Neither party wants vote on preferences
Published December 5, 2003
BY BRIAN DICKERSON
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
In this season of partisan discord, there’s at least one thing the leaders of Michigan’s Democratic and Republican parties agree on:
Neither party’s poo-bahs want to see the anti-affirmative action initiative championed by California businessman and regent Ward Connerly come within a million miles of Michigan’s November 2004 ballot.
Democratic leaders fear losing an up-or-down vote on affirmative action. Republican leaders, who have sent mixed signals on racial and gender preferences, worry that a ballot question would energize minority voters hostile to Republican candidates.