The old saying, “be careful of what you wish for,” applies here.
In characterizing the American people as “cowards” for not openly discussing their attitudes about race, the attorney general seems to be be anxious to provoke a dialogue about the subject. Yet, there is no evidence, based on his presidential campaign, that President Obama wants to have such a discussion.
Moreover, it is difficult to have such a discussion when some with differing views are harshly and publicly attacked for their views. For example, when asked about my initiatives to end race preferences, candidate Obama labeled them as those “divisive Ward Connerly initiatives.” Such characterization is hardly consistent with the view that we should openly put our views about race on public display.
I also believe the attorney general is out of step with the majority of Americans when he implies that the source of and solution to most social disparities is race. I believe most Americans are no longer content with this line of thinking and its ultimate conclusion of race-based solutions to resolve these disparities.
— Ward Connerly is founder and chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute.