Bush to CBC: "Voting Rights Act of 1965? Never heard of it..."

[Darknyte7]

Bush tells CBC he's 'unfamiliar' with Voting Rights Act
Roland S. Martin, Chicago Defender
January 27, 2005

President George W. Bush met with the Congressional Black Caucus Wednesday for the first time as a group in nearly four years, but what CBC members said stood out the most was the president's declaration that he was "unfamiliar" with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed in the history of the United States.

http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=381

[jackster]

1. now when the administration and conservative minorities

seek to push the privatization of SS and other neoconservative agenda items as being good for minorities, REMIND THEM OF THIS!

appalling, despicable, downright unbelievable!

THEY ARE WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING!

[andyg]

58. ITS BUSH WHAT do you expecT!

None of us here should be suprised that he is not aware of key moments in history. He doesnt know how to pronounce nuclear why would he know anything about the voting rights act!

[LiberalEsto]

2. Ummmm, has he heard about the Constitution

and the Bill of Rights?

I thought not.

[electropop]

32. Oh. My. God.

Why isn't this brain-dead man on life support?

[MarkusQ]

44. That's why I was thrilled by the proposed gay mariage ammendment...

It was the first sign we had that he'd even heard of the Constitution.

--MarkusQ

[Pacifist Patriot]

73. That little ole thing he swore to uphold and defend?

You mean they weren't referring to that moldy old ship in Boston Harbor?

[meganmonkey]

3. Laugh or cry?!

:wtf:

I can't even believe it. Well, I can believe, but I don't want to.

[Darknyte7]

5. Good question...

I did laugh when I first saw it this morning, but I think I may cry when I get home from work this evening...

[eowyn_of_rohan]

38. There's a lot of that going around... -nt

[ChicanoPwr]

4. We are living in a Mad Mad World. n/t

[Oreo]

6. And he brought Condi with him...

Kinda like waving a token saying... look I like you people!

This doesn't surprise me at all. Arrogant and Ignorant son of a bitch!

Post 500!

[flordehinojos]

10. isn't the secretary of state supposed to be working in the international

arena--what was she doing in a meeting with the congressional black caucus...or the the bushes consider american blacks to be foreign entitities in thesehere american soil?

flame me if you must. this is the kind of divisive attitude the resident has been spreading every time he spits freedom and democracy out of his mouth.

[Darknyte7]

12. *grin*

I hadn't thought about that angle. No flames here friend...

It's more likely however that he just wanted to showcase his token.

[Oreo]

13. Not sure why you'd be flamed for telling the truth.

He absolutely brought her because he thought in his mind that they would respect him more. He's a very shallow man.

[SammyWinstonJack]

84. They're a couple aren't they?

:puke:

[brainshrub]

7. I didn't know it had to come up for renewal every 25 years.

But at least I knew what it was.

They should make the act permanent.

[electropop]

33. Well, you can't just willy nilly grant rights permanently.

Suppose the darkies get uppity, and we need to revoke it?

But seriously, I suppose the 25 year thing was a bone to the right-wingers of 1965, so as not to frighten them too much.

[mod mom]

8. I hope this is a wake up to Af Am Ministers who urged repub vote

due to faith based initiative money. They buy your vote then screw you!

[merh]

28. Check out post 26 below.

The black religious leaders are coming together and are opposing the weed.

(snip)

The Nashville assembly was the first since 1895, when a number of black Baptist state and regional associations met in Atlanta to form the National Baptist Convention, USA.

(snip)

Shaw said an effort to galvanize other African-American denominations is under way. Leaders of other black churches, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, attended this week's gathering.

Rev. Lewis Baldwin, a Baptist minister and professor of theology and church history at Vanderbilt University, said the joint meeting was the most promising sign of active engagement since the death of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"Since King passed away, the black church has retreated into reactionary traditions," he said. "Many see a need to reawaken the church to its prophetic mission."

(snip)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501290142jan29,1,2052254.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

[demodonkey]

9. OMG. Oh. My. God. HE'S "NOT FAMILIAR" WITH '65 VOTING RIGHTS ACT???

But he will graciously "take a look at it" when it comes up for re-authorization????

This is one of the MOST infuriating and scary things I have heard in a long time. And we all have heard PLENTY.

What we have going on in the White House is worse than I thought. We REALLY have our work cut out for us folks.

[aden_nak]

11. That's the problem with being surrounded by sycophants.

They don't tell you things. Any decent support staff would have a brief little outline of "Things You Should Know" before going to something like this. Especially considering the chasm-like gap between Bush's knowledge and what is required of him. One would thing, when speaking in front of the CBC, one of the items on that memo would be the Voting Rights Act, especially since it's coming due for renewal.

Of course, that would require Chimpy's staff to remind him of his ignorance, and his huge yet fragile ego could never abide that. That's almost as bad as saying he made a mistake, and we all know how he gets when you do that.

[ashling]

14. why am I not surprised?

Anyone notice that * is making a point to talk about all the books he has he has been reading, and how much he likes to read?
:puke:
GIVE ME A BREAK!
:puke:

[kcwayne]

15. 100% imbecile

Who knew that Jerzy Koszinski was predicting the future with incredible accuracy in "Being There"

[quiet.american]

20. Love your headline -- lol. n/t

[DavidDvorkin]

16. May not matter

May not hurt him with black clergymen. The appeal of his pose as a devout Christian and his opposition to abortion and gay rights seems to outweigh everything else, for that constituency.

[Darknyte7]

19. This is an indication (I hope) that you're wrong...

Long-divided Black Baptists try to unite around common agenda
By Rachel Zoll, Associated Press | January 29, 2005

NASHVILLE -- Four black Baptist groups whose churches were a training ground for prominent civil rights leaders, but split in part over how that fight should be waged, said yesterday that they were embarking on a new era of cooperation meant to put the concerns of their community atop the national agenda.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/01/29/long_divided_black_baptists_try_to_unite_around_common_agenda/

[DavidDvorkin]

35. I hope you're right

And I hope I'm wrong. :)

[gordianot]

17. 21st Century Amerika

One positive about our current predicament is you no longer have to be a minority to worry about voting rights.

It also goes to show you what you miss when you perpetually drunk and drugged during your Government classes in High School and College. His overrated legacy bound Ivy League education did not do this pathological creep much good. I hope they ignore him when they issue honarary Doctorates. This would be funny if he were not so dangerous.

[Hugin]

18. If they're not going to follow the Geneva Convention...

What's to stop them from not following a silly little American law?

[Laurab]

21. I can't figure out whether I'm more embarassed or disgusted

but, I will admit that I'm not surprised. What an ass.

[ashling]

22. Text of my letter to Sheila Jackson-Lee

just sent this letter to the Congresswoman. I am not a constituent, so I hope she gets to see it.


Dear Congresswoman:

I am regularly disgusted, apalled, and nauseated by the things this administration does or does not do, but what I read today prompted me to write.

I red online in the Chicago Defender that the presumptive leader of our country is totally unfamiliar with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Why am I not surprised?

Despite the fact that he seems to go out of his way to talk about how much he enjoys reading, he has not read about one of the most important pieces of legislation passed in my lifetime. Perhaps it is because it is beyond his reading level.

Unfortunately, I do not have the honor of being one of you constituents. However, may I be so bold as to suggest the you present Mr. Bush with a copy of The Civil Rights Movement for Kids: A History With 21 Activities by Mary Turck, or some other book on the subject suitable for grades 4-8.

[Darknyte7]

25. Good letter...

I'm thinking perhaps we should blast the media on this story too. Thoughts?

[ashling]

30. Excellent!

Get it on Countdown -

BTW I noticed that KO picked up the votes for food story on his show yesterday.

[Darknyte7]

31. I think we should call in the KOEB on this...

If anyone can make it happen, they can. ;-)

They put up a prolific 300+ post thread last night!

[demodonkey]

40. Blast it. Blast the media. People have a right to know what their "leader"

...does NOT KNOW.

BTW, my 86 year-old mother just read this and said, "This needs to get out into the media, has anybody sent it to Keith?"

Then she and I discussed how plastic Laura is heading up campaign to focus on women's heart disease issues... well, the stupidity of her husband is enough to GIVE many women (and men) a heart attack!

[Pacifist Patriot]

69. LOL!

[Karenca]

23. I am never surprised at what Puppet does not know.......nt

[earth mom]

46. Same here. And he doesn't give a damn about it either. nt

[rogue emissary]

24. From yesterdays Press Briefing . . .

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050131-6.html

Q Scott, there's been talk about the elections in Iraq. Let's talk about elections here. The Congressional Black Caucus met with the President last week and they said that they asked the President -- one congressman, in the last question to the President, asked him about the renewal of the portion of the Voting Rights Act that's up in 2007. The President said, I don't want to speak on that, because I don't know that much about it at this time. The President was asked that in 2000 and he was asked that in this last meeting. And many of these people on the Congressional Black Caucus want to know where he stands as far as minorities and voting in this country, and is he for renewing that portion of the Voting Rights Act that's up in 2007.

MR. McCLELLAN: The President is firmly committed to protecting the voting rights of all Americans. And it's my understanding that what you're referring to, when it comes to protecting minority voting rights, that section of the law -- and that's not up for re-authorization -- those rights are going to be protected and continue. There is another section of the Voting Rights Act that is up for re-authorization, and that's in 2006. I think it was a question asked at the very end of the Congressional Black Caucus meeting that the President held here in the Cabinet Room. He was pleased to have them come here and talk about ways we can work together, as well as to listen to some of the agenda items that are at the top of their list. They had a very good discussion. The President wants to continue to look for ways we can work together. And in terms of the re-authorization of that section of the Voting Rights Act, the President said that he would take a look at it and take into consideration the concerns tha

[merh]

26. Well, for the first time in the history of their existence, the Black

Baptist Leadership have united and oppose the weed's policies and urge he support the renewal of the voting rights act.

Black Baptist leaders put demands to Bush
Groups unite on opposition agenda

By Manya A. Brachear
Tribune staff reporter
Published January 29, 2005

NASHVILLE -- Leaders of 15 million black Baptists on Friday called on President Bush to pay as much attention to democracy at home as democracy abroad, issuing a list of demands that they say better defines America's moral values.

After an unprecedented assembly of four historically divided Baptist groups, presidents of each denomination declared their opposition to the war in Iraq and to the nomination and expected confirmation of Alberto Gonzales as attorney general.

They also called for a higher minimum wage, discontinuation of recent tax cuts, investment in public education and reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, some provisions of which are up for review in 2007.

"We have power in terms of black registered voters across the country to impact who sits in the White House," said Rev. Stephen Thurston, president of the 3 million-member National Baptist Convention of America and pastor of the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago's South Side.

(snip)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501290142jan29,1,2052254.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

(for kicks & grins, Freeper reaction:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1331410/posts)

[Darknyte7]

27. I read this Chicago Tribune story on Saturday too...

Thanks for posting the link to this thread.

[merh]

29. You are welcome -

the only way the weed could be considered a "uniter, not a divider" is by the fact that he has united people in their opposition to his evil policies.

We all need to realize that they were hoping we wouldn't realize that the Voting Rights Act comes up for review and renewal. I am not sure which portions, but when I figure it all out, I will let ya'll know.

[mod mom]

50. thanks! In Ohio, ( I guess swing state Af Am churches probably received

more $ and attention from *-rovian cabal) there was an increase in % of blacks who endorsed * vs. Kerry, than * vs Gore. I must say, having canvassed several low income African American neighborhoods I am surprised. It was probaly the precincts around Af Am suburban mega churches that showed up as the % increase because inner city Af Am had so many problems in casting their votes. :(

[merh]

54. You are probably right, the churches in the swing states took

their 30 pieces of silver and kissed Jesus on the check and supported the weed.

:cry:

Why do they hate Jesus so? :cry:

[roseBudd]

34. Have you see the Republican Civil Rights calendar? Google it

or search DU if you need a laugh.

[hoosierblue]

36. What do you expect for a man who can't read?

I'm unfamiliar with anything written in Uzbek. Pero, puedo hablar en espan~ol.

[NationalEnquirer]

37. Is anyone surprised by this? n/t

[mod mom]

52. surprised no, OUTRAGED YES! I can't believe it's 2005 and the imposter

who thinks he is the leader of the free (choke, choke) world is unfamilar with this. Un-f-ing-believable!

[Pacifist Patriot]

72. Not in the least.

[cindyw]

39. I would not be surprised if he didn't notice there were black people in

the US.

[minorjive]

42. Well he didn't seem to have any idea

how many voted against him. From the Washington Post interview:

The Post: Nearly 90 percent of African Americans voted against you in the past election.

THE PRESIDENT: How many?

I guess he didn't really care how many African American voters were out there and likely to vote against him since he knew he had Karl Rove and the all the other Republican thugs doing their jobs at vote suppression.

[hoosierblue]

45. Lol

He did meet with the Urban League, tho. So he knows they exist, but he doesn't know they're not Republican.

[gordianot]

48. My guess is he got this confused with the suburbs.

[mzmolly]

41. OOOO MY GAWD!

Iff'n I dint noow this prezedent bettar i'd be saprized.

Actually, I am shocked ... I will never get over the ignorance of this man ... ever.

[minorjive]

43. he may be ignorant but

he might also have been trying to be offensive on purpose--basically as a way to a) tell the CBC he does't give a fu*k about "their" issues and b) signal to his racist base that he doesn't give a fu*k about voting rights.

[demo dutch]

55. No He IS REALLY THAT STUPID!!!

[Pacifist Patriot]

75. I vote for ignorant and too stupid to hide it.

[AtLiberty]

47. Does anyone have the scoop on the upcoming march...

...regarding voting suppression? Isn't something planned for spring? The 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act is August...

[demodonkey]

49. Supposed to be a reenactment of the Selma March -- in AL, in March...

... supposed to follow the original Selma March as much as possible?

Voting Rights groups have already been talking about us all going and participating with these folks to honor the past and build upon our current Voting Issues as a new Civil Rights movement for all.

Little is posted anywhere as of now... here is a schedule I found by Googling but not sure if this is all correct:

http://www.crmvet.org/anc/0503selm.htm

Flyer?
http://www.crmvet.org/anc/0503s1a.htm

[AtLiberty]

51. Thanks!

[minorjive]

53. note that the crmvet.org site has 3 separate events

http://www.crmvet.org/anc/anchome.htm

The re-enactment, march 21-25, which has the least amount of publicity, is the most authentic commemoration. Scott B. Smith was an original participant in the Selma to Montgomery March, and worked closely with the likes of Stokely Carmichael, and will be leading a March on the original route over the same days that the march originally occurred. The other two events may be interesting, but Scott B. Smith is the real deal. I know him and his wife, another Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) member, personally.

[Darknyte7]

56. Clarence Page column on the subject...

By Clarence Page

President Bush on voting rights: Is he savvy or just clueless?

Published January 30, 2005

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.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0501300401jan30,1,6950171.column?coll=chi-news-col&ctrack=2&cset=true

[JunkYardDogg]

57. Dupe'ya's Only interest is How Many Black Church Leaders he can Buy/Bribe

If he is so morally and socially concerned with The Real Black Socio/Political Environment, why is the BushReich investigating the
tax-free status of the NAACP??
Threatening them with politically violating their Tax Free non Political Advocacy status.
But isn't that what the Black churches who are getting Bribed by Faith Based U.S. Government Money doing??
The BushReich think they can just buyoff/bribe everybody and anybody
They bought American voters for a lousy $300 bribe called a tax refund
For $300 America sold its soul to real Evil
For one million dollars , Our Fearless Leader can buy a Black Church
The BushReich Defiles everything they interact with
Then the Christian Taliban try to ride on MLK's Heroic legacy
The other week , on CrossFire, Mullah Falwell said to Jesse Jackson, that MLK would have been on Falwell's side, 'cause MLK was a Preacher also.
Made me F'n Puke

[corbett]

60. Ooh, JunkYardDogg!

You hit ten different nails on the head!

[Darknyte7]

64. True, true, all true.. eom

[Darknyte7]

59. kicking...

:kick:

[kath]

61. OMFG! And there's a thread tonight about black churches shifting over to

the GOP. HELLOOOOOO -- those ministers need to remember what JC Watts's dad said:
"A black person voting for a Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders."

[Wilms]

62. For you, Martin. n/t

[EFerrari]

63. This is going to make someone mad but, has anyone done

a correlation of the minority vote vs swing states? I mean, why do some states "swing"?

I mean, SOMEONE knows there are folk in FL and OH. SOMEONE knows how to rig the res in New Mexico. There were "power outages" in New Orleans all day on 11/2.

If he doesn't know about the law, he can't be accused of violating it. . . .

[Eloriel]

65. But his campaign can be accused of violating it

That's campaign managers' jobs: to know and follow the various laws.

And why would your comment make someone mad? I don't know any absolute correlation between minority populations and swing states, but I DO know that the GOP targets minorities for their massive vote suppression and ballot spoilage campaigns. And in truth, I don't think it's as racist as it simply practical: they tend to be geographically cohesive. You can pinpoint where, geographically, to place fewer voting machines and create other chaos, havoc and hell.

[minorjive]

68. not racist?!

of course it is. Racism has always been used for "practical" political ends. Segregation laws--and Jim Crow restrictions on voting--were created to keep poor whites and poor blacks from recognizing common ingterests and organizing (and voting together) across racial lines. It's a big mistake to think of racism as only irrational race hatred. It is a political ideolgy used for well-defined political goals. The Bush administration has been quite overt in its efforts to revive the grossest forms of American racism for precisely these kinds of political reasons.

[Pacifist Patriot]

71. No, it's racist. Geographical cohesion may make the job easier...

but targeting voters based on minority populations is racist.

[EFerrari]

86. Tend to agree. n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

70. I thought I read somewhere that ignorance of the law is no excuse.

[Darknyte7]

76. And you heard right...

It's a long standing legal maxim.

[Pacifist Patriot]

82. Plausible deniability will only get you so far....

Once your party no longer has control of the legislature you're toast. ;)

[EFerrari]

87. Ignorance of the law is not a defense but is used as an excuse

by people who are above the law for all practical purposes (like Bu$h).

I'm just wondering if one of the core strategies of their vote theft doesn't center on thwarting minority votes in swing states or even areas in state contests.

[JunkYardDogg]

66. Here's the L.A. Times Article about Buying Black Churches & Pastors

"The political benefits are unbelievable," says the Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, chairman of the conservative Traditional Values Coalition (news - web sites), which helped shape the administration's faith-based strategy and the GOP's outreach to black Christian voters. "The Democrats ought to have their heads examined for voting against this."


The money that flowed to Daniels' church was part of a broader effort inspired by Bush's contention that religious groups can do a better job than government in providing such services as counseling, education and drug treatment. In 2003, the administration awarded more than $1 billion to hundreds of faith-based groups, some of which hadn't received such public funds in the past.


The White House adamantly denies that the faith initiative is a political tool. But the program has provoked criticism that the GOP is seeking to influence new supporters, especially African Americans, with taxpayer funds. The Rev. Timothy McDonald of Atlanta, a prominent black minister with Democratic ties, dubbed the program an "attempt to identify new leadership in the black community and use the money to prop these people up."

read more of the atricle-
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20050118/ts_latimes/bushrewardedbyblackpastorsfaith



GRRRRR!

This is what we fought for in the '60's??

[AtLiberty]

67. Ask Oprah to commemorate 40th anniversary of voting rights

Please write Oprah and urge her to devote a show commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery, March 3-12. Ask her to invite John Conyers to address massive voter suppression and his remarkable work on meaningful election reform.

Oprah
Harpo Studios
1058 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60607

E-MAIL:

www.oprah.com/email/reach/email_showideas

INFORMATION ON THE ANNIVERSARY MARCH:

http://www.crmvet.org/anc/0503selm.htm

[Pacifist Patriot]

74. Consider making this its own thread with a DU call to action.

[AtLiberty]

77. I already did before seeing your response...

How do you make it a call to action? Thanks.

[Pacifist Patriot]

81. Post it or link to it here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=106

[sepia_steel]

78. February is Black History Month.

There couldn't be a better time than now for her to celebrate their achievements on her show.

[Darknyte7]

79. Great point...

and including today, we only have 27 days left in the month. We need to move quickly.

[AtLiberty]

80. I think the 40th anniversary idea has a real chance

of flying. It's March 3-12...one month away.

[StephanieMarie]

83. Name me a time when he HAS actually heard of anything written?

The chimp does not read, remember?

[Verve]

85. I'd LOL! But our Chimp prez is such an idiot it's TERRIFYING! n/t