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Pelosi Address to NAACP's 97th Annual Convention (Caption time **DOUBLE FEATURE**)
Yahoo News ^ | 7/18/06

Posted on 07/18/2006 3:49:29 PM PDT by Libloather

Pelosi Address to NAACP's 97th Annual Convention
58 minutes ago


US Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) pictured here in Washington, DC in April 2006. The US Congress prepared to express its support for Israel and to condemn Hezbollah, in parallel votes in the Senate and the House of Representatives expected before the weekend.(AFP/File/Andrew Councill)

To: National Desk

Contact: Brendan Daly or Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616, both for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

WASHINGTON, July 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke this morning to thousands of members of the NAACP at their 97th annual convention. Below are Pelosi's remarks:

"Thank you, James Ghee for that kind introduction. Thank you to all the members of the board of directors and all of the members of the NAACP. "Thank you, Chairman Julian Bond, President Bruce Gordon. I would also like to salute Lorraine Miller -- President of the Washington Branch of NAACP, Chair of Region 7, and a senior member of my staff

"Many of you know that I represent San Francisco in the Congress of the United States and as the House Democratic Leader, I take great pride in my lifetime membership to the NAACP, San Francisco Chapter.

"And as House Democratic Leader I am proud to bring greetings of more than 200 House Democrats, who voted 100 percent for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act last week.

"Under the leadership of Congressman Mel Watt, Congressman John Conyers, and Congressman John Lewis, we were able to beat back all the damaging amendments that were put forward. But I'll tell you honestly, the prospect of thousands of NAACP members storming Capitol Hill this week was a great incentive for the Republicans to join us in passing the bill.

"But when you descend on the Hill this week, to the Senate side, be sure you understand and know your power -- it will make all the difference in the world. Storm the Hill, tell the Senate the Voting Rights Act must be passed in its full strength. We will not rest until it passes both Houses and is sent to the President for his signature.

"When Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King went to India to learn more about non-violence, they learned a translation of the word non-violence in Sanskrit is 'truth insistence.' To insist on the truth, and isn't that what they were doing?

"And even now today it is still important. When we insist on knowing the truth, the public is aware that one in five children lives in poverty; that 46 million Americans have no health insurance; 6 million hard working Americans making minimum wage have not gotten a raise in nine years; and more than 200,000 survivors of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana alone are still living in trailers. When that truth is revealed, two-thirds of Americans say the country is going in the wrong direction.

"Democrats are proposing a New Direction to take our country forward for all Americans, not just the privileged few. And when we do take back the Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus will lead the way to the change that is necessary for our nation.

"Just picture this, on the very first day of Congress, under the leadership of the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, we will pass an Honest Leadership, Open Government package to restore integrity, civility and accountability to Congress and the American people. That will be the first order of business and Jim Clyburn is the leader working on that package.

"The first legislative piece of business will be led by Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who will be the Chair of the Homeland Security Committee. He will say that our first priority is to make America safer, and we intend to begin by passing legislation that will implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and giving our first responders what they need to keep America's neighborhoods and homes in our country safe.

"And then, under the leadership of Congressman Charlie Rangel, as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Democrats will make our economy more fair. We will begin by giving America a raise by passing an increase in the minimum wage. We will remove tax incentives for corporations to send jobs oveseas, and Charlie Rangel will lead us.

"Another place where a New Direction is needed is with the war in Iraq. We must change the direction there. We must insist on the truth there. The war in Iraq has exacted a terrible cost on the United States: in lives lost and shattered; in the readiness of our armed forces; in our standing in the eyes of the world; and in our ability to do the kind of daily diplomatic work necessary to prevent crises from developing.

"This is a very difficult time in the world. You can't turn on the TV without seeing death and destruction. I don't come here to point fingers, I come here to extend the hand for all of us to work together to take us in a New Direction, in a new era of braveness internationally. President Kennedy in his inaugural address, said, 'Ask not what your country can do for you.' But the very next line in his speech he said, 'To the citizens of the world: ask not what America can do for you, but what we can do working together for the freedom of mankind.' And that cooperation is what we have to do as a country - not condescension. We know how to do this.

"Democrats are proposing Real Security, based on real diplomacy, and based on respect. Diplomacy that is of course backed up by a military second to none -- and aren't we proud of our men and women in uniform? A values-based diplomacy that says working together, we can fight terrorism, we can stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and we can build the alliance to get that done. We can alleviate poverty and stop the fury of despair. America can lead the way to a new era of greatness for our country internationally, but in order to do that we need a New Direction, internationally and here at home.

"This year, I've had the privilege to lead a delegation mostly comprised of Members of the Congressional Black Caucus to Darfur. We can no longer use terms like, 'never again,' when it comes to genocide, if we don't stop the genocide in Darfur. We lose our moral high ground if we talk about it, but not do enough to end it. And in the Congress, our Congressional Black Caucus is leading the way. "Here at home, I was also privileged to lead a delegation to the Gulf region after Hurricane Katrina. How astounding it was for us to see in our very own country, a situation that must be changed, that cannot be tolerated, and that change must come from the people of the region. We want to work together on it, so that the leadership springs from the people who are affected and the change comes from those affected.

"Chairman Julian Bond said that it is important for elected officials, including the President, to hear the concerns of African Americans. I agree with you, Chairman Bond. And when you said that, it reminded me of a story about Franklin Roosevelt. Before President Roosevelt died, he said that if we were a nation at war he didn't want a state funeral because of the cost, pomp, circumstance, and the distraction from the fact that our young people were in harm's way. So they took him by train from Warm Springs, Georgia to Washington, D.C., where he lay in state at the White House, and then they took him to Hyde Park in New York, where he was buried. Along the way, thousands of people lined the tracks. So many people wept -- migrant workers, farmers, poor people -- you could see these people paying their respects. A reporter went up to a mourner and said, 'Why are you here? Did you know Franklin Roosevelt?' The mourner replied, 'No, I didn't know President Roosevelt, but he knew me.' That's where we should be as elected officials -- accountable to the people.

"I'm here to salute the NAACP, because you know your people. You know their hopes, dreams, and aspirations for their children, as well as the challenges that stand in the way. As we go forward with our New Direction, we know that working together, we can do better, and that we can take the country into a New Direction."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 97th; address; annual; caption; congress; convention; double; feature; naacp; pelosi; rats; time
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"Under the leadership of Congressman Mel Watt..."

Mel Watt was recently arrested during some NAACP event. Anyone else notice how the 'leadership of Congressman William Jefferson (D-La.)' isn't really mentioned?

1 posted on 07/18/2006 3:49:36 PM PDT by Libloather
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To: Libloather

Time to call the IRS. The NAACP is a tax-free organization, isn't it?


2 posted on 07/18/2006 3:51:12 PM PDT by King Moonracer
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To: Libloather

My face is melting! I'm MELTING!!!!


3 posted on 07/18/2006 3:51:15 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Democrats, TAX,SPEND,APPEASEMENT and TREASON..is not a winning platform.)
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To: Libloather

Yeah, just Nazi Pelosi our pandering for the black vote. And stirring up the self-victimized natives. Nothing new. Same old ractist crap.


4 posted on 07/18/2006 3:51:20 PM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: Libloather; windcliff

Ugly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


5 posted on 07/18/2006 3:53:44 PM PDT by I Drive Too Fast
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To: Libloather

What I really find hard to believe is the Democrats have been preaching the same poverty crap to these people for 40 years and there are more living in poverty now and they still vote for them.


6 posted on 07/18/2006 3:53:48 PM PDT by rocksblues (Liberals will stop at nothing.)
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To: Libloather

Mel Watt? The lech that was nailed for hooking up with under age girls?? This is the Democrats' great black role model?


7 posted on 07/18/2006 3:59:03 PM PDT by MikeA (Not voting out of anger in November is a vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House)
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To: Libloather
How you going to keep them down on the farm
after they've seen Pelosi?
8 posted on 07/18/2006 3:59:30 PM PDT by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ("Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto")
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To: rocksblues
That really should be one of the Repubs platforms. "you have voted Dem for 40 years, what has it gotten you? Give the Repubs a try."
9 posted on 07/18/2006 4:02:48 PM PDT by MPJackal ("If you are not with us, you are against us.")
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To: Libloather


Nancy Pelosi's still around? How quaint.


10 posted on 07/18/2006 4:04:40 PM PDT by Tzimisce (How Would Mohammed Vote? Hillary for President! www.dndorks.com)
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To: Libloather

I love people of color , Trust me !!!


11 posted on 07/18/2006 4:05:02 PM PDT by lionheart 247365 (( I.S.L.A.M. stands for - Islams Spiritual Leaders Advocate Murder .. .. .. ))
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To: Libloather
"I--hold on---just--wait a sec....

BURRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPP!

"Ah, that's better."

12 posted on 07/18/2006 4:05:28 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (http://www.savethesoldiers.com/)
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To: MikeA
Mel Watt? The lech that was nailed for hooking up with under age girls??

You may be thinking about some other elected idiot. Mel Watt is from North Carolina. Wasn't the other perp from Detroit?

13 posted on 07/18/2006 4:05:30 PM PDT by Libloather (All global warming is local...)
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To: Libloather
I'm here to salute the NAACP, because you know your people.

How patronizing of you to say such a thing, Nancy...

14 posted on 07/18/2006 4:05:48 PM PDT by The Electrician ("Government is the only enterprise in the world which expands in size when its failures increase.")
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To: Libloather

"Hezbollah doesn't have any African-American voters in it, does it?"


15 posted on 07/18/2006 4:06:44 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (http://www.savethesoldiers.com/)
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To: MNJohnnie
My face is melting! I'm MELTING!!!!

Isn't that a predictable symptom after aged Botox is exposed to the sun?

16 posted on 07/18/2006 4:09:26 PM PDT by Libloather (All global warming is local...)
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To: MikeA

Rep. Watt arrested in protest over Darfur
May 17th, 2006

Congressman Mel Watt (D-NC) was arrested Tuesday in a protest. Seven other Congressional members were also arrested, including civil rights pioneer, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA).

According to a Charlotte Observer article, the Congressional members were arrested for blocking the entrance to the Sudanese embassy, in protest of the practically ignored situation of genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region.



http://tinyurl.com/gh7m7



Also arrested were Democratic Reps. John Lewis of Georgia, Barbara Lee of California, Eddie Bernice Johnson and Al Green of Texas, Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.

The lawmakers were led away in plastic handcuffs and paid $50 fines, Johnson said.


17 posted on 07/18/2006 4:12:47 PM PDT by kcvl
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To: Libloather

Oh yeah, no, he was from Chicago the one I'm thinking of. What was that fool's name...I think it was something Watt.


18 posted on 07/18/2006 4:13:35 PM PDT by MikeA (Not voting out of anger in November is a vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House)
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To: Libloather

Chicago. Mel Reynolds.


19 posted on 07/18/2006 4:15:11 PM PDT by toddlintown
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To: Libloather

..."is that a french fry I smell from 2 miles away? You know I never had a french fry until two weeks ago. I didn't recognize it until it was on the end of my fork"

Doogle

20 posted on 07/18/2006 5:21:42 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF...8th TFW...Ubon Thailand...408thMMS..."69"...Night Line Delivery...AMMO!!)
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