Oh, the one 3 years ago and the one where they refused to leave until Bush met with them.
During the debate Kerry
"misspoke" (or by design) said that Bush had never met with the CBC.
However, Bush has met with the CBC once officially and once
unoffocially. The Washington Post says that Kerry's overall
charge was correct: Bush has repeatedly turned down requests to meet
with the group since then. Caucus members have complained that not only
has Bush refused to meet with them on specific issues, including his
plans to attack Iraq, but also the White House often has not even
responded to their letters. Bush dropped by a meeting that national
security adviser Condoleezza Rice had with the caucus earlier this
year. [more ] The
caucus met with Bush 11 days after he was inaugurated on Jan. 31, 2001 -- at which
time the president told them, "I hope you come back, and I'll certainly
be inviting," according to the White House transcript. [here ]
Bush has turned down or not responded to at least 6 such meeting requests [more ]
On July 15, 2003 The Congressional Black
Caucus Chair, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) was invited by the White House to join a
group of Congressional members to meet with Bush to discuss the
President's trip to Africa. Chairman Cummings respectfully
declined and explained "I respectfully declined an invitation to meet with the President today.
The CBC has requested a meeting with the President for over
two-and-a-half years and, unfortunately, each time he has refused. I
appreciate the President's gesture to include me as a part of a group
of congressional members to be briefed on his recent trip to Africa.However,
I would hope that the President would meet with the CBC, as a whole, on
the many pressing domestic and international challenges facing this
country. As public servants, we have a duty to put aside our
differences and come together for the good of the country. I hope the
President feels the same way." [more ]
Wait at the Gate. Last February the
caucus members got to see Bush only after showing up at the White House
gate and refusing to leave until the president agreed to meet with
them, according to Cummings. The
session came about after the White House declined the group's repeated
requests for meetings, Cummings said after the debate Wednesday. Cummings said the group wanted to meet with Bush to discuss the
crisis in Haiti and called White House chief of staff Andrew H. Card
Jr. to tell him, "We're coming to the White House." About 20 members of
the caucus then boarded a bus at the Capitol and traveled up
Pennsylvania Avenue.
Caucus
members were greeted by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and national
security advisor Condoleezza Rice. But they were told flatly, "The
president is not on the premises," recalled Candice Tolliver, the
group's communications director.
Caucus members then said they wouldn't leave until
they could meet with Bush. Fifteen minutes later, the president showed
up. After the meeting, the White House issued a statement saying Bush
"welcomed the opportunity" to visit with the caucus.[here ] "This
president has basically not given the Congressional Black Caucus any
respect. None," Cummings said after Wednesday's debate. [more]
The Congressional Black Caucus consists on 39 Democrats. There are no Black Republicans in Congress.
] The
caucus met with Bush 11 days after he was inaugurated on Jan. 31, 2001 -- at which
time the president told them, "I hope you come back, and I'll certainly
be inviting," according to the White House transcript. [here 
