Bush's Simple Political Style Galls Some Blacks

Tribune Media Services (Salt Lke Tribune) ^ | 7/16/02 | Clarence Page

[Clara Lou]

WASHINGTON -- One of President Bush's more endearing qualities is his taste for what the folks back in my hometown used to call "plain speakin'."

These days you might call it, "Politics for Dummies." It's a knack for boiling the complexities of this complicated world down into their simple essence.

He gave us a fine example last week during the news conference that preceded his big Wall Street speech on corporate ethics.

[Sloth]

Bob Hillman of the Dallas Morning News asked Bush about the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the nation's oldest and largest civil rights group

I keep hearing this... I don't know offhand which one is older, but I know the NRA is larger.

[AppyPappy]

There had been some criticism at the NAACP, the reporter noted, that Bush had not attended one of their conventions since the 2000 campaign.

Name any high-ranking official with the NAACP that is a Republican.

[proud American in Canada]

I'm sorry to J.C. Watts isn't running for reelection.

[ctonious]

Well I suppose Democrats have better plain speakers. Senator Ted Kennedy touted his progressive credentials with "Look who I have here in my car". Similarly, Bill Clinton indignantly replied "Look who I have under my desk", as well as "Look who's funeral I was giggling at." More recently, Senator Tom Daschle burnished his pro-business and feminist attitudes by proudly pointing to his wife and boasting "Look, thanks to me, she's just raking it in!"

[isthisnickcool]

The title to this could have just as easily been "Bush's Simple Political Style Galls Few Blacks".

Why write this in the first place? Other than to insinuate that Bush is a racist?

The is very lame. But they will likely give him a Pulitzer for it.

[3AngelaD]

What irritates Clarence Page and those of his ilk is that Bush doesn't pander to anybody, least of all to the likes of racism pimps. And what irritates him even worse is that everyone understands what Bush is doing. And what irritates him to the max is the fact that Powell and Condi Rice and the numerous other competent, accomplished blacks in the Bush administration have no need to be pandered to, and so don't share his irritation.

The NAACP has lost what shred of moral stature it had left, and is reduced to me-tooing and throwing its support behind groups such as the NEA.

[Recovering_Democrat]

This jackass writes for a Salt Lake City paper?? Tell me he's syndicated, please!

As for the content of his scribblings, it is indicative of just another attempt to portray G. W. as a simpleton and idiot. Fact is, he's in the 73% range for popularity, a piece of info apparently lost on this dolt.

BTW, where is the evidence of blacks being galled by the President regarding his "simple political style"? The columnist never cited any at all. The invocation of J.C. Watts' name is supposed to lend the notion that J.C. Watts is displeased with the Commander-In-Chief, but THAT IS A LIE.

In fact, show me any evidence black voters (or whites or Asians or any other ethnicity) are "galled" by a simple political style. Show me what constituency outside academic circles are "impressed" by a convulted, "sophisticated" style of politics. And I'll show you: Mike Dukakis, Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale.

[1rudeboy]

No, it is not for me to say that the president was being willfully indifferent to black concerns or even that he no longer cares about the NAACP, an organization that leans toward a liberal civil rights agenda.

You just did, Mr. Page.

[mass55th]

My my, how times have changed. There once was a day when blacks associated themselves with a plain-spoken President. His name was Abe Lincoln. Now they associate themselves with a liar, womanizer, rapist, draft dodger, drug user and thief.
And nobody put them in that position but themselves.

[KellyAdmirer]

urging his party to address black concerns in ways that would alienate its mostly white and conservative base.

I assume a word is missing here? As in "not" alienate the base? Why would the Republicans want to do stuff that would "alienate their base"? That would be like walking in and kicking your boss in the teeth - which, well, may be worth it once in a while, but not on a regular basis. ;)

[Sabertooth]

((((((growl)))))

[mountaineer]

it is not for me to say that the president was being willfully indifferent to black concerns ...

As long as blacks think their "concerns" are special, unique or otherwise have nothing in common with all Americans' concerns, people like Clarence Page will be forever perplexed. George W. sees blacks just as people, his fellow Americans - that's it. Apparently, that's not enough for them.

... or even that he no longer cares about the NAACP, an organization that leans toward a liberal civil rights agenda.

Like Hitler "leaned toward" meglomania? Like Bundy "leaned toward" rape and murder? The NAACP betrays the very people it purports to represent, by pushing "perpetual victim" status and hatred of whites as things to be desired. Why care about the NAACP, an organization that cares nothing about the freedom and prosperity of black Americans?

[Bob]

Even some black Democrats say they will miss his pragmatic, bridge-building brand of conservatism.

I don't think that J.C. was ever able to join the Congressional Black Caucus, was he? I guess he just wasn't 'black enough' to be allowed in.

I'd call the black congressional democrats hypocrites but that would be redundant.

[hopespringseternal]

If you want to know about his civil rights record, in other words, hey, just remember that he listens to two blue-ribbon blacks on his foreign policy team every day.

Oh, the world of liberals, where helping people by actually doing something for them is irrelevant, and making feel good gestures toward an organization that pretends to help them has all the meaning in the world.

Appointing blacks as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor is irrelevant, it is kissing Kwesi Mfume's @ss that really counts. It isn't the NAACP, it is the National Association for the Advancement of the National Association.

[Tacis]

The race thugs that run the NAACP and these other race baitinf shakedown outfits desperately need Bush to pay attention to them to prove they are relevant. They are not!! The test is always to substitute a "white people" phrase/word for the "black people" phrase/word, thus, the "White Entertainment Network" becomes offensive.

These sleazy race thugs have, like organized labor, decided to live with the dumbocraps, not a rational decison, but one they've made. The dumbocraps take their votes and support and money and then pay them lip service. The good guys treat them like any other citizens' organization. There should be no reward for racism or racial thugery. The NAACP would invite Bush and then bad mouth him unless Bush allowed them to shake him down. The NAACP leaders have major personal expenses and no other way to make a living. Qweezi, himself, is paying child support to a bunch of women on the east coast while Bareback Jackson is paying at least one and maybe more on the west coast.

[CIB-173RDABN]

Clarence, President Bush is a Republican. There is nothing he can say or do that will make you, the NAACP, or the major media like him.

So tell me, why bother.

President Bush appears to be doing what he thinks is best for the country as a whole, and not for any special interest group, which if you have not noticed, the NAACP is.

[Post Toasties]

One of the hallmarks of true genius is to be able to put across complex concepts in concise, understandable terms, such as Einstein was famous for (rather than obfuscating the issue which is a 'Rat hallmark). Has the author ever considered that GWB is exercising some of that same ability?

[Northpaw]

Bush looked down, pondered the question for a moment, then said, "Let's see........well, I've been thinking about how much I gall Blacks, so I propose that each African-American in th U.S. recieve a monthly reparation check of $2000.00, an honorary college degree, guaranteed employment with a minimum of a $40K annual salary, and a daily foot massage from randomly selected whites living nearby."

[SuziQ]

Frankly, I think Bush's answer was a perfect comeback to the stupid comment/question about how the NAACP views him. I believe he could care less how a small group of black people, kept in their positions by money donated by guilty white liberals, feel about him or his policies.

The President is reaching out to blacks who have been on the 'liberal plantation', offering them the chance to escape and better themselves. Some are accepting the challenge; it may take a while to change the minds of so many who have been deluded for years.