Storm Strains Bush's Ties To Black Clergy - LA Times [View All]

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Interviews with key black pastors who had built alliances with Bush revealed a continued reluctance to fully trust that the administration would follow through on new promises to look at race and poverty and to ensure that black residents and minority-owned firms benefited from the rebuilding. But they all expressed hope that Bush was sincere.

The Rev. Bill Owens of Memphis, president of the Coalition for African American Pastors and a supporter of other Bush initiatives, applauded the president's speech, saying his new tone could be redemptive after two weeks of a troubling White House response. But his praise was cautious.

"I think he now has a golden opportunity to show that he does in his heart care for the African American community," Owens said. "With what he does from here on, he will be judged."

Vivian Berryhill of Mississippi, president of the National Coalition of Pastor's Spouses and one of Bush's most vocal black supporters last year, praised the president's new words and promises. But she acknowledged that feelings were raw. "The president can't make a 20-minute speech and think it's all over," she said. "If Republicans ever hope to appeal to African American voters, they need to come out publicly and support the citizens of America who have a great need."

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http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-blacks20sep20,1,7645001.story

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