Obama in 1990 on Affirmative Action

volokh conspiracy ^

[hecht]

Obama in 1990 on Affirmative Action:

No surprise: he's for it. And just to be clear, when Obama defends affirmative action, he is defending, specifically, decisions that rely on race as the decisive factor, what some call "racial preferences": The [Harvard Law Review] Selection Committee first identifies the group of candidates whose excellent performance, either in the classroom or on the writing competition, sets them apart.... The Selection Committee must then choose the remaining editors from a pool of qualified candidates whose grades or writing competition scores do not significantly [whatever that means-ed.] differ. It is at this stage that the Law Review as for several years instituted an affirmative action policy for historically underrepresented groups: out of this pool, the Selection Committee may take race or physical handicap into account in making their final decision.

Again, no surprise, given that it's been reported that at rally for faculty "diversity," Obama compared Prof. Derrick Bell, who was pressing the law school to immediately hire an African-American woman, to Rosa Parks (because being subjected to brutal racism in Alabama in the 1950s is just like being a tenured Harvard Law School professor in 1990?). Still, interesting to see Obama's own words.

Obama also notes that he was likely a beneficiary of affirmative action preferences during his academic career. I know some Obama-haters are inclined to use this against him, but, in fact, given his successes ever since, Obama would more likely be the poster child in favor of affirmative action.

[hecht]

OK, even if you believe in the premise of affirmative action- level the playing field to make up for past discrimination- how is it the a half white half Luo should be eligible? His Luo half did not suffer the enslavement by his own kings and then sold to european trades, nor faced Jim Crow. Did he steal a slot set aside for a real black man?

[Regulator]

You know, you have exactly the point that should be made.

But the real point is....why isn't John McCain talking about it?

And the answer is, because he agrees with it, and even if he didn't, he's afraid to talk about it.

So what does that make him?

[BuckyKat]

Has he ever addressed reparations? We know Keyes supported it - did the issue come up in the Senate race?

[A_Tradition_Continues]

I know some Obama-haters are inclined to use this against him, but, in fact, given his successes ever since, Obama would more likely be the poster child in favor of affirmative action.

Where affirmative ended (has it really?) Chicago crime and politics took over. Face it, if it were not for the above two Hussein would be selling colon cleansers and penis pumps on late night tV.

[A_Tradition_Continues]

We know Keyes supported it

Keyes support of reparations were very limited....a few small tax breaks for those blacks that actually worked for a limited time only. Those that didn't work would have received absolutely nothing.

If the actions were to take the subject off the table forever it would have been an inexpensive solution.