President Bush at the National Urban League

President Bush spoke today at the National Urban League. He touted the tax cuts and the rapidly growing economy. He also noted how tax cuts on individuals help small businesses because proprietorships and Subchapter S corporations pay taxes at the individual income tax rate, not the corporate rate (which can be much lower).

But the part of his lengthy speech that will, and should, get the most publicity is the portion near the end where he asks blacks if they are really well-served by the Democrats. Here is an excerpt (with applause notations excised):

Does the Democrat party take African American voters for granted? It's a fair question. I know plenty of politicians assume they have your vote. But do they earn it and do they deserve it? Is it a good thing for the African American community to be represented mainly by one political party? That's a legitimate question. How is it possible to gain political leverage if the party is never forced to compete? Have the traditional solutions of the Democrat party truly served the African American community?

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Does blocking the faith-based initiative help neighborhoods where the only social service provider could be a church? Does the status quo in education really, really help the children of this country?

Does class warfare -- has class warfare or higher taxes ever created decent jobs in the inner city? Are you satisfied with the same answers on crime, excuses for drugs and blindness to the problem of the family?

Thus, the President wants blacks to examine their interests and see if his policies fit their needs. Here's more from the President:

I'm here to say that there is an alternative this year . . . If you dream of starting a small business and building a nest egg and passing something of value to your children, take a look at my agenda. If you believe schools should meet high standards instead of making excuses, take a look at my agenda. If you believe the institutions of marriage and family are worth defending and need defending today, take a look at my agenda.

If you believe in building a culture of life in America, take a look at my agenda. If you believe in a tireless fight against crime and drugs, take a look at this agenda. If you believe that our men and women in uniform should be respected and supported 100 percent of the time, take a look at my agenda.

If you're struggling to get into the middle class and you feel like you're paying plenty of taxes, take a look at my agenda. If you're a small business owner who is trying to expand your job base and are worried about excessive lawsuits, increasing taxes and over-regulation, take a look at this agenda.

And finally, if you believe in the power of faith and compassion to defeat violence and despair and hopelessness, I hope you take a look at where I stand.