Bush Vows to Campaign More in Black Neighborhoods

Vice President George Bush, stepping up attempts to broaden his appeal, Thursday pledged before a group of black supporters that he would spend more time campaigning in black neighborhoods this fall and make clear that “my conservatism has nothing to do with racism.”

But Bush refused to commit himself to placing a black in his Cabinet--something he has promised Latino voters--and he indicated that he did not support a move by blacks to obtain greater membership in the Republican Party’s leadership.

In a private meeting, black supporters urged Bush to forge an identity separate from the Reagan Administration and to visit black neighborhoods during the general election campaign. Bush, who is to receive his party’s nomination in six days, only rarely visited black neighborhoods during the primaries.

‘The Real George Bush’

Atlantic City Mayor James Usry said Bush was told that black voters need to see “the real George Bush, standing out as George Bush and not the vice president under the mantle of President Reagan.”

The vice president, taking a brief break from his private convention preparations to appear with black supporters near the U.S. Capitol, affirmed his belief that he can attract black voters this fall. Traditionally, blacks have been the voting bloc most loyal to the Democratic Party.

“We have a chance if I get my message of commitment and fair play out across this country,” Bush said, hinting that civil rights might be included as a theme in his nomination acceptance address at the party convention in New Orleans next week.

“Probably (there) will be some reference to my feelings there in New Orleans--and then I want to flesh it out as we go on the campaign trail.”

Bush has major problems in seeking the support of a wide range of black voters. In some large cities, like Chicago and Philadelphia, he has allied himself with white politicians whose political history includes clashes with the black community.

Bush has also made a major campaign point of blasting the “liberal” leanings of Democratic presidential nominee Michael S. Dukakis--but, for black voters, liberals tend to represent the best traditions of civil rights activism.

In response to a question Thursday, Bush told reporters that he would endeavor to place his conservatism in an economic framework, rather than a social one.

“I’ll make it clear that my conservatism has nothing to do with racism,” he said. “I’ll make it clear that my conservatism has to do with how you create jobs. . . . I will not let them pin on me this idea (that) if you’re a conservative you don’t care about racial fair play. I do. I always have.”

Although he made a point of calling for “full participation” by blacks in the Republican Party, Bush sidestepped supporting a move by black Republicans in New Orleans Wednesday to change party rules to allow more representation by minorities in the party leadership.

Black Plan Rejected

The proposed change--which would have expanded the membership of the Republican National Committee, which Bush once headed--was rejected by party leaders. Black Republicans have threatened a lawsuit to force the change.

Bush first said that he was unfamiliar with the controversy, then, when the change was explained, he indicated that he did not support it.

“I’m not sure the size of the (Republican National Committee) really relates to what we’re talking about here in terms of opportunity for people across this country,” he said. “I’m not sure I feel that is the best way to demonstrate equality.”

On the topic of Cabinet membership, Bush reiterated his pledge to place a Latino on his Cabinet--a promise he first made before President Reagan’s nomination Tuesday of Texas educator Lauro F. Cavazos as secretary of education.

However, citing a fear of being accused of pandering, Bush again refused to say whether he would place a black American in his Cabinet.

“I don’t want to get into the categorization where somebody tries to level on me the charge of pandering to one group after another,” he said. “Because I think I might be eligible for that if I went further down the list of saying who will be in this Cabinet.”

Working on Speech

Bush has spent much of the week working on his nomination address, to be delivered to the convention next Thursday night, and considering his vice presidential selection. He refused to say Thursday whether black National Security Adviser Colin L. Powell was on his vice presidential selection list but said he had “great respect” for Powell.

Also on Thursday, the Bush campaign found cheer in three national polls that indicated that Dukakis’ postconvention lead has crested.

An NBC News-Wall Street Journal survey showed Dukakis with a 14-point lead over Bush, down from 18 points the week after the Democratic convention. A CNN-USA Today poll had the candidates 12 points apart, and a Business Week poll gave Dukakis a six-point lead.

On Wednesday, a poll by the Gallup Organization showed Dukakis leading by seven points, down from 17 points two weeks earlier.