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Bush May Enter Affirmative Action Case...
Associated Press

Posted on 01/10/2003 6:25:04 PM PST by RCW2001

By Ron Fournier
AP White House Correspondent
Friday, January 10, 2003; 8:56 PM

WASHINGTON –– Bush administration lawyers are laying the groundwork to oppose a University of Michigan program that gives preference to minority students, a step that would inject President Bush into the biggest affirmative action case in a generation.

Bush himself has not decided what role, if any, the administration will play in the landmark case but several officials said Friday night he is unlikely to stay on the sidelines. White House political allies are planning to intervene against the Michigan program nonetheless.

The administration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, pointed to Bush's record in Texas and their continuing review of Clinton administration affirmative action cases as signs that the president is inclined to oppose the university's policies. Furthermore, he is likely to suggest alternatives to racial preferences that still promote diversity, officials said.

Bush is awaiting formal recommendations from Justice Department and White House lawyers before making his decision.

The Supreme Court, in its most important case this year, is expected to rule on the constitutionality of programs that gave black and Hispanic students an edge when applying to the University of Michigan and its law school.

The issue is a lightning rod both for conservative voters who back Bush and for minority voters, whom Republicans are courting.

Further complicating the White House's decision is the fallout for the GOP from the racially provocative comments that cost Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., his job as Senate majority leader. Bush denounced Lott's remarks, which were widely interpreted as nostalgia for segregation.

Siding with white students so soon after the Lott controversy could be seen as an affront to blacks.

The administration is not a party to the Michigan fight and does not have to take a position. Traditionally, however, the White House weighs in on potentially landmark cases.

Bush must decide soon. Legal briefs opposing affirmative action are due to the court Jan. 16, and briefs supporting the Michigan admissions plans are due in February.

Lawyers for political allies of the White House are drafting friend-of-the-court briefs arguing that the University of Michigan policy is unconstitutional, administration officials said.

The Justice Department is awaiting word from Bush on whether to file a brief of its own. At the least, Bush is expected to take a public stand on the matter and explain his position that racial quotas are not needed to foster diversity, officials said.

In Texas, Bush opposed racial preferences in public universities and proposed instead that students graduating in the top 10 percent of all high schools be eligible for admission. Supporters say the policy increased diversity because many schools are largely minority.

Among the cases that would bolster their argument against the University of Michigan, officials said, is a 1997 affirmative action suit that supported a white high school teacher's claim that she suffered reverse discrimination when laid off from her job. A black teacher was retained.

The Clinton administration argued that the school district's affirmative action policy went too far and could not be justified merely by the notion that a diverse teacher corps is a worthy goal.

"A simple desire to promote diversity for its own sake ... is not a permissible basis for taking race into account," the government said then.

The brief was largely written by Walter Dellinger, former head of the Office of Legal Counsel and later the Clinton administration's acting solicitor general. Administration lawyers consider at least one other Dellinger brief, a case involving a Wisconsin teacher, as further basis to argue against the University of Michigan policy.

Contacted Friday, Dellinger said the reasoning assumed that there is some role for affirmative action but noted that the tool can be wrongly used.

"The general position taken was that while the use of race is sometimes permissible in educational settings, it must be narrowly tailored and shown to advance important educational goals," he said.

In a 1995 memo analyzing the effects of a Supreme Court case over affirmative action in government contracting, the Clinton administration's Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel noted that the Supreme Court has consistently rejected racial balancing as a goal of affirmative action.

"To the extent that affirmative action is used to foster racial and ethnic diversity, the government must seek some further objective beyond the achievement of diversity itself," said the memo, largely written by Dellinger.

© 2003 The Associated Press


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To: rwfromkansas
See an earlier post I put forth a olive branch and well as you can see
321 posted on 01/10/2003 11:29:20 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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To: TLBSHOW
Todd you can believe any way you wish .. I would never question that or tell you what to believe in

I just questioned why you said "socialist churches" ..
322 posted on 01/10/2003 11:29:35 PM PST by Mo1 (A PROUD BUSH BOT !!!!)
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To: FreeReign
coffee anyone I just brewed a new pot!
323 posted on 01/10/2003 11:30:54 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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To: aristeides
This is absolutely a lunatic argument. In Post #241 (replying to post #237) you clearly ask if you misunderstand something that was said ON THAT VERY POST...#237. Now, I've seen stupid arguments before, and arguing just to argue.......but that's normally done by, uh, attorneys.
324 posted on 01/10/2003 11:32:33 PM PST by A Citizen Reporter (Ding, dong, dong, ding.......Time for the insane to return to the asylum.....)
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To: TLBSHOW
don't know about that I think that was more sinkspur thought!

Maybe so but I don't think so. Look I will not bother with you again since I don't want to add to this insanity. You have taken up the "bush-bot" mantra and that is all I need to know that you have nothing I want to hear.

325 posted on 01/10/2003 11:33:12 PM PST by Texasforever
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To: Mo1
lets just say the commies have gotton in the churchs as part of their plan! Read

None dare call it treason!
326 posted on 01/10/2003 11:33:29 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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To: TLBSHOW
I'll take a cup. Nothing like hot coffee to go with my hot feet.
327 posted on 01/10/2003 11:36:06 PM PST by auboy
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To: TLBSHOW
Maybe so .. but it's the faith that is the foundation .. and that is something the commies can't break .. unless one loses faith in God ..
328 posted on 01/10/2003 11:36:08 PM PST by Mo1 (A PROUD BUSH BOT !!!!)
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To: Texasforever
IDOL WORSHIPPERS THEN

just being funny as this should now be under comedy!
329 posted on 01/10/2003 11:36:20 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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To: Texasforever
You have taken up the "bush-bot" mantra and that is all I need to know that you have nothing I want to hear.

Are you saying that you're close-minded?

330 posted on 01/10/2003 11:37:06 PM PST by Fred Mertz
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To: Mo1
How do you think I new we would win the election? I had faith.......
331 posted on 01/10/2003 11:38:32 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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To: A Citizen Reporter
Thanks and good night!
332 posted on 01/10/2003 11:39:31 PM PST by FreeReign (keeping everybody's feet to the fire.)
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To: TLBSHOW
just being funny as this should now be under comedy!

No not funny just a bit sad. As I said, do your thing, you are harmless.

333 posted on 01/10/2003 11:39:58 PM PST by Texasforever
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To: TLBSHOW
When was the last time you were in a church?
334 posted on 01/10/2003 11:40:23 PM PST by A Citizen Reporter (Keeping TLB's feet to the fire)
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To: Fred Mertz
He just wants to slam me you know its all about me....

if you believe that I have a warehouse I want to sell! LOL
335 posted on 01/10/2003 11:40:50 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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To: Fred Mertz
Are you saying that you're close-minded?

I guess so.

336 posted on 01/10/2003 11:41:37 PM PST by Texasforever
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To: A Citizen Reporter
Sunday before Christmas when my daughter was in the Christmas play.


I was in school today for my daughters award for School Pride and class room perfect student. I love her!
337 posted on 01/10/2003 11:43:17 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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To: TLBSHOW
So you send your daughter to "socialist" churches?
338 posted on 01/10/2003 11:44:44 PM PST by A Citizen Reporter (Keeping TLB's feet to the fire)
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To: A Citizen Reporter
see my profile page for her picture
339 posted on 01/10/2003 11:45:23 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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To: A Citizen Reporter
Salvation Army they don't cave!
340 posted on 01/10/2003 11:46:19 PM PST by TLBSHOW (keeping everybody's feet to the fire)
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