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Q. If I can just follow on that, if it’s a scheduling problem and not his displeasure, as you’ve just echoed, with the NAACP’s leadership and their comments, Senator Kerry made the point, he’s the President of the United States, if he wants to rearrange his schedule, he can, right?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, there’s a lot of political talk. I urge you to look at the action that this President has taken. Let’s look at the record and look at the results because this President has a record of reaching out to all Americans, including the African American community. And he has a record of improving the quality of life for all Americans. This President has worked to expand opportunity for all Americans, and protect the rights of all Americans.

One of the first things he did when he came into office was work to pass historic and sweeping education reforms. This is what the President often refers to in his remarks as the new civil right, what he has referred to as having — he said that he refuses to accept the soft bigotry of low expectations. The President believes every child can learn and succeed, and that every child should receive a first rate education. And these reforms will help improve public schools and close the achievement gap for Americans.

And he has certainly worked very closely with African American leaders on those education reforms. And it also provides parents with options so that they can make decisions about how best to educate their children. Right here in the District of Columbia, we are implementing a pilot program — where you certainly have a large African American population here in the District — and now parents will be able to choose what school to send their children to if those children are in failing public schools.

And you look at other areas when it comes to expanding home ownership, the President has worked to close the minority home ownership gap. We now have 1.5 million new minority homeowners since he announced this initiative. And he has a goal of increasing that to 5.5 million new minority homeowners. He has worked to expand economic opportunity through his pro-growth policies, and cutting tax rates for — and expanding the child tax credit, and providing marriage penalty relief, and cutting taxes for small business owners. So look at the President’s record of results for all Americans. And look at what this administration has done — the first administration to ban racial profiling.

Q. But I asked about the schedule — (laughter) — and I’m wondering if the schedule that the President couldn’t get out of is really more of an excuse because he didn’t want to go to this group. Because he is the President and he can manage his own schedule.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he’s going — as a matter of fact, Terry, next week he is going to — yes, that’s all part of the politics. Again, look at –

Q. No, I’m interested in the facts.

MR. McCLELLAN: You’re asking what Senator Kerry said. Put aside the talk, the political talk during an election year –

Q. I’m interested in the facts. Is it the schedule, or is it that he doesn’t like the way the NAACP leadership talks — because if it’s the schedule, he’s the President, why can’t he rearrange his schedule?

MR. McCLELLAN: You can look at the political talk during an election year, but let’s look at the action during people’s terms in office. And the record reflects the President’s commitment to improving the quality of life for all Americans. . .

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