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Thirteen days ago, President George W. Bush made short but very important remarks on the issues surrounding the Michigan Affirmative Action Case from the Roosevelt Room in the White House. The case, set to be heard by the United States Supreme Court in early April is crucial as the court will decide once again whether or not the admission policies used by the University of Michigan to promote racial diversity in higher education violate the Constitution of the United States. In this particular speech, the President states that his administration will file an amicus curiae (brief with the court) arguing against the policies of the University of Michigan. The President’s decision to file an amicus curiae took place at a crucial time in the President’s term. It was a very critical choice that may affect political support the President receives. Not only can his decision outrage and anger minorities who strongly support Affirmative Action policies but it can also have negative connotations from his strong conservative base also. Therefore, the question becomes, how does President Bush’s speech attempt to satisfy his conservative base and not offend the more liberal supporters of affirmative action?
There are three main aspects to analyze in the context of the speech by the President. The first aspect deals with how specifically the President felt about Affirmative Action issues in the United States. Obviously by the brief he has given to the court, the President is strongly opposed to Affirmative Action based on the use of quotas. However, the President never states that he completely opposes Affirmative Action policies, nor does he specifically deny that there is a need for more racial integration in higher education. President Bush also can be identified by the new political term as “compassionate conservative” meaning that although his political views embody the ideologies of conservatism, they are not strongly right-winged or not empathetic with those of the liberal views. In order to portray neutrality, the President had to be very careful when he chose to make this speech and the audience he chose to make it in front of. The President decided to file a brief with the court at a time where the Republican party was under a lot of heat. ... The Mississippi Senator’s remarks at Strom Thurmond? Thurman’s 100th birthday party flared minorities because Lott mentioned that the country would have been a better place if Thurmond had won the presidency back in 1948.
Approximate Word count = 1999
Approximate Pages = 8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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