The Leadership Difference

One candidate sees a brewing natural disaster and exploits it by heading down to the danger zone forcing the deploying of all kinds of resources that could be used to save people's lives.

Another candidate offers to mobilize resources and actually provide comfort and aid.

Sen. Barack Obama announced that his campaign would mobilize supporters from his enormous e-mail list to send money or enlist as volunteers once the impact of Hurricane Gustav becomes apparent.

Obama told reporters that his campaign already is coordinating with local authorities. The senator has said he has no plans to go to the region, because of the potential disruption, although Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, are heading to Mississippi today.

"We can activate an e-mail list of a couple million people who want to give back," Obama said. "I think we can get tons of volunteers to travel down there if it becomes necessary."

Calling Americans to service is one of Obama's founding principles.

By the way, seeing Bush and Cheney bug out of the convention was so predictable. If there was a chance of hail in Wichita they would have demurred to "monitor the disaster."