On CNN’s The Situation Room last evening, Wolf Blitzer adroitly set up Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean with questions surrounding racism in Hurricane Katrina rescue and prevention efforts:

“Do you believe the response from the federal government, the Bush administration specifically, the president of the United States, that there were racist or racial overtones in that response?”

“Some, as you know, critics of the president, Kanye West, the rap artist, have accused him of being a racist. I want you to listen to what Laura Bush said last night.”

“Do you agree with the first lady?”

What Wolf did here was nicely position Mr. Dean to go on another tirade about the administration’s response to Katrina, and how it is largely related to race, class, and a genuine lack of concern for anybody but the top 20% of wage earners in our country. 

A video link of the entire interview is attached.