LEXIS-NEXIS® Academic
Copyright 1999 The Washington Post
The Washington Post
November 11, 1999, Thursday, Final Edition
SECTION: A SECTION; Pg. A14
LENGTH: 494 words
HEADLINE: In South Carolina, Bush Steps Gingerly Around Racial Issues;
Texan Tries to Woo Minorities Without Offending Conservatives
BYLINE: Terry M. Neal, Washington Post Staff Writer
DATELINE: GREENVILLE, S.C., Nov. 10
BODY:
Every time Texas Gov. George W. Bush brings his presidential campaign to South
Carolina, he is asked his opinion on one of the state's most divisive political
issues: Should the Confederate flag be removed from the state capitol?
Bush, who was campaigning in the state again this week, has remained
consistent. Such questions should be left up to individual states, he said,
suggesting on one occasion that the NAACP--which has called for a national
tourism boycott until the flag comes down--should
"butt out" of South Carolina's business. But at a news conference today, Bush was asked
whether it was appropriate for the Jack C. Hays High School football team to
use the rebel flag in his own state of Texas.
"That's for the local school district to decide if they want to continue to use
it," Bush answered.
About half of the questions asked of Bush at a morning news conference here
today centered on racial themes. The line of questioning--and Bush's
answers--highlight the balancing act for the GOP front-runner, as he seeks to
woo minority voters without turning off some conservative whites.
Bush has forcefully put the issue of race on the table. In virtually every
speech he proclaims his success at improving test scores for black and Hispanic
children. He has demanded his party be more inclusive. He has made it a
priority to visit Hispanic and black neighborhoods and have his picture taken
hugging minority children.
But Bush frequently brushes off questions that would require him to take a
controversial stand on racial issues. For instance, while he has said he
generally opposes quotas, he has said little about what he would do as
president on the issue of affirmative action.
And when Bush was asked at today's news conference whether he supported
strengthening hate-crime laws, he answered that all crime is hate, without
directly answering the question.
"I think George W. Bush's position on the flag is indicative of the
fact that he really does not want to seriously engage or discuss topics
of interest to most" black and Hispanic people, said Democratic pollster
Ron Lester, who is black and has several political clients in the South.
"All the Republicans want to do is talk the talk."
Also this morning, Bush responded to remarks from Stella Byrd, the mother of
James Byrd Jr., the black man who was dragged to death behind a pickup truck in
Jasper, Tex. She said Bush never called her family after the June 1998 murder
and noted that neither Bush nor a representative attended her son's funeral.
"It's not true," Bush said of the telephone-call issue. And the Bush campaign produced phone
records they say proves Bush made a two-minute call to the family. Bush
spokeswoman Karen Hughes said the Byrd family had expressed concern that the
funeral would be politicized.
"Governor Bush was respecting the wishes of the family," said Hughes, adding that his absence was
"a way to honor their request."
LOAD-DATE: November 11, 1999