In an interview on This Week John McCain seemed to indicate support for an upcoming Arizona state proposition modeled on the successful Michigan Civil Rights Initiative which barred use of race in state employment, school admission and contracting. The DNC pounced and castigated McCain for approving of this measure.

If this is what McCain intended it would be music to the ears of conservatives and anyone favoring abolition of racial preferences which have distorted the entire premise of the civil rights movement: to treat individuals without regard to their race.

Let’s recall that the MCRI passed 58-42% and that wherever colorblind initiatives have made it to the ballot (e.g. California’s Proposition 209) the public has embraced them. And why not? The average citizen doesn’t think the government should be using race in the name of “diversity.” That is why pro-affirmative action/pro-racial preference groups are frantic to keep these measure off the ballot, as John Fund recently described. As for Barack Obama, he not only opposed MCRI but cut a radio ad falsely claiming it would “wipe out programs that help women and minorities get a good education and jobs.” Of course, all the initiative did was to bar race-conscious programs.

Based on my own experience researching and writing on this topic frequently over the last year or so. I can attest to the fact that the McCain camp has been very cagey on where their candidate stands. (And they appear to be fencing once again.) But if he is stepping up to the plate now, unequivocally in favor of a colorblind society, then I would say “Bravo.” It is right as a matter of Constitutional law and policy and smart politics. And is Obama once again going to tell citizens of various states which will be considering these measures that they must continue to condone their government picking and choosing beneficiaries of jobs, school admissions and contracts by their race?

I suspect this is a fight Obama wants no part — for it is a losing one and resurrects the issue of just how post-racial a candidate he is. As for McCain, if this is where he’s come down as a matter of policy he should make sure voters understand the stark difference between him and his opponent. And if not, he should clarify his position before opponents of the current system get their hopes up.

del.icio.us

Google

Facebook

This entry was posted on Monday, July 28th, 2008 at 12:21 PM and is filed under Contentions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.