Bush declines NAACP invitation

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/08/bush.naacp.ap/index.html

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- President Bush declined an invitation 
to speak at the NAACP's annual convention, the group said.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People expects 
more than 8,000 people to attend the convention, which opens on Saturday.

Democratic challenger John Kerry accepted an invitation to speak next 
Thursday on the final day of the convention, the NAACP said.

Bush spoke at the 2000 NAACP convention in Baltimore when he was running 
for president.

NAACP spokesman John White said Wednesday that Bush has declined 
invitations in each year of his presidency -- becoming the first 
president since Herbert Hoover not to attend an NAACP convention.

The NAACP received a letter from the White House three weeks ago 
declining the invitation because of scheduling conflicts and thanking 
them for understanding.

The letter was signed by presidential scheduler Melissa Bennett.

White House spokesman Jim Morrell said Wednesday that the president has 
spoken about "equal opportunity and equal rights for all Americans" in 
many public places.
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