When It Came to Affirmative Action and Roe V. Wade, Republicans Played the Long Game
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Throughout American history, politics has always been a game of strategy and patience, and when it came to shaping policy around affirmative action and Roe v. Wade, Republicans proved they were in for the long haul. By aligning themselves with key public opinions and gradually chipping away at these policies over time, they carefully created a lasting impact on both areas.
Starting in the 1970s, Republicans recognized the division among Americans regarding affirmative action. Originally designed as an instrument to redress historic systemic discrimination, the policy aimed to provide equal opportunities to marginalized groups in employment, education, and other sectors. However, many Americans felt that affirmative action was reverse discrimination, unfairly favoring certain groups over others.
Sensing an opportunity to appeal to this discontented faction, Republican politicians began emphasizing the narrative of individual merit rather than a group-focused approach. They promoted an ideal of a “colorblind” society where everyone should be judged solely based on their abilities and accomplishments. By tapping into this sentiment, they garnered support from those who felt alienated or victimized by affirmative action policies.
Gradually, Republicans pursued legal challenges against affirmative action in courtrooms and campaigned for legislation at both the state and federal levels. Over time this strategy bore fruit: key cases like University of California v. Bakke (1978) and Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin (2013) led to significant limitations within the scope of such programs. In 2023, they got their wish, as affirmative action was banned in a decision on the Students for Fair Admissions, Inc v. President and Fellows at Harvard College (2023) case.
Similarly, the Republican Party saw an opening when it came to abortion rights following the landmark Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade in 1973. Recognizing that a significant portion of Americans held deeply rooted moral objections to abortion, they began focusing their efforts on undermining abortion access. In 2023 in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) case, SCOTUS banned abortion in the U.S., effectively overturning Roe v. Wade (1973).
The pursuit of a long-term strategy in relation to affirmative action and Roe v. Wade paid off for Republicans. Today, both issues continue to be hotly contested across the nation, although the SCOTUS has officially banned affirmative action and abortion.
In conclusion, the Republican Party’s approach to these two critical social issues demonstrates their shrewd understanding of the power of playing the long game. Their sustained efforts over decades have yielded results that continue to impact American society, affirming the importance and influence of political strategy in shaping policy and public opinion.