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Charles Lane

Will the GOP compromise on affirmative action again?

…It’s worth recalling that these policies have lasted as long as they have because of compromises — in which Republicans played a crucial part. …

Subsequent history has shown the benefits and defects of each compromise.

Between 1976 and 2010, the African American share of college enrollment rose from 9.4 percent to 14.5 percent, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The number of black elected officials rose ninefold nationwide between 1970 and 2000; Deep South states have made the most progress. This is revolutionary.

Still, using race as “one factor” has often become a euphemism for using it as the decisive factor. That understandably rubs many Americans the wrong way, especially in a multiethnic society that resembles the old white-black caste system less and less. And access is not the same as success: African American college students graduate at about half the rate of whites.

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Why wouldn’t they? It has gotten them so far so far with minorities.

astonerii on October 9, 2012 at 5:37 PM

YES.

bgibbs1000 on October 9, 2012 at 5:38 PM

I’m hoping SCOTUS strikes down affirmative action in its entirety when they take it up.

Stoic Patriot on October 9, 2012 at 5:39 PM

And illegal immigration

Oil Can on October 9, 2012 at 5:40 PM

As soon as the Dems finally figure out that stupid people deserve civil rights, they will have the elections locked up.

faraway on October 9, 2012 at 5:41 PM

I’m hoping SCOTUS strikes down affirmative action in its entirety when they take it up.

Stoic Patriot on October 9, 2012 at 5:39 PM

Half the Court exists because of it, and the other half are racists.

BobMbx on October 9, 2012 at 5:41 PM

Let’s give Scott Brown have the deciding vote on this one.

msmveritas on October 9, 2012 at 5:42 PM

It got us a president.

a capella on October 9, 2012 at 5:54 PM

Look, it brought you Obama.

To ask this little of the dirst half black president is the ultimate form of racism.

Schadenfreude on October 9, 2012 at 5:56 PM

the first

Schadenfreude on October 9, 2012 at 5:56 PM

Will they comprise?

Does the Pope $h!t in the woods?

DStreete on October 9, 2012 at 6:16 PM

Republicans led by Boehner and McConnell fold on an important issue? Of course!

More important will be the Supreme Court case on racial admissions preferences at the University of Texas. Will Chief Justice Roberts stay true to the Constitution or will he continue his decent into legal madness?

RJL on October 9, 2012 at 6:30 PM

I’m hoping SCOTUS strikes down affirmative action in its entirety when they take it up.

That is not going to happen… sadly.

BTW, Richard Epstein’s article on affirmative action is the absolute silliest thing I’ve ever read on the subject. He speaks as an academic contorting things beyond recognition in an effort to insulate academia.

http://www.hoover.org/publications/defining-ideas/article/130131

Second, the Supreme Court should also insulate public colleges and universities from political pressure by requiring that all decisions on affirmative action be made at the campus level, not at the state level. Decentralization will increase choice and defeat orthodoxy.

How exactly would this work considering how many colleges are state colleges?

ninjapirate on October 9, 2012 at 6:48 PM

Second, the Supreme Court should also insulate public colleges and universities from political pressure by requiring that all decisions on affirmative action be made at the campus level, not at the state level. Decentralization will increase choice and defeat orthodoxy.

BTW, that would mean striking down the anti-Affirmative Action laws in California and Michigan too.

ninjapirate on October 9, 2012 at 6:50 PM

Equal opportunity? YES!

Affirmative Action? Hell NO!

RoadRunner on October 9, 2012 at 6:51 PM

I know I’ll get attacked from the trolls on this (and I wished I cared), but I’m hoping the answer to this is NO. Jug Ears has set race relations, and opinion on affirmative action back a good 50 years. Sadly, I think it will be a long while before we try this “social experiment” again.

Cream (no racist insult intended) rises to the top, if you work hard you’ll get there. And, diversity be damned, if minorities (and that is black, asian, and hispanic) comprise 30% of the population, then that is what should be represented.

waterytart on October 9, 2012 at 7:17 PM

At least Boehner will cry a few crocodile tears when it happens.

WeekendAtBernankes on October 9, 2012 at 7:42 PM

Anti-racism and Affirmative Action are Anti-White Male.

Bulletchaser on October 9, 2012 at 7:47 PM