If Obama is elected President... Should Affirmative Action end?

[ecstatic]

Poll question: If Obama is elected President... Should Affirmative Action end?

A repug on Washington Journal brought this up.

What do you think?

I don't think an Obama win would necessarily signal a major shift in race relations, although it would be clear that America has come very far since the 50s. Therefore, my vote would be no--it should not end.

[MonkeyFunk]

1. Affirmative Action is not predicated on the

success of one individual. Dumb question.

[ecstatic]

3. I know that, but I've heard this idea of racism being eliminated, particularly

if we have a black president.

[MonkeyFunk]

4. We didn't end it

when Thurgood Marshall was seated on the Supreme Court. We didn't end it when Oprah made her first billion. We didn't end it when Tiger Woods won the Masters.

Again, it has nothing to do with the success of any individual, so I don't quite "get" the argument.

[bryant69]

7. What is the turn of switch? I'd agree that we aren't there yet

But how would we know when blacks have equal access to jobs and society?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[MonkeyFunk]

11. There are demographic and sociological

metrics that can tell us that. When African Americans have the same graduation rates, the same income, etc. etc.

[bananas]

14. And women

http://gstudies.asp.radford.edu/sources/wage_gaps/wagegap.htm

[MonkeyFunk]

15. Of course

I only mentioned African Americans because that seemed to be what the OP was about.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. How about when job applications with the names 'Shaniqua' and

'Antwone' are not routinely shifted to the bottom of the pile?

When suspicious store clerks follow white kids around the store as much as they do black kids?

When black burglars stop getting 20 year sentences while white burglars get plea deals?

When questions like this are asked and the response is "Huh? What are you talking about?"

[bryant69]

17. I think Monkeyfunks answer is better n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. Actually, I agree. nt

[MonkeyFunk]

23. NCevilDuer

makes a good point. Studies show resumes with "black" names are ignored at a far greater rate than identical ones with "white" names on them.

That's a problem, and a more pernicious one to deal with because it gets to individual biases instead of societal ones.

[tom_paine]

8. I don't think it ever can or will fully end. It seems to be hardwired into the primate mind.

Distrust of "the other" was probably a very useful evoltuionary tools when we were primates scrounging on the savannahs a million or more years ago. Many who didn't have this innate mistrust were naturally selected out - to take the point to it's extreme - any australopithecine who didn't know not to try to pet the sabre-tooth tiger was likely not to survive long enough to pass their genes on - and in the cases of other austalopithecines, they likely had dangerous predators more dangerou, devious, and forward-thinking than any tiger.

But NOW, as with many other of our animal traits that we have not been able to put aside at least enough to guarantee a human future, this evolutionarily-selected trait works against us.

Don't get me wrong, I am not bringing this up to say that we shouldn't try to get rid of racism or to make equality for all regardless of race, creed, color, or orientation a goal of our society.

In fact, the belief that prejudice and racism, to some degree is hardwired into human consciousness, makes it even more impertaive that we continue striving for something which probably can never be 100% fully attained, for as we can see once the pressure in to evolve and move forward is removed, human societies rapidly devolve backwards.

As Imperial Amerika hads been doing since 12-12-2000, the day everything changed.

[SoCalDem]

24. Racism NEVER ends.. it just goes "dormant" for short periods of time

and stays underground until people feel "threatened".:(

[fightindonkey]

2. Obama Will Not Win The Nomination, and Affirmative Action Should End

or at least be changed dramatically.

[tom_paine]

5. Affrimative Action should have had benchmarks to achieve or a timeline for completion

It is insane to continue this as an open-ended policy into the foreseeable future.

Let's set some benchmarks and make a timetable to end this. Affirmative Action has done great good for many deserving people (and, like any human endeavor, for some undeserved people also - Clarence, I'm looking at yoooouuuu-whhhhoooooo) but it should nto be permanent national policy.

Therefore, whether Obama wins or not, it should begin reducing itself preparatory to ending at some agreed-upon point (or set of achieved benchmarks) in the future.

[OHdem10]

6. Affirmative Action is going to be ballot referndum in

at least 10 states.

Just as the Ban Gay Marriage was used to get out the GOP
voters---you guessed it. Affirmative Action is the hot
button issue along with Immigration. This is how GOP
wins election. At the last minute, bring out issues
which stir emotions to the gut. Get them to the polls
smd they vote GOP.

[ecstatic]

10. I hadn't heard that... Oh my

That's so sad and upsetting.

[OHdem10]

18. Last week Buchannan explained this on MSNBC

Ward Connerly is working the issue.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

9. Obviously not...

:wtf:

[frazzled]

12. Didn't Clarence Thomas prove affirmative action not necessary?

:sarcasm:

One man (or woman) achieving a high position does not erase the broader sociological and historical implications of race (or gender) in this country. Doh.

But thanks for pointing out to me why the Republicans have liked to elevate the occasional black man (Thomas, Powell) or woman (Rice) to hoigh position: so they can argue that race and gender are no longer barriers in this nation.

[MethuenProgressive]

16. Where does Obama stand on Affirmative Action?

Affirmative Action isn't universally supported by all minorities, btw.

[frazzled]

19. google is your friend

try it some time. B.O. on affirmative action:

"I want to make sure that today’s decision upholding affirmative action remains in force, and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all those who make up our nation.”

“This administration sought to slam the doors of higher education in the face of African Americans and other minorities. It’s a sad day for the cause of equal opportunity when the President of the United States, the land of opportunity, calls for the Supreme Court to rule against policies that seek to open institutions for historically excluded racial minorities.”

By the way, when you google search a topic, you have to learn to sift out the wheat from the chaff.

[gollygee]

21. Affirmative action should be improved/increased regardless of what happens in the next election

It isn't about any one person. It's about our society as a whole.

[pingzing58]

22. Affirmative action should help every minority.

[T.Ruth2power]

25. No

n/t