Donald Trump declines invitation to address NAACP

[groundloop]

Source: CBS News

ATLANTA -- The NAACP says Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has declined an invitation to address the group's upcoming convention, flouting established precedent and highlighting anew the GOP standard-bearer's struggle to attract support from nonwhite voters.

NAACP president Cornell William Brooks told CNN Tuesday that Trump had declined the group's invitation to speak at the Cincinnati gathering, scheduled from Saturday through Wednesday. Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is slated to speak there next Monday, which is also opening day of the Republican National Convention across the state in Cleveland.

Brooks said the Trump campaign cited scheduling conflicts with the GOP convention, where Trump will formally accept the party's nomination. Brooks argued Trump should have made the time amid the racially charged fallout of videotaped killings of black men by police in Louisiana and Minnesota, followed by the killings of five Dallas police officers by a black sniper.

"We represent an occasion for those running for president to speak to the nation's most critical issues at a critical hour in this country," Brooks said on CNN. "You can't run for president and not talk about police misconduct and police brutality. You can't run for president and not talk about the nation's civil rights agenda."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-declines-invitation-to-address-naacp/

[Chicago1980]

1. Let's be honest he doesn't really care about the black vote.

Trump it looking for the "aggrieved" white vote, stoking fears and hate.

He likes the 'poorly educated' and this country is full of those.

[groundloop]

2. Absolutely. He'll get more support from his base by not 'stooping' to talk to NAACP

I would say 'once a racist fuck always a racist fuck', but I personally know people who have truly changed their views over the years. Trump CHOOSES to be a racist fuck, and he's counting on stirring up his racist base from now until November.

[yeoman6987]

3. I can't stand trump but this is scheduled at the same time as their convention?

I see why he can't do it. If it was 3 weeks later, I'd be interesting to see if he'd go.

[yellowcanine]

4. Not totally. NACCP is Saturday through Wednesday in Cincinnati.

Rep National Convention doesn't start until Monday in Cleveland, just a short hop across the state in his plane. He easily could go. It just is not a priority for him.

[groundloop]

5. That, or he could at least address them via video

I'm pretty sure that's been done before.

[yellowcanine]

6. Yep. He clearly could. He doesn't want to. This is a tactical decision on his part.

He thinks there are more positives than negatives to blowing off the NAACP. And he might be correct in the short term.

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. True ... It's not like he'd have to take a stage coach ...

the round trip would be about 3 hours.

[Kingofalldems]

15. Short trip to Cincinnati. No excuse.

[NWCorona]

7. I'm happy he made this huge mistake.

[groundloop]

9. Actually might not be a 'mistake'

I believe he might lose more support from his 'base' by addressing the NAACP than he'd gain by going. It's pretty clear that he's counting on ginning up enough fear and hatred to get people on the right to vote.

[NWCorona]

10. That's definitely a possibility but I am worried he's gonna

try to move to the left to try any peel independents

[0rganism]

12. maybe, but he hasn't started yet

the longer he waits, the harder it will be

[Sunlei]

11. He knows he is a horrible speaker 'live'. He needs pre recorded with re-takes, like his TV show.

doubt even scores of republican handlers and trainers could ever train the carnival barker out of him.

[lark]

13. Poor thin skinned asshole, can't handle the truth so won't come.

He couldn't get away with his Black Lives Matter are to blame for the Dallas killings and really he's calling them terrorists without using that word. At least I haven't seen him say they were terrorists, although it does fit his style so maybe I just missed it? Anyway, I guess he thinks that he will only be the president for white old men and beautiful, subservient, white young women and everyone else are totally unimportant or will be banned or sent to jail?

[world wide wally]

14. Will "The Blacks" still love him as much?

[Angry Dragon]

16. Trump figures he has enough white bigots so he does not need any black votes

[Rex]

17. Trump does not try and hide the fact he is a white supremacist, so this is not surprising at all. nt

nt