Rep. Ken Buck advocates for the promotion of role models who succeeded without affirmative action and the enhancement of inner-city K-12 schools.

Embracing Merit-Based Measures for College Admissions

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) defends the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down race-based affirmative action admissions policies at U.S. colleges. He believes that students should focus on embracing merit-based measures for college admissions and that educators should raise K-12 education standards, particularly in inner-cities.

In an interview with “The Hill” on NewsNation, Buck points to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) as role models who succeeded without the need for affirmative action.

Criticisms of the Supreme Court’s Decision

The Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. (SFFA) v. President and Fellows of Harvard College has drawn criticism from proponents of affirmative action policies. They argue that rolling back these policies would hinder progress in race relations since the Civil Rights era. Former President Barack Obama, for example, stated that while affirmative action was not a complete solution, it provided opportunities for marginalized students.

Looking to True Role Models

When asked about students who agree with Obama’s assessment, Buck encourages them to look to role models who achieved success through hard work, academic achievements, and personal connections. He advises against relying on affirmative action as a “give out or giveaway” from universities or the government.

Disagreement with President Biden

Buck also disagrees with President Joe Biden, who expressed his disagreement with the Supreme Court’s decision. Biden believes that America should provide equal opportunities for everyone to succeed. However, Buck argues that affirmative action policies lead to unequal treatment and discrimination against white and Asian American students.

Addressing the Achievement Gap

To address the achievement gap between black and white students, Buck suggests implementing school choice in inner cities and holding teachers unions accountable. He believes that creating more merit-based opportunities will achieve the goals President Biden is advocating for, rather than relying on artificial standards based on race for college admissions.