posted on September 28, 2007 09:29:32 AM new
...do the repugs just have NOTHING to offer ???? (Notice : ALL their candidates are white males.)
Debate Over Decision to Skip Minority Forum
By MICHAEL COOPER
Published: September 27, 2007
As the Democrats debated last night in New Hampshire, a debate broke out about the decision of the leading Republican presidential hopefuls to skip a televised forum tonight that focuses on issues important to black and Hispanic voters.
None of the leading Republican candidates plan to attend the forum, which the television host Tavis Smiley will moderate at Morgan State University in Maryland and which will be broadcast live on public television. All the leading Democratic candidates attended a similar debate moderated by Mr. Smiley in June at Howard University in Washington.
Instead of attending the televised forum, which has been in the works for months, Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mitt Romney are scheduled to be in California, Fred D. Thompson in Tennessee and Senator John McCain in New York.
“I’m very disappointed by it,” said Michael Steele, the chairman of Gopac, an organization that tries to groom Republican candidates, who said he had spent months trying to have all the candidates attend the forum. “The hope was that it would be a chance for these guys to get out there and have a direct conversation with African-Americans and minorities across the country and lay out their visions.”
Mr. Steele said that shunning the debate could not only harm the party’s prospects with black voters, but with independent voters, as well.
“It doesn’t help,” said Mr. Steele, who became the first African-American to win statewide office in Maryland when he was elected lieutenant governor. “It’s hard enough as a black Republican to stand up in the community and say, ‘Trust me, these guys really do care,’ and then, when given the opportunity to show that, these folks don’t see the follow- through.”
A Republican debate on Univision, the Spanish-language television network, was canceled this month because Mr. McCain was the only leading candidate to agree to attend. (The top Democratic candidates, by contrast, did debate on the network.)
The decision to skip the forum tonight was criticized in an editorial in The Washington Times, a conservative-leaning newspaper, that said, “It is striking that the Republican front-runners believe that some run-of-the mill fund-raiser is more important than building up their relationships with black and Hispanic voters, groups who flock to the Democratic Party in droves.”
Donald E. Scoggins, the president of Republicans for Black Empowerment, a national group, said he hoped that the furor caused by the decisions to skip the debates would persuade the leading candidates to find another forum to address black voters.
“We feel that they’re losing a great opportunity to bring to the black community views that we feel, if they were aired, would go a long way toward dispelling the myths involving Republicans and the black community,” Mr. Scoggins said.
And he said he worried that if the Republican Party did not adapt it would find itself increasingly out of step with the changing demographics of the nation.
“I feel that the Republicans cannot continue to send subliminal messages to the base when it comes to dealing with race,” Mr. Scoggins said.
posted on September 28, 2007 09:38:30 AM new
As their own obama said....can't make ALL the debates. He's only attending the 'official' debates, himself.
=============
My personal opinion on this is....since the black community THINKS [falsely] that the dem party does SO much for them then let them vote for the dems. They'll provide them with more 'free, taxpayer funding entitlements' - MAYBE....but they'll promise them the world. LOL LOL LOL
How I see it is that the intelligent black community has just begun to start noticing that the dem party has done LITTLE, if anything, for them since back in the '60s. LOL LOL LOL
AND besides that....President Bush received approx. 40% more black votes than the party had before. Maybe some INTELLIGENT blacks are beginning to see the 'light'. And it's NOT coming from the dem party. They're all TALK.
Then we also have the 'go where the voters are likely to be more 'open' to what the Republican party HAS done for them. And what they've TRIED to do for them that the dem party has OPPOSED.
Maybe someday more blacks will wake up and realize that ANY help that has been offered to their community HAS come from the Republicans....NOT the dems.
Then, some will NEVER wake up. They'll continue voting for the dems because they believe they'll get more 'free government aid' from them. MORE entitlements.
After all - they ENCOURAGE MORE GOV. DEPENDENCE.....for their votes. tsk tsk tsk
posted on September 28, 2007 09:58:15 AM new
"""Then, some will NEVER wake up. They'll continue voting for the dems because they believe they'll get more 'free government aid' from them. MORE entitlements.
After all - they ENCOURAGE MORE GOV. DEPENDENCE.....for their votes. tsk tsk tsk""""
posted on September 28, 2007 10:19:39 AM new
Linda_K
posted on September 28, 2007 09:38:30 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As their own obama said....can't make ALL the debates. He's only attending the 'official' debates, himself.
=============
My personal opinion on this is....since the black community THINKS [falsely] that the dem party does SO much for them then let them vote for the dems. They'll provide them with more 'free, taxpayer funding entitlements' - MAYBE....but they'll promise them the world. LOL LOL LOL
How I see it is that the intelligent black community has just begun to start noticing that the dem party has done LITTLE, if anything, for them since back in the '60s. LOL LOL LOL
AND besides that....President Bush received approx. 40% more black votes than the party had before. Maybe some INTELLIGENT blacks are beginning to see the 'light'. And it's NOT coming from the dem party. They're all TALK.
Then we also have the 'go where the voters are likely to be more 'open' to what the Republican party HAS done for them. And what they've TRIED to do for them that the dem party has OPPOSED.
Maybe someday more blacks will wake up and realize that ANY help that has been offered to their community HAS come from the Republicans....NOT the dems.
Then, some will NEVER wake up. They'll continue voting for the dems because they believe they'll get more 'free government aid' from them. MORE entitlements.
After all - they ENCOURAGE MORE GOV. DEPENDENCE.....for their votes. tsk tsk tsk""""
posted on September 28, 2007 10:28:29 AM new
"Maybe some INTELLIGENT blacks are beginning to see the 'light'. And it's NOT coming from the dem party. They're all TALK."
You say that as though intelligent blacks are a rarity. They are so stupid that it has taken them all this time to discover that the Democratic party is bad for them. What racist hogwash. At least the Democratic party has the respect to show up for debates focusing on black and latino communities. How stupid is the Republican party for ignoring this large constituency?
posted on September 28, 2007 10:57:34 AM new
Correction - I was WRONG.
Bush received only 11% of the black vote in '04....44% of the hispanic vote. Sorry - should have checked the stats first.
There is NO reason to waste time with "Tavis Smiley and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos who are in the bag for the Democrats." Better to spend one's time/money and efforts on those willing to be open to the positions of the republicans whose party HAS fought for them....so unlike the dems they foolishly support/vote for. That IS stupid, imo. Be they black, brown, yellow, pink or purple. Stupidity doesn't recognize color of their skin - just their lack of being able to use 'reason'.
CC sounds like she believed all dems/libs should have appeared on the Fox debate. Funny that she didn't. Same - same.
And for those who don't remember.....THEY refused to show up for that event. Hard questions would have been asked and they were AFRAID to show up.
====================
Using CC's thinking process...then obama is also racist in avoiding the WHITE voters by refusing to appear in front of them. He's ONLY appearing in front of 'party affiliated group debates'.
But again, the liberals hold republicans to different standards than they do their own. How funny.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on September 28, 2007 11:45:11 AM new
So why should the Republican candidates allow their opponents to define their intentions? All this is is another demo smear and propaganda scheme.
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.George S. Patton
posted on September 28, 2007 12:43:52 PM new
No doubt linduh is a racist !
""""""Then, some will NEVER wake up. They'll continue voting for the dems because they believe they'll get more 'free government aid' from them. MORE entitlements.
After all - they ENCOURAGE MORE GOV. DEPENDENCE.....for their votes. tsk tsk tsk""""
posted on September 28, 2007 05:24:57 PM new
"Then, some will NEVER wake up. They'll continue voting for the dems because they believe they'll get more 'free government aid' from them. MORE entitlements.
After all - they ENCOURAGE MORE GOV. DEPENDENCE.....for their votes. tsk tsk tsk""""
Now Linda,are you saying blacks are only interested in "free government aid and more entitlements?"
posted on September 28, 2007 05:36:26 PM new
Oh this is getting even MORE hysterical. LOL LOL LOL
Now you're defending what President Bush said? And of course, NOT noting just what context it was said in.
Nope....you just can't answer the hard questions....you always have avoided them like the plague. You always have SOMETHING to do when asked a question you can't answer....don't have an answer for.
You're funny, CC. The OP is NOT about President Bush's positions....but rather those who chose to NOT attend a liberal debate for whatever their own reasons were. Most likely, as with MOST of the candidates on BOTH sides....their scheduling didn't permit it.
But I KNOW...it's okay that liberals use that excuse...then it's to be believed. When others say it.....and they're republicans....then their racists...according to the wacko lefties.
posted on September 28, 2007 05:45:14 PM new
"...then obama is also racist in avoiding the WHITE voters by refusing to appear in front of them. He's ONLY appearing in front of 'party affiliated group debates'."
posted on September 28, 2007 05:53:07 PM new
From the Chicago Tribune:
President Bush, making his first appearance before the NAACP as president, promised today to sign a renewal of the Voting Rights Act.
(President Bush addresses the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People convention, Thursday, July 20, 2006 in Washington. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais.)
But it is the renewal of this Republican president's own frayed relations with the African-American community that weighs on the White House's minds as midterm congressional elections near.
Bush, who courted the traditionally Democratic Black vote during his first campaign for president in 2000 – and eagerly addressed the NAACP convention that year – has turned down invitations to return for five consecutive years. White House officials have sometimes cited "scheduling conflicts,'' but it actually is the political conflict between Bush and outspoken leaders of the NAACP sharply critical of the president's policies that kept Bush away until today.
And today, some say they suspect another political motive in the president's reappearance at the annual convention of the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization, meeting in a wide, chilly hall of the Washington Convention Center.
"He came when he ran for office,'' said Shirley Jordan of Philadelphia, who serves as state secretary for the NAACP in Pennsylvania, "and he's coming today because of the mid-term elections.''
There was an only somewhat restrained sarcasm in the welcoming of the president today, with NAACP Chairman Julian Bond telling those assembling: "It says in the Bible, 'Welcome the stranger.' We're going to do that a little bit later.''
The president was welcomed with a standing ovation as loud as the applause that greeted Bond and other NAACP leaders approaching the podium. With the Voting Rights Act renewal near, NAACP President Bruce Gordon said: "Please welcome here the president whose signature will make it law.''
"Bruce is a polite guy,'' Bush told the audience with his opening line. "I thought what he was going to say, 'It's about time you showed up,'''' said Bush, eliciting applause and laughter. "And I'm glad I did,'' he said to cheers. "See, I see this as a moment of opportunity. I have come to celebrate the heroism of the civil rights movement and the accomplishments of the NAACP.''
The audience of a few thousand people quickly settled into a polite silence as Bush spoke of the heritage of the civil rights movement and recalled his own recent visit to the motel in Memphis where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and addressed the Rev. Jesse Jackson, here, by his first name.
Many of the president's clearly intended applause lines were greeted with silence, and many booed Bush when he spoke of his support for charter schools, which are privately operated schools licensed by local school boards. They cheered him when he spoke of increasing financial support for public education.
And near the end of his speech, Bush pressed ahead as a heckler was suppressed and led from the room. He quickly regained the floor by thanking the House for reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act, and called on the Senate to pass it promptly – ''without amendment'' – which drew the greatest cheer of the morning. "So that I can sign it into law,'' Bush said to continuing cheers.
(A heckler shouts during President Bush's speech at the NAACP convention on July 20, 2006. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
"Condi Rice understands what this act has meant,'' the president said of his African-American secretary of state. "She told me of her father's long struggle for his right to vote… That right was not fully guaranteed until President Lyndon Johnson signed the act into law.''
The president directly confronted one of the issues that has raised deep concern among African-American leaders, the government's handling of Hurricane Katrina, which left many of the black residents of New Orleans homeless.
"I understand that racism still lingers in America,'' Bush said. "It's a lot easier to change a law than to change a human heart.
"And I understand that a lot of African-Americans distrust my political party,'' the president said, drawing perhaps the loudest applause of his morning.*** "I consider it a tragedy that the party of Abraham Lincoln let go of its historical ties with the African American community.''***
Jackson, a veteran of the civil rights movement, made it clear in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the convention hall that many African-Americans still have sharp differences with the president, who garnered just 9 percent of the black vote during his first election as president and 10 percent at re-eelction..
"He no doubt will say he is signing the Voting Rights Act, which is the crown jewel,'' Jackson said. "But the (reenactment of the) Voting Rights Act was not initiated from the White House. This has not been leadership top-down. This has been rebellion bottom-up.''
Bush's return also coincides with the seating of a new NAACP president, Gordon, voicing a more conciliatory tone than his predecessor, Kweisi Mfume – who found himself at sharp odds with the Bush administration in 2004 when the Internal Revenue Service started inquiring about the NAACP's tax-exempt status.
"Shortly after (Gordon) was elected, he came to the Oval Office,'' Bush said. "He doesn't mince words. It's clear what's on his mind. He's also a results-oriented person. I'm pleased to say that I'm an admirer of Bruce Gordon… I don't know if that helps you or hurts you, but it's the truth.
"I don't expect Bruce to become a Republican, and neither do you,'' Bush said. "But I do want to work with him. And that's what I'm here to talk to you about.''
The first year Bush stayed away, in 2001, he sent a videotaped greeting instead. With his return in person, however, the Democratic National Committee is cutting Bush no slack.
"President Bush has been the first sitting president since Warren Harding to refuse to speak to the NAACP," the DNC said. "President Bush's (several)-year snub of one of the most important and respected civil rights organizations is further evidence that Republicans' rhetoric of outreach to African Americans rings hollow."
The president, Jackson said, has a responsibility to appear here.
"It's his duty,'' Jackson said. "There are veterans here – Second World War, Korea, Iraq. There are citizens here who pay taxes, and citizens who feel anxious that their vote is not being protected.'' But there is much more on voters minds today, Jackson said. There is the minimum wage. There are lost jobs and benefits. "There are a range of issues we're interested in here today.''
The fact that the president was here today is partly a measure of a reorganized inner circle in the White House that is interested in repairing some of the rifts that Bush has developed with interest groups such as the NAACP at a juncture when the president's job approval still hovers near its all-time low.
The president's previous press secretary, Scott McClellan, explained away Bush's absence from the NAACP convention in 2004 as a scheduling problem – but also acknowledged White House discontent with the leadership's criticism.
"I think it really is disappointing to see the current leadership continue to repeat the hostile rhetoric that they have used, which really shows that they're not interested in a constructive dialogue,'' McClellan said in July 2004. "Nevertheless, the president is committed to continuing to reaching out to the African American community, and committed to continuing reaching out to NAACP members.''
The president's new press secretary struck a decidedly different tone in recent days, when asked about Bush's first appearance here since the 2000 campaign.
Bush "has an important role to play, not only in making the case for civil rights, but maybe more importantly, the case for unity," Tony Snow said this week. "Because as long as we have a nation that's in any way divided along racial lines or where politics become a source of division rather one of civil debate and trying to perfect the democracy, that's a problem."
Many in the audience here today welcomed the president.
"It's good that he's finally here, because he is our president,'' said the Rev. Cleveland Edwards, pastor of St. Jude Baptist Church in Philadelphia. "We may not agree with a lot of his opinions. But he is our president, and he should come and give his opinions, plus or minus. We're showing respect for the office.''
The Rev. Carl Fitchett, pastor of Mt. Moriah Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia, wasn't so convinced.
"Bush's advisers don't know what they're talking about,'' Fitchett said. "The NAACP is not a Democratic organization. There are many people in the NAACP who are Republicans. The NAACP is a very diverse group of diverse individuals.''
Nevertheless, Fitchett is one Democratic member of the NAACP who remains sharply at odds with the politics of Bush and the Republican Party.
"The Republicans are very good at coming up with phony issues,'' Fitchett said from his seat near the front rows today. "Stem-cell research is a phony issue. Flag-burning is a phony issue. Reading the Bible in school is a phony issue. The real issues are health care, ending the war… The real issue is also a free America.''
Here is the entire text. Not out of context. I was not defending Bush's position on anything. Just pointing out that even President Bush is not as racist as you are.
posted on September 28, 2007 06:04:46 PM new
Come on CC.....answer what the dems have done for the black community since the '06s.
Can't or won't.
==================
"Bush, who courted the traditionally Democratic Black vote during his first campaign for president in 2000 – and eagerly addressed the NAACP convention that year – has turned down invitations to return for five consecutive years."
Five years he avoided them? Bet you can't guess why either. LOL LOL LOL Notice any change that occurred in the group that then CAUSED him to change his past no-show behavior???
Nope, probably not. Much easier to falsely accuse people of being racists. LOL LOL
posted on September 28, 2007 06:22:48 PM new
linduh answered the question, coach, with her statement. Now she's trying one her old dodges
Here's how it really went :
Linda_K
posted on September 28, 2007 09:38:30 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As their own obama said....can't make ALL the debates. He's only attending the 'official' debates, himself. """
Their ""OWN"" !!!!!!!!!!!! RACIST!!!
Then lindaKKK continues:
My personal opinion on this is....since the black community THINKS [falsely] that the dem party does SO much for them then let them vote for the dems. They'll provide them with more 'free, taxpayer funding entitlements' - MAYBE....but they'll promise them the world. LOL LOL LOL
How I see it is that the intelligent black community has just begun to start noticing that the dem party has done LITTLE, if anything, for them since back in the '60s. LOL LOL LOL
Then, some will NEVER wake up. They'll continue voting for the dems because they believe they'll get more 'free government aid' from them. MORE entitlements.
After all - they ENCOURAGE MORE GOV. DEPENDENCE.....for their votes. tsk tsk tsk"""
mingotree
posted on September 28, 2007 12:43:52 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No doubt linduh is a racist !
""""""Then, some will NEVER wake up. They'll continue voting for the dems because they believe they'll get more 'free government aid' from them. MORE entitlements.
After all - they ENCOURAGE MORE GOV. DEPENDENCE.....for their votes. tsk tsk tsk""""
Great proof you are a RACIST, linduh !
No surprise......""
coach81938
posted on September 28, 2007 05:24:57 PM new
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Then, some will NEVER wake up. They'll continue voting for the dems because they believe they'll get more 'free government aid' from them. MORE entitlements.
After all - they ENCOURAGE MORE GOV. DEPENDENCE.....for their votes. tsk tsk tsk""""
Now Linda,are you saying blacks are only interested in "free government aid and more entitlements?"
Linda_K
posted on September 28, 2007 05:29:31 PM new
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I should answer YOUR questions...when you RUN AWAY from mine?
posted on September 30, 2007 09:35:20 AM new
Linda_K
posted on September 28, 2007 06:04:46 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come on CC.....answer what the dems have done for the black community since the '06s.
Can't or won't.""
Well, it's a given YOU won't answer what have the repugs done for blacks ever????
Consensus on Meet the Press today....bad move by Republicans no matter what their excuse
Ya know, that debate was to be televised on NPR. SOME neocons scream that NPR is biased, that it's "liberal". Well, if Republican candidates don't show up........
posted on September 30, 2007 09:39:11 AM new
Not true....ANOTHER LIE coming from sybil.
She's FULL of them.
I have mentioned several times on this board what President Bush HAS done and has attempted to do for the black community.
And I've also mentioned the fact that some of what he has tried to do to help improve their chances for obtaining success in their lifes has been VOTED AGAINST by the liberals.
Because sybil can't grasp the written word....can't remember what I've previously posted ....doesn't mean I didn't. Just means she likes to continue to live in her little hatefilled world of DENIAL. That's her problem.
posted on September 30, 2007 09:57:18 AM new
linduhKKK, """Not true....ANOTHER LIE coming from sybil."""
( Could you possibly point out the lie????, Didn't think so)
"""She's FULL of them.
I have mentioned several times on this board what President Bush HAS done and has attempted to do for the black community.
And I've also mentioned the fact that some of what he has tried to do to help improve their chances for obtaining success in their lifes has been VOTED AGAINST by the liberals.
Because sybil can't grasp the written word"""
(OK, this is a doozy since linduhKKK can't even understand her own OP !!!! Who said WHAT, linduh, in the "did a Democrat say that" thread ???)
....can't remember what I've previously posted ....doesn't mean I didn't. Just means she likes to continue to live in her little hatefilled world of DENIAL. That's her problem."""
Excuse No. 45 "I already posted that" LOLOLLLL!
And, I see you took my directive to continue to not answer questions.
posted on October 1, 2007 04:31:48 PM new
The way I see it is that the Republicans can avoid this type of debate if they want to. It is for them to decide and as such if there are consequences, then it will be them that will face those consequences.
posted on October 1, 2007 06:28:16 PM new
Consequences???? LOL
Again a liberal who appears NOT to be aware of the FACTS.
With approx. 10% of the voters being black....and less that 10% of those numbers actually voting for republicans.....oh yea, the 'loss/consequences' will be HUGE. NOT!!!!
Again, just the liberal left trying create MORE racial divide...and showing how they continue to blow something/anything out of all proportion. They're DESPERATE. After all they have no 'plan' to offer the voters....EXCEPT that they're going to raise our taxes.....get us out of Iraq MAYBE in 2013 and pay for ALL their socialistic entitlement programs by eliminating the tax cuts ALL Americans have been enjoying under this administration.
WOW....lol I can hardly wait.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why the republicans not 'showing up' won't make much of a difference in the primaries.
But of course, the liberals HAVE to make a mountain out of a mole-hill. It's what they do best.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
Ann Coulter
[ edited by Linda_K on Oct 1, 2007 06:35 PM ]
posted on October 1, 2007 07:23:08 PM newThey're DESPERATE. After all they have no 'plan' to offer the voters....EXCEPT that they're going to raise our taxes.....get us out of Iraq MAYBE in 2013 and pay for ALL their socialistic entitlement programs by eliminating the tax cuts ALL Americans have been enjoying under this administration.
Someone looks like they are terrified. A whole page of posted started by a mad woman.
Well she should be. Bush is trying to make a legacy for himself and everything is crumbling around him. People from his own party are trying to distance themselves from him.
If we have a Republican in the White House again the war might be over by 2013. The American people want this war to be over with. Bush and company said this was would be two weeks, two months. Typical. They have been LYING and MISLEADING the American people from the start. All Bush has done is make promises since 2004 with no results.
And as for tax increase, not one Republican has yet to talk about the deficit that keeps growing and growing under Bush. Not one of them has offered a solution on how they plan to pay it down.
Save the Cheerleader, save the world
"In my experience, those who do not like you fall into two categories: the stupid, and the envious. - John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester
posted on October 1, 2007 07:43:21 PM new
HOW FUNNY.
Maybe they're not 'talking about it' because it's being automatically REDUCED by the revenues that his tax cuts have caused.
And ld's other INCORRECT statement .....
the war. They haven't and aren't going to stop funding the troops. GET A GRIP and face the FACTS. They're TOO cowardly to actually DO anything EXCEPT talk.
2013 is what the top dems were talking about.....NOT under a republican admins.
The majority of Americans do NOT want to see America FAIL in Iraq.....but I agree....the nutcase liberals still do.
They're in the minortiy.
What a ignorant fool.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
