Tell me -- which party's views does this more accurately reflect?

According to a 1963 U.S. News & World Report story, President Kennedy said, "I don't think we can undo the past. In fact, the past is going to be with us for a good many years in uneducated men and women who lost their chance for a decent education. We have to do the best we can now. That is what we are trying to do. I don't think quotas are a good idea. I think it is a mistake to begin to assign quotas on the basis of religion or race -- color -- nationality. . . . On the other hand, I do think that we ought to make an effort to give a fair chance to everyone who is qualified -- not through a quota -- but just look over our employment rolls, look over our areas where we are hiring people and at least make sure we are giving everyone a fair chance. But not hard and fast quotas. . . . We are too mixed, this society of ours, to begin to divide ourselves on the basis of race or color."

Expansion of opportunity and opposition to quotas. I believe that his words could be substituted for the current language in the GOP platform and made no difference -- but these same words uttered by a Republican today would be labeled as racist by Democrats.

Posted by: Greg at 01:31 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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