The Future of Affirmative Action: Where do Candidates Stand?
CHO: 21 minutes after the hour. The future of affirmative action has made it on to the campaign trail. Senator Barack Obama sees room for improvement while John McCain, well, he's changed his view. So where exactly do the candidates stand on the controversial issue? Here's CNN's Carol Costello.</s>CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Affirmative action is, shall we say, a political hot potato. Once touted as a surefire way to help rectify discrimination based on race and gender, it's now considered by some no more than a quota system that actually promotes reverse discrimination.</s>TODD GAZIANO, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: There is no justification for forward-looking racial preference policies that have no timetable, will never end, and amount, in fact, to quotas.</s>COSTELLO: Gaziano says times have changed. Look at the man leading the Democratic charge for president and the woman who was his main rival. Others say it's a stretch to use them as an example that equal opportunity abounds.</s>WARD HENDERSON, CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION: These are extraordinary individuals and their success cannot be attributed, of course, to all the advances that we've made as a country. Their personal accomplishments have to be taken into account as well.</s>COSTELLO: In fact, experts say minority enrollment at major universities has fallen, and it would be difficult to say discrimination on the job has disappeared for ordinary people. But despite this, and despite pro-affirmative action rallies in states like California, voters have limited the scope of affirmative action in at least three states, seeing it as a quota system that is anything but fair. A measure which would eliminate affirmative action is in the works in Arizona, John McCain's home state. (</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, ABC'S "THIS WEEK") GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC NEWS ANCHOR: Opponents of affirmative action are trying to get a referendum on the ballot here that would do away with affirmative action. Do you support that?</s>SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, I do. I do not believe in quotas, but I have not seen the details of some of these proposals. But I've always opposed it.</s>STEPHANOPOULOS: But the one here in Arizona you support?</s>MCCAIN: I support it, yes.</s>COSTELLO: In the past, McCain has voiced opposition to hiring quotas while supporting the principles of affirmative action. As for Barack Obama who's long supported affirmative action, opponents point out even he is approaching the topic gingerly.</s>SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I also think that we have to think about affirmative action and craft it in such a way where some of our children who are advantaged aren't getting more favorable treatment than a poor white kid who has struggled more. That has to be taken into account.</s>COSTELLO: It is important to keep in mind there's a difference between a quota system and an affirmative action program. Quota systems are against the law. Affirmative action programs are not and have been successful in promoting diversity -- John, Alina.</s>ROBERTS: Carol Costello reporting for us this morning from Washington. Just under 100 days now until the presidential election and Barack Obama apparently likes his chances. Here why the presumptive Democratic nominee is so confident. And neighborhoods underwater, homes destroyed, and this morning one person dead as the remnants of Hurricane Dolly push their way through New Mexico. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."