Bush Criticizes NAACP's Leadership

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40255-2004Jul10.html

President Bush said Friday that he has a "basically nonexistent" relationship with the NAACP's leadership and he refused for the consecutive fourth year to speak to the group's national convention.

Bush's assessment of his relationship with the nation's largest civil rights organization was a sharp reversal from his rhetoric during his last campaign. Then he spoke to the group's convention as part of an effort to show he was a different kind of Republican and said that "there is much we can do together to advance racial harmony and economic opportunity."

Bush will not be speaking before the 2004 convention, which will open Saturday in Philadelphia. Bush, during a day-long bus tour through Pennsylvania, said in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer and two other state newspapers that he "admired some" NAACP leaders and said he would seek members' support "in other ways."

<snip>

Earlier this week, the White House said the invitation had been declined because of scheduling commitments, and officials said that was the reason cited in the letter to the group. But when asked about the matter by reporters on Air Force One on Friday, White House press secretary Scott McClellan made it clear that a lot more was involved. "The current leadership of the NAACP has certainly made some rather hostile political comments about the president over the past few years," he said.

...more...

[rfranklin]

1. Throwing red meat to his base...

Bush disses those uppity "n-word" people.

[Tansy_Gold]

15. So does this mean he won't dump Cheney in favor of

Colin Powell?

I've always had to kind of laugh when people suggest this as a possibility. Boosh would NEVER in a billion years put an African American on his ticket. Wouldn't matter how un-uppity they were. Can't you just imagine the outcry from the NAACP if he did? Can you spell T-O-K-E-N?

Powell won't replace Cheney.

Giuliani is a pro-choice, divorced and adulterous Catholic -- he won't replace Cheney either.

McCain is a loose cannon who can't be trusted, but who CAN be used in campaign ads (where he can be controlled). He won't replace Cheney either.

The booshies never admit mistakes. Boosh can't even think of any he's made. Replacing Cheney would be admitting a mistake. Even as simple a mistake as "We thought he was healthier, even his doctor -- who is not a drug addict so stop saying that -- said he was in fine health, and the four heart attacks last week were mild ones. So, no, we're not even going to accept the coroner's report that Mr. Cheney's death prohibits him from running again. . . . . "

Of course, I could be wrong, since I'm only


Tansy Gold

[charlyvi]

28. I think Bush would put a cabbage

on the ticket if it meant re-selection. You know how this bunch is--they say one thing, do another, then deny what they said to begin with. In a way, the fact they are saying Cheney will not be dumped is making me nervous. Judging by their past flip-flops, this does not bode well. They could always say Cheney had to resign--health, you know. I can hear it now--"Best VP ever; America is lucky to have him; what a tragedy he has to retire", etc.

SOMEONE PLEASE REASSURE ME!!!!

[latebloomer]

2. Good!

Why should he pretend to be tolerant?

[Racenut20]

3. I don't think

The local NAACP membership that I have met here in TampaBay would be fooled by him anyway.

[amber dog democrat]

4. With another Clarence Thomas at the head

it would all change for the good. Those hostile political statements would stop then and there.

[dbt]

5. "Some rather hostile political comments about the president?"

Those comments pale (to a pure lily white) in comparison to the ones the Pugs made 24/7 about bu$h's predecessor. You know. The elected President.

Boo fucking hoo. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[kodi]

7. that were caused by some rather hostile political actions by the president

this is not just a racial issue, there is a wide streak of class struggle here as well, since much of the rhetoric is based on economic issues.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Obviously W

doesn't give a shit anymore about the black vote.

Lately W's been acting like he doesn't need anybodies vote. I wonder why he bothers campaigning at all?

[cybildisobedience]

9. possible explanation:

he knows he already has it rigged.....
I've been worried about this -- this attitude the creep has been exhibiting lately is one of arrogance and lack of concern. Sure, they'll put on enough of a show so the media whores can fall all over themselves praising his "unique brand of compassionate conservatism" and his die-hard, religiously insane followers can gush and fawn over his guiding faith, but the underlying theme has been: I don't need you - I've got this thing covered. And let's not forget the more ominous tone he struck with Fat-boy Tim Russert when he said, "I don't intend to lose...."

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. They are all acting like they've know they've got the election

in the bag.

I think they are planning on election day being a bigger fiasco than 2000. There are going to be major problems at polls all over the country. The whole election will be put in doubt and then Bu$hco can pull an attack during the recount and shut the whole thing down.

All I know is that anyone who is willing to sit on their hands during a terrorist attack, in order to solidify their own power, is willing to do anything to keep that power. These criminals have something big up their sleeves and they are still arrogant and smug enough to think they are going to get away with it.

[sandraj]

21. I'm nervous about this election cycle myself

Right now I'm still holding out hope that it's nothing more than incredible hubris on their part, and that the arrogance and overconfidence will be their undoing.

[Jade Fox]

27. I think we're seeing a combination of Bush's arrogance and...

him sabotaging himself. I don't think he really wants to get
re-elected. He hates having to suck up to people in any way, and
he's lazy. Even doing his job only 60% of the time (when he's not
on vacation) involves way too much of both of those activities.

I only hope he gets more pissy and self-destructive in the next
four months.

[DAGDA56]

34. Bingo, JF!

You've hit upon what I've been thinking for a while...heding into the end of year four, the spoiled frat boy is getting bored..."This presidentin' ain't as much fun as it used to be."

[zbird]

8. They hurt his little feelings.

He's going to go into the back yard and eat worms.

snip...
But he castigated the group's officers, who include President Kweisi Mfume and Chairman Julian Bond. "I would describe my relationship with the current leadership as basically nonexistent," Bush said, as reported by Knight Ridder Newspapers. "You've heard the rhetoric and the names they've called me."
snip...

Sounds like a pouting 2-year-old.

[quaoar]

10. I suppose

that Mfume and Bond didn't shuffle enough for Bush when they invited him to speak. Maybe Bush would have agreed to speak if they had offered to do a minstrel show on the White House lawn for corporate donors.

[diamond14]

13. that whining is getting louder....bush* lashes out (PHOTO)

that's about the fifth time this week that bush* is crying and whining PUBLICALLY about little criticisms or even humor....bush* is DEMANDING the tape of Kerry's campaign dinner in NYC, because (allegedly) some criticisms were made about bush*....hahahahaha....one comedian said that bush* had the intelligence of an egg-timer....LOL....



soon-to-be-President John Kerry meets with Martin L. King, Jr. in Chicago, June 29, 2004.....
(Photo: Sharon Farmer)

[drscm]

30. Intelligence of an egg-timer?

Hell, at least my egg timer works.

[liveoaktx]

12. Here was one of Julian Bond's speeches which takes Bush to task

http://www.civilrights.org/issues/enforcement/details.cfm?id=23278

President Bush chose Dr. King's birthday last year to unilaterally elevate Charles Pickering to the federal bench; Pickering's hostility to civil rights and his leniency for cross-burners notwithstanding. And the president chose Dr. King's birthday last year to announce that even though he admits society continues to do something special against racial minorities, his administration will not do anything special for them. He opposed Michigan's efforts to promote diversity in its student body. Frankly, I was afraid to listen to his speech at the Brown commemoration in Topeka two weeks ago. I was afraid he'd repeal the 14th Amendment.

[enough]

14. Story is main front page headline today in Philadelphia Inquirer.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/9121371.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

Bush faults NAACP's leaders
Citing harsh remarks by some, he said he would seek members' support in other ways.
By William Douglas and Amy Worden
Inquirer Staff Writers

YORK, Pa. - President Bush said yesterday that he was declining an invitation to speak to the NAACP's convention in Philadelphia because of harsh statements about him by leaders of the venerable civil rights group.

"I would describe my relationship with the current leadership as basically nonexistent," Bush told reporters during a visit to Pennsylvania. "You've heard the rhetoric and the names they've called me."

Bush added that he admired some NAACP leaders and said he would seek members' support in other ways. It is the fourth straight year Bush has declined an invitation to attend the NAACP convention, which opens today and runs through Thursday.

The snub was a far cry from candidate Bush's appeal to the NAACP in 2000, when he conceded at its convention in Baltimore that Republicans had not always gotten along with the group.

more>

[cthrumatrix]

16. he is a "uniter" .... such a petty, weak man

[PROUDNWLIBERAL]

17. RNC

With all the talk about replacing Cheney on the ticket I'd think that the RNC would replace Bush on the Ticket for his comments about the NAACP. Hope this brings out the Afro-American vote!

[Zech Marquis]

18. a nonexistant relationship

just like his own daughters I suppose--"ah'll jut use 'em as props when ah need a nice prutty imageon tv" :eyes:

[randr]

19. He's the uniter, not the divider----bullshit!

He is a frightened, over privileged, racist, liar.

[TahitiNut]

20. Busholini belongs to the NAPCP, a subsidiary of the IAEWP.

NAPCP - National Association for the Productivity of Colored People ("Arbeit Macht Frei")
IAEWP - International Association for the Enrichment of Wealthy People ("Gott Mit Uns")

[L.A.dweller]

22. Bush is such a Kompassionate Konservative Khristen

F-- the hegemony.

[Neshanic]

23. I love the "he's a different kind of republican". What kind is that?

[Claire Beth]

24. Bush is racist and...

as are MOST of the GOPERS....of course he spoke at the NAACP convention during his FIRST campaign because he wanted their support. Since he got the job (or rather STOLE it) he doesn't think he needs them. The GOP is a racist party. :kick:

[fortyfeetunder]

25. He thinks the NAACP is harsh?

Hell, he needs to strut right over to the DU Lounge where the photos are captioned!!!

[donsu]

26. LOL

nt

[drscm]

29. I sometimes think I cannot loathe this man anymore than I already do.

He really is a megalomaniac. He believes that he is above questioning. He thinks he is a chenying god.

He has the right to determine who is "evil" and who is "good" based on his own bigotry, but "under god" help us if anyone speaks the truth about him.

[demgrrrll]

31. His base is going to vote for him no matter what. I do not see how

this helps him in any way. More foolish purposeless flailing.

[NashVegas]

32. Funny

He refuses to speak for an organization intended to advance the cause of a constituency brought together by happenstance of genetics, yet has no problem addressing a constutuency brought together by choice (or, their refusal to acknowledge someone else's right to have one).

[bluedeminredstate]

33. Clinton would do it

He faced people who had said far worse about him than the "harsh" remarks Bush complains about.
Back in '98 Clinton didn't say "I'm not going to do the State of the Union, the republicans were mean to me!" and I never admired him more than when he walked into the House, head held high and looked those bastards in the eye. He went to town meetings, rallies and speeches where the audiences weren't screened by political party and took his lumps when he was heckled or challenged. He acted like a grown man who could and would defend his agenda, ideas and vision for the country.
Bush, a thin-skinned, little, little man doesn't like sharp elbows when he's not the one throwing them. It's politics and he always makes
it so personal.

[emc]

35. mommy and poppy

I wonder if the little shit will be welcomed back in the family fold after he gets is ass thrown out of office---I mean this guy is a political embarrassment even to the bush family---