President Bush's NAACP Appearance Too Little Too Late

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
July 18, 2006
Contact: Stacie Paxton/Mark Paustenbach- 202-863-8148

President Bush's NAACP Appearance Too Little Too Late

Washington, DC- After days of stalling President Bush has finally
confirmed that he will address the NAACP's annual national convention.
President Bush's appearance comes a month before the Anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina, and the Bush Administration's inadequate and slow
response to the tragic disaster. Despite claims of outreach to African
Americans, President Bush has been the first sitting President since
Warren Harding to refuse to speak to the NAACP. President Bush's six
year snub of one of the most important and respected civil rights
organizations, is further evidence that Republicans' rhetoric of
outreach to African Americans rings hollow.

When President Bush addresses the NAACP for the first time during his
tenure, he will have a number of tough questions to answer including the
failures of his administration in their response to Hurricane Katrina,
his cuts in small business funding for black business owners, and why
Republicans failed to rein in extremists in their own Party who worked
to dilute the Voting Rights Act. From their failures to protect voting
rights, to decreasing HIV/AIDS funding to their failed economic policies
the Bush Administration continues to be out of touch with African
Americans.

"On issue after issue, President Bush and Republicans continue their
'say one thing-do another' strategy," said Democratic National Committee
Communications Director Karen Finney. "You can't ask for someone's vote
but do absolutely nothing to earn it. If the President was truly genuine
about reaching out, he wouldn't have waited six years to speak to the
NAACP and face the tough questions about his Administration's failed
policies on jobs, health care and the economy. And a belated guest
appearance will never erase the tragic images of tens of thousands of
New Orleans residents, trapped by a catastrophic flood, or the memories
of the Administration's initial failed response to the disaster.

"Democrats understand that we can not take the African American vote
for granted which is why we are reaching out early and often and working
year round with the African American community to address issues of real
importance."

President Bush Refuses to Address the NAACP

Reason: Scheduling Conflicts. "The president met with the Congressional
Black Caucus for an hour or so during his first month in office but has
not responded to a half-dozen subsequent requests to meet again. . NAACP
President Kweisi Mfume said he requested meetings with Bush in 2001 and
2002 and 'was told politely, in writing, that he'd love to meet, but his
schedule just didn't allow it.'"

Reason: Bush Didn't Like NAACP Criticism Of His Policies. "Mr. Bush was
the first president in 80 years to go a full term without appearing
before a convention of the N.A.A.C.P. He has had quarrelsome relations
with the organization and its leaders from the moment he took office,
and he was unhappy with what aides considered its unfair criticism of
his record."

Why Now?

Fear Of Backlash Over Voting Rights Delay. "The decision to accept the
invitation was made after lobbying by N.A.A.C.P. officials and in a week
when conservative House Republicans forced a delay in the
reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. Even though the House
ultimately passed the reauthorization, the delay was criticized by civil
rights leaders and stirred concern among some Republicans over
reactions."

###

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any
candidate or candidate's committee.

[displacedtexan]

1. At this point, why would the NAACP still want him?

They're being way too nice, IMHO.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. the same question was floated...

this morning on the tom joyner morning show...why now? And I'm surprised that Bruce Gordon would allow his organization to be used for photo ops by the grand feuhrer. Al Sharpton says that the pResident's staff made it clear that he would speak, but would not take questions. The NAACP is probably the oldest civil rights org. with a rich, illustrious history, and I would think that it should have gotten the message after the 2nd or 3rd refusal. He finally accepts after 2 years into his SECOND term?

I agree with Al Sharpton though, if he's gonna speak on his civil rights record, it'll be the shortest speech in presidential history.

[Cosmocat]

3. Leverage ...

Pretty much every major black leader will tell you that at the very least, they will give these clowns some time to keep the democrats honest - not make it easy for them to just assume they have their votes ...

We are talking about people who have a MUCH better inherent BS meter than the majority of people in this country ... They know/see these jackals for what they are ...

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I wonder if they really wanted him to speak or wanted to give his

the opportunity to reject them again so they could use it against him. I doubt that they expected him to accept the invitation this year after being snubbed in the past.

[Sadie5]

5. It's my guess that the audience

will not be allowed to grill the monkey lizard on any pressing issues. Those in the front who will be allowed a question will be hand pick beforehand.