And here’s something for conservatives who oppose racial preferences: In 2003, Specter joined three colleagues in writing President Bush to urge that he, in turn, urge the Supreme Court to recognize racial diversity as a compelling state interest justifying the use of racial classifications. “We are assertive when the circumstances warrant it, and I think this issue does,” said Specter in the Washington Post. “There are things we can do about it in the Senate. When Supreme Court nominees come up, you can bet I’ll be on this point.” You can’t say he wasn’t candid.