[A Navy Vet]

Bush didn't have to ignore Jackson, but a private meeting? He just gave Jackson more relevance, just as he was starting to be relegated to second-tier race-baiter.

[FranklinsTower]

The meeting was private, as you said. Did Bush publically endorse Jackson? No. Chalk this up to Rove and Bush getting a closer look at the enemy while defusing potential charges of ignoring the "black community."