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ATLANTA -- A man who fled Louisiana with his family to escape Hurricane Katrina was arrested for asking motorists for money in this city where panhandling has been one of the most contentious issues lately.

James Scott says he had slept in a car for days with his brother, sister and her two young children when they decided to ask for help last Thursday. Nearly broke and newly stranded, the family drove to Buckhead -- an affluent north Atlanta neighborhood -- and got out near a shopping mall and split up, hoping for the charity of others.

"It's the most expensive mall in Atlanta," Scott said. "I thought I could get some help."

After a half hour of asking passing motorists for help, Scott was approached by a policeman on a bicycle. Scott showed the officer his Louisiana driver's license, a $2,000 check stub, his car tag and his car registration -- proof that he was not a local homeless person, but an evacuee down on his luck in an unfamiliar city.

Scott was arrested for soliciting. As he was being handcuffed, he said he broke down in tears.

"I asked the cop, 'You can't feel my pain?"' said Scott, who added that another officer even gave him $7 as he took him to jail.

Bush offers him a prayer:

Throughout our history, in times of testing, Americans have come together in prayer, to heal and ask for strength for the tasks ahead. So I've declared Friday, September the 16th, as a national day of prayer and remembrance. I ask that we pray as Americans have always prayed in times of trial, with confidence in his purpose, with hope for a brighter future, and with the humility to ask God to keep us strong so that we can better serve our brothers and sisters in need.

Ryan

Ah, faith-based disaster relief. I'm sure if all of the Christians pray hard enough, all those troublesome Negroes will just disappear.

Hey, by Lee's account, that guy'll buy a house and help extend the housing boom! YIPEE! SILVER LINING!

Hey Lee, you don't mind if I dump toxic waste on your house, do you? 'Cause then your whole neighborhood will be forced out, and you'll have to buy new houses which'll feed the economic recovery! Check your textbook if you don't believe me! You know, the same one you got in that Crackjack box!