At Press Conference, Bush Says He's Hurt By Charges He 'Doesn't Care' About Black People

By: E&P Staff While his press conference today focused mainly on war and spying issues, President Bush also fielded one pointed question about his popularity, or lack of it, among African-Americans, especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In reply, the president said, ?One of the most hurtful things I can hear is, 'Bush doesn't care about African Americans,' for example. First of all, it's not true.?

He also got into a tift with Washington Post correspondent Peter Baker stemming from the recent spy program revelations.

The question on race noted that he had defended himself on this matter previously but ?some are still not sold on that.?

Bush replied, ?The fact that some in America believe that I am not concerned about race troubles me. One of the jobs of the President is to help people reconcile and to move forward and to unite. One of the most hurtful things I can hear is, 'Bush doesn't care about African Americans,' for example. First of all, it's not true. And, secondly, I believe that -- obviously I've got to do a better job of communicating, I guess, to certain folks, because my job is to say to people, we're all equally American, and the American opportunity applies to you just as much as somebody else. And so I will continue to do my best, to reach out.?

The to-and-fro with Baker, when the President--who cracked several jokes during the press meeting--seemed to turn angry, went as follows.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. I wonder if you can tell us today, sir, what, if any, limits you believe there are or should be on the powers of a President during a war, at wartime? And if the global war on terror is going to last for decades, as has been forecast, does that mean that we're going to see, therefore, a more or less permanent expansion of the unchecked power of the executive in American society?

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I disagree with your assertion of "unchecked power."

Q Well --

THE PRESIDENT: Hold on a second, please. There is the check of people being sworn to uphold the law, for starters. There is oversight. We're talking to Congress all the time, and on this program, to suggest there's unchecked power is not listening to what I'm telling you. I'm telling you, we have briefed the United States Congress on this program a dozen times.

This is an awesome responsibility to make decisions on behalf of the American people, and I understand that, Peter. And we'll continue to work with the Congress, as well as people within our own administration, to constantly monitor programs such as the one I described to you, to make sure that we're protecting the civil liberties of the United States. To say "unchecked power" basically is ascribing some kind of dictatorial position to the President, which I strongly reject.

Q What limits do you --

THE PRESIDENT: I just described limits on this particular program, Peter. And that's what's important for the American people to understand. I am doing what you expect me to do, and at the same time, safeguarding the civil liberties of the country.