Poll Shows Most African Americans Want Affirmative Action Reformed; Nearly 70% Suggest Changes

releases.usnewswire.com ^

[chance33_98]

Poll Shows Most African Americans Want Affirmative Action Reformed; Nearly 70 Percent Suggest Changes Should Be Made to Current Policies

7/7/03 3:55:00 PM

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To: National Desk

Contact: Margaret Ekam of BAMPAC, 202-785-9619

WASHINGTON, July 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In a national poll of African American registered voters commissioned by Black America's Political Action Committee (BAMPAC), sixty-five percent (65 percent) stated that affirmative action is good in principle but needs to be reformed. Only 18 percent of African Americans expressed support for affirmative policies in their current form. The poll was conducted June 6-26 among 1800 African American registered voters via telephone and the Internet.

In response to the poll findings, BAMPAC President and CEO Alvin Williams said, "The public understands and acknowledges that affirmative action is a way to level the playing field but now it is time to review affirmative action programs to assure that we are extending equal opportunities to all Americans. Perhaps these results will be a precursor to the development of affirmative action policies that will address the disparity in opportunities that exists not only on a racial level but a socio economic level also."

Other key findings include:

-- Seventy-two percent (72 percent) of African Americans feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction.

-- Secretary of State Colin Powell is the most influential African American political figure. Powell earned this distinction from nearly half of the respondents (49 percent). Others listed included: Rev. Jesse Jackson (21 percent) and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice (6 percent).

-- One of five African Americans (21 percent) believes that President Bush deserves reelection.

-- Nearly half of African Americans (42 percent) planning to vote in the 2004 Democratic Presidential Primary are undecided as to whom they will vote for.

ABOUT BAMPAC

Founded in 1994, BAMPAC is a non-partisan federal Political Action Committee committed to electing tomorrow's leaders today.

To Schedule an interview with Williams contact Margaret Ekam at 202-785-9619.

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[My2Cents]

One of five African Americans (21 percent) believes that President Bush deserves reelection.

Which means Bush has more than doubled his support among black Americans. (He got 9% of the black vote in 2000.) If he gets anywhere near 21% of the black vote next year, the Democrats are doomed.

[Bahbah]

Bump for the good news.

[LS]

Yes, I think he got 9% of the AA vote in 00. 21% would be a major breakthrough, and, as you say, would doom the Dems.

[Post Toasties]

21% isn't that bad, considering the unemployment rate. If GWB can bring that down fairly soon, he probably should be in pretty good shape.

[lizma]

-- Seventy-two percent (72 percent) of African Americans feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction.

I wonder why they feel this way and why do they keep supporting the people taking us in this direction?

[My2Cents]

I think that finding can be rephrased, "72% of African Americans still feel that they are victims."

[South40]

-- Seventy-two percent (72 percent) of African Americans feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Yeah...and twenty-one percent of Californians believe California governor Gray Davis is doing a good job.

So what's the common thread among these people?

They're died-in-the-wool democRATs. Stupid too.

[reed_inthe_wind]

According to Justice O'Conner, in 25 years affirmative action will end. If African Americans can't reform it soon, they will loose the greatest gift any group has ever received in the history of the human race. How can they reform affirmative action so it is effective in its last days? Simple, eliminate all affirmative action priveleges for any group other than blacks and Native Americans.

[OpusatFR]

Good news?

"Perhaps these results will be a precursor to the development of affirmative action policies that will address the disparity in opportunities that exists not only on a racial level but a socio economic level also."

Whites have typically been ~accused~ of being the beneficiaries of ~whiteness~, hence the assine college course, and the idea that one's whiteness negates any socio-economic deprivation since there is nothing societal holding whites back.

This looks suspicious. Pardon me, if I do not take these statements at face value. The racial animosity that has been engendered by the race baiters gives me pause whenever anything is suggested that even faintly appears to be an attempt at evenhandedness. I just believe that the damage is beyond repair.

[Farnham]

One of five African Americans (21 percent) believes that President Bush deserves reelection.

Yeah, that really jumps off the page doesn't it? The last I read, the Dems figured they needed 90-92% of the black vote, minimum.

[reed_inthe_wind]

You seem like a man who counts his blessings. Don't forget that you could have lived during the cival war and died a horrible death on a battlefield while trying to end slavery.