Let me compare President Bush to Maryland Gov. Ehrlich if I may.
Bush increased funding to HBCUs. Ehrlich increased funding to MD HBCUs.
Bush did little or no advertising of this fact. Ehrlich made it known. In a Democrat leaning state, the message got out.
Ehrlich, with the aid of Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, revamped the Minority Business Enterprise program in Maryland. Evidently, Bush has increased SBA support of Black business. Ehrlich got the message out.
Who is to blame here?
Small Business Administration loans to black entrepreneurs are up 75% from last year, so the Bush administration has increased such support (although everyone qualifies in similar ways). Funds to HBCUs are at an all-time high now (with Bush's signature, by the way and RNC chair Ed Gillespie has championed it on Tavis Smiley's show and some other black media venues). However, Bush's campaign hasn't highlighting these issues in a major way - and the blame lies with Bush's campaign.
Posted by: molotov at August 25, 2004 03:26 PM
Blame?
On the SBA thing, Bush didn't increase SBA support of Black businesses. He made it clear Black businesses are eligible under the same terms as all others.
I don't know that Bush increased HBCU funding, or championed it or accepted it or what. I know he couldn't make an issue of it.
Posted by: P6 at August 25, 2004 08:46 AM