From: "Mark" 

There's no reason for Bush to get involved in this overblown kerfuffle, nor
to give it any more legs by taking any substantial position on it, hence a
simple statement in the middle of the gaggle by the usual spokesperson:
"The president believes the comments were not appropriate."

Imagine if Bush gave this any amount of attention at all, such as
"Bennett's explanation sounds reasonable and plausible" (which it
does to me too, especially given the extra effort that Media Matters joint
went to, to quote selectively and out of context). Rangel would be
screaming Bull Connor again (well he still is, but louder), Farrakahn would
weigh in, as would Sharpton, Jackson and the rest of the ones that should
be facing a lot more scrutiny for their various statements over the years,
than Bennett should for radio conversation with a caller -- hell, he's
pro-life, he doesn't favor abortion for anyone, anywhere, anytime.

I think the vast majority of us are way past all this racist stuff, but
that doesn't play well for the "leaders" out there.

"Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message
news:433eedc7$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> Fox News Hannity & Colmes did damage control for Bennett last night -
> you'd think Bush would have listened to that 'fair and balanced'
> explanation  :->
>
> http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050930-115608-8518r.htm
>
> The White House yesterday criticized former Education Secretary William
> Bennett for saying that "you could abort every black baby in this country,
> and your crime rate would go down."
>    "The president believes the comments were not
appropriate," White House
> Press Secretary Scott McClellan said.
>    Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman also denounced the
> comments as "regrettable" and "inappropriate," but
said the party will not
> be deterred in its efforts to expand its base within the black community.
>    "The other side has nothing but scare tactics," Mr.
Mehlman said. "One
> side offers solutions and the other side offers scare tactics and insults,
> and I am confident the American people will take solutions every time."
>    The former education secretary, who now hosts a daily radio talk show,
> said Wednesday that "if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that
> were your sole purpose -- you could abort every black baby in this
> country, and your crime rate would go down."
>    "That would be an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible
> thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these
> far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky."
>
>
>

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5