Black leaders fault Bush for excluding them

[LauraK]

Source ::: AFP

WASHINGTON: Black leaders in the United States criticised US President George W Bush on Tuesday for failing to consult with them while planning his trip to Africa.

?This is a president that has failed to meet with us on issues affecting Africa and the Caribbean,? said Representative Donna Christian- Christensen, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which advocates within the US legislature for African-American concerns.

?It makes me wonder how sincere this trip is, if you won?t meet with the leaders of African descent in your own country,? said Christian- Christensen, a Democrat who represents the US Virgin Islands.

She said a good number of caucus members have travelled to Africa and have substantial knowledge of issues affecting the continent.

Nevertheless, their input was not sought on Bush?s itinerary or about White House policy affecting Africa.

Given the snub, ?I think we have a lot of reasons to have thin skin,? she Christian-Christensen said.
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[sandnsea]

1. Well what does she know about oil?

Poor Donna, she thinks Bush is going over there to talk about Africans.

[Tinoire]

2. Why would he need to consult with the Black Caucus

When you've got Condi and Colin, who needs the field hands?
(sarcasm)

[imax2268]

3. ditto...

:kick:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. he must have assigned that "consultation" task

to Jeb.

[diamond14]

5. so it seems that shrub's "slavery made us free" speech...

didn't go over too well with Black Americans...

the least shrub could have done was added a Black American speechwriter to his staff, or brought in a Black American consultant to read the speech before he blurted out those remarks...

shrub's afraid to meet with Vernon Jordan....

[Terran]

6. Reactions vary on that speech

My partner, who is African-American and does not like Bush at all, told me he thought Bush said all the right words in that speech. He was impressed with the statement that "all Americans knew slavery was a sin for centuries", because he felt that was a repudiation of the commonly-voiced excuse that people "didn't know" slavery was evil because it took place in a different, theoretically less morally advanced era. I find that a matter of interpretation, but he saw a positive meaning in it. He also said he was glad that Bush was at least going to Africa and not completely ignoring the place.

So, I wouldn't assume all Black Americans view Bush's trip the same way.

[undergroundrailroad]

7. Well, this Black Woman thinks it's a dog and pony show.

I don't want to hear it from the selected pResident. No amount of travel to Africa to cover his ass and words on a piece of paper can repair what he has NOT done for Blacks in THIS country. HELLO? USA!

Count Black Votes and stop rigging the fuc*ing machines!


Undergroundrailroad

[Terran]

10. I must agree with you UGR

Just voicing my partner's opinion, who is a well-informed person, but he's not inclined, as we are, to automatically denounce anything Bush does.

[Rex]

8. Geez, what do they expect? A hearty "welcome" to the White House?

Black leaders should look at the BFEE like it was one long, 4 year movie of "Blazing Saddles", without the humor.

[drscm]

9. Why would you need input from black leaders, or

anyone else for that matter, when you have a direct pipeling to god?

Incidently, if this is all god's fault, perhaps I should give up my theistic beliefs. It could be, though, that Bush's* reception is fuzzy.

[schultzee]

11. Republicans are racists and bu$h wants to play to those who vote for him.

He excludes anyone who does not fit the profile of those who will vote for him.