We should let Oprah know about this, in case she hasn't heard this news:
Bush tells CBC he's 'unfamiliar' with Voting Rights Act
by 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.
At the conclusion of yesterday's 40-minute meeting, Bush - who attended along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice - was asked by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-2nd) whether he would support the re-authorization of a portion of the Voting Rights Act that must be approved every 25 years (It will come up for consideration next year).
"I don't know anything about the 1965 Voting Rights Act," Jackson recalled the president saying in an interview with the Chicago Defender. He said that a hurried Bush went on to say that "when the legislation comes before me, I'll take a look at it, but I don't know about it to comment any more than that, but we will look at it when it comes to us."
"It was so unbelievable to me that as soon as I walked out, I got Frank (Watkins, Jackson's top legislative aide) on the telephone, put (Congresswomen) Maxine (Waters, D-Calif.) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), so that I could confirm what he just said is what I heard," Jackson said.
<<snip>>
2.2.2005
http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=381 _____________________________________________________________________
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.
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.
<<snip>>
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0501300401jan30,1,6950171.column?coll=chi-news-col&ctrack=2&cset=true And the White House, McClellan, trying to control the spin:
Quote:
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
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050131-6.html#13 
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