Posted on 08/31/2004 6:28:52 AM PDT by presidio9
After watching the speech by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani from an RNC skybox suite Monday, Boxing promoter Don King told CNN why he hopes President George Bush scores a knockout in November.
CNN: What do you think of the convention so far?
KING: I think it's a great start for a great future for this country for all Americans. I think it established the fact that George Walker Bush is a tough man with a tender heart. His leadership is impeccable and gives comfort to all Americans, friend and foe alike.
CNN: What brings you to the RNC. Is there a particular issue you are here to support?
KING: My issue is the inclusiveness of African-Americans who have been excluded. When George Bush says he wants one America he is reaching out to African Americans. He struck a chord that goes to the root of racism by appointing qualified people to top positions. Colin Powell as secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice [as] national security adviser, and in so doing he gave a new sense of dignity to those who have been disenfranchised, who have been left out, giving the very thing we've been seeking for 240 years ... by appointing blacks in important positions. Not that they are toadies or sycophants or Uncle Toms, but qualified people who just happen to be black ... symbolizing ... one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Four more years for George W. Bush.
CNN: Are you a lifelong Republican?
KING: I'm a 'Republicrat.' I'm for whoever's going to be doing something or the upward mobility of America, black and white alike.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Ooops.
Thanks for the context. I could remember something vaguely unsettling about Mr. King's dealings in the past. Google is still my friend.
The press isn't trying to tie him to the Republican Party.
He just jumped on board!
I think Don had an eye opening experience after 9/11.
I would not turn down someone's vote for truth and justice, because of their past. A vote, is a vote, is a vote!
He may be a stinker, but the aroma of common sense has wafed through the TV screen!
I want his Republican vote!
Like I said....gave me a new respect for his hair-do! ;-)
Read my post 19, and then reconsider your change of heart.
You know he's not the face of this party!
Good gracious....
He just happens to be the loudest and most unlikely.
And you would switch parties because he wants to vote Republican, and says it on TV?
You have have to be kidding.......aren't you? ;-\
That is not what I said.
But if he is what we are about, I am not a Republican.
And I am sick to death of everyone embracing Don King and talking about him as if a vote for Bush makes him suddenly a good man. It doesn't.
George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent
GOOD FOR HIM.....
George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent
Don King
Who is he?
Don King - boxing promoter most famous for his hair style (or lack of one).
What did he do?
It is unknow from which of his arrests this mug shot originates. This is because between 1954 and 1966 King was a well-known criminal in Ohio. Alledgedly, he was arrested for murder, arson, suspicion of drug dealing, carrying a concealed weapon, and manslaughter.
When? Between 1954 and 1966.
Charged?
Unknown for some of the offences, but he was alledgedly charged for the murder of Hillary Brown and manslaughter of Sam Garrett. The Hillary Brown murder was later ruled self defense. King was arrested for nonnegligent manslaughter after stomping and pistol whipping Sam Garrett to death. He was tried and convicted of 2nd degree murder, but a retrial was ordered by the judge. At the retrial King was convicted of nonneglient homicide.
Sentence?
Unknown for many of his arrests, but he alledgedly spent 3 and a half years inside for Sam Garrett's death.
Hole, did you update your boxing drawing to depict King at the convention?
What, in heavens name has got you upset this morning?
He waved flags and said he was voting for George W. Bush.
Now what's wrong in that?
BTW, Scripture says, there's none good, no one, but God alone. Luke 18:19.
So, NO, I didn't say he was a good man. I just appreciated what he said about our President.
He's as much the face of the party as Ron Silver or Zell Miller is.
They are all something other than Republican, and that seems to be the theme of this convention.
McCain, for example, is in the party, but I wouldn't call him the FACE of the Republican party.
Right now the face of the Republican party is GWB, and the face of the Democrat party is Kerry.
He's a con man, a circus barker. He's a good one, and sometimes amusing, but he's a con man just the same. Hide your wallet and don't sign anything.
That being said, I am glad for his vote, but that's about it.
Have you seen any indication that Don King has changed?
His troubles with ranking corruption are as recent as 2002.
I, for one, am not going to embrace a snake just because I like how he votes.
How did you come to be Bush's promoter?
At a dinner, I said, "You're a great fighter. I see you out there fighting." He said, "I don't know if I can afford you, Don." I said, "Mr. President, for you, I'll do it for free." That was a glorious moment.
How much time do you get with Bush?
At dinners, I spend maybe three or four minutes with him. And we chat in the photo ops.
Why do you like him so much?
Oooh! I get a passion! I'm getting excited right now when you said that. George Walker Bushhe's tough-minded but he's tender-hearted. He's trying to reclaim that glory of that American Dream for all Americans. He put African-Americans in top policy positions higher than any president. He took two people, black, and put them in charge of 300 million people for their security. Even the racists and the extremists and all those who are untoward and un-American, we're protecting them, too. This is a devastating blow to the color barrier. I assume you're talking about Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell. He's also got Alphonso Jackson in hud. He's got Rod Paige, secretary of Education.
What else do you like about Bush?
George Bush utilizes the big stick. Whatever means necessary. If he wasn't in that White House when we had that despicable attack of terrorism in New York, I shudder to think, I tremble at what would be happening. We would probably have to be doing this interview on the underground, secretly, for fear if we'd go to the street, the treachery that abounds would take alight.
You were such a vocal supporter of Clinton. What's Kerry doing wrong?
The Democrats is not doing nothing wrong. They're doing nothing. Martin Luther King says that both the Republican and the Democrat have a long history of using the black vote as a political football: Promise us everything, give us nothing. Kerry has not promised anything to blacks. That's why I tell every black American: In voting for George Bush, you're voting for yourself. We can go back to being Democrats in the next election. But Kerry did speak before the NAACP.
I don't know what Kerry said, but I could probably write his speech for him: "We gonna work together. It's been too long that you've been denied your rights." And then he's going to smile and say a couple of clichés as to what the freedom movement was and how we were all there. Martin Luther King said we must find a new white liberal. I submit to you, George Walker Bush is that new white liberal.
Has anyone come up after a speech at a black church and said he's changing his vote?
More than you'd ever dream. They don't have to say it for me to know I'm making sense.
Do you benefit from the Bush tax break?
All I can say is, thank God I can afford to pay them. Once I paid over $30 million in taxes over two years. I was so proud!
Would you ever bet on an election?
You know what? I'm betting on this one.
How much?
Not money. I'm betting on power.
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