NYT: Bush's Civil Rights Record Is Criticized, Silently

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (AP) - The United States Commission on Civil Rights voted on Friday to wait until after next month's election to discuss a report critical of the Bush administration's civil rights record. Republican members had objected to the report's timing.

The report remains posted on the commission's Web site (http://www.usccr.gov/), despite objections from Republican commissioners.

The report says Mr. Bush "has neither exhibited leadership on pressing civil rights issues, nor taken actions that matched his words" on the subject. It finds fault with Mr. Bush's funding requests for civil rights enforcement; his positions on voting rights, educational opportunity and affirmative action; and his actions against hate crimes.

The report said, however, that Mr. Bush is committed to help people with disabilities and praised him for "a commendably diverse cabinet and moderately diverse judiciary."

A White House spokesman, Ken Lisaius, said, "President Bush is fully committed to making a real difference in the lives of all Americans, and his record reflects that goal."

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/10/10/politics/campaign/10civil.html

[teach1st]

1. It's a good idea to postpone discussion

Because it's never good to have an informed electorate.

Sheesh!

[KoKo]

2. I don't seem to remember other Presidents having "reports critical to them

being held off because an election was coming. Not even Nixon could hold back the ongoing Watergate Investigations (although I suppose much was done to try to minimize them) because he wouldn't have gotten elected.

Sheesh! We should know everything. Who wants to have to elect a President and have him impeached a few months later, once again...:shrug:

[Demeter]

9. I Don't Know--A Little Bloodletting Could Be Good for the Patient

An impeachment would be fair payment for another stolen election, with Belgian waffles ala Hague for dessert!

[Rose Siding]

3. The report is posted so now the Democrats can talk about it!

I can't even imagine how frustrating and contentious life must be for a committed dem (or indy) who sits on a commision with repubs- Civil Rights, the FCC or the FEC. Every battle represents, at best, a win that is also failure.

[Hekate]

4. Who does their silence serve?

Over the last couple of centuries in America people of all races have literally died for civil rights/civil liberties. We're in a civil liberties crisis here for the entire nation -- and they want to wait until after the election? Please.

Just for the heck of it -- before the website is scrubbed, perhaps -- I downloaded the pdf of their report.

Hekate

[sally343434]

5. The truth slips out

> A White House spokesman, Ken Lisaius, said, "President Bush is
> fully committed to making a real difference in the lives of all
> Americans, and his record reflects that goal."

No shit, Sherlock. He sure has made a "real difference" in the lives of all Americans. A real bad difference.

[whaZ00]

6. Give me a break

Just because he has people of color "in the house" doesn't mean a thing. That is why he was patently rejected at the Urban League when he suggested that they vote for Republicans for a while.

Lincoln, GMAB? What have you done for me lately...ooooo yeah .

His Dred Scott comment during the debate was NUTZ!

[Starlight]

7. I think we need to be contacting the media about this report...

to ask why they aren't reporting it. Some letters to the editor, at the very least.

[fortyfeetunder]

8. I think he read the Big Dog's book

I was just reading the section about *'s election and the SCOTUS verdict as being one of the worst decisions, along with Dred Scott...etc. And I thought Oh, maybe he read The Big Dog's book to see if any caught on....

[newyawker99]

15. Hi whaZOO!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[BlueNomad]

10. Since Domestic issues are finally getting....

their look this week, we should paper the media with this...Washington Post definitely should do a piece...

[w4rma]

11. Even though the CYA Repugs don't want to talk about it, that doesn't mean

that Democrats can't talk about this outside of Congress.

[goforit]

12. Silently?.............Civil Right's commission scared of Bush????

Certainly looks like it!!!

[justjones]

13. WTF? Bush has a shitty civil rights record? Surprise, surprise. NOT! eom

[MsMagnificent]

14. Wow

This should be pinned up for a while...