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Rocky Mountain Non-News

The Rocky Mountain News more often than not gets things right. Yesterday, however, it did not.

Here is the piece in its entirety:

Initiative backers plan to file complaint

Organizers of an initiative to eliminate most affirmative action programs in Colorado say they will file a fraud complaint against their opponents, whom they charge with lying.

Jessica Peck Corry, executive director of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, is advocating for Amendment 46 on the November ballot. It would ban programs aimed at boosting minority and female contracting, educational enrollment or hiring except those that are a requirement for receiving federal funding.

Corry said Coloradans for Equal Opportunity, which is gathering signatures for Initiative 82, a measure that would retain affirmative action programs, has mischaracterized what Amendment 46 says.

In a short piece discussing allegations that opponents have mischaracterized Prop. 46, you?d think it would be especially important to characterize Prop. 46 correctly. This piece doesn?t.

Neither the purpose nor the effect of Prop. 46 is or would be to ?ban programs aimed at boosting minority and female contracting, educational enrollment or hiring except those that are a requirement for receiving federal funding.? It would ban only programs that give preferential treatment to some minorities and women, that treat some people better and some people worse because of their race,sex, or ethnicity. All programs, even ?affirmative action? programs, that do not engage in race, ethnic, or gender preferences would be left intact.

ADDENDUM

And speaking of non-news by a source that usually gets things right, you also should take a look at Fred Barnes? long, fascinating, and depressing article about the ?Colorado Model,? what rich liberals are doing to politics in Colorado.

It?s a fine article, except that you?d think such a long, thorough piece on the political landscape in Colorado would at least mention the increasingly incendiary debate over the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative and the role it will play in the coming election. Alas, Barnes doesn?t.

Full post as published by Discriminations on July 12, 2008 (boomark / email).