NAACP says administration failing to address civil rights
Posted on 07/09/2002 7:29:06 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
NAACP says administration failing to address civil rights
Bush, Justice Department say track records prove otherwise
07/09/2002
HOUSTON - Civil rights have faltered during the Bush administration, speakers appearing before the NAACP told delegates to the organization's national convention in Houston.
President Bush fired back Monday afternoon, arguing that the administration's record shows otherwise.
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond opened the convention Sunday, charging that Mr. Bush has failed to keep a promise made to the NAACP convention in 2000 to enforce civil rights laws.
"We knew he was in the oil business," Mr. Bond said. "We just didn't know it was snake oil."
Mr. Bond said that since Mr. Bush's election, groups opposed to civil rights have "ascended to unprecedented positions of power within the federal government."
Mr. Bush, at a White House news conference Monday, dismissed criticism.
"Let's see," he said, answering a reporter's question. "There I was, sitting around ... the table with foreign leaders, looking at Colin Powell and Condi Rice. Yeah." Mr. Bush then moved on to another question.
AP "You can't be president of all the people when you only want to deal with some of the people," said NAACP president Kweisi Mfume at the national convention in Houston. |
Mr. Powell, secretary of state, and Condoleezza Rice, national security adviser, are black.
Later, deputy White House press secretary Scott McClellan defended the administration on civil rights.
"The president believes in bringing people together, uniting America around our common goals," he said. "The administration has a proven record of vigorously enforcing our civil rights laws."
Mr. Bond singled out for criticism Attorney General John Ashcroft, describing him as a cross between former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and the Rev. Jerry Falwell, neither regarded by blacks as a friend.
Justice Department spokeswoman Barbara Comstock said the remarks at the NAACP convention "ignore the record."
She said the department has conducted more than 300 investigations into alleged hate crimes since Sept. 11, initiating about 70 prosecutions. She also cited school desegregation, excessive use of force by police and voting rights violations as areas the department has pursued.
Appearing at the convention, the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Monday characterized Mr. Bush, leaders in Congress and judges on the courts as "the most threatening combination to civil rights in 50 years."
NAACP President Kweisi Mfume criticized Mr. Bush for not meeting with the group to discuss policy since he took office.
"You can't be president of all the people when you only want to deal with some of the people," he said.
Mr. Mfume said Democrats also have work to do. He accused the party of "taking our votes for granted."
He also addressed bigotry by some blacks, saying: "Black bigotry is just as cruel and evil as white bigotry."
The biggest applause Monday went to the line in Mr. Mfume's speech in which he criticized hip-hop music for denigrating black culture.
In other action Monday, the NAACP complained that it's taking too long to enact election reforms to ensure that minority voters can cast ballots and get their votes counted without the problems that occurred in Florida in 2000, where Mr. Bush won by fewer than 600 votes.
A report released at the news conference evaluated progress in all 50 states, giving 24 grades of D or F.
Texas was one of the states receiving a failing grade, along with an "incomplete" because some efforts were under way, Mr. Mfume said.
Spokeswomen for Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Secretary of State Gwyn Shea responded that the NAACP report did not take into account 14 laws enacted during the 2001 Legislature and signed into law.
Staff writers G. Robert Hillman and Michelle Mittelstadt in Washington contributed to this report.
E-mail bnichols@dallasnews.com
And exactly what else would we expect from Kwambly Mujumbly-wumbly and his race baiters? “Civil rights have reached the point where people are judged by their own abilities and character. Affirmative action, hate crimes legistlation, and other government preferences are no longer needed nor is the NAACP. Thanks for all your support, now let’s all go find real, productive jobs.”
Not likely…
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
Most threatening combination.... beats Stalin and Mao, Hitler and Mussolini, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda.
The Revvvverrrrund Jacksssson has come undone.
"I sit across the table from Condi Rice and Colin Powell everyday."
Enough said.
And just as an election cycle begins to get into full swing. No racial politics being played here...
People who believe this stuff are so stupid/democRAT...
"Walking with Liberals," coming this fall, from Fox!
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
Gee, the NAALCP slanders and disses the new president, then can't figure out why they aren't invited to meetings with Dubya! Duh. Maybe someone should explain to them how responsible adults behave when they are interested in participating in a grown-up manner at the policy table.
The NAACP is run by clowns and no one, other than racists, take it seriously anymore.
How much you want to be that those 24 states are the ones with Republican governors and administrations?
Non-partisan indeed...
Exactly how does George Bush enforce civil rights laws?
Mr. Bond said that since Mr. Bush's election, groups opposed to civil rights have "ascended to unprecedented positions of power within the federal government."
????? I did not know that "groups" were given positions of power, only individuals. Interesting. Bond admits that from his point of view, an appointed person is supposed to serve some "group".
Mr. Bond singled out for criticism Attorney General John Ashcroft, describing him as a cross between former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and the Rev. Jerry Falwell, neither regarded by blacks as a friend.
Although I have many problems with Ashcroft, I have seen nothing he has done or said targeted at blacks. And his stupid mention of Falwell shows his contempt for Christians.
"You can't be president of all the people when you only want to deal with some of the people," he said.
Ironic comments comming from a person heading a group that represents the views of less than 5%-6% of the country. There will always be some jerkoffs in society whom you must ignore, this time, it happens to be the race-bating NAACP.
By the tone of the article, you would think blacks have been rounded up en masse since January 2001 and The Justice Department has started burning down black neighborhoods.
Perhaps a name change is warranted, National Association for the Advancement of Clown People (NAACP)!
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