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Posted on 09/30/2003 12:11:02 AM PDT by ambrose
Bustamante Faces Black Critics
The Los Angeles Sentinel, News Report,
Dennis Freeman, Sep 28, 2003
California's Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante is making his pitch to the African American community that he can do a better job than his boss for the people of California. He is the top Democrat to be vying for the governors' job in the recall election against Gov. Gray Davis set for Oct. 7.
Bustamante has been dogged unmercifully by the media for transgressions of his past. He sat down on Sept. 15 with the Los Angeles Sentinel and the topics of discussion ranged from his alleged use of the “N” word during a speech to the Black Trade Unionists two years ago to his reported racist ties with the Mexican American student political group known as MEChA to his record of employing blacks on his staff.
Bustamante, the only candidate to meet with the Sentinel, addressed the topic that many blacks and others can’t seem to let go of, his use of the “N” word.
“That’s not me. That is not who Cruz Bustamante is,” he said, surrounded by the Sentinel editorial staff. “I stumbled and then I garbled a few words. Then people thought I used the 'N' word."
Black union workers stormed out of that meeting in protest.
“Being the highest-ranking person of color, I have to set the example. The next day I called people to apologize. I was there to lift people’s spirit. It was during a speech in front of 300 black trade unionists. It wasn’t an offhand remark.”
Bustamante, in keeping with his apologetic stance on what others perceived him to say, repeated his apologies over and over.
Another issue following Bustamante is his association with the group MEChA. MEChA favors annexing the southwestern United States, including Texas and California, to Mexico.
With more than several hundred chapters nationwide, MEChA goes against everything that Bustamante says he stands for. It’s an exclusive organization teaching its members hatred against all other ethnic groups. Members of the organization have attacked blacks, whites and Asians.
Last month, Bustamante’s campaign said his ties to the group are nothing more than a “non-issue.”
Bustamante said he joined the organization while a student in college and compared MEChA to that of the Black Students Union.
“I wasn’t the most radical of the group,” Bustamante said. “MEChA was a group, a social group to figure out how to bring more culture into the schools. We had to get more accessibility to kids into college. That’s mostly what we did.”
“I’m not a racial separatist,” Bustamante said. “There’s nothing in my background that people can point to...to indicate that...”
When asked what stand he would take if MEChA endorsed him, Bustamante couldn’t give one. And he doesn’t feel his association with the organization will be a problem with voters.
Bustamante also addressed his past history of employing blacks, which some feel is a vital issue for someone running for governor.
Bustamante said his hiring practices are solid and that he’s done a great job in providing employment opportunities for minorities across the board, including appointing African Americans in key positions to his staff.
Bustamante also said the black community has been essential in his political rise, a fact he hasn’t forgotten.
“I could have never won without the support of the African American community,” Bustamante said. “I’ve appointed more people of color during my term in the legislature. My whole career has been about being inclusive. I do believe there is a need for equality and accessibility.”
Inclusion, said Bustamante, is getting individuals involved in the most democratic process of all: voting.
Yeah, RIGHT.
Especially given his treasonous intentions to cede California to Mexico!
"Being the highest-ranking person of color, I have to set the example. The next day I called people to apologize. I was there to lift people's spirit. It was during a speech in front of 300 black trade unionists. It wasn't an offhand remark."
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