Florida's African-American voters angry over Bush win

From CNN Correspondent Mark Potter

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Fred McLendon runs an auto customizing business near Miami. He says the presidential election was a fiasco in which African Americans were disenfranchised.

"It was like you were spitting in my face, and that bothers me more than anything," he says.

Fred McLendon: "No one considers Bush their president."

He is most angry about what he calls "the arrogance" of Republicans who fought against manual recounts -- and in his view, cost President-elect George W. Bush support in the African-American community.

"No one considers Bush their president. We really don't," he continues. "As far as we're concerned, we have four years of not having a president."

From the calls she's been getting, Rep. Carrie Meek, a Florida Democrat, is convinced McLendon's views are widespread among African-Americans.

"They are angry, they are disappointed, they are disgusted, and they feel cheated," she said.

On Election Day, an estimated 90 percent of African-Americans voted for Al Gore. Many are convinced that if all votes were counted, he would have won.

They also allege that some African-Americans faced discrimination at the polls, and that an inordinate number of faulty voting machines were placed in poor communities.

"People in my community are calling the Florida situation, they are calling Florida the new Selma," says Meek.

Willie Sims, director of Miami-Dade County's Black Affairs Advisory Board says he, too, has been swamped by calls from angry African-American voters. And he agrees with them.

"America as the champion of democracy ought to be dressed in black on January 20th, when they inaugurate a president who clearly did not win," he told CNN.

Rev. Mack King Carter runs the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, which sponsors a youth motivational group. He, and many other African-Americans say they will organize to correct problems at the polls.

"We're going to transfer our pain into productivity, because there is still room for victory. President-elect Bush will only be in office for four years, and his brother Jeb has two more," he predicted, referring to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.