As every working journalist knows, however, such analysis completely misreads how the American public would react to photos and video of bloated bodies being pulled from stinking floodwaters. The public wouldn't blame government for the images. They'd blame the press. And I say this as someone who believes FEMA should let photographers tag along on these grisly missions.

Bush-haters can't help themselves: They interpret every federal decision as an expression of narrow self-interest. But when a FEMA spokeswoman explained to Reuters that journalists would be barred from rescue boats in order to ensure that "the recovery of the victims is . . . treated with dignity and the utmost respect," she wasn't merely parroting the attitude of a bureaucracy on its heels.

Carroll says Americans would think the pictures are vulgar voyeurism. I think each American should have the ability to decide for themselves whether to view them. Some will want to see the horror , others won't. But, censorship is not the right response. The decision should be our's, not the Administration's.