One-on-One With Mary Frances Berry - 'Reynolds is Nothing but a Cheerleader for Bush'

"The Bush II administration is as bad or worse than the Reagan administration in terms of its civil rights record but much more sophisticated at media spin that deflects criticism away from the administration. They're masters at coming up with ideas they can get black people to support and know they can appoint blacks that will defend whatever policies they implement, arguing aggressively for them before the American public. This administration has raised this tactic to a new level over past administrations."

Q: Were there particular controversies that caused conflict between this administration and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights that you believe administrations past have handled differently?

A: Yes, the way its' Justice Department, headed by John Ashcroft, handled reports sent by the Commission, which it has refused to address and has only acknowledged receiving once. Dwight Eisenhower established the Commission to challenge Presidential policies on discrimination and civil rights, mandating that the Justice Department investigate Commission reports. In past administrations, while the Justice Department didn't always agree with the Commission, it examined Commission reports and at least acknowledged the Commission asked them to act, even if they later did nothing. Under Bush, however, I believe the relationship between the Justice Department and the Commission envisioned by Eisenhower has broken down totally.

Q: Some argue that the conservative appointments may compromise the role of the Civil Rights Commission. What are your views on that?

A: I'm not hopeful. The Bush administration has appointed bombastic, black conservative, Gerald Reynolds, Commission chairman, and a group of commissioners who support Bush administration policies. They've already made inflammatory comments against affirmative action and the Commission's criticism of the administration's educational policy as well as expressed public support for Bush's judicial nominees. I believe they will operate according to their public pronouncements, becoming a cheerleading squad for the administration. They'll downplay the Commission's oversight role, becoming the Bush Administration's lapdog rather than its watchdog. [more]