Posted on 07/27/2008 7:09:26 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Presidential challenger John McCain said Sunday that he supports a proposed ballot initiative in his home state that would prohibit affirmative action policies from state and local governments. A decade ago, he called a similar effort "divisive."
The reversal comes as McCain, a conservative senator from Arizona, seeks to tailor his policies and rhetoric to independent-minded voters who will determine the outcome of November election.
Both McCain and Democratic rival Barack Obama have accused each other _with good reason _ of "flip-flopping," a charge that carries weight with independents who seek consistency and authenticity in their political leaders.
McCain was asked specifically Sunday whether he supported an effort to get a referendum on the ballot in Arizona that would "do away with affirmative action."
"Yes, I do," said McCain in an interview broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
The Republican senator quickly added that he had not seen the details of the proposal. "But I've always opposed quotas."
Over the years, McCain has consistently voiced his opposition to hiring quotas based on race. He has supported affirmative action in limited cases. For example, he voted to maintain a program that encourages the awarding of 10 percent of spending on highway construction to women and minorities.
In 1998, a resolution pending in the state legislature would ask Arizona voters to eliminate most preferences based on race, gender, color or ethnic origin. McCain warned against using ballot proposals to outlaw quotas or racial preferences.
"Rather than engage in divisive ballot initiatives, we must have a dialogue and cooperation and mutual efforts together to provide for every child in America to fulfill their expectations," McCain said.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Good move. It’s not like he was going to get many minority votes anyway, and with this he can keep a lot of the hard-right types on the reservation. Keep it up John boy!
“It’s not like he was going to get many minority votes anyway”
My first thought too.
Take off the training wheels. Welcome to the real world. Throw ‘em in the pool and they’ll swim. Just don’t put ‘em in the deep end. That’s where Obama’s sinking.
McCain taking a queue from Lord Obama and shifting to the right as well...How cute!
I don’t know what we Conservatives are complaining about...Everyone is coming over to our side!
Agreed...For a Republican in this particular election, this is a no-brainer stance.
Definitely a good sign.
He is going to do a lot more than keep the "hard-right types on the reservation". An awful lot of union guys have seen total employment shrink, and what few new jobs there are go to minorities because of affirmative action. Police, Fire and other government workers have seen affirmative action in hiring, and also in promotion limit the opportunities for white men.
If McCain is really going to do something about this, and is willing to make it a big campaign issue, he will get a lot of votes that would otherwise have gone to the Dem.
Yes, war is hell.
“When the MSM decides a proposal is bad they call McCain “conservative” but “bipartisan” or “centrist” when he comes into the fold.”
That’s the first time I’ve heard anybody call Newsmax the MSM.
I love the argument that demanding everyone be treated the same without regard to skin tone is racist.
There would be a lot less racism if our society stopped treating people (systemically) differently based on their skin color.
Yeah. Where did that come from? Newsmax willfully lying to push a candidate.
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