are doing their best. He needs to work with them, not against them, to provide a plan to the people. This isn't to say he can't acknowledge difficulties. He can and must be transparent.

But he doesn't need to freak out. He doesn't need to be sensational.

To me it appears that he's insecure with his role in the effort. He feels a need to prove his worth in this crisis to his people. He may even have visions that he'll be the "savior of New Orleans"... the one who stood up and yelled in crisis. So he's challenging the federal government, FEMA and other states.

Some of this comes down to style. He could voice the same challenge and frustration in a "leaderly" voice that would comfort. Rudy Giuliani showed emotion and acknowledged difficulties... but he also maintained control. He didn't lash out. Sure, later he got onto the terrorists and maybe even got a little political. But in the heat of the moment he shined because he was composed. He told it how it was and he showed that he was looking for aid. He was a leader.

I won't go so far as to blame Ray Nagin for the looting and lawlesness in New Orleans. There's a lot more wrong in New Orleans that Ray Nagin. But I'll come close and I'll certainly place much of the blame on him for the mental state of his people.

Stop whining Ray Nagin. Start leading.