[Vision2020] 07-07-04 CNN: Bush declines NAACP invitation

[Art Deco aka W. Fox]

Bush declines NAACP invitation
Thursday, July 8, 2004 Posted: 11:40 AM EDT (1540 GMT) Thursday, July 8, 2004
Posted: 11:40 AM EDT (1540 GMT)


PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- President Bush declined an invitation to
speak at the NAACP's annual convention, the group said.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People expects more than
8,000 people to attend the convention, which opens on Saturday.

Democratic challenger John Kerry accepted an invitation to speak next Thursday
on the final day of the convention, the NAACP said.

Bush spoke at the 2000 NAACP convention in Baltimore when he was running for
president.

NAACP spokesman John White said Wednesday that Bush has declined invitations in
each year of his presidency -- becoming the first president since Herbert Hoover
not to attend an NAACP convention.

The NAACP received a letter from the White House three weeks ago declining the
invitation because of scheduling conflicts and thanking them for understanding.

The letter was signed by presidential scheduler Melissa Bennett.

White House spokesman Jim Morrell said Wednesday that the president has spoken
about "equal opportunity and equal rights for all Americans" in many public
places.
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