Louisiana newspaper slams Obama for vacationing amid deadly flooding in the state

The Advocate, a Louisiana newspaper, harshly criticized President Barack Obama in an editorial for not interrupting his vacation to visit the state after it was devastated by floods last week.Louisiana is no stranger to natural disaster, having suffered through Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now severe flooding in the state has left at least 13 dead and 40,000 homes damaged, displacing thousands of residents.Despite the situation, the White House has not yet announced plans for a visit to Louisiana by the president, who is currently vacationing in Martha's Vineyard.The Advocate was swift in calling out Obama for his lack of action during the floods, especially given that he once criticized former President George W. Bush for his apparent apathy toward the victims of Hurricane Katrina a decade earlier."In 2005, a fly-over by a vacationing President George W. Bush became a symbol of official neglect for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The current president was among those making political hay out of Bush's aloofness," the paper's editorial noted.Calling Louisiana "the most anguished state in the union," the paper also lambasted Obama for not visiting the state despite finding time to cut his vacation short to attend a "swanky fundraiser for fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton" on Monday.While the paper commended Obama for his swift federal disaster declaration after the floods hit, enabling the state to receive federal aid, it condemned the "optics of Obama golfing while Louisiana residents languished in flood waters," because it "evoked the precedent of the passive federal response to the state's agony in 2005, a chapter of history no one should ever repeat."FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate visited the state on Wednesday, while Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson went on Thursday;The Advocate noted that it was "heartened" by the visits.Regardless, the paper was clear in its call for the president himself to come down, stating that "a disaster this big begs for the personal presence of the president at ground zero," and that it is imperative for him to show Louisiana residents and others affected that the nation stands in solidarity with them.Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump flew to Louisiana on Fridaywith his running mate, Governor Mike Pence of Indiana, to survey damages and speak to local officials and residents.After slamming Obama for not visiting the stateas well as taking a few shots at the president's golfing skillsTrump assured volunteers and officials that he stood with them."Our prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, and we send them our deepest condolences," Trump said. "Though words cannot express the sadness one feels at times like this, I hope everyone in Louisiana knows that our country is praying for them and standing with them to help them in these difficult hours."SEE ALSO:This cartoon illustrates the impossible choice facing Syria's childrenJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: Penn Jillette reveals what it was like to work with Donald Trump on 'Celebrity Apprentice
Click here to read full news..