An explanation for Bush's silence on Red Lake

Noting that President Bush was willing to cut his vacation short to intervene in the Terry Schiavo case, some Native Americans are expressing irritation over the president's extended silence on the subject of the shootings at Red Lake. Most likely, Bush will offer some token condolence in his Saturday radio address. Still, his slow response is telling. Bush had obvious political motives to involve himself in the Schiavo matter. By failing to act, he risked alienating core constituents in the religious right. Conversely, the president has little reason to pay much attention to Indian country, about which he knows very little and where, consequently, he remains astoundingly unpopular. Want evidence? Consider the 2004 elections. At Red Lake, Bush received less than six percent of the vote.