Affirmative Action

Not surprisingly, the congenitally demagogic Pat Buchanan disparages Sonia Sotomayor as the "affirmative action candidate." But Howard Ross, a diversity consultant, places Buchanan's statement in its proper historical context. Since the founding of the Republic, he says, there have been 110 nominees to the United States Supreme Court, 106 of them were white males nominated exclusively by white males (presidents), which were in turn confirmed by a body of predominantly white males (Senate). Affirmative action indeed.