by Askia Muhammad
White House Correspondent

THE WHITE HOUSE�President George W. Bush continued his almost once-per-week courtship of Black leaders March 29, hosting more than 120 Black college and university presidents, farmers, business owners, elected officials and political appointees for a meeting where he promised that he would emphasize values that unite the country.

By most accounts, the meeting was a hit.

"Every president, whatever his party, is judged not only by the words he speaks, but more importantly, by the work he leaves behind," Mr. Bush said. "And that�s what I hope my administration is judged on�by the work we leave behind. I will constantly speak for the values that unite our country�personal responsibility, equal justice, equal opportunity for everybody."

Mr. Bush promoted his education reform and tax cut plans, and he praised the House of Representatives for adopting his budget proposal. In addition, he assured the leaders that Attorney General John Ashcroft is "following through" on his order to develop a plan to end racial profiling. Mr. Bush also pledged to increase funds for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) by $1.4 billion over the next five years.

Mr. Bush has frequently reached out to Blacks since taking office Jan. 20, despite the fact that Blacks voted overwhelmingly for his Democratic opponent in the November election. He has met with the Congressional Black Caucus, even though many of them walked out in protest when his Electoral College victory was certified in the House of Representatives.

While this meeting was the largest group of Black leaders to meet with Mr. Bush�who remained in the East Room after his remarks, meeting, greeting, and speaking informally with many of his guests�just one week before this session, the president hosted a group of Black ministers to discuss his plan to permit federal funding of church-based social service programs.

Some of the clergy who participated in that meeting said afterward that they were so favorably impressed with Mr. Bush that the program�s success could mean a sizeable shift of Black voters in favor of his re-election bid in 2004.

Few Democrats or independents attended this meeting, however. "I was favorably impressed on many of the issues," Sharon Pratt Kelly, former mayor of Washington, and former vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee told The Final Call. "I�m really impressed with (Education) Secretary (Rod) Paige, and the president�s support of Secretary Paige�s initiatives," she said, recalling that the most difficult challenge she faced while in office was dealing with the needs of young people.

"I came here to listen, and to hear first hand what is being said from this administration," said Melanie C. Hill, director of the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation. But her principal concern and the issue that is still on the minds of many Blacks around the country�the need for electoral reform�was not addressed at all in the meeting.

"I�m hoping that at some point in time the president will be specific about what he sees needs to happen in order to respond to what happened in Florida and all over the country, to bring faith back into our democracy," Ms. Hill said. "I was not satisfied that I heard nothing about what my day-to-day job is all about."

"No. Election reform did not come up," Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) confirmed for reporters outside the Oval Office after the meeting adjourned. "The president has talked to the speaker (of the House), he�s talked to members (of Congress), he�s talked to the Congressional Black Caucus about election reform," he said, insisting that the meeting was a success.

Mr. Watts, chair of the House Republican Caucus and the only Black Republican elected official in a national leadership position, told The Final Call: "Obviously, we�ve got a lot more work to do, but it was a good meeting. (The guests) were pleased. They got an opportunity to see the president�s heart and know that he�s serious about the HBCU concerns that we�ve worked on; the Black farmers issues that we�ve worked on; education issues; small business issues that affect the African American community, so, mission accomplished."

Arthur Fletcher, former assistant secretary of Labor in the Nixon administration and a veteran who served in five different GOP governments, said the time is ripe for Black entrepreneurs and "capitalists" to put concrete programs on the table for the new president to consider. "What has to happen, is that out of a meeting like this has to come proposals from the African American community. He�s indicated he�s prepared to reach out. I think that�s genuine," he said.

"The question is: Where do we want to go? How do we want to get there? What resources do we have, to match assistance with effort and then come in with a program. I�m going to have a proposal on the table. We want to become owners and employers, not just employees," he said, indicating that is "exactly" how he crafted the Nixon administration�s "Philadelphia Plan," which opened up construction employment opportunities for Blacks, and for decades was the model affirmative action program.

"A special signal is sent through the substance of this meeting," Colorado Lt. Gov. Joe Rogers told reporters after the meeting. "By gathering together Black leaders from throughout the nation, Mr. Bush was able to say to them directly, �You are critical and important to me in the context of the administration, and to my policies and my agenda.� "