Bush laments poor Republican relations with blacks [video report]

President Bush greets Congressman Al Green at the NAACP convention. Picture / Reuters

WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush lamented the poor relationship between blacks and his Republican Party on Thursday in his first address to America's leading civil rights organisation since taking office in 2001.

Bush drew roars of approval from members of the NAACP at their 97th annual convention when he criticized his party, which is campaigning to keep control of Congress in November elections, for writing off the black vote in the past.

"I consider it a tragedy that the party of Abraham Lincoln let go of its historic ties to the African American community," Bush said. "For too long my party wrote off the African American vote and many African Americans wrote off the Republican Party," he said.

"That history has prevented us from working together when we agree on great goals. It's not good for our country," said Bush, who received only 9 per cent of the black vote in the 2000 presidential election and 10 per cent in 2004.

Black Americans mostly side with Democrats and fault Republicans for ignoring their needs. That impression was reinforced by the bungled Bush administration response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath last August and September.

"We'll work together, and as we do so, you must understand I understand that racism still lingers in America. It's a lot easier to change a law than to change a human heart. And I understand that many African Americans distrust my political party," Bush said.

The NAACP sought to defeat Bush's re-election bid in 2004, accusing Republicans of "playing the race card in election after election."

Bush called slavery and the discrimination it spawned a "stain that we have not yet wiped clean" and said there was much work to do to improve education for black Americans and increase the number who own their own homes and businesses.

NAACP President Bruce Gordon said he thought Bush gave a "very strong performance," but actions will speak louder than words.

"It's one thing to speak it, it's another thing to do it," Gordon told the American Urban Radio Network. "So we now need to move from what's been said, to what gets done."

Three Democratic members of the House of Representatives said in a joint statement that many of the goals Bush outlined are items all Americans can embrace.

"Unfortunately, over the last 5 1/2 years the president has compiled a consistent record of saying one thing and doing another in pursuit of those goals, thereby undermining our nation's ability to truly reach them," said Reps. George Miller of California, Major Owens of New York and Danny Davis of Illinois.

Bush had resisted invitations to address the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People because of constant criticism from its previous president, Kweisi Mfume, but with a new president he decided it was time.

When Gordon gave Bush a polite introduction, Bush said to laughter in the crowd: "Bruce is a polite guy. I thought what he was going to say, 'It's about time you showed up."'

The crowd of hundreds was largely respectful, giving Bush a standing ovation when he appeared on stage.

Two men, however, tried to interrupt the speech before they were escorted out. One of them shouted about Vice President Dick Cheney and the Middle East. They were believed supporters of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche.

Bush's appearance coincided with a debate in the Senate over renewing key portions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which is credited with ending discrimination of black voters through barriers like poll taxes and literacy tests.

He threw his support behind renewing the Voting Rights Act, which the Senate later approved 98-0, saying he looked forward to signing it into law.

- REUTERS