Civil Rights

A variety of minority rights issues are included, principally equal opportunity and affirmative action. Additional rights issues are addressed under Abortion and LGBT Rights.

Clinton on Civil Rights

Hillary ClintonWords: Clinton fully supports equal rights, equal opportunity, and affirmative action. “It is abundantly clear that race and racism are defining challenges not only in the United States but around the world. And for anyone to assert that race is not a problem in America (more…)

McCain on Civil Rights

John McCainWords: McCain generally supports civil rights and supports affirmative action for specific programs, but without quotas. He is also a long-time advocate Native American rights. “Better to suffer for a good cause than live safely without one. (more…)

Obama on Civil Rights

Barack ObamaWords: Obama strongly supports equal rights and opportunities regardless of race, gender, or physical ability. “There is not a black American and white American and Latino America and Asian American - there is the United States of America. (more…)

Paul on Civil Rights

Ron PaulWords: Paul is an advocate of equal rights, but opposes affirmative action. “The problem is that… we see people as groups and that they derive their rights as belonging to those groups. We don’t get our rights because we’re gays or women or minorities. (more…)

Romney on Civil Rights

Mitt RomneyWords: Romney feels that civil rights should be enforced through companies and government agencies submitting annual reports on minority employees and allowing the market to enforce nondiscrimination. “If we are to compete as a nation, we’ve got to draw on the skills (more…)

Withdrawn / Biden on Civil Rights

Joe BidenWords: Biden supports affirmative action. “We should remind everybody that the day before a black child, a minority child, steps into the classroom, half the achievement gap already exists. The moment they walk into that school, they are already behind.” (more…)

Withdrawn / Edwards on Civil Rights

John EdwardsWords: Edwards is a firm believer in equal opportunity. He supports women’s economic rights and affirmative action for all minorities. “Equality is one of the abiding principles on which America is based; we need to make it an active principle, not a passive one. (more…)

Withdrawn / Giuliani on Civil Rights

Rudy GiulianiWords: Giuliani avoids speaking about equal rights for minorities, but has claimed to support affirmative action.

Actions: As mayor of New York (more…)

Withdrawn / Huckabee on Civil Rights

Mike HuckabeeWords: Huckabee opposes affirmative action for state contracts, public employment, and colleges.

Actions: No record. (more…)

Withdrawn / Kucinich on Civil Rights

Dennis KucinichWords: Kucinich supports affirmative action and reparations for slavery in the form of social programs. “The institution of slavery created a breach in our society, which still remains today. … I believe a broad based program of social and economic reforms (more…)

Withdrawn / Richardson on Civil Rights

Bill RichardsonWords: Richardson fully supports equal rights and opportunities, as well as affirmative action. “Race is not just passing new laws. Race is not just naming solid Supreme Court justices. Race is also dealing with bigotry and racism that exists in this country. (more…)

Withdrawn / Thompson on Civil Rights

Fred ThompsonWords: Thompson is vague on civil rights and neither supports not opposes affirmative action.

Actions: Thompson voted AGAINST banning affirmative action (more…)