McCain Reverses Himself on Affirmative Action

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Kevin Kilbane Report: During a "This Week" interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos John McCain reversed himself on affirmative action and endorsed for the first time a proposed state ballot measure which would end race and gender-based affirmative action in his home state of Arizona.

"I support it," McCain declared when asked about the referendum. "I do not believe in quotas... I have not seen the details of some of these proposals. But I’ve always opposed quotas."

McCain has long opposed quotas but his new support for ending affirmative action programs which stop short of quotas puts him at odds not only with Democratic rival Barack Obama but also with the Arizona senator's own views in 1998.

Back then, when the legislature in McCain's home state of Arizona considered sending the voters a measure to end affirmative action, McCain spoke out against it calling it "divisive."

McCain's campaign does not dispute that the Arizona senator spoke out against the 1998 effort to end affirmative action in his home state.

When asked about the apparent change in position, a McCain spokesman was not able to distinguish the two measures.

"I do not have a firm enough grasp on the historical and relevant context of McCain's remark in 1998 to give you the pushback that this question deserves," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds told ABC News.

McCain's critics on the left charge that he has changed his position on affirmative action in order to shore up his support among conservatives.

"This is clearly an election-year flip flop and a pander to a skeptical right-wing base," said John Kraus, spokesman for the liberal Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. "He has put politics first on this issue. There is no other way around it."

Prior to reversing his affirmative action stance during his interview with Stephanopoulos, the ballot measure's proponent urged McCain to take a position in support of the referendum.

Ward Connerly, the affirmative action foe behind the Arizona and other state measures in Nebraska and Colorado, told ABC News last month that McCain was missing an opportunity to draw a sharp contrast with Obama.

On Sunday, at a gathering of journalists of color in Chicago, Obama expressed disappointment that McCain has changed his position of affirmative action. "I think in the past he had been opposed to these kinds of Ward Connerly referenda or initiatives as divisive. And I think he's right. You know, the truth of the matter is, these are not designed to solve a big problem, but they're all too often designed to drive a wedge between people, " Obama said to a question asked from an audience of journalists.

The presumptive Democratic nominee has spoken in favor of developing income-based affirmative action programs. But he also supports maintaining race-based affirmative action programs and has come out against the proposed Arizona ballot measure ending affirmative action. He has also come out against an identical measure which has qualified for the ballot in Colorado as well as one that has been proposed in Nebraska.

McCain's critics plan to argue that his new opposition to affirmative action would not only be a setback to racial minorities but also to women.

"Many of the equal opportunity programs he now supports banning," said Kraus, "are geared towards women: like recruiting more young women to go into engineering programs or making sure women owned businesses get a fair shake with government contracts. That gender part of this is often lost in much of the debate and coverage."

The proposed Arizona ballot measure endorsed by McCain reads: "The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin, in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting."

Here is McCain's exchange with Stephanopoulos:

STEPHANOPOULOS: "Opponents of affirmative action are trying to get a referendum on the ballot here that would do away with affirmative action. Do you support that?"

MCCAIN: "Yes, I do. I do not believe in quotas. But I have not seen the details of some of the proposals. But I've always opposed quotas."

STEPHANOPOULOS: "But the one here in Arizona you support?"

McCAIN: "I support it, yes."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/20...n-reverses.html

[dalegg 143]

At least he's reversed himself him the right direction. Why would he have supported Affirmative Action just 10 years ago I can't figure out.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'd sure like to know what everyone's definition of Affirmative Action is because it's not about quotas.

Edited July 28, 2008 by Jabberwocky

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I'd sure like to know what everyone's definition of Affirmative Action is because it's not about quotas.

I believe Affirmative Action is to provide a certain amount of government contract work for minority-owned businesses. Basically, to get the "little guy" up and able to compete against the bigger businesses.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I believe Affirmative Action is to provide a certain amount of government contract work for minority-owned businesses. Basically, to get the "little guy" up and able to compete against the bigger businesses.

It's that, and much more.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I believe Affirmative Action is to provide a certain amount of government contract work for minority-owned businesses. Basically, to get the "little guy" up and able to compete against the bigger businesses.

It's that, and much more.

...and college admissions too.

Funny thing is as a Special Educator, I had to pass a number of mind-numbing exams that many 'White' or "European-American" have not or could not pass, and they usually ask me if I am teaching on an "Emergency Credential." I always let them know that I haven't taught on an Emergency Credential in over 6 years. That usually answers their Affirmative Action suspicions.

[MrsCat 6]

A great explanation about affirmative action and the premise under which it operates.

http://www.apa.org/pubinfo/affirmaction.html

A Policy That Suffers an Identity Crisis

Few social policy issues have served as a better gauge of racial and ethnic divisions among the American electorate than that of affirmative action. Polls indicate that many Americans perceive affirmative action policies to be synonymous with quotas, set-asides, and preferential treatment that benefit minorities and women at the expense of white males. Consequently, political leaders on the left and right are promising to revisit federal affirmative action policies. Some have expressed clear intentions to dismantle affirmative action policies; others have called for more study and review.

. . . . .

Affirmative action is a catchall phrase referring to laws, customs, and social policies intended to alleviate the types of discrimination that limit opportunities for a variety of demographic groups in various social institutions.

More specifically, it refers to both voluntary and mandatory efforts undertaken by federal, state, and local governments; private employers; and schools to combat discrimination and to promote equal opportunity in education and employment for all. However, the meaning and nature of affirmative action have changed over the last 30 or so years as a result of congressional, presidential, and court actions (Stephanopoulos and Edley, 1995).

. . . . .

Is affirmative action still needed?

Research indicates that affirmative action is still needed for two related reasons:

A series of laboratory studies have shown that almost all people have trouble detecting a pattern of discrimination unless they are faced with a flagrant example or have access to aggregated data documenting discrimination (Clayton and Crosby, 1992). This inability to make accurate judgments about discrimination from isolated incidents or comparisons is just as true for fair-minded and intelligent people as it is for others. Aggregated data are needed, therefore, if decision makers are to avoid or correct imbalances before they become flagrant. As shown in the table opposite, affirmative action is the only policy that requires an organization to collect and scrutinize aggregated data.

Data indicate that the biases against minorities and women that humans show in laboratory settings are reflected in real-world practices. According to the March 1995 report of the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission, for example, a large proportion of minorities and women are locked into low-wage, low-prestige, and dead-end jobs. Additional data suggest that these two groups have been disproportionately affected by current trends in workforce downsizing; many service-oriented industries, for example, disproportionately employ women and minorities and are likely to continue downsizing through the year 2002. It is likely that the minorities and women who work in these industries will be hardest hit (Murrell and Jones, 1995).

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Some have expressed clear intentions to dismantle affirmative action policies.

Umm. His name is Ward Connerly.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

I'd sure like to know what everyone's definition of Affirmative Action is because it's not about quotas.

I believe Affirmative Action is to provide a certain amount of government contract work for minority-owned businesses. Basically, to get the "little guy" up and able to compete against the bigger businesses.

OK, lets not try to surgar coat it. It does not help the "little guy"!! I helps anyone that is not a white male!!!

I have read many examples in the news of a government contract going to the less experienced company just because they were owned by a "minority". When the non-minority company with a very good track record did not get the contract even when coming in with a lower cost.

As far as college. When i graduated from high school, my girlfriend was hispanc. Her parents made very good money. My father was a farmer and struggled all the time. However, she was able to get all of these scholarships just because she was a "minority". The only ones I could get were for my acedemics and sports. And I had to work while I went to college to pay my costs. But my girlfriend had plenty through her minority scholarships.

I hate it when anyone is treated differently just because of the color of their skin, gender, religion etc. It is not right, everyone should be treated for who they are and their own merits.

Anytime anyone is given a job or admited to a school, it should be strictly because they are the best person for it. Period.

Also, I keep reading that soon, it is the "white male" that is going to be the minority. So does that mean that if they are going to keep these programs, then they should give the quotas to the "white male"?

If all of these programs are still available when my kids go to college, I will however use them to the fullest!!!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

First of all, the "white male" has always been a minority. White people have been a majority, but the white male was always a minority

Secondly, AA should, IMO, help those who need it. This should include poor white people and should exclude (for example) the African-American children of African-American corporate executives.

Scrapping AA is a bad idea. It needs to be reformed, however, to take into account the successes AA has helped create over the last few decades. We live in a different time, and we have new inequities to address.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

First of all, the "white male" has always been a minority. White people have been a majority, but the white male was always a minority

Secondly, AA should, IMO, help those who need it. This should include poor white people and should exclude (for example) the African-American children of African-American corporate executives.

Scrapping AA is a bad idea. It needs to be reformed, however, to take into account the successes AA has helped create over the last few decades. We live in a different time, and we have new inequities to address.

I agree that it was need at one time. There is and always will be people that are unfortunately overlooked just because of the color of their skin or gender. But this does not happen near as much now.

People should receive something based solely on their qualifications and track record. The job or school should always go to the best PERSON.

But also, yes, it also works to the advantage of big companies that do not need any help. Just because they are minority owned.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

As far as college. When i graduated from high school, my girlfriend was hispanc.

Steve,

Do you have a thing for 'hispanic' women?

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

As far as college. When i graduated from high school, my girlfriend was hispanc.

Steve,

Do you have a thing for 'hispanic' women?

Well, my ex was also hispanic. So I think that would be a yes.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

As far as college. When i graduated from high school, my girlfriend was hispanc.

Steve,

Do you have a thing for 'hispanic' women?

Well, my ex was also hispanic. So I think that would be a yes.

Don't tell anyone, but I love Colombian women!

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

As far as college. When i graduated from high school, my girlfriend was hispanc.

Steve,

Do you have a thing for 'hispanic' women?

Well, my ex was also hispanic. So I think that would be a yes.

Don't tell anyone, but I love Colombian women!

I will try to keep your secret, nobody will ever know.