Congressman John Lewis

Washington, DC – 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."