Bush, NAACP relationship thaws

[Judi Lynn]

Bush, NAACP relationship thaws
Civil rights leaders say meeting is encouraging but doesn't ensure results
By Kelly Brewington
Sun reporter
Originally published December 9, 2005

Some national civil rights leaders say this week's private meeting with President Bush offers hope for an end to frosty relations, but others insist an hourlong talk is no guarantee that the Republican White House will become responsive to their agendas.

Yet, on one point, all were in agreement: New NAACP President and Chief Executive Bruce S. Gordon made the meeting a reality. And now that Gordon has made headway, some wonder whether African-American leaders can begin what will surely be a glacial process of establishing close ties to the Bush administration.

"I think this is going to be helpful for the NAACP and the White House, no doubt about it," said Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a Baltimore Democrat, who did not attend this week's meeting but was involved in conversations leading up to it.

And while the White House meeting is a start to better relations, Cummings said it was no assurance that the nation's oldest civil rights group will influence Bush policies. After all, the president has refused five consecutive invitations to speak at the NAACP's conventions, prompting stinging criticism of him from the group's chairman.
(snip/...)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.naacp09dec09,1,2167520.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bush Meets Blacks Behind Closed Doors

By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Friday, December 9, 2005; 12:03 PM

After five years of frosty relations between the White House and the NAACP, the civil rights organization's new president, Bruce S. Gordon, has met with President Bush twice in the past three months -- and at the second meeting, just this week, he brought eight other black leaders with him.

The continued, widespread anger in the African American community about Bush's lackluster response to Hurricane Katrina is certainly one factor in the White House's new outreach effort.

But another factor is Gordon himself, a former Verizon senior executive, who is apparently willing to indulge Bush in his passion for secrecy.

Gordon and his colleagues have spoken in only the most general terms about what transpired during their closed-door meetings with the president.

Doesn't the public deserve to know more? Though eclipsed by the war in Iraq, Bush's response to Katrina and his antipathy towards traditional civil rights causes are two of the bigger stories of his presidency.
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/12/09/BL2005120900828.html?nav=rss_politics

[bluestateguy]

1. They should refuse to do business with him

and instead meet with either Al Gore or John Kerry.

[ismnotwasm]

2. And THAT would make a very strong statement

Since bush can't seem to do anything with class, grace, dignanty or intelligence-- and we're stuck with him anyway. This bothers me, "Behind closed doors" "Indulges bush's passion for secrecy" What is there to hide? How about open dialog about the state of race relations in the United States? Specifically in this case of course, black folk.

[Judi Lynn]

6. He probably finds he's usually more successful intimidating people

when he can get them alone, in very small numbers, away from witnesses, and cameras, and reporters.

[ismnotwasm]

7. Good point

Here's the story from the NAACP website. Given how bush has snubbed the NAACP, part of me really doesn't get why they met with him. He does influence funding I guess. I would hate to think they had to kiss his ass to get critical issues addressed
http://www.naacp.org/news/2005/2005-12-07.html

[AspenRose]

3. Be very afraid....and here's why

"But another factor is Gordon himself, a former Verizon senior executive, who is apparently willing to indulge Bush in his passion for secrecy."

[gordianot]

4. Bush never talked to the NAACP, Bush has stopped talking to the public.

He speaks only to Military audiences and rare selected GOP partisans. I wonder what he says in private? Look at the fall out of private talks with Blair for a clue. So now he is dealing with the NAACP behind closed doors. That is the ultimate irony considering the efforts of the Civil Rights movement to open closed doors.

Life in Merica is becoming stranger and stranger.

[2Design]

5. * does not like people especially black people - why would they

really believe anything * says.

these are fools and rw stupidity seems to be spreading

the bully and bullies are taking over

I can't believe everyone doesn't walk away