|uly2l,2O O 4 1'JJortlanìt OObseruer Page A3 Bush Skips NAACP, Kerry Promises Dialogue President accused of dividing America by race, wealth (AP) - Democrat John Kerry, taking advantage of a spat be tween the NAACP and the White House, accused President Bush of dividing America by race and wealth, and promised as presi dent to represent “all of the people.” “The president may be too busy to talk to you,” Kerry told the partisan crowd at the NAACP c o n v e n tio n in P h ila d e lp h ia Thursday, "but I have news for you: He’s going to have plenty of time after Nov. 2.” Bush rejected an invitation to address the NAACP. He has not spoken to the civil rights group since the 2000 campaign, when the NAACP National Voter Fund ran an ad that portrayed Bush as unsympathetic to the dragging death of James Byrd in Texas. Since the campaign, leaders of the NAACP have called Bush an illegal president, compared his anti-abortion views to the Taliban and called his trip to Africa a photo-op. A Bush spokesman blasted the NAACP on Thurs day. T he p re sid e n t “ has m any friends who belong to the NAACP and respects their proud history o f cham pioning civil rights,” W hite House com m unications director Dan Bartlett said. “Dif ferences of opinion and oppos ing views are o f course part of the national debate. Yet the current Presidential Candidate John Kerry greets NAACP delegates. leadership of the NAACP has clearly crossed the line in parti- sanship and civility, making it impossible to have a construc- tive dialogue.” “ D e sp ite the c u rre n t leadership's intolerant views. President Bush will continue to reach out to m em bers o f the NAACP and African-Americans from across the country,” he said. Bush a d d re sse s the U rban L eague, a n o th e r c iv il rights group, this week. NAACPchairman Julian Bond poked fun at Bush for refusing to address the group because o f its criticism. “If he d id n 't go anyw here people criticize him, he’d never leave home,” Bond said, drawing laughter. In Washington, B ush's edu cation secretary. Rod Paige, took aim at Bond and NAACP presi dent Kweisi Mfume for what he called "hateful and untruthful rhetoric about Republicans and President Bush.” At the conven tion, NAACP officials have de scribed some black organizations as mouthpieces of white conser vatives and have said Bush’s education law disproportionately hurts minorities. When Kerry took his turn on stage to the soul anthem "We are Family,” he said, “I will be a presi dent who is truly a uniter, not one who seeks to divide one nation by race or riches or by any other label.” He noted the high unemploy ment rate for blacks, and said Bush had not done enough to improve education, the economy and civil rights for all Americans, includ ing blacks. In a foreign policy tracked closely by blacks, Kerry said as president he would use “the full weight of American leadership” to help stop genocide in Sudan. A spokeswoman said that could include military force, but not as a first step. African American is Keynote Speaker for Dems Delegates nearly 40 percent minority Whoopi Goldberg Goldberg Angers Corporate Sponsor (AP) — The Slim -Fast diet d rin k com pany has dum ped W hoopi G oldberg from its ad vertising because its executives were unhappy with rem arks the com edian made at a recent po litical rally that mocked P resi dent Bush. “We are disappointed by the m anner in which Ms. G oldberg chose to express herself and sincerely regret that her recent rem arks offended some o f our consum ers. Ads featuring Ms. G oldberg will no longer be on the air,” Slim-Fast general man ager Terry Olson said in a press Barack Obama, Illinois state senator and the D em ocratic nominee for U.S. Senate, will deliver the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, July 27, before a delegation com prised o f nearly 40 percent mi nority representatives. “Barack is an optimistic voice for America and a leader who knows that together we can build an America that is stronger at hom e and re sp e c te d in the world,” said Democratic Presi dential candidate John Kerry. “He understands the importance of building an economy that lifts can take under the leadership of John Kerry and John Edwards, and I am ready to work with them to make it happen.” Obama will talk about his hope for America and the new direc tion for this country the Kerry- Edwards ticket offers. He will speak to the need for a stronger America that puts jobs, families and communities first. He will also highlight the importance of Americans dedicating their lives to serving their community and their country. According to statistics com Barack Obama piled by the Democratic National up families and expands oppor Convention and look forward to Committee, 39 percent o f the tunity, and I’m honored that he sharing with America the hopes 4,341 delegates to this month’s has accepted the invitation to and dreams o f so many people convention in Boston are minori deliver the keynote address.” throughout Illinois that I have ties. More African Americans, “I am honored and humbled to met during this campaign,” said Asian Americans, Native Ameri deliver the keynote address at Obama. “America is excited about cans, and Hispanics will attend this year’s Democratic National the new direction our country the Convention than ever before. release. Goldberg participated at a re cent Democratic fund-raiser at Radio City Music Hall in New York. At one point in a speech mocking the Bush administration, Goldberg used his surname as a sexual reference. The event raised $7.5 million fo r th e Jo h n K e rry -J o h n E dw ards p re sid e n tia l tick et. Both Kerry and Edw ards at tended, but neither com m ented about the jokes m ade by the celebrities tow ard Bush. Slim -Fast Foods is based in W est Palm Beach, Fla. í,?l ^portíanú (Obserucr Martin Luther King Jr B lu l Portland. < )R 9721 I For your advertising needs contact us. 503-288-0033 ads@ portlandobserver.com fax 288-00 Our Home Equity Line of Credit is loaded with pluses. See us on the web a! www.portlandohserver.com 2004 F a b u lo u s 4.001 5 0 tly * j B irth d ay E x tr a v a g a n z a Featuring» N ’T ou ch Up-tempo Jazz lim p ly ...stuiplystated ... "Taie cnted" "The Beyons" —aiuroay J*Jy s i.« « " Ramada tinada lim hm -A ir irp ort 6 8 2 1 Northeast 82nd Ave ______ ,O R 8:OOp*i-l:3Oam ♦ + + + + Bringingbackthat ..O le S c n o o lso n g ... 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