Think Progress

Bush Uses NAACP Speech To Promote Estate Tax Repeal, Doesn’t Utter The Word ‘Poverty’»


(UPDATE: Alternet has the video)

President Bush addressed the NAACP today for the first time in his presidency. Speaking on behalf of his friend, multi-millionaire conservative BET founder Bob Johnson, Bush used the opportunity to promote the repeal of the estate tax on the ultra-rich:

One of my friends is Bob Johnson, founder of BET. He’s an interesting man. He believes strongly in ownership. He has been a successful owner. He believes strongly, for example, that the death tax will prevent future African-American entrepreneurs from being able to pass their assets from one generation to the next. He and I also understand that the investor class shouldn’t be just confined to the old definition of the investor class.

President Bush’s “death tax” pitch demonstrates his stunning disconnect from the African-American community. According to an American Progress analysis, just 59 African-Americans will pay the estate tax this year, and that number will drop to 33 in 2009.

Meanwhile, as of 2004, 24.7 percent of African-Americans lived under the poverty line (up from 22.7 in 2001) — that’s more than 9 million people. The number of times Bush mentioned “poverty” in his speech: 0.

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131 Responses to “Bush Uses NAACP Speech To Promote Estate Tax Repeal, Doesn’t Utter The Word ‘Poverty’”

  1. Cyra Brown Says:

    Here you have a white man, addressing a group of African Americans, and what does he say? “He believes strongly in ownership. He has been a successful owner.” Probably not the best choice of words, but I expected no less from him.


  2. Jay Randal Says:

    Estate tax repeal? Did Bush think he was addressing wealthy Black people? Oh boy he is clueless > lol.


  3. pgw Says:

    leave it to bush to take a name like ‘robert johnson’ and do his darnedest make it sound caucasian


  4. DenverOasis Says:

    The “B” in Bush clearly stands for Brilliant!


  5. Badmoodman Says:

    President Bush’s “death tax” pitch demonstrates his stunning disconnect from the African-American community. - - No matter what color your skin is, this is the lottery syndrome at work and the winning ticket is the American Dream comes true for you despite almost insurmountable odds.


  6. bones Says:

    Georgie, just back from sexually harassing the German PM and a flautist, is the only man on earth who could then say - look I’m not a racist I have a Black friend. If you’re the President of the US and ANY group has 25% poverty you get off your ass DAY 1 and do something about it.


  7. Slow Boiling Frog Says:

    A Mental Exercise (Off-Topic)

    Imagine that you were a progressive American, and hated the Bush/Cheney administration for all the usual reasons: their cronyism with Big Oil, their tax cuts for the rich, the continuous erosion of civil liberties, and their lies, lies, lies….

    But what if, in spite of this, it was common belief, for liberals and conservatives alike, that Sadaam Hussein actually HAD developed Weapons of Mass Destruction, was connected to Al Qaeda, and was an imminent threat to us; therefore, our invasion/occupation of Iraq was completely justified?

    Imagine that it was such a “given” that the administration and the media were telling us all we needed to know that we steadfastly went along with their masquerade? And if we ran across bits of information that contradicted the official story, we would ignore it, much as a conservative will ignore the facts that a liberal gives them because they conflict with their established world view.

    In such a scenario, the pressure to believe the conventional wisdom would be so intense that few would have the courage to express their doubts publicly … to their friends, family, and fellow liberals. And those occasional musings from people who’ve stumbled on news stories or websites or books that doubted the official Bush story would be denounced as lies and crackpot theories.

    Thankfully, we know that the war was unjustified and was based on lies. But think for a minute…. are there any other assumptions that we as Americans from all over the political spectrum hold? Beliefs about the world that we live in that might actually have been manipulated by the Bush/Cheney administration and the media? Are there any tidbits of information that we have run across in the last few years that just don’t quite stack up, but we ignore because they contradict our established beliefs? Is there anything that a few daring souls are starting to espouse, only to be shot down, by the likes of both Kos AND Hannity?

    Perhaps it’s time to start questioning some of the beliefs that we hold about our world since Bush entered office and the reason he has been able to remain President in spite of our efforts. If enough of us start to question our assumptions, as I recently did, we might start noticing, and even welcoming, new perspectives about the current administration. We might discover something that would turn the tide against the neo-cons in a big way if it got out. Maybe we can start talking to our friends and fellow progressives about it rather than worrying about what they will think of us if we discuss such matters.

    Our leaders are far worse than most of us can admit to ourselves, and everything we need to know is out there, just slightly hidden, if we look hard enough. That’s all I’m saying for now.


  8. Subway Serenade Says:

    Bush didn’t need to talk about poverty. His is a poverty of spirit that would be evident wherever he goes.

    Goper’s Lament


  9. Jay Randal Says:

    Why would the NAACP want Bush to say anything to them? He basically does not want Blacks to even vote or have any jobs either! What did they expect him to tell them anyways?


  10. km4 Says:

    Bush clearly needs some ESD’s to generate brain development


  11. katy Says:

    “Owning a home gives people a stake in their neighborhoods and a stake in the future.

    Today, nearly half of African-Americans own their own homes, and that’s good for America. That’s good for our country. But they still got to do more.

    So we’re working to do our part with helping people afford a downpayment and closing costs, helping families who are in rental assistance to become homeowners, helping people understand the fine print when it comes to mortgage documents.”

    i dunno… i listend to that part and it sounded SO condescending, patronizing, even on the edge of saying “you folks are just ignernt, we know that…”
    but then i’m sensitive that way…


  12. cynicalgirl Says:

    Did anyone boo this speech? IIRC, his approval among African Americans is 2%. I can’t imagine they stayed silent during this farce.


  13. Total Information Awareness Says:

    Our Government is attempting to tie Iran with North Korea.

    Vote Independent. Vote for Moral Foreign Policy.


  14. katy Says:

    not only that though, franken was listing all the legislation that “his congress” has voted down over these years, legislation that would have done exactly what he is promising today…


  15. katy Says:

    Vote Independent. Vote for Moral Foreign Policy.
    Comment by Total Information Awareness — July 20, 2006 @ 12:48 pm

    NEXT TIME … THIS TIME WE NEED

    OVERWHELMING DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT

    THEY CAN’T STEAL IT IF IT ISN’T CLOSE


  16. Badmoodman Says:

    George Bush and his black friend Bob Johnson is just like Stephen Colbert and his black ‘friend.’ Look for Colbert to Photoshop Bush with Stephen’s black ‘friend.’


  17. Mort Says:

    Ownership is not a realty, nor possible, for the vast majority of people in our modern society, someone has to be the worker, owners need employees. An unbalanced,short sighted, take-all mentality that never takes in to acount the whole wellbeing of a society, and they keep pushing it.


  18. Jay Randal Says:

    So who is the NAACP inviting next to give a speech to them? VP Dick Cheney to tell them all to screw off or Donald Rumsfeld to tell them to all join the military as cannon fodder?


  19. Total Information Awareness Says:

    Katy,
    Democrats are weak on election reform. And they don’t deserve your vote.
    Our foreign policy is vigorously supported by both Republicans and Democrats.
    That’s why Democrats are calm, and you are not.


  20. joe cantwell Says:

    i heard a caller say on stephanie miller show this morning that he got his biggest applause when he talked about african-americans being mistrustful of the republican party. the caller said that w was clearly NOT pleased by that reaction. i’d love to see video of that moment!


  21. unbelievable Says:

    Nice way to take the focus, and the sting, off of Angela Merkel freaking out when he started to give her a neck rub in front of everyone at the G8 Summit. Insulting an oppressed portion of our population…


  22. Chase Says:

    #11 - Everyone needs help understanding the terms, not just blacks.

    Stop it with the “Bush is racist” meme. It’s tired.


  23. Badmoodman Says:

    “Our leaders are far worse than most of us can admit to ourselves” - - To paraphrase Han Solo, “I can admit an awful lot to myself.”


  24. Chase Says:

    #12 - Actually, it’s 16% (per NPR this morning). Fully 800% better than you thought!


  25. Jay Randal Says:

    Post 21 > why did Bush sneak up behind Merkel and grab her neck? Was he sexually aroused or did he want to choke her to death?


  26. unbelievable Says:

    Stop it with the “Bush is racist” meme. It’s tired.
    Comment by Chase — July 20, 2006 @ 12:56 pm

    The truth usually is for you neocons… Why Jason is arguing against Global Warming Experts with a science fiction book by Michale Crichton on another thread… The truth is tired.


  27. David B Says:

    Since the attendees were nor prescreened they should have heckled King George out of the room. What an ass.


  28. Krazny Says:

    I don’t think Bush is racist, he is a classist, but not racist.


  29. Chase Says:

    #29 - I’m not Jason. Don’t conflate.

    #28 - I know they’re not. They’re obvioulsy not tired of strip clubs, liquor, handguns, Carribean vactions and the bevy of other “essentials” they charged up after Katrina.


  30. woke dude Says:

    just 59 African-Americans will pay the estate tax this year, and that number will drop to 33 in 2009.

    and those were the african-americans that lil w was actually talking to…eh?

    possibly part of the 1% he really represents as presnit


  31. unbelievable Says:

    why did Bush sneak up behind Merkel and grab her neck? Was he sexually aroused or did he want to choke her to death?
    Comment by Jay Randal — July 20, 2006 @ 12:58 pm

    I’m guessing it’s because Laura isn’t sleeping at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue these days…

    Actually, as an educated guess, I would say that he meant it as a gesture of his affection for her, but did so in a totally inappropriate way. He didn’t rub the neck of any of his male peers, so to do that to just her is a sign of patriarchal sexual dominence. Which, of course, he doesn’t get. It’s also, as you know, unprofessional to touch someone in an overtly familiar way like that. Jon Stewart showed it on the Daily Show. It might be on his website…


  32. unbelievable Says:

    I’m not Jason. Don’t conflate.
    Comment by Chase — July 20, 2006 @ 1:04 pm

    Then stop doing such a terrific impersonation of him.


  33. TripMaster Monkey Says:

    Reply to #34 (unbelievable):

    Jon Stewart showed it on the Daily Show. It might be on his website…

    Here’s a link to a video clip of what I’m now referring to as the ‘bad-touch incident’.


  34. bill Says:

    We need to do what we can to make sure Bill Cosby’s actual children don’t have to work in the future.


  35. Gregor Samsa Says:

    They’re obvioulsy not tired of strip clubs, liquor, handguns, Carribean vactions and the bevy of other “essentials” they charged up after Katrina.
    Comment by Chase — July 20, 2006 @ 1:04 pm

    Had you actually followed the news, you would have found out that the people who misspent the money were not Katrina refugees.

    FEMA failed to properly screen the applicants, and some of the people registering by phone called from prison. That’s right: They were behind bars.

    Other cases included people who applied multiple times.

    Don’t take my word for it; you can read about the boondoogle on the LA Times.


  36. Krazny Says:

    I listened to the NPR report this morning during my commute. The crowd was respectful of the president, because this was the first time he (bush) had acceppted an offer to speak to the NAACP since becoming president. He spoke once before in 2000 during the election, but the NAACP, and Bush had some hard feelings between them. I believe that they stayed quiet, and respectful to further dialogue between the president and the black community.


  37. Jay Randal Says:

    The NAACP was wrong to even invite Bush to give a speech to them! He is not a good president for minorities, so no reason to let him spew anything to NAACP members!


  38. unbelievable Says:

    Here’s a link to a video clip of what I’m now referring to as the ‘bad-touch incident’.
    Comment by TripMaster Monkey — July 20, 2006 @ 1:09 pm

    Thanks for the link.

    He embarrasses us routinely, but this particular stunt was just so exceptionally embarrassing that I hope Laura starts divorce proceedings now so that he’ll look like even more of a reject than he is.


  39. Jackie Says:

    I wonder if Bush was thinking about all the African Americans he let die in the Katrina Storm and was thinking how he could change the Constitution to bring back slave ownership. Looking at the audience with all blacks well it could allow the GOP to send the immigrants home and replace them with African Americans. When your a person that doesn’t see people of color as equal or human they don’t count for much. Now the Bush family has used all the people they know as excuses for their racist attitudes. Notice Jeb’s Spanish family, Connie Rice, Bandar Bush and other Saudis. When a person isn’t racist he never thinks of his friend as a color. I have many friends but I just happen thought about weather their a color because color isn’t who they are their my friend.


  40. Mreddieb Says:

    #22 Chase. Maybe you think everyone need a lecture about home ownership but the well educated NAACP attendees certainly doesn’t need a lecture from a half brained RACIST President.


  41. S.D. Says:


    What a tool he is. I Wonder if he tought this was some other event??


  42. Zooey Says:

    Stop it with the “Bush is racist” meme. It’s tired.
    Comment by Chase

    Ok. Bush is an ignorant prick.


  43. bones Says:

    GeorgeBushdoesntcareaboutBlackpeople

    GW speaks:
    So you see, we’re not rascists - it’s just that “those there people…They’re obvioulsy not tired of strip clubs, liquor, handguns, Carribean vactions and the bevy of other “essentials” they charged up after Katrina.” Even though my incompetence costs them their lives, families, and homes - and after I found out I screwed up big time I didn’t do anything to fix the problem, and even though to this very day New Orleans still looks like Baghdad on a bad day, I have a rich black friend - so I’m not a racist.


  44. Tim Says:

    One of the things that is striking to me is that once a republican talking point takes hold, it seems to be almost physically impossible for them to let go of it. While it was very clever of someone to dub the estate tax the “death tax”, it is officially a tax on the value of an estate. I would expect that maybe every once in a while, an official would talk about it in terms of its official function. Nothing prevents that official from espousing his own view on it just because he uses its official name. But no, it’s much easier to say “death tax” than it is to have an actual discussion about it.


  45. Jay Randal Says:

    Bush likes wealthy people, so if there was some Black NAACP people in the audience who are rich, then his whole speech was to them only! Poor people mean nothing to him > heck he let them drown in New Orleans!


  46. agua fiero Says:

    Maybe Dubious was jealous of Pootie Poo kissing little boys bellies and wanted to get a little titillation himself… a clear demonstation he has no clear perception of the concept of statesmanship or healthy boundaries….. some twisted belief that he can simply invade others space at will……… rather typical for the addictive type personality as they have to clutch for self esteem from anywhere they believe they can get it.
    The guy is really losing it fast, his veto of stem cells was, as I have guessed, a grasping for a straw to slow his plunge into an even more complete oblivion. Honest Christians are not going to give their votes to this charlatan.
    And to speak of the estate tax and whatever possible relevance it might have for the African American community in the United States is so incomprehensible as to suggest real insanity when combined with all the other aspects of this deluded despots deranged wanna-be dictatorship.


  47. AnAmerican Says:

    “He believes strongly in ownership. He has been a successful owner.”

    Bush is still babbling like a child, I see.

    See Ben, See Ben buy stuff, Ben likes to own stuff, Ben is an owner. Ben owns a car, Ben owns a house, ben even owns a dog, owning is hard work. Ben died, and couldn’t take the stuff he owned to heaven, so he passed his stuff to his kids. Now his kids are owners.

    I think the real story the MSM never reports on, is that bush is an imbicile.


  48. Cornhusker Says:

    What’s a “successful owner”? Is that a rich person who can ignore any moral obligations associated with his/her wealth?

    For what it’s worth, I understand that wealth / money is one of the most often referenced subjects in the New Testament… possibly in the entire Bible.


  49. Cyra Brown Says:

    #32-Chase, what about the FEMA employees who used the Gov. charge cards to buy $7,000 worth of Ipod’s and Ipod ‘Shuffles’, for “data storage’? Or the $76,000 they spent on “Doggie Booties”, that sit in a warehouse to this day? Or my personal favorite, “special” ‘FEMA’ embroidered Raincoats, for FEMA employees to wear to a ’shooting range’ that they go to, to practice. But the ’shooting range’ CLOSES when it rains. Bigotry is learned at home. Barbara Bush taught her children well.


  50. Parallel Universe Says:

    George “David Brent” Bush strikes again!


  51. Sharon Cox Says:

    Zooey, gotta call you on the funny. A prick is suposto be part of a man in slang terms. Right?…Nope not bull shit bush he a soft hands, lazy, drunk, druggie, dip shit, ignorant, chimp. A slug would be closer to the truth and don’t forget he promotes genocide……Blessings


  52. theswan Says:

    Man, don’t you just love this president? What in the world made him speak to the death tax issue? The disconnect is just staggering. And it sure is embarrassing.
    I hope the NAACP reacts in the way that they should. Truth to power, fellas. Don’t back down now, period…..


  53. bones Says:

    GeorgeBushdoesntcareaboutBlackpeople

    25% of the African American community -AMERICANS- live below the poverty line. In your 6 years of Presidency what the hell have you done to help them….”Nutin”

    The NAACP has tried to get you to talk to them for 6 years and until just now, 3 months before a mid-term election how many times have you sat down and addressed their concerns for their people…”Uh, never”

    Many people saw a dissconnect with your relationship with Black Americans after Katrina, what have you done to reassure them that you’re their President too…”Uh, nutin”

    African Americans have a concern about the situations in Africa that adversely affect Black people, like Darfur. Vice Prez Cheney voted against a Martin Luther King holiday and called Nelson Mandela a terrorist who should be left to rot in a South African jail forever. What have you done to address these grave concerns showing you are the President of ALL Americans equally and won’t act against their best interests, especially given the actions and prejudices of the Vice President in your Administration…”Uh, nutin”


  54. Joe Says:

    GO BUSH GO! The man’s speech was oustanding, I thought he would have been in a lot more trouble - they were very nice to him considering he only has 2% black support


  55. Shep Says:

    The NAACP is an organization that has completely lost its way. It used to stand for the poor and disenfranchised, now it caters to the well-off and ‘franchished.’ Don’t be fooled into thinking that the organization represents anything close to Black mainstream opinion - it doesn’t, and hasnm’t for quite some time.

    I mean, serious, why would they invite bush to speak in the first place after being rudely spurned for five straight years. It just shows how pathetically far the ‘wanna-bes’ will go to be ‘accepted’ by mainstream society - an acceptance that will never be given.

    For all the devastation that bush and his regime have brough the Black community, he should have been lustily booed from start to finish. But, of course that didn’t happen. Sad and pathetic. Robert Johnson should change his name to Benedict Arnold.


  56. Dennis Says:

    Took a lot of b*lls to do what he did


  57. John the Elder Says:

    I have said it before, and I have no doubt that I will say it again many times before November of 2008 or January of 2009 regarding the chimp…”once an idiot, always an idiot.”


  58. Steve53 Says:

    Stop it with the “Bush is racist” meme. It’s tired.

    Comment by Chase
    —————
    How about” Bush is a lying criminal”?


  59. katy Says:

    they’re he-ere…

    limpballs had issued the talking points!


  60. Zooey Says:

    A slug would be closer to the truth and don’t forget he promotes genocide……Blessings
    Comment by Sharon Cox

    Good morning, Sharon, I knew there was a reason I woke up puking this morning — I remembered Incurious George was in charge of our country — I try not to think about it too much…

    Do over:

    Bush is an ignorant, genocidal, soft handed, lazy, drunk, druggie, dip shit,, chimp-like, banana slug. :-D


  61. -Aj Says:

    Ya know Mr Bush, I guess you think people are really gullible.

    Why would a group of people suddenly find favor, or support, a president who has ignored them for years, only to suddenly pop-up when it comes to for congressional elections?

    This is such blatant politico claptrap a child could see thru it.


  62. Tony Smith Says:

    Bush shall be the benchmark for future presidents of “how not to”, his rebuke will be how history judges him then he will know poverty; the poverty of his legacy.


  63. -Aj Says:

    Stop it with the “Bush is racist” meme. It’s tired.
    Comment by Chase

    Stop it with the “Liberals are Godless” meme. It’s tired.

    Stop it with the “democrats appease terrorists” meme. It’s tired.

    Stop it with the “might is right” meme. It’s tired.

    Stop it with the “limbaugh parrotting” meme. It’s tired.

    Stop it with the “Fair and balanced” meme. It’s tired.

    Stop it with the “liberal media” meme. It’s tired.

    Stop it with the “moral majority” meme. It’s tired.

    Stop it with the “compassionate conservatism” meme. It’s tired.

    Yes Chase it is very tiring.


  64. Skeptic Says:

    Zooey;
    Why are you being mean to banana slugs?


  65. Bush now "The Patronizer" rather than "the Decider" Says:

    How many black folks fit into the itsy-bitsy group that benefits from the abolishment of the estate tax?

    I wonder if anyone in the crowd asked Bush why he had been avoiding the NAACP for the past 6 years.

    Man, Robert Johnson, what an example. BET founder….Bush must have thought he would really get through to that crowd if he mentioned Black entertainment television.


  66. Rick Says:

    We have a president thatisn’t interested in solving problems… he simply wants to implement some school-house version of a “free market” society.

    Who cares if that means more inequality and poverty…

    When will people wake up and elect pragmatic leaders.


  67. Tommy Says:

    I hate W more than most folks, but he is evil enough without folks misrepresenting what he did or did not say - while he did not explictly use the word poverty, he certainly broached the topic:

    What I want to do is work with the NAACP to help fix the foundations of our society. We want strong families. (Applause.) We want to help people who need help. We want to help the addicted, we want to help the homeless, we want to help those who are trying to reenter society after having been incarcerated. That’s what we want to do. We want to help lives be improved. (Applause.) Government can hand out money — and we do — but it cannot put hope in a person’s heart, or a sense of purpose in a person’s life. That’s why I strongly support institutions of faith and community service all around our country. I believe in the neighborhood helpers and healers.

    And I put this policy in place. We’ve provided more than $5 billion to faith-based groups that are running the soup kitchens and sheltering the homeless, and healing the addicted, and helping people reenter our society — people who are providing compassionate care and love. Organizations of faith exist to love a neighbor like they’d like to be loved themselves. And I believe it’s important for government to not only welcome, but to encourage faith-based programs to help solve the intractable problems of our society.


  68. -Aj Says:

    they were very nice to him considering he only has 2% black support

    you can be sure they were put thru the goebbels-bush screening program prior to the babblings of bubble boy.


  69. Clyde the Ripper Says:

    Sharon, Zooey, and all of you who have your “Bush is” lists I would suggest that you adopt my short Bush wish list: “Bush was.” (Period, that’s all folks!)


  70. katy Says:

    #73 - good’n Aj…

    you know the NAACP has invited bush EVERY year, as they do all presidents…
    maybe they were surprised that he actually accepted this year…
    so, sit they back a watch as he inserts his foot into his mouth and
    then do the best with those results…


  71. katy Says:

    oops = “so, they sit back…”


  72. katy Says:

    boy, time to move around…
    “so, they sit back and watch…”


  73. Zooey Says:

    Why are you being mean to banana slugs?
    Comment by Skeptic

    I apologize to all banana slugs, and their fans. I didn’t mean to offend the banana slug community, and I humbly beg forgiveness. I don’t know what I was thinking, since GWB is clearly so much more loathsome than the banana slug.

    *sniff* I was slimed by a banana slug one time, and it scarred me for life. I confess to having held a grudge these many years. I shall seek psychiatric care, so that I may never insult the banana slug, or lovers of the banana slug, again. Thank you for your understanding. ;)


  74. Cowpie>slinger Says:

    {stop} hey what’s that sound everyone look what’s going down, ????? >>>>>>>Ever stop and ask yourself what if there 40 years of collective influences in the admistration were trade secrect’s they have learn on the job as administration officials over the years, and Mabe they have a adgenda that Likely would Undermine the Constitution and The only way to get it done is Plan the Hijacking of the administration, carry out {Operation northwoods} and do as they plz ecuzing there Sidestep of Laws by claiming matter’s of National security, ? these People in the Administration have Vested Billions of Dollars of corperations with Promises in return The Concolidation of Media has be Helpful of allowing Ingnorace to flurish , The Bush family has documentedlly be Involved in Crimes that were Keys clues all of which were Pardoned By Reagon, everyone of the White House apiontments and Oficial have been involed in affairs with Cheney , Bush, Rumfeild, Wolfulweits, Ashcroft Gonzolas, ands many more that have Also been Faithful in keeping close secrect contact, mostlly involving Matters of Affairs they have no bussiness dealing With , thats suspect to involement of crimes , hell you think they have Not fugured out how the Game Works By now , and Don’t forget they Have Motives and Yes they openlly have confessed there Plan {NWO}, let me just say this In order for There plan to work you must sacrifice your Constitution and Alow them to dictate????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ohh the Death Tax, is a pretext Plan operation that is a shedualed Plan listed in the Open Text files Of NWO, pdf files search for yourself, It states the Need to control More assets of Land and Moneys generated to finace a fuctioning redistribution Of welfair in the favorable outcome of sucsess??? in other words you will loose evrything and Then they will give you back just enought to sustaian them forcing you to faile so they can save you again this premise with make them look like Heros, ???


  75. Keith H. Says:

    There he is in all his glory, g-dub . . . dealing with the pressing issues in a timely manner.
    What a total embarassing failure.
    Who the hell does he represent again?
    Hey you . . . his handlers . . . . keep that boy in his cage.


  76. katy Says:

    golly - you don’t have to yell so much…


  77. Hardy Haberman Says:

    Did he mention that he wants to cut Medicare by 20%? I doubt it.


  78. bs Says:

    this prick would NOT even meet up with the NAACP for 5 years and now he wants to stage ‘interest’ when election is coming. so why didn’t the naacp say time is up and you lucked out. wtf?


  79. Skeptic Says:

    Zooey;
    On my own behalf and for all the banana slugs I accept your apology. I am very sorry that you were slimed by a banana slug in the past and I hope you have a succesfull and complete recovery.
    I have closely examined pictures of the banana slug, and must reiterate that it is more beautiful than George Bush, and has a more important part in the ecology of the Pacific Northwest.


  80. Robert Decorum Says:

    Heres what blacks need to do: stop doing drugs, stop being in gangs, get jobs, get a degree, stop blaming the WHITE MAN. Do what BILL COSBY says.


  81. marcus Says:

    Same old blah, blah, blah. What about the voting rights bill, going to extend it Bush??? What a F%$#@*& goof!!!


  82. j swift Says:

    I know they’re not. They’re obvioulsy not tired of strip clubs, liquor, handguns, Carribean vactions and the bevy of other “essentials” they charged up after Katrina.

    You talking about Rush Limbaugh or just every African American who received aid after Katrina?


  83. Zooey Says:

    Skeptic,
    Thank you. My recovery begins…
    :)


  84. katy Says:

    like tom oliphant said, paraphrasing:

    well, now they can’t say that he’s never talked at
    the NAACP convention in his presidency…


  85. Ken Says:

    His Dad didn’t know the price of groceries when he debated Clinton…why would the drunken AWOL chimpanzee know that the NAACP is not interested in padding his pockets with his inheritance. Screw Dubya, the worst thing to ever happen to this great nation.

    Vote Democrat in November.


  86. Steve Says:

    Very interesting stuff Plunger. I have no doubt he is capable of it.


  87. Mroom Says:

    Hmmm, sort of reminds me of when he was planning a crusade into Muslim territory.


  88. Herman B Hayes Says:

    Why would you talk about poverty to the NAACP? No one that organization represents is poor!


  89. Bush: A week of firsts, but same old stuff - It’s Intuitively Obvious - … that we need to have fun Says:

    […] Bush: A week of firsts, but same old stuff First veto slows down stem cell research and relegates unused, existing embryos to medical waste rather a lab where they could be used to further science.  First speech to the NAACP focuses on estate tax issues, and totally ignores poverty.  Not a single word on poverty.  Dear Leader shows again that he is completely out-of-touch with the average American, his audience, and just doesn’t give a damn about anything other than profits and benefits for the wealthy members of his base.  Many of Bush’s base are hardworking, but poor, evangelicals who follow this administration’s every lead.  Bush has shown all he cares about for them is their vote.  […]


  90. Jackie Says:

    America’s new Democracy now all the Black soldiers serving the United States knows exactly who they are supporting. What a great example we are letting Blacks think they are equal when all their worth is less then an animal. Send African Americans to die for an America that could care less about them as far as this Administration is concerned is Blacks aren’t human and any person of color is worthless. Just use them for what you want then put them back in the fields. Look blacks can replace the immigrants even the soldiers when they come home can have a job in the fields. Let’s hope the Bush Administration doesn’t let the Middle East really know what they think of them. The Saudi’s might get to know what Bush really thinks of them which is nothing because of their color.


  91. mighty aphrodite Says:

    If many progs believed in heaven and/or hell, President Bush would be damned if he went to the NAACP and damned if he didn’t. (But while Nico is busy parsing words - the concept of poverty WAS addressed - I thought it was extremely polite of the President to take responsibility for centuries old grievances and not remind his hosts about a condition which is a huge contributor to black poverty, illegitimacy.) Needless to say, I’m sure it was an “interesting” way for GWB to spend a Thursday morning…


  92. Robert Says:

    So interesting he decided to go THIS YEAR..I smell an election somewhere. Another trap set by Rove, NAACP should have told him to screw off but instead fell for the trap and allowed him to spout his mumbo garbage. I thought the tepid clapping for him was funny though.


  93. TripMaster Monkey Says:

    Bluedog49

    Yes, I haven’t heard that little enthusiasm since Colbert did the White House Press Dinner.


  94. mighty aphrodite Says:

    Robert - You Smell an election?? Got news for you - Bush isn’t thinking black urban dwellers are going to SUDDENLY have an epiphany and vote Repub - who else would they have to blame for their problems, Dems….???? But you might notice that black Repubs are increasing slowly but surely - they are generally very independent and self-confident….My biggest complaint about the Republican Party has been the lack of overt outreach to minority business owners. I believe many have very common platform positions with Republicans and are aware of the way “poverty pimps” have hurt the black community.


  95. “President Declines NAACP Invite to Speak” - EA Forums Says:

    […] permalink Bush Uses NAACP Speech To Promote Estate Tax Repeal, Doesn’t Utter The Word ‘Poverty’ […]


  96. bones Says:

    GeorgeBushdoesntcareaboutBlackpeople

    “you might notice that black Repubs are increasing slowly but surely”

    “I thought it was extremely polite of the President to take responsibility for centuries old grievances and not remind his hosts about a condition which is a huge contributor to black poverty, illegitimacy”

    Like Charles Barkley just denouncing conservatism and of course the polls that show 2% of African Americans support the republicans. As to the second quote, yes it is polite not to mention you discriminate and destroy black communities and then insult them as pimps and whores in their own house. Oh, how polite. Maybe he can go to the Carlisle Group annual meeting and be polite and not mention they are a bunch of old white thieves.


  97. Juan C Says:

    Bush Uses NAACP Speech To Promote Estate Tax Repeal, Doesn’t Utter The Word ‘Poverty

    Of course not. If only shit and asshole were synonims of poverty…


  98. AvengingAngel Says:

    Tony Snow, the same man who reintroduced the term “tar baby” into the vernacular, says President Bush will speak to NAACP today because “he wants to.”

    Here’s more background on why this latest cynical Republican outreach effort to African-Americans will fail.


  99. Marie Says:

    #95 plunger
    Very interesting.
    The MSM should have at least inquired about the veracity of all this years ago. DNA of the miscarried fetus should have been taken - it was a rape.
    Add this to the list of escapades of Bush as a young man, from blowing up frogs, to his teenage girlfriend having an abortion, to this incident and we have a profile of George Bush, the loutish, incompetent fool in charge of the USA.


  100. bones Says:

    GeorgeBushdoesntcareaboutBlackpeople

    Typical holier than thou witch - yes, be condesending and tell me what I should do and how to feel - because you know better than I do how I FEEL and how I SHOULD TALK. Reread the following and note that illegitimacy IS NOT a cause of poverty. MY forefathers were Italian immigrants, almost ZERO illegitimacy and they WERE POOR because WASPS kept them out of good paying jobs, refused to contract with “those people”, and swung every job within their ethnic group. If you want to know what this pathetic excuse for a human being much less President has done to impoverish African Americans: (1) No bid contracts with Haliburton for New Orleans instead of hiring locals, (2) decreasing prevailing wage laws for construction in N.O from @$10/hr to $5/hr (if you work a 40 hour week that an impressive $200 a week, yeah that will enrich the working poor), (3) cutting minority small business loans, (4) cutting Pell/educational grants to students ( you can’t get ahead if we cut your college funding). We could go on, but since reality is a prerequisite to your pie-in-the-sky world I’ll just quit. Oh, and by the way if you don’t realize telling African-Americans THEY ARE IN POVERTY PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY SCREW LIKE RABBITS and have kids out of wedlock, you’re unaware you’re a rascist. If evry child had enough to eat and an education in a safe enviornment they wouldn’t be poor. This is the job of our government to take care of our people, NOT TO keep them in poverty.


  101. Krazny Says:

    Bones,

    I wouldn’t bother. MA is like a monkey in the zoo. She likes to throw shit around. It is best to marginalize her. Ignore, don’t respond. She likes the attention; I think it is because the hospital doesn’t have her meds right. That and too much free time between electro-therapy, and psychology sessions.


  102. bones Says:

    Dear God, how can anyone in their right mind tell a whole group of people they are poor because they’re whores and not realize theier own rascist bigoted evil? How have we not advanced beyond this as a civilization?


  103. JIMBO Says:

    M.A.: Considering that Pres. Dumbya never gave African-Americans, except Condi, the time of day or his concern over their civil rights being constently tested everyday, I think it was symbolic that he came and, for the second time, this year, got a taste of his own medicine by us African-Americans.

    The last time, you may remember, was at Mrs. King’s funeral. The Dumbya used his appearance as a photo op while others were not impressed. Rev. Lowery, a true man of God, who never groped a female politician in public, gave Little Bush what he really deserved, THE TRUTH!

    Sorry, but like the funeral, the world’s most stupidest man in the galaxy got an F, though he was right in saying that Blacks don’t trust the GOP. But, that’s not enough to raise him from an F to a D-. Check his civil rights record and tell me has he done better than JFK, Clinton and Carter.

    Argument over, I win! :)


  104. Juan C Says:

    How have we not advanced beyond this as a civilization?
    Comment by bones — July 20, 2006 @ 6:57 pm

    Well, because it is comfortable to think that way. Mighty aphrodite just like any other retrograd prefers to blame others, hating liberties and assuming some unknown higher moral quality, than thinking with criticism about social and political environment in the world. It is easier to blame blacks in gangs than proposing measures to give everyone the same opportunity, it is easier to hate Muslims than grab your balls and meet some of them to know how they think and it is easier to watch TV and think that 2 planes in 9/11, have nothing to do with profits but with “evil” hating “goodness”. Again, ignorance isnt just bliss, it allows to rest and stop the thinking.


  105. Ho Chi Minh Says:

    How many rich black people did he think there was in the audience? He may have just as well been plugging membership in the KKK.


  106. mighty aphrodite Says:

    Dear Bones - (AKA “Victim”) - I apologize for disagreeing with you - BUT the largest single predictor if a child is more LKELY to live in poverty TODAY is having married parents. I am certain your Italian relatives were discriminated against - as were a HOST of other ethnic backgrounds. SO WHAT. Your conclusion is true enough - “If evry child had enough to eat and an education in a safe enviornment they wouldn’t be poor.” If a childs’ parents can’t or won’t take care of him/her…I guess it does take a village….But it doesn’t change the fact that Dems don’t do much for blacks except during an upcoming election and Dems would criticize Bush for going OR not going to the NAACP. With the vacuum of ideas in the Dem Party , their official position on EVERY issue is “We HATE Geroge W. Bush”. Such “original” thinkers!!Zzzzzz……zzzzzzz…..


  107. mighty aphrodite Says:

    #121 - “Mighty A, if “liberal” values is what caused the rise of illegitimacy, why are divorce rates, illigitimacy and child abuse more common in red states than in blue states? Why does liberal Mass. have the lowest divorce rate….” Bluedog

    ****Dear Bluedawg - Nice try….no, I’m serious - VERY nice effort! BUT my argument is directed at any hedonist. The fact that contemporary hedonism got the “green light” in the 60’s or 70’s is not a political statement - it IS an observation. I don’t like the fact that Repub Red staters are jumping in and out of marriage any more than if Dems did. Massachusetts should applaud it’s low divorce rate. I am curious about the percentage of married couples vs. co-habs and your source. Remember, straw men and assumptions are not the basis of great argument….but I appreciate the info.


  108. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    President Bush’s “death tax” pitch demonstrates his stunning disconnect from the African-American community. According to an American Progress analysis, just 59 African-Americans will pay the estate tax this year, and that number will drop to 33 in 2009.

    Other than the white corporate community, exactly who is Bush even remotely “connected” to?


  109. bones Says:

    MA you’re thick. This has nothing to do with Dems or Republicans. African Americans hate the GOP. African Americans reject the republican party. And by the way, I’m not a victim. I’m quite successful. The difference between us is I’m a human being and you’re a bigoted, evil, and hateful excuse for a human being. Does it surprise anyone that illegitamicy is higher amongst poor people? Everyone who has eaten carrots has died, it doesn’t mean carrots are the cause of death. Poverty causes illegitimcy, increased crime rates, hopelessness. But that takes actual knowledge of “poor people” to appreciate, it takes someone who doesn’t pontificate from her whitebread comfy bigoted world to get down into poverty to actualy help to appreciate.


  110. bones Says:

    Oh, and by the way MA - you haven’t even tried to address Bluedog 49’s very true statements - divorce, illegitimacy, child abuse are ALL higher in republican states. That’s a statement of fact - don’t deflect your ignorance by blaming Bluedog. “Strawmen and assumptions”, he gave you the facts - and you’re not his mother or his owner, you’re on the web - look it up for yourself. But that would require actual work, something the privilaged don’t have to dirty their hands with.


  111. Mom Says:

    Katrina. That’s all I have to say.


  112. Impeachcheneythenbush Says:

    # 76
    If you don’t know by now that every day is “opposite” day for GW and that you can’t trust a single word he (and his speech writers) say, then you are simply a mole on this board.


  113. Frozen North Says:

    Can you picture the scene? Bush tells his staff he’s going to talk to the NAACP. Their jaws drop. He ignores that, says “I’m the Decider. And I’m going to talk about the death tax.” And the staff faints.


  114. JoeWo Joe Wosik Blog » Blog Archive » African Americans Says:

    […] and the estate tax.  WOW!!!!!!!! […]


  115. Cyra Brown Says:

    GWB missed a great opportunity to mention how Laura’s program for ending ‘gang violence’ is going. Bummer, you’d think it would merit a mention, and be a chance to praise the ‘little woman’ as well. Maybe next time.


  116. snuh Says:

    capacities for outrage are not what they once were, if bush can get away with openly saying his policies are designed to benefit “the investor class”.


  117. Briseadh na Faire Says:


    BUT the largest single predictor if a child is more LKELY to live in poverty TODAY is having married parents.

    Comment by mighty aphrodite — July 20, 2006 @ 8:14 pm

    yawn…another statement of fact without an iota of data to back up the claim by our resident “attorney at law.” If your posts are any indication of your lawyering skills, it’s a wonder you are still admitted to practice!


  118. common sense Says:

    I think it is clear. George Bush does not care about african americans and will not rest until every each and every one of them is completely miserable…Yup thats it…Yo, gotta run… BET is “Night Owl” is on…Holla!


  119. Al Says:

    Yo, Night Owl is the shiizniit daaawg


  120. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    This must come as a complete surprise to you, Mighty Aphrodite, but you are WRONG!!!

    [S]ingle mothers with dependent children have the highest rate of poverty across all demographic groups (Olson & Banyard, 1993). Approximately 60 percent of U.S. children living in mother-only families are impoverished, compared with only 11 percent of two-parent families. The rate of poverty is even higher in African-American single-parent families, in which two out of every three children are poor.

    http://hec.osu.edu/ famlife/ bulletin/ volume.1/ bullart1.htm

    Then there’s this:

    The vast majority of children who are raised entirely in a two-parent home will never be poor during childhood. By contrast, the vast majority of children who spend time in a single-parent home will experience poverty.

    http://www.family.org/ cforum/ fosi/ marriage/ facts/ a0028317.cfm

    The way you do research, I could probably make a good practice out of representing your former clients in legal malpractice actions!


  121. jahan Says:

    From what I understand from listening to Air America this morning, Bush was indeed heckled. I can’t find a full transcript yet.. but the WHITE house transcript had replaces the heckling incindents with “(applause)” . Awesome.


  122. bones Says:

    It’s up on Crooks and Liars, note Bush didn’t have the balls to have the secret Service wade thru a crowd of African Americans to remove that protester, just people like Cindy Sheehan and congressmen’s wives at the State of the union.


  123. Parrotlover77 Says:

    A successful owner? That sounds like something a slave master would say to a fellow slave master friend.

    So we now define success based on how well people “own” things. This ownership society thing is really twisted.


  124. mighty aphrodite Says:

    Shamaaan Braid Fair opines, ” If your posts are any indication of your lawyering skills, it’s a wonder you are still admitted to practice!”
    ******Can you imagine??? I passed the bar on the first time, too!!!! How lucky was that??? whew!!! I’m confident your intellectual prowess and razor-sharp recall will serve you well taking the bar.

    A big SWAK for confirming the info I vaguely remember having read eons ago. Your cited information CONFIRMS my argument - - that keyboard must have gotten away from you!! HA!


  125. big papa Says:

    The NAACP has relegated itself into the closet of stagnancy and ineffectiveness…

    …for them to even invite the TRAITOR and criminal Bushiva to address them…

    …shows how out of touch with THEIR constituency they are…

    …”et tu NAACP?”


  126. big papa Says:

    I passed the bar on the first time, too!!!! How lucky was that???

    Comment by mighty aphrodite #142

    puny hermaphrodite,

    …so your pimp gives good directions…

    …no need to brag about that!


  127. scott wood Says:

    Bush isn’t a racist. some of you are just turning what he says around to sound racist. We don’t live in the sixties anymore, let it go.


  128. robert w soesia Says:

    I am not sure, but what right has the government to tax someone’s death estate. I mean, the individual person worked for the money and already paid the tax that was due. Why does the government think that they have any right to it again.


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  130. Martin L Says:

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  131. Jim Crow Laws Employment Law Us Supreme Court Says:

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