Second Black President, Redux

Second Black President, Redux - In yet another case of John Kerry trying to have his cake and eat it and cut carbs too, we trip across this story about John Kerry's background as a supporter of affirmative action and an opponent of, ironically, affirmative action:

Mary Frances Berry's assessment is supported by the facts. While Kerry claims he seeks to "mend, not end" affirmative action and that he rejects quotas, he's done neither. In the 12 years since the Yale speech, Kerry's had numerous opportunities to vote against quotas and "mend" affirmative action, yet in every case he's stuck with the status quo, i.e., in favor of quotas and set asides. For example, he could've supported the 1995 Dole-Canady bill that would've eliminated federal preferences, or the Gramm-Franks amendment that would've discontinued minority set-asides in government contracting, or he could've signed onto an amicus brief opposing the University of Michigan admissions system found unlawful by the Supreme Court. But in the end his actions didn't match his rhetoric.

So, if he's always voted for quotas and set asides, why do preference supporters view Kerry with suspicion? Because affirmative action orthodoxy is inviolate. Expressing reservations about affirmative action's merits (even if you don't really mean it) is apostasy.

In the end, preference supporters will probably line up behind Kerry — but not with the level of enthusiasm displayed toward the first black president.

Y'know, lots of people have documented (and documented, and documented...) Kerry's flip-flips on issues. Someone needs to tackle Kerry's just-plain-stupid statements.

Any volunteers?

I'm afraid it would take more time than I have free...

Posted by Mitch at March 10, 2004 05:01 AM