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Ericka Dunlap goes to Capitol Hill

From Judy Woodruff
CNN

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap went to Capitol Hill Wednesday, but she had more in mind than seeing the sights and posing for pictures.

She also had an agenda which includes honoring veterans wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. Its part of her focus on diversity during her year-long "reign."

Before her visit with lawmakers, I talked with her about the reasons for her visit to Capitol Hill:

Ericka Dunlap: Well, diversity is my platform for the year, and it's been received very well. The connection between diversity and the armed forces is -- is quite obvious. The fact that we have so many men and so many women of various cultural backgrounds, various ethnic battlegrounds that are fighting for our country, it means so very much for me and for the message that I'm spreading across this nation.

Judy Woodruff: What do you want for these men and women who are fighting, who put their lives on the line?

Dunlap: First of all, I think it's important that they continue to have opportunities and equities when they come back from their service, as well as when they're away. They should be able to feel appreciated and respected and valued for the job that they're doing and for what they bring to the table and for what they're doing.

Woodruff: You were in the Iraq war theater last Thanksgiving, you were in Kuwait. You met with some of the troops. What did you take away from that experience?

Dunlap: It was extremely inspiring. I will never ever forget that opportunity. And I'm so very thankful to have had it, because it gave me a chance to see first hand what many Americans are just viewing by way of the media. And it gave me an opportunity to have a forum by which to present to young Americans, as well as Americans of all ages, what type of resilience is being expressed and displayed on many different fronts by our servicemen and women, just knowing that they're extremely resilient and effervescent, and knowing that they have a job to do.

And they believe that they're just doing their job. And I thank them so very much. Every time I get a chance to meet with our troops, whether it's abroad or at home, I get an opportunity to thank them. And they say, "I'm just doing my job." That speaks volumes to me.

Woodruff: I know. We all feel that way about them. What about those who have been wounded? You've met with some of them, you've talked with some of them today. What are you coming away with?

Dunlap: There's just a tremendous amount of inspiration that I come away every single time I visit a veteran's hospital or if I even meet a veteran in my travels. It's amazing to me to know that these are people who have given their lives and given their limbs, and they do it because they have a job to do. It's absolutely amazing. So I'm extremely inspired every time I have an opportunity to meet with them.

Woodruff: Separate thing, you are going to the NAACP conference/convention this week. You're going to be speaking.

Dunlap: Yes.

Woodruff: President Bush has declined to speak this year. Any thoughts about that?

Dunlap: Well, I think it's very important that we continue to focus on leadership that will be supportive on all fronts of our American public. I think it's extremely relevant for the president and for the other candidate to make sure that they are accessible to all Americans, and especially at major conventions of this type. It's extremely important that they continue to support regardless of the affiliation of that organization.

Woodruff: Do you wish the president were speaking?

Dunlap: I do. I wish that he was there, because I think it's extremely important that at the largest civil rights organization's convention, yearly convention, I think it's very important that we have our national leadership there, so that we can feel that sense of connection, that sense of pride in what is going on in our communities and what's going on in our nation.

Woodruff: How much attention are you paying to this election? I just saw a number that only half of eligible blacks voted in the last presidential election. That was 7 or 8 percent less than eligible whites. What does that say to you, and is that something you're interested in doing something about?

Dunlap: Well, it's my passion right now, especially because I am an African-American. And fortunately, I'm one with influence.

I hope to inspire young African-Americans, especially, to remind them that it is important to vote, your vote does count. And for older African-Americans as well, many of them were disenfranchised.

I'm from the great state of Florida. And, as we all know, Florida had many, many issues with the election four years ago. And it's my quest to make sure that in my state, as well as throughout this nation, I stand as an advocate for voting rights and for making sure that people are empowered by the voting process.

Woodruff: Ericka Dunlap says she plans to get even more involved in working on getting blacks registered to vote after she moves on and gives up her crown in September.