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CNN Saturday Morning News

Battle Over Affirmative Action Continues After 11 Years

Aired August 11, 2001 - 08:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The president has asked the Supreme Court to uphold affirmative action rules and, as expected, his decision has angered some conservatives.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN ANCHOR: And as CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena explains, it's a battle that began 11 years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a case before the Supreme Court, Adarand Constructors, a white-owned company, is challenging a government program that gives preference to minority owned contractors. Back in 1989, Adarand lost out to a Hispanic owned firm even though Adarand's bid for a highway contract was lower. In a high court brief, the Bush administration narrowly defends the program. Conservatives charge betrayal.

LINDA CHAVEZ, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: That is not what affirmative action was supposed to be about. It was supposed to be about extending opportunity, giving people skills when they needed them. This is a strict racial preference program and I find it devastating that the Bush administration would support this kind of racial preference.

ARENA: It was be unusual for the government to change positions before the court, even with a change in administrations. But conservatives were hopeful that President Bush would keep his campaign promise and argue against racial preferences.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to end quotas, racial preferences, policies that tend to pit one group of people against another.

ARENA: And as a senator, Attorney General John Ashcroft was a forceful opponent of affirmative action. Still, many liberals are taking him at his word.

HILARY SHELTON, NAACP: The Ashcroft promise during his hearings before the U.S. Senate that he would vigorously enforce the law, this program is the law of the land and we're looking very closely to see if, indeed, it is enforced.

ARENA: Both sides see this as a narrow first test for the Bush administration on affirmative action. (on camera): Conservatives hope the administration will take a strong stand against racial preferences in cases currently making their way through the courts, specifically two dealing with university admissions.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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