Civil Rights Record Is Criticized, Silently
October 10, 2004
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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."
The commission chairwoman, Mary Frances Berry, who lists
her political affiliation as independent, said that the
report's timing had nothing to do with the election, a view
disputed by a Republican commissioner, Jennifer C.
Braceras.