NAACP says administration failing to address civil rights

The Dallas Morning News ^ | July 9, 2002 | By BRUCE NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

NAACP says administration failing to address civil rights

Bush, Justice Department say track records prove otherwise

07/09/2002

By BRUCE NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News

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

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/070902dntexnaacp.5e515.html

[Steve_Seattle]

"Mfume criticized Bush for not meeting with the group."

And why should he meet with those a**holes? They have done nothing but mock him and slander him for the past two years. To get respect, you must show respect. A simple formula, but it's lost on these freaks. And they ARE complete, unreformed freaks.

[Wphile]

And Rod Paige too! The Secretary of Education who is actually trying to make the schools in the black community function!!

[Sally II]

When they say civil rights do they mean something more along the lines of affirmative action? Or what? Sheesh! I've worked in the non-profit world for while, and I'm pretty convinced that when someone is on the payroll to advance a certain cause (such as the NAACP) it is never in their best interest to look at the possitive side of things. Their reason for existence depends on finding problems. And that is just sad. They need to reform the non-profit world to give those people more incentives to actually solve the problems rather than feed them.

[CodeJockey]

The NAACP must have its tax exempt status receinded.

They are no more than a pupet of the Democratic Party. What Congressman or Senator is going to have the gonads to bring this topic to the floor?

[Steve_Seattle]

The NAACP just can't accept the fact that the civil rights revolution is over and they won, and that it's time to move on. They are frozen in the mindset of the 60s.

[liberalism=failure]

Message to bush--if you thought all that minority housing money, refusing to come out against AA, and defending it in court was gonna buy you immunity from liberal racebaiting, then you are one dumb, naive, sucker of an SOB.

[PhiKapMom]

More posturing from the Rev Jackson (what a pomposs jerk) -- cannot even believe anyone still listens to him!

Trash President Bush and Republicans, tell lies about him in campaign ads, and expect him to show up to be taunted when he speaks, now just what do they expect? And they want to know why young black entrepeneaus are turning their backs on the NAACP. Maybe the NAACP had better look in the mirror at their hate-filled rhetoric and realize that it isn't selling so well in some households today.

A lot of blacks can look at this President's Administration and see for themselves that his actions with appointing SoS of State Powell, NSA Condi Rice, and Sec of Education Paige speak volumes without saying a word.

Where were the blacks in clinton/gore's administration -- one of them, Ron Brown, ended up dead of what I consider IMHO to be a mysterious crash of an AF plane. How many other cabinet posts did blacks hold during clinton/gore?

How many blacks have been in leadership posts in the Democrats in the House? We have one black on the Republican side and he is the #4 man in the House! Looks to me like if you are a young black entering politics your odds of success in getting into leadership positions and make a difference are stronger on the Republican side. And to the chagrine of the NAACP, that is beginning to happen with younger, better educated blacks in America taking at look at Republicans.

The key is Education and vouchers are going to help provide that education so that parents in the inner cities have a chance to get their children a good education. Why doesn't the NAACP tout vouchers as helping young blacks be able to compete and succeed? No -- they would rather trash the President and Republicans with their hate mongering speeches than make a difference. Almost like they prefer blacks to remain uneducated so they can tell them what to do. Well those days IMO are coming to a close!

[NationUnderGod]

The usual crap. Amazing that being at war doesn't change the game-playing of some. Throwing baseless accusations around is all that organization is about anymore. Nothing constructive, ever.

[bandleader]

Yes,They did imply that "W"bore some responsibility for the dragging death of Mr. Byrd.These guys(NAALCP)are nothing more than race-baiting poverty-pimps!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

Yes, Rod also. Thanks.

[MeekOneGOP]

Where were the blacks in clinton/gore's administration -- one of them, Ron Brown, ended up dead of what I consider IMHO to be a mysterious crash of an AF plane. How many other cabinet posts did blacks hold during clinton/gore?

clintoon's cabinet was a circus act - a cast of clowns.

The key is Education and vouchers are going to help provide that education so that parents in the inner cities have a chance to get their children a good education. Why doesn't the NAACP tout vouchers as helping young blacks be able to compete and succeed? No -- they would rather trash the President and Republicans with their hate mongering speeches than make a difference. Almost like they prefer blacks to remain uneducated so they can tell them what to do. Well those days IMO are coming to a close!

Well I hope you're right. But I bet the Divisive DIMocRATS are not gonna
let it die an easy death.......

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep. Kind of what we've come to expect from the NAACP.

[King Nothing]

it seems to me that the NAACP has completely forgotten about "civil rights" and are now gunning for "special rights."

[Howlin]

Gee, the NAALCP slanders and disses the new president FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, then can't figure out why they aren't invited to meetings with Dubya!

There, that's better.

[Howlin]

I want to meet with Bush, too. And I haven't been slandering him. I think I should get the first meeting.

[american spirit]

Blacks get preferential treatment for college funding, hiring as well as guaranteed gov't. contracts. Add to that their special status when it comes to hate crime stautes yet they continue to bitch and moan about how they're treated by the "system". This is all I've heard since I was a kid and it makes me sick.

[jackd]

Now let me understand this, Boy. The association of colored people are against a Texas boy who happens to be white? (spoken as Foghorn Leghorn) Well shut my mouth, some things never do change, do they!? Doo Dah, Doo Dah. . .

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL!

[MeekOneGOP]

I took it as sarcasm/humor (Foghorn Leghorn is cartoon character).......