On Wednesday, presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney spoke to the NAACP convention in Houston, where he received a mixture of applause and boos.
The crowd booed the former Massachusetts Governor when he criticized Obamacare, USA Today reported, but he also received applause when he took a strong stand supporting traditional marriage, Twitchy observed.
The Hill added:
“I can’t promise that I will agree on every issue, but I do promise that your hospitality to me today will be returned,” Romney said, earning applause and a swell of organ music. He also promised that he would say “yes” if invited back to speak at the convention next year as president, likely a dig at Obama, who is not scheduled to speak to the conference this year.
Twitchy reported that Romney's "firm support of traditional marriage was met with applause (as was his support for the Keystone Pipeline and charter schools). You’d never know that, though, were you to watch mainstream media outlets."
Romney told the group that in every measurable way, President Obama's policies have hurt the African-American community, as they have hurt everyone in the country.
"I believe that if you understood who I truly am in my heart, and if it were possible to fully communicate what I believe is in the real, enduring best interest of African-American families, you would vote for me for president," he said. "I want you to know that if I did not believe that my policies and my leadership would help families of color — and families of any color — more than the policies and leadership of President Obama, I would not be running for president."
The unemployment rate among African-Americans stands at 14.4 percent, well above the national rate of 8.2, The Hill noted.
USA Today said that Romney faces an uphill battle with African-Americans, who overwhelmingly support Obama.
Romney, however, promised the group that if elected, he would accept invitations to speak with the organization.
Hours later, USA Today reported, "NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous issued a statement saying the Republican's agenda is 'antithetical' to blacks."
According to NBC's Garrett Haake, Romney got a standing ovation as he completed his speech, but Twitchy and Newsbusters noted that the so-called "mainstream media" are focusing on the negative attention he got from the crowd.
Newsbusters' Matt Hadro wrote that the UK Guardian reported that "aside from the booing, the audience had treated Romney 'politely' and 'with plenty of applause at the appropriate places.'"
The fact that Romney even addressed the group is noteworthy in itself.
“Were he not to attend the convention, that would send a negative signal to many swing voters,” said Mark Jones, chairman of the political science department at Rice University in Houston. “It’s not a friendly venue for any Republican, but it could send a positive signal to the population at large,” he added.
The day before Romney's speech, a liberal group issued a video saying that Romney is not liked by blacks because he is too white.
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