blaine

We're having two different conversations. I'm not here to say whether Biden was right or wrong to only hire black women for those roles. I'm not even going to pass judgement on how to redress the balance, as you put it. Those questions are way above my pay grade.

I'm merely here to say that when Republicans say "The people hiring based on DEI are the racists, not us", the data shows that the majority of Americans agree with them. Therefore, as a purely political strategy, criticizing Biden and democrats for not considering white women for certain roles is a net win because more independents will agree than disagree.

Democrats are free to say "But we have to use a calculated form of counter-racism as a cure for historical wrongs." They may even be right. It may be the only moral thing to do. Disagreeing may be evil and immoral. But none of that changes the fact that it's not a winning electoral strategy to say or focus on those things in the 2024 presidential race.

Racism: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group.

Putting my PoliSci cap on... Most Americans would say, "Two wrongs don't make a right. Being racist today isn't a valid fix for the harms of people being racist yesterday." And that's why Republicans win when Democrats focus too much on racial issues - the 7 in 10 perceive it as a new form of racism directed at them.

Do you want to be right at all costs? Or do you want to win this election?

I'm not defending them. It is possible to describe a political reality without endorsing that reality. That's all I'm doing.

That would also be racism. Any time you use race as a hiring factor in the US, you are breaking the law and promoting racism.

Now you're twisting my words. I'm not trying to defend Republicans. I'm trying to help you understand the nature and intent behind their words so you realize they aren't as dumb as you think. Respect thy enemy and all that.

Most Californians think hiring based on race is wrong, and racist. Across the country, the margins on that get even better.

Republicans are just playing into that. You can downvote me all you want, but it doesn't change the political reality of the situation.

Edit: I just checked - 7 in 10 Americans oppose affirmative action (reverse racism). To quote Biden, "It's a fact, Jack!" You may support it, but that doesn't make it a winning campaign strategy.

I'm happy we didn't listen to people like you!

Fired up - ready to go!

Not exactly. It's more that they are questioning Biden's decision to only consider black women for certain roles (VP, Supreme Court Justice). They know affirmative action polls poorly, so they're attacking him where he's weak.

Americans, by and large, want people to be selected based solely on ability. They want everyone to have a fair chance - but despise the idea of guaranteed slots being held open for people who look a certain way. Even California outlawed affirmative action.

This isn't the terrible double-standard you think it is - just a decently calibrated political attack.

The point they are making was that they were a prominent part of public education in those areas during colonial times.