Battle Over Prop. 209 Heating Up

Supporters and opponents of California’s Proposition 209 unleashed dueling statements Tuesday about the ballot initiative that seeks to eliminate government affirmative action programs.

Supporters broadcast the measure’s first radio commercial statewide, while the Roman Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles officially came out against it.

The ad features Proposition 209 campaign chairman Ward Connerly contending that, as an African American himself, he believes the initiative benefits women and minorities by offering equal treatment.

“For me and millions of other minorities and for women, what is important is that we all have an equal chance to compete,” said Connerly, a member of the University of California Board of Regents.

The commercial, which includes a female narrator and never uses the phrase affirmative action, also contends that the measure does not dilute existing anti-discrimination laws.

Pat Ewing, director of the No on Proposition 209 campaign, criticized the ad. “Ward Connerly is trying to pull a fast one on the state,” she said. “This does allow discrimination--bar none, absolutely. It does discriminate.”

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony on Tuesday warned that the nation’s “tenuous commitment” to creating a discrimination-free society is at stake and declared his opposition to Proposition 209 on the November ballot.

The cardinal’s stand, which follows his warning last year against any retreat on affirmative action, was expected.

Still, Mahony minced no words about what he called the moral necessity to fight racism and gender bias.

“Proposition 209 is a retreat” in the nation’s battle against discrimination, Mahony said. “The wholesale elimination of affirmative action programs--without the institution of alternative remedies--would mark a major setback,” he said.

The ballot measure, backed by Gov. Pete Wilson and the Republican presidential ticket of Bob Dole and Jack Kemp, would ban affirmative action based on race, gender, ethnicity or national origin in public employment and contracting and public education.

Federal courts have banned racial quotas except in cases where they are used to remedy a specific example of past discrimination. Instead, the courts have authorized limited hiring goals.

But the ad seeks to encourage an impression that has been illustrated in opinion polls--that many people still link affirmative action and quotas. The polls also show most people oppose quotas.

“Goals, timetables, set-asides: Everyone knows we’re talking about quotas,” Connerly said.

The commercial also tries to counter the argument from opponents of the measure who claim that it will dilute or eliminate anti-discrimination laws regarding women. “For men and women of every race, Proposition 209 keeps all existing protections against discrimination,” said Connerly. “If it didn’t, I wouldn’t be its campaign chairman.”

The campaign declined to say how much it was spending to broadcast the commercial. It was produced by Arnold Steinberg, a Republican political consultant in Los Angeles.

Lesher reported from Sacramento, Stammer from Los Angeles.