President Bush declined to speak at the NAACP's annual convention for a fourth time, the organization announced yesterday. The president's decision means he will be the first sitting president since Warren G. Harding not to address the NAACP.
WaPo article
Sounds like a deliberate snub to me.
A White House spokeswoman said Bush had a scheduling conflict, but would not specify the conflict with the six-day convention, which is scheduled to open Saturday in Philadelphia. Bush last addressed the NAACP convention in 2000, as a presidential candidate.
They probably asked questions he didn't like. No more visits for them.
Bush's decision comes after the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign and the Republican National Committee have pledged to reach out more to black voters.
Nice beginning.
Devona Dolliole, a spokeswoman for the Kerry-Edwards campaign, disagreed: "It is clear that Bush only uses African Americans when it is convenient for him, not because he's sensitive to their issues. His civil rights record is abysmal."
But Alvin Williams, president and CEO of the conservative-leaning Black America's political action committee, said the president may have had other motives. During the 2000 presidential campaign, he said, the NAACP endorsed a series of ads depicting the heinous dragging death of a black man in Texas.
"I think they placed the blame at Bush's feet when he was governor, and I think he was, rightly, greatly insulted by that," Williams said.
But Alvin Williams, president and CEO of the conservative-leaning Black America's political action committee, said the president may have had other motives. During the 2000 presidential campaign, he said, the NAACP endorsed a series of ads depicting the heinous dragging death of a black man in Texas.
"I think they placed the blame at Bush's feet when he was governor, and I think he was, rightly, greatly insulted by that," Williams said.
Sweet Jesus. Ha!
Bush also declined an invitation to speak at last week's gathering of the National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic civil rights organization, for the fourth time. "He has not attended our conventions, as well as our sister organizations'," said Raul Yzaguirre, La Raza's president. "Apparently we're not enough of a priority to merit his time."
Hoo-boy. Are we getting the picture?
Bush last attended the La Raza convention in 2000.
Hmmmmmmm....wasn't as sure about getting installed then? Or did they offend him, too?
Scott Stanzel, a spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign, said there is an "aggressive effort to reach out to African American and Hispanic voters that's ongoing."
Clearly.
I read that at the Kerry celebrity bash last night, John Leguizamo said Latinos voting for Bush was like roaches for Raid.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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