NAACP Leader Denounces Conservatives,Says Bush Hostile to Civil Rights

[cal04]

NAACP Leader Denounces Conservatives, Says Bush Hostile to Civil Rights

Renewing his attack on conservatives and the Bush administration Sunday, NAACP chairman Julian Bond accused national leaders of rolling back past civil rights gains, crippling efforts to battle racism and undermining democracy.

"The President likes to talk to the talk, but he doesn't walk the walk," Bond told members at the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. President Bush has turned down five invitations to attend NAACP gatherings, including this year's, and Bond on Sunday invited Bush to the next one, in Washington.

"Mr. President, we're extending the invitation a year in advance," Bond said. "We want to see you and we want you to see us - we want to know you think you're our president, too." Bond also addressed an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, which has said NAACP officials' political statements are partisan comments that violate the group's nonprofit status. "They may try to intimidate us into silence," Bond said, "but we will not be frightened away from the truth."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB33FP30BE.html

[okoboji]

1. uuhhh... they just now figuring this out? n/t

[bluestateguy]

2. There was a time when the NAACP was regarded as too conservative

They even had a white president in the 1950's. Many other US presidents sought to cozy up to the NAACP because it was thought of as the most establishmentarian, least militant group. Other civil rights groups often looked down on NAACP for being too passive. It's obvious this president thinks that by appointing Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell to the Cabinet that that gives him credentials as far as civil rights.

[Judi Lynn]

3. You're right, absolutely right. How many times have you heard freeps

boasting that _Bush has appointed far more black people to high-ranking cabinet positions, and that Clinton appointed nada to his own?

_Bush has acted like a complete @$$hole toward the NAACP since he stole our President's office. I'm glad Julian Bond is putting pressure on him. It's wrong for him to have the last word on the subject.

On edit: It's going to be interesting seeing what his advisors come up with in response to this situation Bond has handed him:

President Bush has turned down five invitations to attend NAACP gatherings, including this year's, and Bond on Sunday invited Bush to the next one, in Washington.

"Mr. President, we're extending the invitation a year in advance," Bond said. "We want to see you and we want you to see us - we want to know you think you're our president, too."
(snip)

[geckosfeet]

4. Jeez,, I hear his policies favor the rich and corporate interests too.

Can ya beat that.

[derbstyron]

5. Well, uh, gosh...who knew?

[Spinzonner]

6. Are they also investigating all the right-wing fundamentalist churches

that overtly support Republicans and George Bush with respect to lifting their exemptions ?

[NNN0LHI]

7. Government chiseling away at civil rights, NAACP speaker says

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-civil11.html

MILWAUKEE -- Civil rights advocates on Sunday called the blurring lines between religion and politics a threat to equal opportunity, and said conservative judges and lawmakers are threatening progressives' gains nationwide.

"You have three branches of government that seem to have an orchestrated approach to, in effect, chisel away at civil rights protections. It's systematic," said Hilary Shelton, director of the Washington, D.C., branch of the NAACP, speaking at the group's annual convention.

The 96th annual gathering of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People comes as the Baltimore-based nonprofit has been struggling to raise money.

Its new president, retired Verizon executive Bruce S. Gordon, has pledged to improve efficiency in the organization and raise an endowment, as well as to stress economic equality.

[ixion]

8. a Verizon exec pledges to improve efficiency?

Oh, puh-leeze. :eyes:


However, I whole-heartedly agree with the premise. Our civil-rights have eroded severly over the past two decades thanks to these self-righteous pols. :grr:

[seeminer21]

9. Ha!

What civil rights? They're pretty much already gone.