NAACP invites Romney to speak, then shamefully boos him

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...ws-boos-applause-from-NAACP-crowd-3699210.php

Speaking to the 103rd annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney pleaded with his African-American listeners to give him a fair hearing, even though the vast majority presumably support President Barack Obama.

"I believe that if you understood who I truly am in my heart, and if it were possible to fully communicate what I believe is in the real, enduring best interest of African-American families, you would vote for me for president," he said. "I want you to know that if I did not believe that my policies and my leadership would help families of color – and families of any color – more than the policies and leadership of President Obama, I would not be running for president."

His audience greeted him with respectful, if not enthusiastic applause, and applauded occasionally at points throughout the speech – until he said he would eliminate ObamaCare, the Affordable Care Act upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court two weeks ago. The audience responded with thundering boos. His listeners also booed a few minutes later when he said he would be a more responsive president to the African-American community than the current occupant of the White House.

Earlier in the speech, Romney reminded his audience that as a Republican governor of Massachusetts, in a state with 11 percent Republican registration, he had to work with every voter. "We don't count anybody out, and we sure don't make a habit of presuming anyone's support. Support is asked for and earned – and that's why I'm here today."

Romney noted that with 90 percent of African Americans voting Democratic some would question why a Republican would even campaign in the African-American community. He told the audience of about 600 people that he believed his policies and vision would help middle-class Americans of all races, that they would lift people out of poverty and prevent people from becoming poor.

"My campaign is about helping the people who need help. The course the President has set won't do that. My course will," he said.

He noted that a chronically bad economy was even worse for African Americans in almost every way, including the unemployment rate, the duration of unemployment, average income, and median family wealth. He noted that in June, while the overall unemployment rate remained stuck at 8.2 percent, the unemployment rate for African Americans went up, from 13.6 percent to 14.4 percent.

He also promised education reform if elected president, including support for charter schools and opposition to the demands of teacher unions.

"If equal opportunity in America were an accomplished fact, black families could send their sons and daughters to public schools that truly offer the hope of a better life. Instead, for generations, the African-American community has been waiting and waiting for that promise to be kept," he said. "Today, black children are 17 percent of students nationwide – but they are 42 percent of the students in our worst-performing schools.

"When it comes to education reform, candidates cannot have it both ways – talking up education reform, while indulging the same groups that are blocking reform. You can be the voice of disadvantaged public-school students, or you can be the protector of special interests like the teachers' unions, but you can't be both. I have made my choice: As president, I will be a champion of real education reform in America, and I won't let any special interest get in the way."

He said that under a Romney presidency federal education funds would be linked to a student, so that parents can send their child to any public or charter school, or to a private school. "And I will make that a true choice by ensuring there are good options available to all," he said.

"I can't promise you that I will agree on every issue," Romney said toward the end of his 20-minute address, "but I do promise that your hospitality to me today will be returned." If elected president, he said, he would be back at next year's convention.

Chandler Vaughan, executive director of the Juanita Craft Foundation in Dallas and an NAACP member since 1982, said he thought Romney's reference to canceling what he called Obamacare "was a purposeful attempt to solicit that kind of reaction from an audience, which can then be used for his own purposes in his political campaign. I thought that the NAACP audience here today was very respectful under the circumstances."

The Rev. James Nash, pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Sunnyside, said he was glad Romney came, but that he didn't hear any solutions. "Then he had the audacity to talk about repealing Obamacare. That's his plan. ... He should have known he was going to get a negative reaction to that," Nash said.