Bush did not mention Obama by name, and White House officials said he was not taking aim at the Illinois senator, though they were aware the speech might be interpreted that way.
A report by liberal blogger and author Arianna Huffington that John McCain had admitted to not voting for George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential race spurred a minor tempest on Tuesday.
But last week, President Bush suddenly announced three new nominees to the commission. He also backed away from Republicans' insistence that the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky.
