BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO DONATE RECALLED CHINESE TOYS TO KATRINA SURVIVORS

by R J Shulman

WASHINGTON - In a move to show his support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush announced that he has ordered toy manufacturer Mattel and others to send their recalled toys to children who were rendered homeless in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "Rather than have these toys sent back to China where poor starving Chinese kids might eat them, I have commanded that the toys be sent to the Katrina folks so they could be eaten by the little American children who are homeless or are now getting sick in the FEMA trailers. It would give them something positive to look forward at."

"Since most of these poor children had nothing left," said Barbara Bush as she visited a displaced family living in an abandoned car outside Slidell, Lousiana, "so this will work out rather well for them."

Walmart, who sells the majority of the recalled toys is pleased. "At least we don't have to pay for the shipping back to China," said Ted Marlton, a senior Walmart manager. Walmart stock has rebounded after the market had initially been concerned that the toy recall could cause a loss of profits for Walmart.