79 Percent Clergy African American Republican Organization Seeks Audience with President Obama

April 9, 2010

News Release

For Immediate Release



79 Percent Clergy African American Republican Organization Seeks Audience with President Obama

In the recent aftermath of President Obama's meeting with other black clergy, the leaders of the 76 percent clergy membership of the National African American Caucus also seeks an audience with President Barack Obama.

According to the National chair, "Today we are sending a letter to the White House requesting and encouraging President Obama to include us in meetings with the African American leaders of the black community. Although we are Republicans, he is still our president and we want to work together to unite America and work together to solve issues from both sides of the aisles.

Howard-Hill says that this year her organization also has sought an audience with former President G.W. Bush to seek his guidance and support in making African American inclusive a true reality within the Republican Party.

"Although President Bush has had to decline our request at this time, we received a call from his scheduler Logan Dryden, with a very warm response from President G.W. Bush", she says. "The president is enjoying his retirement, and at this time has decided to stay out of the political limelight, while attending to humanitarian efforts such as his work in Haiti and his presidential library. But at some time in the future, perhaps he may return to the political landscape."

"We understand this and did not take it as a rejection or as a sign of him not wanting to see African Americans included within the party. We look forward to when he can meet with us and are confident that he will."

She cites the number of African Americans and other minorities that former President Bush brought into his administration as a positive sign of his efforts toward building a party that represents all Americans. Also in 2001, Howard-Hill was invited to the Bush White House to discuss minority inclusion.

She adds, "We wish the former president all the best and a much needed peace and rest during his retirement."

Meantime, Howard-Hill says, "We have to work with the president we have to attempt to share our views and concerns."

She says that if given the opportunity to meet with President Obama it will be for the purposes of offering him an alternative view to issues and an opportunity to pray with and for him, as well as encourage him to do what is good for the country.

"When you are people of Spirit and faith, your desire is to extend an olive branch, rather than raise the sword."

She says that although her organization has spoken out on the issue of partisanship and health care reform, that this in no way was a personal attack of the president. But rather, taking issue with his policy.

"You can disagree, but it is not acceptable to do it with a mean spirited and vicious attack. Unlike some Republicans, we want to see the President and any other president of the United States, whether they are a Republican, Democrat or Independent succeed. According to our beliefs, we are to pray for those in leadership, because when they lead with integrity, the people and nation prospers."

When asked about the rumor which is surfacing in some evangelical circles regarding President Obama being the anti-Christ, adding a little clergy humor she responds, "I certainly hope the President is not the Anti-Christ. If that is true, then all of us who are still here, including those who are calling him the Anti-Christ are in big trouble! Since according to most Christian doctrine, the Anti-Christ does not appear on the scene until after the church is taken up. So for all of our sake, we should hope this is not true, otherwise, that would mean all of us have missed the rapture."



To reach the NRAAC national chair:

Jean Howard-Hill
423-702-5622 NRAAC office
nraachowardhill@gmail.com
Jean.howard.hill@gmail.com


The National Republican African-American Caucus is an organization that is comprised of Spirit filled people of faith within the African American community, that works in conjunction with local, state and national party efforts to embrace, and offer African-American Republicans opportunities for inclusion and involvement in the Republican Party, and builds bridges between the African-American community and the Republican Party. In doing so, it seeks to carry out the philosophy and mission set before President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party, where those guiding principles are more important than politics.

More information on the NRAACcan be found at:

http://www.nraacaucus.org; http://nraacaucus.ning.com [NRAAC] National Republican African American Caucus Social Issue Network (members only); http://nraac.blogspot.com [NRAAC Blog]; http://youthonthehorizons.blogspot.com [NRAAC Youth on the Horizons Blog]; http://the-twig.blogspot.com [NRAAC New Generation-New Direction Blog]; and
http://theblackolivebranch.blogspot.com [NRAAC National Chair's Blog]. Each State Caucus can be accessed by state. See related links at http://www.nraacaucus.org/index_files/Page816.htm. Also can be found on the RNC group page at http://our.gop.com/Groups/National_Republican_African-American_Caucus_NRAAC.