Bush avoided NAACP convention so as not to "demean the presidency", explains WAPO today.

Departing NAACP Leader Has 'Man-to-Man' Talk With Bush (washingtonpost.com): "In the past, Bush has said he refused to address the NAACP because of what he perceived as its unfair criticism of his policies, from his decision to invade Iraq to his opposition to many affirmative action programs. In yesterday's meeting, Bush said that he had refused to address the NAACP not because he feared a hostile reception from the group but because he thought such a reception would demean the presidency and embarrass the United States before the world, Mfume said. 'That was something that was in his gut,' Mfume said."

Read the whole article, it's mortifying. The IRS starts investigating the NAACP, and suddenly they too are talking about what's in Bush's gut. Could someone please give that man a high colonic?