Last week, as THE SCRAPBOOK reported, Governor Jeb Bush accused California civil rights leader Ward Connerly of wanting a "war." Connerly had come to Florida to promote a ballot initiative ending racial preferences in the state, modeled on his successful effort in California. Bush, amazingly, maintained that Florida had no such preferences -- despite a report by a Florida-based think tank demonstrating quotas in Florida's law and medical schools.
This week, Connerly ably struck back in a respectful but firm letter to Bush. Some highlights: "I was disappointed to hear you characterize me as wanting a 'war.' Nothing can be further from the truth. I and millions of my fellow Americans want our leaders to responsibly guide us to a solution born out of good will and common values of equal treatment under the law."
"Our educational foundation, the American Civil Rights Institute, is willing to hire a respected, independent consultant to review the laws and policies of Florida state government . . . [to] verify whether preferences based on race and gender exist. If evidence is presented that proves that Florida's government or its subdivisions practice race or gender preferences, would you unequivocally and unqualifiedly denounce such state-sanctioned discrimination?" Good question.