Meek, Brown spurn president's outreach

By SARA FRITZ

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 2, 2001

WASHINGTON -- In the past, Democratic Reps. Carrie Meek and Corrine Brown have criticized Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for failing to consult them on matters affecting black citizens. But when the governor's older brother, President Bush, invited them to the White House to discuss their differences, they refused to go.

Meek said she boycotted Bush's meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday night because she is still upset by the ballot count in Florida and by Bush's choice of former Sen. John Ashcroft, a conservative Christian, as attorney general.

"The president wants to placate us, but you can't just spin the kind of hurt we felt in Florida," Meek told reporters.

Meek and Brown were among nearly 100 Democrats who have been invited to the White House over the past two weeks as part of the new president's efforts to heal the political breach caused by his narrow election victory. Most of them have not only accepted the invitation but have praised Bush for inviting them.

Of the African-American politicians who met with Bush on Wednesday, Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., was perhaps the most effusive in his praise of the Republican president. "President Bush says he wants to reach out to all Americans," said Rangel, "and I am glad he has not left out the economically disadvantaged."

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, added: "We had to point out how much the anger and anguish is still present. He took that, I believe, very seriously. He made a commitment to work with us to correct those issues so that we won't have that experience again."

Bush was equally generous in his praise of those who attended the meeting. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said the president was impressed by the "impassioned plea" he heard from black members of Congress who agreed to meet with him. He said Bush realized during the meeting "how deep those sentiments run."

The Black Caucus asked Bush to commit himself to election ballot reform and economic policies favorable to the nation's disadvantaged citizens.

"If there are areas where people are discriminated against, we need to change it," Bush told them. "This is America. Everyone deserves a right to vote."

Although Bush has been getting good reviews for his meetings with Democrats in recent days, Fleischer said it was not unusual for him to meet with blacks or members of the opposition party. He said Bush made such meetings a part of his routine while he was governor of Texas.

In Florida, the president's brother came under attack last year for not consulting with African-American leaders before he unveiled his so-called One Florida plan, which supplanted affirmative action in admissions to state universities. Meek and Brown were among his leading critics.

Tola Thompson, Meek's spokesman, said the Miami congresswoman felt "the timing just was not right for her to go" to the meeting with Bush because it occurred one day before the Senate vote on the Ashcroft nomination, which Meek opposed. But he said that she does not intend to turn down every invitation.

"I wouldn't say it's a long-term holdout," Thompson said.

Brown, who represents Jacksonville, did not respond to an inquiry seeking her reasons for not attending the White House meeting. Meanwhile, Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miami, said he was unable to accept the president's invitation because he had another commitment. He said that he approved of Bush's effort.

"A lot of what we have seen is fluff and symbolism," Hastings said, "but it is good. I hope he can make a difference."

Republican Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, who is African-American but does not belong to the Black Caucus, criticized Meek and Brown for failing to attend.

"I don't agree with it," he said. "As tempting as it might have been, I did not boycott Bill Clinton. But President Clinton was my president."

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