Did KS Gov. Sebelius Make Tornado Response Political

By now, most people know about the tragedy in Greensburg, KS, where a tornado essentially destroyed the small town. Over the weekend, the story was that the KS National Guard was so understaffed and underequipped because of Iraq deployments, that the guard units were ineffective. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D) commented on the slow federal response to the disaster, echoing criticisms leveled against the Bush Administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.

Now Bryan Preston, at Hot Air, has a story, which he admits he has not confirmed, that Sebelius got marching orders to make the federal response a political issue about ineptitude and Iraq from DNC Chairman Howard Dean. Shortly after making her harsh comments about the feds, Sebelius reportedly telephoned Kansas Senator Sam Brownback (R) to apologize.

Read the whole thing. Hopefully Bryan can get some confirmation one way or the other. If this is true, it is dispicable and utterly without shame.

Update (1:33pm): Betsy Newmark has some links and comments:

I suspect that the facts of the story won't matter to anyone. It will enter the political bloodstream as a liberal truth that the war prevented the National Guard from responding properly to Greensburg. The truth won't get in the way of political hit job.

Gateway Pundit has more reaction from the townspeople, who are apparently overwhelmed with the assistance they have received.

Upon further review, I am thinking that the typical American response of helping neighbors in need kicked in on a level about par with every other disaster. But then again, I am beginning to think that charity and caring are in the eye of the beholder more than an objective truth.