Posted on 07/18/2004 5:12:08 PM PDT by zeebee
Sylvester Brown Jr.
President George W. Bush deserves credit for his candor, if for nothing else.
Black leaders and Democrats have been bashing Bush for refusing to attend the 95th annual NAACP convention in Philadelphia last week.
When asked why he skipped the convention, Bush didn't mince words.
"You've heard the rhetoric and the names they've called me," Bush said. "I would describe my relationship with the current leadership as basically nonexistent."
Now, that's a refreshing, nonpolitical response. Basically, the president said, "Hey, they don't like me. I don't like them. Why should I kiss up to an organization that opposes my party and my politics?"
That would be a legitimate question. Another question is why the NAACP leaders even expected Bush to attend their conference given the way they've treated him.
Last year, chairman Julian Bond said Republicans appeal "to the dark underside of American culture." In June, he said the conservatives' idea of equal rights is the "American flag and the Confederate swastika flying side by side." Bond and NAACP president Kweisi Mfume have repeatedly claimed that Bush practices "racial division."
Sensing relationship trouble, Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry jumped at the opportunity to woo conventioneers. With Sister Sledge's song "We Are Family" as a convenient backdrop, Kerry added fuel to simmering racial embers. Bush has divided the nation by "race and class," he preached. Under his leadership, Kerry promised, the door would always be open for dialogue with black leaders and Democrats would respect and respond to the needs and issues of black voters.
What needs? What issues? Kerry made minor promises based on his assessment of black needs. He committed to nothing substantial because NAACP leaders demanded nothing of substance.
Kerry's appearance was a familiar, kissy-faced, well-choreographed political routine. In the end, the NAACP promised to do what they planned all along: support Kerry's campaign.
My prediction if Kerry wins: Four years from now, the same black leaders throwing their support behind him now will whine that he and the Democratic Party are taking black voters for granted.
Just once, I'd like to see black leaders and organizations force presidential candidates to commit to something more than a chance to keep Republicans at bay. Before pledging the loyalty of black voters, I want to see the heads of these elitist organizations promote a plan that black people have developed.
Where is the outline for a domestic "Marshall Plan" that Al Sharpton and others claim would revitalize urban areas and businesses? Where's the plan to build better schools, address inadequate health care in black communities or tackle the disproportionate rates of unemployment and home ownership?
I'm no fan of George Bush. Lying about the war and allowing rich cronies to profit from its aftermath is reason enough to boot him back to private life. But I applaud Bush's decision not to play nice with established black leaders. He will gain or lose votes based on his efforts to attract black voters. That is more than I can say for Democrats.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
I for one will thank him for the article. It took guts to praise Dubba.
E-mail: sylvesterbrown@post-dispatch.com
And John Kerry doesn't go to the NRA meetings.....
BTW what a handsome man Sylvestor Brown is~
The NAACP is a paper tiger.
First Cheney telling that donkey senator to go eff himself, and now this.
Let's play hardball!
Mr. Brown needs to prove the charge that W. lied. Methinks he is just regurgitating leftist agitprop and he has not shown me that he is off the liberal plantation yet.
Sensing relationship trouble, Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry jumped at the opportunity to woo conventioneers. With Sister Sledge's song "We Are Family" as a convenient backdrop....Using one of the worst songs from one of the worst eras in American music...quite expectable from Jean Francoise. I just hope he uses it as his campaign theme. >:o
-Eric
The President didn't lie, Mr. Brown. You ruined an otherwise good article with this tired, knee-jerk liberal automated B.S.
My thoughts exactly! The author does make some good points, though, even though he's swallowing the Koolaid.
And just who are the A-A's that the GOP is supposed to support? Charles Rangel? I agree that Bush should support Herman Cain but he has to support Republicans that can win. He needs them in congress and the senate. Don't put the onus on the GOP. Put it where it belongs.
I played golf with a man yesterday who took a part time job at the course teaching young A-A's how to play in exchange for free greens fees. He was told by the black head pro that the kids would be deathly afraid of him at first because they all think that white people want to enslave them. Well guess what? They WERE afraid of him. Someone is putting that crap in their minds and it isn't the GOP. There is poison out there and the NAACP is passing it out.
fine. if the black community embraces hate and fear of whites then so be it. just cuz they want to spread poison doesnt make me responsible to provide the antidote.
I am also guessing that all the blacks that the GOP has put in high office doesn't mean much to him.
The Mfume Jackson team will have to come to the realization that dialog can go both ways, provided there still are courageous people that do react, regardless of retaliatory hyena cries of racism.
"Relying on faulty intelligence" does not equal "lying about the war."
If you don't like the man, that's your business. But don't trump up some full-of-used-food excuse like "lying about the war."
You said Bush was being refreshingly honest and up front. Why don't you do the same?
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I think Mr. Brown felt he had to put that paragraph in, lest he lose his "Soul Patrol" Secret Decoder Ring, and they change the secret handshake without telling him.
Yep... saying he's a fan of Bush would mean no more invites to the secret meetings. Why he may have to even hang out with WHITE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL
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