| WASHINGTON -- While courageous American troops and Iraqi civilians risk life and limb for the right to vote in war-torn Iraq, President Bush has made the 43-member Congressional Black Caucus, currently all Democrats, more than a little nervous about how much he values voting rights back here at home.
According to various eyewitnesses at a private meeting in the White House Cabinet Room last week, the president was characteristically cordial, yet remarkably non-committal in responding to a wide range of questions, mostly about racial disparities concerning such issues as employment, education, health care and legal rights. But the most "mind-boggling moment," in the words of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), came after Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) asked the president, "Do we have your support in extending and strengthening the 1965 Voting Rights Act when it comes up for renewal in 2007?" The president responded, according to witnesses, in a way that made caucus jaws drop: He did not know enough about that particular law to respond to it, he said, and that he would deal with the legislation when it comes up. The black legislators were largely not pleased. "I thought the president either needs to fire his staff or pay more attention during Black History Month," Cleaver said. |
Page is correct - there are parts of the law that need to be reconsidered. But that the president didn't know about it, and that his staff didn't brief him on it before he met with the Congressional Black Caucus, well... that just makes this story all the more hilarious. Before these people focus on changing African Americans minds' they might want to focus on educating the mind of their president.
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