-Caveat Lector- <http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/bal-te.naacp18feb18.story?coll=bal% 2Dnews%2Dnation> NAACP leaders accuse Bush of dividing nation Mfume to seek meeting on 'issues of urgency' By Laurie Willis Sun Staff Originally published February 18, 2001 WASHINGTON - President Bush came under heavy attack yesterday as leaders of the NAACP accused him of sharply dividing the nation instead of uniting it as he has vowed to do. Julian Bond, chairman of the group's board of directors, and President Kweisi Mfume criticized Bush during the civil rights organization's annual meeting, saying he has talked a good game but done little else. "Instead of uniting us, the new administration almost daily separates and divides," Bond told about 350 people gathered in a ballroom at the Capital Hilton. "They selected nominees from the Taliban wing of American politics, appeased the wretched appetites of the extreme right wing and chose Cabinet officials whose devotion to the Confederacy is nearly canine in its uncritical affection." During his speech, often peppered by applause, Bond pulled no punches, saying Bush "had his picture taken with more black people than voted for him in last year's election." He said it's doubtful progress will continue under Bush, who many African-Americans say was given the election by the U.S. Supreme Court. Mfume said he would request a meeting with Bush soon on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "I will reach out to this president" in an effort to "try to broker some sense of real progress," Mfume said. White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said the statements by Mfume and Bond lack merit. "The president has made an unprecedented effort to reach out to many segments of the American population," Lisaius said yesterday. "During his first weeks in office he has had a record-setting number of meetings with members of Congress, outside groups and others. He had an early meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus that went very well. The president will continue to meet with different groups during his tenure as president." Lisaius said Bush "will cross bridges" as they come with respect to scheduling appointments. Mfume also said that he would try to meet with House Speaker Dennis Hastert and House Majority Leader Dick Armey to discuss the NAACP's agenda. In an interview, he said he also will request a meeting with Attorney General John Ashcroft, the former Missouri senator whose nomination the NAACP and other civil rights groups strongly opposed. "We're concerned, but not shocked," Mfume said of Bush's actions since he took office last month. "I think it's important that this association, in its nonpartisanship nature, take the first step. Although it may not have set well with some people, I think it's important that I make the first step." Mfume said he wants to talk to Bush about "issues of urgency ... that we can agree on." Among critical issues for the NAACP are education, economics, hate crimes and racial profiling, he said. "The Republican Party has prided itself on 'Teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry,' but a lack of access to capital and credit continues to impede communities across the nation," Mfume said. Mfume said he thinks that there's "a great deal of pressure" on the Republican Party to deal with racial profiling and hate crimes. "Our desire is not to embarrass them but rather to open doors," Mfume said. "The last four years we've been trying to pass hate-crimes legislation that's been bottled up in Congress." Mfume, who is negotiating a new contract with the NAACP's board, said he also will talk to Bush about access to health care and about breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and AIDS, which affect African-Americans at much higher rates than they do whites. The former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus said he is comfortable helping to lead and build the NAACP, a role he took in February 1996 and wants to continue. "One of the reasons why I didn't leave to run for the office of mayor [of Baltimore] is the same reason I want to stay," he said. "I don't leave a job until I feel it is finished. Whether that means another year or two years or three years remains to be seen." ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: *Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
