Reply #65: affirmative action programs grew out of the civil rights movement [View All]

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and were developed specifically to address racism and sexism. Dean's remarks to the effect that classism be included in the equation might be construed by some minorities as being opposed to affirmative action's main purpose - to address the built in inequalities our society displays toward minorities and women. Some might even go so far as to see it as a subtle "anti-affirmative action" message directed toward the majority white male population.

Howard Dean, coming from a state with no real minority population, shows here a real lack of political savvy concerning race relations.
Neither he nor the Democratic party in general can afford to alienate minority voters if we intend to take back the White House in 2004.