Blunt Talk By Bush On Vouchers

Meeting Catholic church leaders Wednesday, the tightly packaged image of President Bush came unraveled for just a moment, reports CBS News Chief White House Correspondent John Roberts. A White House microphone, accidentally left open, picked up Mr. Bush behind closed doors — more frank than he might have preferred — on the issue of school vouchers.

"There are a lot of Republicans who don't like vouchers," Mr. Bush said. "They come from wealthy suburban districts who are scared to death of irritating the public school movement, and their schools are good."

Mr. Bush went on to cast his argument in terms church leaders couldn't miss.

"You know how it is, it's like the abortion issue," he said. "I mean, there is a kind of a built-in prejudice against a particular position on both sides on both issues."

In unusually direct language, the president claimed parents of children who stand to gain the most from vouchers aren't aware of those benefits.

"Many of their leaders have yet to stand up and try to lead and educate them as to the benefits," he claimed.

That comment brought a sharp rebuke from members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

"It's not a valid argument to say that we haven't led," said Rep. Albert Wynn, D-MD. "We actually understand the system beyond the hype and that's why we reject vouchers."

Mr. Bush predicts a tough battle over vouchers, admitting in private that there's serious heat against vouchers on Capitol Hill. Democrats will yell it, he said, and Republicans won't yell it, but they will whisper it.


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