So, is Bush being a "lefty-liberal" or is he actually lying and pandering to the "lefty-liberals"?
Bush Says Racial Prejudice Still Afflicts America Updated 11:51 AM ET January 20, 2003
By Patricia Wilson
LANDOVER, Md. (Reuters) - President Bush said on Monday that America has made progress on civil rights but "there's still prejudice holding people back" as he marked the holiday honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Bush and his wife Laura attended a rousing service at the First Baptist Church of the Glenarden community in suburban Washington, replete with gospel hymns and organ music.
Bush, who just days ago angered many black community leaders by challenging the use of race in a university admissions program, got a standing ovation when introduced, as did his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice.
King led the struggle against segregation in America until he was assassinated in 1968.
"It is fitting that we honor this great American in a church because out of the church comes the notion of equality and justice. And even though progress has been made, there is more to do," Bush told the largely African-American congregation.
"There are still people in our society who hurt. There's still prejudice holding people back. There is still a school system that doesn't elevate every child so they can learn," he said.
Bush and his Republicans have some work to do to repair relations with the African-American community after a controversy surrounding former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott.
Lott, a Mississippi Republican, was forced to resign as majority leader late last year after saying the country would have been better off if segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond had won the 1948 presidential election.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Bush last week upset many civil rights leaders by having his administration submit to the Supreme Court a legal challenge to the University of Michigan's policy of using racial preferences in admitting students.
Bush said the school's policy was "divisive, unfair and impossible to square with the Constitution." Secretary of State Colin Powell, the most prominent African-American in the Bush government, said Sunday he disagreed with Bush but understood why he issued the challenge.
First Baptist Church pastor John Jenkins, in a fiery testimonial about King and his legacy, made no reference to the controversy but called on African-American children to take advantage of educational opportunities.
"Don't squander the opportunity to be able to go to school!" Jenkins told the congregation. "Many of these opportunities were not available to your forefathers."
Bush, a devout Christian, used the opportunity to promote his proposals for allowing religious organizations to compete for federal funding for programs like helping the homeless or curing drug addition.
His "faith-based" initiative has never passed Congress because of some concerns it could violate the Constitution's requirement for a separation between church and state. But he is making another big push on it this year.
"It is fitting we meet here in a church because in this society we must understand government can help, government can write checks, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives," Bush said.
