Mar 8, 3:06 AM ES
By The Associated Press
How different demographic and political groups feel toward questions in the
AP poll on affirmative action conducted by ICR/International Communications
Research of Media, Pa.:
-Should affirmative action programs that provide advantages or preferences for blacks, Hispanics and other minorities in hiring, promoting and college admissions be continued or abolished? Whites said they should be continued by 49-40 percent, while blacks supported their continuance by 88-8 percent. Democrats were twice as likely as Republicans to think affirmative action should be continued.
-Are affirmative action programs still needed? Women were more likely than men to say they are still needed, blacks more likely than whites, Democrats more likely than Republicans.
-How important it is for a college to have a racially diverse student body? Most blacks and whites agreed this was important. Young people from 18 to 34 were far more likely to say it was very important, and black respondents, women and Democrats were more likely to say it was important.
-How close are we to eliminating discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities
in America? Whites and blacks were surprisingly close on this question, though
blacks were more likely to say not close at all. Republicans were more likely
than Democrats to say the country is close to ending discrimination. There were
few demographic differences on this question.
-Which do you think is a bigger problem today - blacks and Hispanics losing
out because of racism or whites losing out because of affirmative action? Young
adults and blacks were far more likely to say that minorities are losing out.