spazeboy

Lamont on Affirmative Action

Jane Hamsher brings up Joe’s position on Affirmative Action from 1995, and his “new” position from when he spoke before the Congressional Black Caucus in 2000. She and I witnessed the warm, open-arms reception given to Ned at the C.O.G.I.C. in New Haven last Friday, but I wasn’t able to record his speech before the crowded church. All is not lost, because I do have Ned’s position on affirmative action, but first, take a look at this excerpt from Jane’s Daily Ned post:

Ned Lamont was greeted with warmth and enthusiasm when he spoke last week at an Afican-American church, and Maxine Waters is coming to town to campaign for him. Joe tried to compete by visiting the Mt. Avery Baptist Church last night with a huge entourage and a cameraman. “He was told he could worship with the congregation, but not speak, and the camera could not come in,” according to a member of the church.

Maybe they’re still stinging from this Lieberman quote, from the floor of the US Senate in 1995:

Affirmative action is dividing us in ways its creators could never have intended because most Americans who do support equal opportunity and are not biased and don’t think it is fair to discriminate against some Americans as a way to make up for historic discrimination against other Americans.

I’m sure Lieberman would rather they remember this quote, from a speech to the Congressional Black Caucus in 2000:

I have supported affirmative action, I do support affirmative action, and I will support affirmative action because history and current reality make it necessary.

The video of Ned stating his position on affirmative action is from the NAACP Candidates Forum on May 11, 2006 at CCSU. Senator Lieberman had been confirmed to attend, but sent campaign manager Sean Smith instead–draw your own conclusions.