Supporters of an effort to get on the November ballot a measure to eliminate affirmative action in Missouri missed their midnight deadline last night. In all likelihood, it was not a strategic blunder, but probably due to the group not having collected enough signatures to get it on the ballot.
The main figure behind the controversial initiative, California business Ward Connerly, who is African-American, had targeted five states, including Missouri. Connerly was successful at getting a similar measure passed in California in 1996.
Perhaps the most significant affect of the measure dying early is that such a racially inflammatory proposal will now have no chance of appearing on the same ballot which could possibly elect the nation’s first African-American president.
Wrong Antonio, The reason it failed is that many people including myself could not find or never came across a petition gatherer. When it comes out again not only will I find a petitioner I will become one. Affirmative Action while a very good program during the 60′s and 70′s due to the social climate that included mass racism against blacks, became an over-abused and easy excuse for young African-Americans to become lazy and reap the rewards other Americans have to work for to get what they want in life. All Ward Connerly is saying is for the African-American community to do is take responsibility for yourself. We now are looking at the real possibility of the first African-American President and your telling me that A law passed in 1961 should still stand in 2008. Things have definitely changed. Don’t you think?
Posted by Kevin | 14. May, 2008, 10:27 AMKevin, as a category the number one beneficiary of affirmative action is white women.
Posted by Clark | 14. May, 2008, 10:50 AMClark,
White women definitely profit from Affirmative Action, I will not deny you that. However I wouldn’t say that they are always the number one beneficiary. Google search (Jennifer Gratz) and read about her story on affirmative action and how it discriminated against her based on color. Look at the facts of the story and tell me if the people who were admitted instead of her were more qualified based on academics, which is what schools are suppose to be about.
Affirmative Action does more harm than good to the African American community as a whole. Let me explain. There are already laws out there that uphold equal employment for all. So the point of view from many Whites, Asians, and Hispanics is that the black community wants and gets a free ride to employment through Affirmative Action. What this does to the qualified African American Employee is puts a shadow of doubt over that persons head even though that person does not deserve it. The “He was hired to fill a Quota” phrase is both demeaning and harmful to a person trying to do his/her job. I believe that there are forces in the African American community that want to keep African Americans believing that the world is against them ie. Rev. Wright. These people profit from fear that they instill in people. Is there still racism out there? Absolutely. I look at the Jena Six case and see it alive and well. But don’t throw out the whole country because of a few backwood hicks running a small parish in Louisana.
Affirmative Action these days is both Racism and Sex Discrimination rolled up into one. Remember…We’re all Americans, we’re all created equal under God.
Posted by Kevin | 16. May, 2008, 11:58 AM