Legal Commentary

Affirmative Action No Longer Needed?

Conventional wisdom has it that Obama?s election has shown that affirmative action is no longer necessary, but according to Rasmussen?s surveys more people think it necessary now than thought so before his election.

In a survey taken last August, ?46% [said] such programs are no longer necessary. But nearly a third (32%) [believed] that affirmative action should continue.? In a survey published today, however, Rasmussen reports that ?[t]hirty-eight percent (38%) of adults say affirmative action is still relevant, but 41% disagree....?

Rasmussen?s surveys, like many others, also show that ?affirmative action? garners more support than ?preferential treatment,? even though virtually all actual affirmative action programs (in admissions, hiring, etc.) involve preferential treatment. Last August?s survey, for example, found that ?58% ... oppose government programs that give special treatment to women and minorities, as opposed to 26% who favor them.?

Still, the interesting findings here are that, according to Rasmussen, the number of people who believe ?affirmative action? is still relevant has increased since Obama?s election, and the number who disagree has declined.

I wonder, does this mean that people really like Obama and think that he wouldn?t be president without affirmative action, that we need to keep affirmative action so that we an elect more Obamas in the future?

Full post as published by Discriminations on February 24, 2009 (boomark / email).