In a surprise move, the lower house of the Michigan legislature voted 57-44 on Wednesday to cut off state funding to any universities that use racial preference in admitting students.
Some of the responses were predictable, if no less pathetic for that.
Rep. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, voted against the amendment because she said it goes against last summer’s Supreme Court ruling that race can be factored into admissions so long as there’s no point system.
“But this says, ‘It doesn’t matter what the Supreme Court said about race preference, we’re going to take away your state appropriation,'” she said. “It’s a terrible policy.”
In other words, if a state chooses not to do something that the Supreme Court has said that it may in its discretion choose to do, it will be “going against” the Supreme Court? So this means, I assume, that if the Supreme Court continues to hold that the death penalty is not unconstitutional, Rep. Gretchen Whitmer would say Michigan must continue executing people, that ending capital punishment would be “going against” the Supreme Court. Don’t hold your breath.
BAMN also contributed the careful yet nuanced analysis for which it has become known:
Luke Massie, national co-chairman of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights And Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary [BAMN], said the budget amendment will not pass.
I’m assuming this is something (Gov. Jennifer) Granholm would veto,” Massie said. “The real question is, ‘What racist Republicans are working to shore up a racist vote for George Bush?’
Some Democrats, sinking to BAMN’s level, made the same point. For example, as reported in the Detroit Free Press, “Democratic Rep. Julie Dennis of Muskegon called the amendment racist.”
Commenting on the assertion that his proposal would end all affirmative action (see discussion of this point in my immediately preceding post), state rep. Leon Drolet commented:
“If opponents think all affirmative action is is to give preferential treatment based on race, then this is in fact getting rid of it,” Drolet said. “We’re just asking schools to look for the best and brightest kids and not their appearance.”
But hey, look at the bright side. Imgagine what this debate would be like if racial preferences were “divisive” and and weren’t so “inclusive” and effective at “bringing us all together.”
I think this will be the legacy of the SCOTUS decision. The Supreme Court ruled that “diversity” is a compelling public interest sufficient to override the 1964 Civil Rights Act. If “diversity” is regarded as such, how can any public official refuse to support it?
We’ll end up with preferences in every selective public institution in this country cost be damned.
Pardon the language, but the Supreme Court needs to grow some balls and come out and say, “Look, discrimination is wrong, no matter what group benefits by it. The US Constitution is built on principles of merit and personal responsibility, so we’re sorry, but preferential treatment for ANYONE simply cannot stand. You here that Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Kweise Mfume, and Julian Bond? No more of this crap. And this is not a racist decision.”
In Lawrence v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that I have a constitutional right to have gay sex. If I choose not to, am I guilty of “going against the court,” too?
I’ll be among the first to agree that diversity is an important value in education. But it is intellectual diversity, not melanin diversity, that is important.
While affirmative action may be constitutionally defensible, it is not the only method of achieving diversity, and is therefore NOT a requirement.
I think it is very honorable that someone is finally standing up to the Supreme Court’s decision. All you hear anymore at universities across the United States is “diversity.” Has anyone stopped to think that there are less minorites at universities because they are a MINORITY?!? At the university I attend everyone is complaining because our diversity numbers stink… “There are too many whites… not enough minorities” DUH! IMAGINE THERE BEING LESS MINORITIES THAN WHITES! Who’d have thought….