For Immediate Release: October 10, 2004

Statement of Congressman John Lewis on President Bush's Reference to the Dred Scott Case at the 2nd Presidential Debate

Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) released the following statement today in reaction to George Bush’s reference to the Dred Scott case at the second Presidential debate in St. Louis on Friday night.

“I am relieved to hear that George Bush won’t appoint judges who might reinstitute slavery. But unfortunately, we expect more than this from our judges and frankly, we need more than this from George Bush.

“George Bush’s Dred Scott comments underscore the fact that when it comes to the African-American community, he is completely out of touch with the issues that concern us. The President’s record is appalling – his administration is the most anti-African American in a generation.

“On Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, he announced his opposition to the University of Michigan Affirmative Action program and called it a ‘quota.’ The day after he laid a wreath on Dr. King’s grave, he appointed anti-civil rights judge Charles Pickering, who once described cross burning as a ‘prank.’ A new United States Commission on Civil Rights report finds that ‘President Bush has neither exhibited leadership on pressing civil rights issues, nor taken actions that matched his words.’ And his Vice-President has admitted that he was somehow ‘not aware’ of the AIDS epidemic plaguing African American women.

“African Americans can’t afford four more years of George Bush. We need leaders who understand the concerns facing our families and our community. We need leaders who will fight for our rights in this century.”

“We have the power to change our President and come November 2nd, African Americans are going to elect new leaders. We’re going to vote and we’re going to vote in record numbers.”

BACKGROUND
Question and Answer of George Bush regarding judicial nominations at the 2nd Presidential Debate in St. Louis, Missouri, 10/8/04

MICHAELSON: Mr. President, if there were a vacancy in the Supreme Court and you had the opportunity to fill that position today, who would you choose and why?

BUSH: I'm not telling.

(LAUGHTER)

I really don't have -- haven't picked anybody yet. Plus, I want them all voting for me.

(LAUGHTER)

I would pick somebody who would not allow their personal opinion to get in the way of the law. I would pick somebody who would strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States.

Let me give you a couple of examples, I guess, of the kind of person I wouldn't pick.

I wouldn't pick a judge who said that the Pledge of Allegiance couldn't be said in a school because it had the words "under God" in it. I think that's an example of a judge allowing personal opinion to enter into the decision-making process as opposed to a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

BUSH: Another example would be the Dred Scott case, which is where judges, years ago, said that the Constitution allowed slavery because of personal property rights. That's a personal opinion. That's not what the Constitution says. The Constitution of the United States says we're all -- you know, it doesn't say that. It doesn't speak to the equality of America.

And so, I would pick people that would be strict constructionists. We've got plenty of lawmakers in Washington, D.C. Legislators make law; judges interpret the Constitution. And I suspect one of us will have a pick at the end of next year -- the next four years. And that's the kind of judge I'm going to put on there. No litmus test except for how they interpret the Constitution.

Thank you.

* * *

United States Commission on Civil Rights 9/08/04 Draft Report: Redefining Rights in America – The Civil Rights Record of the George W. Bush Administration, 2001-2004

Yesterday at a hearing of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, a draft report of the Bush Administration’s record on civil rights outlined a lack progress in America over the last for years, particularly in issues most important to the African American community.

Here are some of the report’s findings:

- In contrast to two previous administrations, President Bush has provided the lowest funding increases to agencies combating violations in civil rights of all Americans

- Under President Bush, policies and opportunities to provided poor, disproportionate minority families with fair quality housing have all but disappeared.

- George Bush’s failure to increase federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities has nearly erased past efforts to create a balanced playing-field for young college-bound African Americans.