I think its because the Michigan case awaiting a ruling is going to go our way and Gates is looking at getting ahead of it.
Maybe he noticed who it was that bothered to give him a hand walking down the steps. It wasn’t the affirmative-action hire president, but the poor working class white guy who had to get hired on his own merits.
Gates thinks for himself which is a rare quality these days among academics.
Yes. You nailed it.