California Voters Reject Racial Preferences | National Review
The Los Angeles Times summarized the results of this David vs. Goliath struggle as follows: The findings of the survey provide the clearest evidence so far of the disconnect between those political leaders and many of their ostensible followers. While there is widespread support for diversity and outreach to minority groups among the general public, the California Community at the same time found broad skepticism about allowing government officials to use race, ethnicity or gender in making decisions.
That skepticism extended across racial groups. Among Latinos, only 30 percent said Proposition 16 was a good idea, compared with 41 percent who called it a bad idea. Among Asian respondents, 35 percent called the proposition a good idea while 46 percent saying it was a bad idea. Whites were only slightly more opposed, with 32 percent thinking Prop 16 was a good idea and 53 percent a bad idea.
Proposition 16 was backed by a majority of African Americans. But only 56 percent of them called it a good idea, 19 percent said it was a bad idea, and a surprisingly high 25 percent weren t sure.
The survey included the fascinating finding that immigrants were more opposed to racial quotas than native-born Americans were. Many immigrants came to this country for equal opportunities and are suspicious about preferences for specific groups, Charlie Woo, the board chairman of an Asian economic empowerment group, told the Los Angeles Times.