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Odd foe for rights initiative?

By Kevin Flynn, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 16, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The Colorado Civil Rights Commission opposes the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative.

While that might seem odd at first, it goes to the heart of what opponents of Amendment 46 said Wednesday is confusion over the measure's aim: ending affirmative-action programs.

"It does not promote civil rights," said Joseph Salazar of the Latin American Research and Service Agency. "Instead, it promotes discrimination and unfair practices by rebuilding barriers to equal opportunity."

Last week, the state civil rights commission adopted a resolution opposing the amendment.

Backed by California millionaire Ward Connerly, Amendment 46 would prohibit the state from granting preferential treatment to anyone on the basis of race, sex or ethnicity in hiring, education and contracts.

Opponents say the amendment really is aimed at eliminating equal opportunity programs that remedy past discrimination. But Jessica Corry of the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative campaign says that eliminating discrimination as practiced in race- and gender-based programs makes sense.

"Amendment 46 guarantees that the government not discriminate in its outreach efforts against any individual on the basis of race or gender," she said.

A Quinnipiac University poll showed 63 percent of Colorado voters support Amendment 46 and 21 percent oppose it.

Comments

  • October 16, 2008

    5:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    angka writes:

    Why is this "odd?" Amendment 46 is being pushed by openly racist figures like Corry and "Gunny" Bob Newman.

    Corry's favorite joke is substituting "Osama" for "Obama" with a cutesey little grin, and Newman thinks all Muslims in the US should wear GPS tracking devices.

    And apparently, destroying equal opportunity is their idea of "civil rights." Again, why is this a surprise?

  • October 16, 2008

    12:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    sec970 writes:

    Angka--funny thing....I listen to Gunny Bob, and I have NEVER heard him call for GPS tracking devices for all Muslims in the US. Can you be more specific as to WHEN he made this claim so that we can search the records for it? In other words, can you back up your slanderous remark?

    As for Amendment 46 being racist--since when is it racist to call for equal treatment for ALL regardless of race, color, gender, etc.?

    Affirmative action programs ARE actually racist, as they assume minorities cannot succeed without special preferences. Those of us who oppose those preferences believe that minorities are qualified enough to succeed on their own without a lowering of standards.

    It's amazing to me that those claiming to want to end discrimination are the loudest voices for a program that actually encourages it. George Orwell would be proud......

    Vote YES on 46!

  • October 16, 2008

    6:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rtb333 writes:

    "Angka--funny thing....I listen to Gunny Bob, and I have NEVER heard him call for GPS tracking devices for all Muslims in the US. Can you be more specific as to WHEN he made this claim so that we can search the records for it? In other words, can you back up your slanderous remark?"

    From rtb333:

    Gunny Bob did make those comments, and if you doubt it here is the link to Media Matters where you can listen to the comments for yourself.

    http://colorado.mediamatters.org/rd?h...

    By the way, they sound racist to me.

    rtb333

  • October 16, 2008

    7:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    angka writes:

    Oh cool, links work. And yes, as always, the [expletive] truth is an affirmative defense against the charge of slander.

  • October 17, 2008

    5:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rtb333 writes:

    To Angka:

    He now knows you were telling the truth.

    rtb333