New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is a uniquely gifted individual. He has an uncanny ability to make ridiculous statements and make a fool of himself.

The author of the classic “chocolate city” speech has now added another gem to his ever growing parade of boneheaded comments. In the process, Nagin has created what he truly loves the most, controversy and attention.

After getting through Hurricane Gustav with relatively high marks, Nagin succeeded in turning the positive press toward a negative direction. Last week, he offered Texas evacuees fleeing Hurricane Ike the world famous “Mayor Ray Nagin Special Rate.”   Inquiring minds wanted to know, what this “special” was all about. Well, it was supposed to be a special room rate in New Orleans hotels for Texas residents evacuating from the monstrous Hurricane Ike. The problem is that no special room rate ever existed and Nagin had no authority to offer one. The Mayor evidently did not realize that it is a violation of federal anti-trust laws for a consortium of hotels in a city or region to agree upon room rates. Although he might have had the best of intentions, the end result was another public relations disaster.

Nagin made the offer in a media news conference two days before Ike hit the Texas coast. The purpose of his comment was to inform “our friends in Houston and Texas that we want to take care of you, since you have taken care of us.” Of course, Texas was very welcoming to New Orleans area residents after Katrina and thousands of people from this region still live in the Houston area.

  This situation was another example of Nagin speaking without thinking about the consequences of his comments. It turns out that Nagin offered the rate without contacting local hotels, so when evacuees asked for the rate they were met with quizzical looks. Hotel management had no special rates to offer because they did not know about Nagin’s “generous” offer.

Eventually, the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association issued an emergency e-mail to their members imploring them to help deal with the problem and offer discounted rates. In fact, some of the hotels responded with special arrangements for Texas residents, but others maintained their standard summer rates.

In reality, Nagin could have handled this matter simply and just encouraged Texas residents to evacuate to New Orleans and let them know that they would be greeted with open arms and the city’s usual hospitality. In contrast, the Mayor felt it was necessary to offer his special rate “to lighten the mood” according to Stephen Perry, President of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Association. While it might have lightened the mood for Nagin and Perry, it did not sit well with Texas travelers who evacuated to New Orleans looking for a non-existent rate.

Because of this fiasco, some evacuees were hopping mad. When one particularly upset visitor contacted New Orleans City Hall to complain, a Nagin staffer told her that she was taking things too seriously. As we know only too well, fleeing a dangerous hurricane in search of safe shelter is not a laughing matter.

This whole episode is another example of Ray Nagin speaking before he thinks and proposing a policy that doesn’t exist. Obviously, Nagin does not realize the ramifications of his words. Mr. Nagin should listen to his favorite presidential candidate Barack Obama, who repeatedly notes that “words do matter.”

Yes, Mayor Nagin words do matter. So, next time, consider what you say and maybe you will not infuriate other people, embarrass yourself and cast your city in a negative light once again.

Jeff Crouere, a native of New Orleans and resident of Mandeville, is host of a Louisiana-based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 10 p.m. Sundays on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7-11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM on the Northshore. For more information, visit his Web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.