Sorry, but there is no moral difference between a "quota" and another type of racial preference when the effect is the same.
In the Michigan case, the University gives a certain number of points, for being a member of certain groups, in a mechanical admissions process. Bush is against that. But what if the college admissions officers gave the same amount of racial preference, but in an informal way through admissions committees stacked with liberals? The unadulterated truth is that the President is fine with that.
George W. Bush, like the good politician he is, wants to compromise on most issues, including this one. And I don't like that.
Why do we feel compelled to change everything in one sweeping move?
I don't often compliment DemocRAT strategy, but I do admire their sheer patience...and commitment to alter society and law in incremental steps. And, if you look objectively at what they've been able to change over the past 30 years, you'd have to admit their strategy has worked.
It's MHO that we'd do well to incorporate a bit of this strategy into our own. We will win more friends, garner more support and achieve far more if we used "incremental change" when appropriate. ~ And, it's appropriate now.
Kudos to President Bush for his principles and political skills.