Finally, Richard Cohen sees that there is a problem with affirmative action as it is sometimes practiced. This is particularly true in the case currently before the Supreme Court, involving the city of New HavenÂ’s decision to not promote qualified firefighters of their race.

Blatant affirmative action always entailed a disturbing and ex post facto changing of the rules -- oops, you're white. Sorry, not what we wanted. As a consequence, it was not racists who were punished but all whites. There is no need to cling to such a remedy anymore. There is, though, every need to retain and strengthen anti-discrimination laws, especially in areas such as fire departments, where racial discrimination was once endemic. Sufficient progress has been made to revert to treating individuals as individuals. After all, it is not some amorphous entity called "whites" who will suffer: It is un-lieutenant Ricci.

Now Cohen takes this position in the context of discussing Obama’s upcoming nominee to the Supreme Court. Oddly enough, the position he takes is quite akin to that taken by a current member of the Supreme Court – Chief Justice John Roberts. Has Cohen come to recognize that it is, indeed, a sordid business for the government (any government, whether federal or city) to divide and classify its citizens by race and to award benefits and burdens based upon that classification? Will Obama – who arguably achieved his current position based upon merit, not an affirmative action quota – recognize the same truth that conservatives have long embraced, and make an appointment based upon that truth?

Posted by: Greg at 12:42 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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