Beating a horse that was never alive

I see that Wan Juilliams is at it again, this time on that thatliberalNPR, pitching the same abject nonsense about the allegedly effective strategy George Bush is cooking up to appeal to the African-American voters who have treated him so unfairly. For a change, does he present any empirical evidence this time? Is the Pope Jewish? Mark Goldberg reminds us of some salient facts that Williams never seems to get around to mentioning:

Indeed, Bush rarely hides his contempt for black concerns. For example, while most civic leaders use Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement, President George W. Bush tends to spend the day expressing in various ways his unambiguous hostility towards African Americans. On MLK Day in 2003 Bush took the occasion to blast Michigan University’s affirmative action admission policies. One year later to the day, he honored the memory of Dr. King by announcing the recess appointment of Judge Charles Pickering, who was once the center of national controversy for showing unusual leniency towards a pair of criminal cross burners.

Not only that, but Pickering wrote a law review article explaining ways that Mississippi could strengthen its anti-micegenation laws (if there was any pressing issue in Mississippi in the early 60s, it was the ineffectiveness of its Jim Crow laws.) But he considers Clarence Thomas one of his favorite Supreme Court justices, so it should all balance out! I’m setting the over/under on Bush’s black vote at 8%…

UPDATE: The General notes that, in fairness, Bush’s strategy is bearing fruit among white business executives of color. Perhaps this is what Juan has in mind.