Hundreds protest as Bush visits MLK tomb ( 2004-01-16 08:44) (Agencies)
Looking for election-year support from black
voters in the South, U.S. President Bush was greeted at Martin Luther
King's grave in Atlanta Thursday by noisy demonstrators who chanted
"Go home, Bush!" after receiving a warmer reception at a shabby church in New
Orleans.
As Bush placed a wreath on King's crypt, a low chorus of boos could be heard
from across the street where 700 protesters beat drums and waved signs bearing
slogans such as "War is not the answer" and "It's not a photo-op, George."
Bush's four-stop swing through Georgia and Louisiana allowed him face time
with two important constituencies — religious conservatives, who make up his
base of support, and black voters, only 9 percent of whom supported him in 2000.
Events in both states were paired with fund-raisers, which raised $2.3 million
for his campaign account, already brimming with more than $130 million.
In this year's presidential race, Bush probably will garner only slighly more
of the black vote, predicts David Bositis, a political analyst in Washington who
focuses on black issues.
"Nine percent is the lowest for a Republican candidate since Barry Goldwater,
he said. "When you get a zero on a test and you take it a second time, the odds
are that you're going to do a little better."
The president, standing silently, his head slightly bowed, appeared unfazed
by the protesters at King's tomb, where he laid a wreath of red, white and blue
flowers to mark what would have been the civil rights leader's 75th birthday.
King Center officials said they extended no formal invitation to Bush but
accepted his offer to come.
The president's critics dismissed his visit to the grave as a symbolic
gesture that only underscored shortcomings in the administration's relationship
with blacks.
Back in Washington, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, chairman of the Congressional
Black Caucus, said not one policy decision made by the Bush administration —
from the war in Iraq to the economy, from education to the environment — has
mirrored King's dream. "The president needs to be more embracing of elected
African American officials and the entire African American community every day
of the year, not just on January 15th," he said.
Bush didn't speak publicly at the grave, but earlier at the black church in
Louisiana, Bush said King understood that "faith is power greater than all
others," and that it was important for America to "honor his life and what he
stood for."
Bush was at Union Bethel A.M.E. Church, in a high-crime area of downtown New
Orleans, to push his faith-based initiative. He typically uses black churches
for faith-based events, but Bositis of the Joint Center for Political and
Economic Studies, a think tank in Washington. said Thursday's events were
tailored to winning white voters too.
"They're aimed at white Christian conservative supporters," he said.
"Appearing in black churches makes him look like he's doing all these things for
black people. It makes him look less conservative, and that's a potential plus
for white, suburban swing voters."
At the church, where pews are broken and the sky can be seen through holes in
stained glass window panes, Bush announced that the U.S. Justice Department has
finalized just such regulations affecting $3.7 billion in funding, primarily for
programs that help crime victims, prevent child victimization and promote safe
schools.
"That's why I'm here — to get involved with the faith-based initiative," said
David Shelton Jr., minister from a poor church nearby that has fed 400,000
people the past 17 years.
Kevin J. Boyd Sr, pastor at an upscale church in New Orleans, said he was
"sure politics is playing a part" in Bush's visit. "But when you're worried
about your next meal, you're not worried about going to the polls."
After receiving a friendly reception at the church, more than 100
demonstrators chanted "Down with Bush" from behind barricades a block away from
the D-Day Museum, where Bush attended a fund-raiser. Many of the protesters wore
T-shirts with the words "one-term president." An effigy of Bush was set afire
and had to be stamped out by police.
At a fund-raiser in Atlanta, Bush was introduced by Democratic Sen. Zell
Miller, a conservative courted to the campaign after last year announcing that
he would support Bush's re-election.
"I can guarantee you that I will not be the only Democrat working for his
re-election," said Miller, greeted with loud hoots of approval from the mostly
Republican crowd.
True to Miller's word, there were several other Georgia Democrats in the
audience to lend their support to Bush, a fact in which the president openly
exulted. After thanking Miller and the other Democrats profusely, Bush had a
joke for the Republican supporter: "I'm kind of taking you for granted tonite,"
he said to laughter.
