Urban League cool to president

[kskiska]

Outreach to blacks dismissed

DETROIT — President Bush on Friday made a direct pitch for black votes — long out of reach for Republican presidential candidates — but got a tepid response from the national Urban League conference.

"I'm here to ask for your vote," he told the delegates, drawing applause.

The applause grew louder and was mixed with laughter when Bush, well aware of political history, added, "I know, I know, I know."

(snip)

Jackson seemed particularly peeved about his brief post-speech chat with Bush.

"I asked him can we meet and discuss one single issue: the counting of our vote. . . . I said can we meet to discuss this issue because a million black voters were disenfranchised in 2000," Jackson said. "He said, 'I'll check with Karl Rove.' "

(snip)

"We have not locked our door to him. He has locked his door," Jackson said. "I think his policies likely will not get the votes here that he seeks."

more (registration req'd)…
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/election/0704nation/24bush.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Telling, isn't it,

that Shrub has to talk to Rove about it? He has no clue whether it would be good to cater to African Americans. And from his behavior in the past in regards to the Jasper TX tragedy, I'd say that Shrub has a callous disregard for people of color.

[Myrina]

5. He has a callous disregard ...

... for anyone who isn't part of the BFEE.

[whistle]

2. The Urban League audience was being polite to Dubya....

...however Shrub was talking down to the group. I do not blame the League for listening to his case, but if I had been there, when George Bush got to his list of questions that were:

"Does the Democrat party take African American voters for granted? (Applause.) It's a fair question. I know plenty of politicians assume they have your vote. But do they earn it and do they deserve it? (Applause.) Is it a good thing for the African American community to be represented mainly by one political party? That's a legitimate question. (Applause.) How is it possible to gain political leverage if the party is never forced to compete? (Applause.) Have the traditional solutions of the Democrat party truly served the African American community?

That's what I hope people ask when they go to the community centers and places, as we all should do our duty and vote. People need to be asking these very serious questions."

...I would have demanded that the president give answers to those questions along with explanations of his answers and even why he felt these questions are even necessary. This is yet another example of how George Bush seeks to divide rather than unite the country.

[TahitiNut]

8. The political paradigm of pork and privilege.

El Smirko bin Awol baldly displays the notion of "cash and carry" politics. For his ilk, politicians are agents for those who hire them - paid to parcel out the privileges and perquisites of narrow interest rather than the general interest. His notion of Justice is death row. His notion of equity is ownership only.

Prior to about 1964, the African-American community was probably best served by voting 40-60 Republican and lobbying Democrats. Subsequent to Nixon's "Southern Strategy," it's no contest. It's really not that the RNC leadership are bigots; it's that they pander to bigots. The allegiance of the RNC and Republican financial backers is purely financial: the privilege of wealth. Wealth is not black, white, brown, yellow, or red; it's green. Already poor? Stay poor. Wealthy? Get wealthier.

[NMDemDist2]

9. El Smirko bin Awol? ROFLMAO!

:evilgrin:

[goclark]

11. Kick!

[goclark]

3. Jesse asked the right question

and the Chimp gave an answer that is telling!

The answer to Jesse's question says a lot about the Chimp and should be circulated far and wide.

Many stay on Jesse's back but he is a supreme politician. He may look like he is hugging up to Chimp but he asked the question that the Media should have asked.

[Webster Green]

4. He can't decide if their votes should count without asking Rove?

Good answer!

How do you like you're toast, smirky?

[mom cat]

6. 'I'll check with Karl Rove.' " In other words: Fuck you- Black voters.,

His arrogance knows no bounds. Time for the trash can Mr. rich kid.

:dem:

[Old and In the Way]

7. 'I'll check with Karl Rove.'

Now that's a line a Kerry/Edwards acceptance speech could be built around.

Yeah, George, good idea. Check with Karl and see if it's OK to re-enfranchise Americans' their right to vote.

[amber dog democrat]

10. I'll Check with Karl Rove....

or Karen Hughs
Condasleeza


I see at least a bumper sticker or t shir here.

this newt can't be permitted to speak for himself. I just wish he would do more of it.

[madrchsod]

13. that bumper sticker / t-shirt

idea is great!! sometimes when bush opens this mouth the truth does fly out...

[iconoclastic cat]

12. Chimpy has to check for approval to discuss citizens' right to vote? WTF?

I want to scream until my head explodes. Bastard!

[realFedUp]

14. Doesn't really matter

He got the photo-ops and the press coverage he wanted.

[cliss]

15. The Repubs are such fools.

Notice his statement, "I'm here to ask for your vote". WITHOUT giving anything in return. As if the black community would just pick him because he's asking for the vote.

And I notice, he never even offered anything to them. All he really said was, "We've got a long way to go, or something like that". And he probably said it while smirking or laughing sarcastically, which is his trademark "humor".

If he was really serious about EARNING their vote, he would have said something like "we realize that the Republican Party has become the party of White Supremacists, but we're working on changing that so it will become more inclusive". But - just jokes.

I was so pissed, later on Yahoo News had a headline that said "GOP must appeal to Black Voters". Same thing here. Notice, no substance. Just "appeal". Stupid George.

[Th1onein]

16. Huh? He'll check with Karl Rove?

He has completely lost it.

[Th1onein]

17. Either give me your vote or I'll see to it that you don't get one!

eom