President Bush Snubs The Black Press

By Makebra M. AndersonNNPA National Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – President George W. Bush has rejected invitations to be interviewed by reporters from the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service, which provides stories to more than 200 African-American newspapers, and Black Entertainment Television (BET), which reaches 80 million households. “It doesn’t make political sense not to talk to voters,” says Robert L. Johnson, president and CEO of Black Entertainment Television. “I think this doesn’t support the rhetoric I hear from the Republican Party that they want to compete for the Black vote and they are trying to reach African-Americans.” The NNPA News Service contacted the Bush campaign in September, requesting an interview. As directed, the reporter submitted a formal request in writing to Susan Whitson, a campaign aide. Receipt of the request was later confirmed and NNPA was told that someone would get back in touch with the news service. After no one from the Bush camp followed up, the campaign office was contacted again by the NNPA News Service and again told the reporter that she would be contacted. To date, NNPA hasn’t even been afforded the courtesy of a reply. The NNPA News Service operates under the NNPA Foundation. Brian Townsend, president of the NNPA Foundation, says: “If President Bush values each potential voter, as he proclaims, he should be eager to address our readers. It’s unfortunate that he would pass up these opportunities in what is expected to be a close election.” Although Bush has refused to be interviewed by members of the Black Press, his Democratic opponent, John Kerry, has granted two exclusive interviews to the NNPA News Service and sat for a 30-minute interview with Ed Gordon that aired on BET. Bush, like Kerry, did accept an invitation from American Urban Radio network to speak to Black America without fielding any questions. “We did pretty much what Bob Johnson at BET did. On the 27th of September, we extended an invitation to both Kerry and Bush. Kerry accepted first, and then Bush accepted,” states Jerry Lopes, president of Program Operations and Affiliates for American Urban Radio Networks. “Each candidate will deliver an unabridged 15- minute message answering the question: ‘Why should Black American vote for you?'” American Urban Radio Networks White House Correspondent April Ryan will host the special, which will be tabled and made available for airing from Oct. 28 to 31. She will be joined by Juan William of Fox News and NPR and DeWayne Wickham, a columnist for USA Today, to analyze the remarks. If Bush could answer questions from White reporters for the two presidential debates, he should be able to answer questions from Black journalists, Johnson says. “We wouldn’t do our show the way American Urban Radio Networks is doing theirs because we think our viewers want to have an interactive discussion,” explains Johnson. “I would not give my airtime to someone to simply make a speech. I wouldn’t let my airwaves be used that way.” Johnson sent a letter to African-American members of the Bush administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Education Rod Paige and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson, requesting that they ask Bush to change his mind about being interviewed on BET. “To our disappointment and after 35 days of waiting, we were informed this week that President Bush will not make room in his schedule to appear on BET to share his vision with African-American voters,” Johnson’s letter says. “Contact with the Bush campaign further instructed us to ‘ask again after the election.'” It continues, “As leading African-Americans appointed by President Bush…I urge you to ask the president to reconsider. While we have applauded your appointment to such a key role in the Bush Administration, political appointments are not enough when it comes to communicating the president’s plan of action to address issues that African-Americans find important.” With less than a week to go before the presidential election, some Bush supporters are seeking to appeal to Black voters by distorting the positions of John Kerry. One anti-choice political ad appearing on Black radio stations asserts, “Democrats say they want our votes. Why don’t they want our children?” The ad was sponsored by the conservative America’s PAC. Another ad sponsored by the group boasts of Republican-sponsored tax-cuts that went to members of the Black middle class. “The Democrats in Congress opposed these family tax cuts. Only nine voted for it,” says the ad. “Instead, Democrat leaders support equal benefits for gay or lesbian couples. So, if you think America needs more gay lifestyles, you ought to vote Democrat. But if you think the traditional family needs a break, vote Republican.” William Marshal, Director of African-American media for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), says misleading ads won’t win Bush many Black votes. “It’s clear that this president and this administration can’t run on their record when it comes to African-Americans, so of course they can’t talk to Black media,” says Marshal. “They [the Bush administration] thought they could by ads and that would be enough, but people know the truth. Poverty levels have risen for Blacks since Bush has been in office as well as jobless rates. John Kerry speaks to African-Americans because he truly cares and he’s dedicated to doing something about it.” Johnson, BET’s top executive, says he is not surprised by Bush’s decision to avoid taking questions from Black journalists. “I don’t think we were surprised because we’ve tried on other occasions to get him [president Bush] to speak,” Johnson explains. “It leaves one wondering were they [the Bush administration] only paying lip service when they said they wanted the Black vote.”