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THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2001

In a nod to the critical role Republican analysts feel Hispanics will play in upcoming elections, President Bush on Wednesday reached out to the Spanish-speaking community in New Mexico, home to the second largest percentage of Native Americans in the country.

An appearance at a largely Hispanic elementary school kicked off Bush's busy schedule in Albuquerque. Located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, the President praised students for their high levels of achievement.

An overwhelming majority, 72 percent, of second-graders at Griegos Elementary read at or above their grad level, according to local school data. Their successes, Bush said, are part of a system in a state that has been "bold enough to adapt a policy that says: 'Show us whether or not the children are learning before any child gets left behind.'"

Accountability, of course, is part of Bush's push to reform the nation's education system. Beyond testing and funding, he also said America "must challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations."

"We must make sure the mind-set that says certain children can't learn to read is eradicated all across America," he added. It was a vague acknowledgment of low test scores among Hispanic, African-American and Native American students, one he would build on later.

Expectations were high for Bush's visit to the Hispano Chamber of Commerce later in the day as a crowd of about 500 braved the sweltering heat in downtown Albuquerque in preparation for his arrival. When told Bush would be delayed by up to an hour, the audience was clearly disappointed.

But the organization and the neighborhood, known as Barelas, had reason to celebrate, beyond Bush. Through a partnership between Department of Housing and Urban Development, the city of Albuquerque and the University of New Mexico, the group opened a new Hispanic job training center.

As he congratulated the Hispanic community for the center, Bush spoke more strongly about his accountability measures.

"You'll hear some say, well, we shouldn't measure. It's racist to measure," Bush said of testing. "I believe it's racist not to measure."

"It's so easy to walk into a classroom of the so-called hard to educate, and to give up and just move them through schools. That's wrong."

The event was heavily attended by local dignitaries and New Mexico politicians, including Sens. Pete Domenici (R) and Jeff Bingaman (D) and Reps. Heather Wilson (R) and Joe Skeen (R). Albuquerque mayor Jim Baca and local lawmakers were present as well.

Although not a political appearance, Bush found it a perfect excuse to push Domenici's upcoming bid for re-election. "I can't believe anybody would dare challenge Pete -- he's doing such a good job on behalf of the people of New Mexico," Bush beamed.

On behalf of Domenici, Bush took part in a fund-raiser at an Albuquerque hotel. He helped rake in $450,000 in donations for the Senator, who sits on the Indian Affairs and Budget committees.

According to the Census, New Mexico's Hispanic population exploded over the past decade, growing by 32 percent. Hispanics now represent 42 percent of the state's population.

Native Americans make up about 9 percent of the state's population, according to the Census 2000. Bush narrowly lost the state last November after most tribal leaders endorsed Al Gore.

As part of a national effort, the Republican National Committee has begun outreach to Hispanic, Asian and women voters. Although GOP officials said they intend to include all Americans in their campaigns, no initiatives for American Indians and Alaska Natives, who make up less than 1 percent of the population, are planned at this time.

Get Bush's Remarks:
Griegos Elementary | Hispano Chamber of Commerce

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