McCain Says No to Affirmative Action

It's the latest example of McCain changing positions that had once put him at odds with conservative Republicans, including his new proposals to extend President Bush's tax cuts and expand offshore oil drilling.

In 1998, McCain described an anti-affirmative action effort in his home state as "divisive." On Sunday, McCain backed a proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution that would ban "preferential treatment" on the basis of "race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin."

"I do not believe in quotas," McCain said on ABC's This Week With George Stephanopoulos. "But I have not seen the details of some of these proposals. But I've always opposed quotas."

When the Arizona Legislature considered a similar plan 10 years ago, McCain told a Hispanic group that "rather than engage in divisive ballot initiatives, we must have a dialogue and cooperation and mutual efforts together to provide for every child in America to fulfill their expectations." McCain also said he opposed race-based hiring quotas.

Campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said McCain "has long stood for the protection of civil rights and equal opportunity for all Americans," while opposing "mandatory" hiring quotas.

Some Arizona legislators pushed the 1998 affirmative-action ban, but it did not make the ballot. This year, an independent organization solicited signatures currently being reviewed by the secretary of State's office.

Obama, back from overseas and speaking to a convention of minority journalists in Chicago on Sunday, said he was "disappointed" at McCain's reversal.

The Democratic candidate, seeking to become the nation's first African-American president, said he supports affirmative action "when properly structured."

A variety of political observers, from the liberal Huffington Post blog to conservative commentator Pat Buchanan, have called on McCain to take a position on the proposed Arizona referendum.

Democratic Party spokesman Damien LaVera said. McCain voiced support to placate Republican conservatives and is "putting his political ambitions ahead of principle." LaVera cited McCain's newfound support for Bush-era tax cuts and offshore oil drilling. McCain said letting the tax cuts expire would amount to a tax hike in bad economic times, while $4-a-gallon gas has altered his position on offshore drilling.