[...] Let's see. April.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, the Bible speaks of goodwill towards the least of these. With that, how are you going to bridge the divide of poverty and race in this country beyond economics and home ownership, that after Hurricane Katrina and also the Bill Bennett statements? And also, how can the Republican Party gain the black vote -- more of the black vote in 2008, after these public relations fiascos?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I happen to believe that economics has a lot to do with bridging divides. You mentioned poverty, and there is a divide in our country when it comes to wealth. And one way to bridge that divide is to encourage economic growth, vitality, jobs that pay well and small business. You can't divorce bridging divides, April, from economic vitality. You just can't. It's a part of how we enable people to realize dreams -- by having a growing economy.
Secondly, I don't think you can divorce bridging divides from ownership. In other words, I think it's essential that people own something if they're going to have a stake in the future of the country. I think part of the divide occurs because some people own a home and others don't. I think there's something so powerfully healing about a society in which more and more people have ownership.
Thirdly, education is a vital part of bridging divides. As you know, I came to Washington intent upon challenging a system which, in my view, too often gave up on children; that said, let's don't just measure and let's just move them through. It's a system that let a lot of families down -- more importantly, let a lot of children down. I think education is one of the keys to addressing the issue of divides in our country. So the No Child Left Behind Act, which challenges what I've called the soft bigotry of low expectations, is beginning to make good results. You know why? Because we measure.
I think it's important for us to continue to allow faith-based programs to interface with people, to help them have hope. One of the most important initiatives I laid out was the mentoring program for children whose parents may be in prison.
And so you address the racial divide in a variety of ways. And, obviously, the tone matters from leadership. It matters what leaders say. It matters that somebody, first of all, understands there's a problem and is willing to talk about it. And I will continue to do so as the President.
Q What about 2008 and the Republican Party --
THE PRESIDENT: 2008? My head is not there yet. I'm right here in 2005.
Q -- the Republican Party is trying to gain more of the black vote --
THE PRESIDENT: Just got to keep asking for the vote. First of all, the Republican Party should never take a vote for granted, and neither should the Democrat Party. And therefore, that means you've got to go out and work hard for the vote and talk about what you believe. And I try to do so, with not a lot of success, although I improved. But I was disappointed, frankly, in the vote I got in the African American community. I was. I've done my best to elevate people to positions of authority and responsibility -- not just positions, but positions where they can actually make a difference in the lives of people. I put people in my Cabinet; I put people in my sub-Cabinet. I've elevated people from all walks of life, because I believe there's a responsibility for the President to reach out. And so it's not a matter of tone, it's also a matter of action. And just got to keep working at it, April. [...]
| That's from the White House's "President Holds Press Conference" (Update: For another take on it, there's Think Progress' "It Takes More Than a Cabinet Post")
posted in articles on October 4, 2005 4:20 PM | t (0)
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It's not enough to have integrationist Negro in your cabinet and then say, "See I'm for black people". I think it takes more faith to be a Black Republican than to be a Democrat. I've visited the sites and people are not willing to talk about hard issues. They are only willing to focus on soft inconsequential issues. Why didn't the Prez say, why don't you look at my record and let that be your guide to determining my sincerity?
So who in '08? Hillary? I think we FUBAR'ed not only as negroes, as democrats, as a people period.
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