"Does the Democratic Party take African-American voters for granted?" It's a fair question, Bush said. Do Democrats earn your vote and deserve it, he asked?
"Is it a good thing for the African-American community to be represented mainly by one political party?," Bush said, as he questioned how much leverage African-Americans can gain without forcing the two major political parties to really compete for the black vote.
"Have the traditional solutions of the Democratic Party truly served the African-American community? People need to be asking these very serious questions," he said.
"Does blocking the faith-based initiative help neighborhoods where the only social service provider could be a church?
"Does the status quo in education really help the children of this country?
"Has class warfare or higher taxes ever created decent jobs in the inner city?
"Are you satisfied with the same answers on crime, excuses for drugs and blindness to the problem of the family? Those are legitimate questions that I hope you'll ask as this election approaches."
President Bush said he'd like to hear the questions debated on talk radio, in community centers and coffee shops.
"I'm here to say that there is an alternative this year." President Bush said his record is easy to see. "If you dream of starting a small business and building a nest egg and passing something of value to your children, take a look at my agenda.
"If you believe schools should meet high standards instead of making excuses, take a look at my agenda.
"If you believe the insts of marriage and family are worth defending and need defending today, take a look at my agenda.
"If you believe in building a culture of life in America, take a look at this agenda.
"If you believe in a tireless fight against crime and drugs, take a look at this agenda.
"If you believe that our men and women in uniform should be respected and supported one hundred percent of the time, take a look at my agenda.
"If you're struggling to get into the middle class and you feel like you're paying plenty of tax, take a look at my agenda.
"If you're a small business owner who's trying to expand your job base and are worried about excessive lawsuits, increasing taxes and overregulation, take a look at this agenda.
"Finally, if you believe in the power of faith and compassion to defeat violence, despair and hopelessness, I hope you take a look at where I stand.
"You see I believe in my heart that the Republican Party...is not complete without the perspective and support and contribution of African-Americans.
"He said he believes the policies and actions of his administration are good for the nation as a whole."
No pandering. No sloganeering. No talking down, like Kerry does.
I hope parts of this are going to be in his speeches from now on till the election.
I think the fiasco at the NAACP last week might have raised a few eyebrows, and those folks have been waiting for this speech at the Urban League.
Now they can start sounding off and support the President.
We shall see.
Please tell me he did not say the word "insts".
WOW. Ya gotta hand it to GWB.
The traditional solutions of the Democratic Party ALL involve the embrace of victimhood, what I like about Bush's approach is he is asking them to ditch victimhood, he is not compromising conservative principles by offering them group entitlements.
it's the same ol' democrat plantation--using race to divide america.
on the one hand, we're told that bill clinton was the "first black president", but it was w that put 3 outstanding blacks closely to him. and, blacks have the audacity to call bush's appointees racist names.
the democrats hate cheney and halliburton, but what's edwards done fo' po' folk?
he made health care more expensive for working people, and he made tens of millions doing it.
The President is laying the groundwork for creating an "ownership society." Its a good solid argument for a second term and its a positive one. The Democrats have nothing to offer but hate of Bush and tax and spend policies that have been tried and failed for the past four decades. Every American, not just blacks, should give the questions President Bush posed serious consideration and debate them. What kind of country do we want? As an American, I know the answer is not for us to become a giant Canada. We have a different history and are destined to be a great nation.
Yes George this is what I am talking about! Now, leave the gloves off before you lose this election.