A lesson to Senate Republicans
If you thought that after this past week, no one on Capitol Hill wanted to ruffle any more feathers when it comes to race, you would be wrong.
And if you thought that if anyone wanted to do it, it would be a Republican, you would be very wrong.
James Webb: Diversity and the Myth of White Privilege - WSJ.com
That’s Jim Webb, as in Senator Jim Webb (D-VA). (hat tip to Kevin DeAnna at YWC).
Why is it that conservatives in Washington can’t seem to muster the guts to say anything constructive on race or any other “touchy” issue, particularly in an election year? Their overall impotence this week, a week where the Right should be dominating the news cycle, culminates with this article. Webb puts out a totally reasonable proposal that almost no one can touch besides hysterical sociology professors. Sure, he gets more leeway to say it because of the “D” next to his name, but to let him redefine this debate and give himself cover for his reelection is something that the GOP lets happen every day, in one form or another. Instead, I’m sure this will go nowhere.
What Republicans ought to do is fully endorse this proposal, even if it falls short of what most conservatives would want. Any chip at the institution of affirmative action and race-based preference systems is a win in my book. Once people see what is possible, and begin to accept this as the norm, taking away what’s left will not seem like a big deal.
Cheers to Jim Webb for a fine proposal that we can applaud as a good first step. If I have to move from one state with two Dem Senators to another, I’d much rather it be the one with him.
