From NOAHH Executive Director Jim Pate,
"The White House graciously invited me to the Town Hall meeting today with President Obama and I thought I would share some observations.
The Town Hall meeting with President Obama was wonderful. Just before the President's entrance, Shamarr Allen (Musicians' Village resident) played the National Anthem beautifully (on his trumpet); it was graceful and soaring - and then, to the delight of the crowd, he did a true New Orleans jazz riff on the final descending arpaggio!
The President made a solid and inspiring speech that addressed some national issues (such as health care) and several direct comments concerning New Orleans-specific issues. He took about six questions and addressed them fluently, but with appropriate cautionary comments (for example, on a question about energy efficiency, he wove together dependence on foreign oil, the development of green technologies [with an aside about considering nuclear energy] and global climate change, then used those comments as a tie to local matters such as rising sea levels and fiercer hurricanes, riffing then, onto levee protection, coastal rebuilding and rebuilding the wetlands).
All in all, he appeared highly knowledgeable, he appeared to present cogent plans and he was suitably cautious about how contentious many issues were and about how long many of these solutions will take. His give-and-take with questioners and the audience was often humorous, sometimes self-deprecating and always cogent. As an aside, as the President went through the pro forma dignitary introductions, Governor Jindal was somewhat booed (and the President rose to his defense fairly eloquently), Senator Landrieu drew stong applause (as did, to a lesser extent, Lt. Gov. Landrieu and various U.S. Representatives - including Cao). Mayor Nagin got about half-and-half boos and applause. The President's Cabinet members in attendance (Napolitano, Duncan and Donovan) were applauded warmly. There were two or three standing ovations during his talk and, of course, at the end. I thought it was an excellent meeting."
Below is a photo of Jim Pate and President (then Senator) Obama in 2006:
