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Michelle Obama Allegedly Argued for Race-Based Hiring in Harvard Law Article: ‘Callous…Old White Men’

Aug. 15, 2012 11:14am Erica Ritz

The Daily Caller Obtains Article Written by Michelle Obama at Harvard Law, Where She Reportedly Argued for Race Based Hiring

(Photo: AP)

The Daily Caller is claiming to have obtained an article penned by Michelle Obama during her time at Harvard Law School, in which the first lady appeared to advocate race and sex-based hiring.

The Daily Caller has background (all subsequent emphasis added):

During her third and final year at Harvard Law School, first lady Michelle Obama — then named Michelle Robinson — penned an article for the newsletter of Harvard’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA), arguing that Harvard and its students were perpetuating “racist and sexist stereotypes” by not intentionally hiring minority and female law professors on the basis of their sex or skin color.

The 1988 essay, titled “Minority and Women Law Professors: A Comparison of Teaching Styles,” ran in a special edition of the BLSA Memo. The future first lady justified her demands for more black and female law school faculty by attacking the “traditional model,” in which law students were educated through the Socratic method.

She also opposed the traditional meritocratic hiring principle, where professors with better legal pedigrees were more often hired, arguing that it limited the success of women and blacks.

But the future first lady apparently didn’t stop at writing an article. The Daily Caller continues:

During the final weeks before she received her Harvard law degree, Mrs. Obama participated in a sit-in protest along with about 50 other BLSA members. In what The New York Times called an “occupation,” the future lawyers stormed the office of Dean James Vorenberg on May 10, 1988 with a list of 12 demands.

Carrying signs demanding an “end to racism,” they occupied the dean’s office for 24 hours and demanded that Harvard Law School hire 20 female or minority professors in the next four years as tenured, or tenure-track, professors. Seven of those professors, they insisted, must be black — and four of those seven female.

They also demanded tenure for Ogletree and a deanship for Bell, and dictated a new plan for curriculum diversity that would include a required course on racial issues.

(Photo: AP)

In the article, Michelle Obama criticized the conventional image of law school as a place where “cold, callous, domineering, old white men [took] pleasure in engaging their students in humiliating and brutal discourse” perpetuated by novels like John Osborne’s “The Paper Chase” and Scott Turrow’s “One-L.”

And while there may have been a demonstrable need for more minority hiring during Michelle Obama’s time at Harvard, the first lady’s attitude towards the matter troubles some. The focus seems to be on hiring women and minorities for the sake of hiring women and minorities, regardless of whether or not they are the most qualified candidates.

The Daily Caller notes that Michelle Obama seems to hold this opinion, in at least some regards, to this day.

They write:

[Michelle Obama's] choice of language bore clear similarities to the “empathy” test Barack Obama promised to use when deciding on nominees for the judiciary. If the advances of the critical race movement were stymied, Michelle worried, this “new breed of law professors will be systematically excluded” from Harvard.

[...]

During the Obama presidency, the same Mrs. Obama has reportedly helped the president pick appointees to the federal courts. Along with Cassandra Butts — a former White House deputy counsel and another Derrick Bell disciple — the first lady reportedly helped Obama decide on the “wise Latina” Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court nominee.

President Obama also named Robert Wilkins, the president of the Harvard BLSA in 1988 and organizer of the occupation of the dean’s office, to a federal circuit judgeship in the District of Columbia.

“Diversity in this country is a good thing,” Mrs. Obama told MSNBC when asked about Sotomayor, “whether it’s gender or race or socio-economic background or religion. You know, that’s the world I come from.”

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

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Comments (116)

Diane TX
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:56am
Good grief, hiring people based on skin color, gender, and sexual preferences instead of their abilities and talents, only assures that there will be many incompetents at the school and/or business.

Should a medical school hire a medicine man from some obscured third world tribe to teach future doctors? Michelle Obama would probably prefer the medicine man for his type of teaching over traditional and established methods of teaching.

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- BCanook
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 1:53pm
  Welcome to diversity!!!
  
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- SREGN
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 3:13pm
  Establishing racist policies to combat racism. That makes sense. Maybe in the Bizarro World.
  
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Watcher1952
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:56am
Doe’s any of this surprise anyone….with the new call from the Black Panthers to form their new Army…the lack of Eric Holder and DOJ to do anything against them….. White people need to be aware of their surroundings at all times. History reveals that the few can and will insight the many to violence……

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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:52am
Oh. I’m shocked. What a surprize. Oh Dear what can we do?

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term limits for congress
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:51am
She got her wish. We have our first Affirmative Action president. Although, she is obviously more qualified since her pigmentation is more pure and she has better-qualified ‘private parts’.

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Salamander
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:46am
Wanna perpetuate racism? Set hiring quotas, rather than hire on merit! Picket the offices of employers, lenders, etc. Did it ever occur to the FLOTUS that perhaps the use of hiring quotas lowers the bar for everyone? If she’d stop using racism to elimate racism, it would go away on its own! The reason we have 50% black youth unemployment is not because of racism, unless it is because of the racism of our public schools and free busing! Anyone NOT hiring someone BECAUSE of race, loses everthing that individual would bring to the table! The trouble with the race argument is that it turns the focus away from what the applicant brings to the table and turns it toward what’s wrong with the employer! When we get down to ONE employer, the government, it will be a problem, but so long as there is more than one employer, competition, choice and the marketplace will take care of any problem! If Harvard is not hiring sufficient Blacks, then they are subject to losing their place at the top by another university that has no such problem! Remember Groucho Marx: “I wouldn’t want to be a member of any club that would have me!” That attitude sure narrows the choices, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s time to start thinking, take whatever opportunity you can, and then make that institution the best in its field! Instead of tearing everything down, build something for a change! Work the positives, not the negatives!

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Cabo King
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:45am
I have the sudden urge for a banana

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:43am
Well, Michelle, those “Old White Men” did pull your ancestors out of Africa giving them, and you a better life!

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- Salamander
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:47am
  And, introduced corn to Africa, saving many a life from starvation in the process!
  
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Not Giving Up
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:42am
It seems that many Americans have begun to forget the importance of respecting the office of the Presidency. The Obamas’ represent a great many things that are wrong with this country. However, disrespecting the office of the Presidency with name calling and slurs does nothing but make our arguments weak. Speak the truth, but do it with respect then fix the problem with your vote.

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- FREEDOMoverFEAR
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 5:51pm
  We don’t elect these people to lead us, but to represent us. When you began exalting politicians you are saying they are more important than an average citizen and by default you are declaring the Government is more important than the private sector. You know what Thomas Jefferson did after he took the oath of office? He walked back to his boarding house and waited in line for dinner. Idiots like you perpetuate that we need politicians that we need Government.
  
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Free2speakRN
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:41am
She and her husband are both racists. And they hire racists to surround them. Critical Race Theory by Bell. There’s a lovely attitude. And Holder?…Racist to the core. They all make me sick. I spend my life believing and trying to “love one another”….It’s more to the point of : “Loving your enemies.” Obama said we conservatives are the ‘enemy’. I spend all day forgiving these misfits of America.

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- Salamander
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:58am
  It’s about time these racists figure out that if they cannot figure out what’s RIGHT about our country, and work with it, they are doomed to suffer what is WRONG with it, and accomplish nothing! What do you have after a demolition job? A big mess to clean up! And, no place to live! We’ve had the WHINERS and the SELFISH in office far too long! I just hope the American voter can see the light before this next election! If we cannot elect those with demonstrated success, positive thinkers, leaders, not cheerleaders, to office, we are doomed to a very dark World! Wake up folks, things may not be as good as you want, but you and you alone have the power to change it! Don’t waste your vote on a handout–it will be short-lived! Rather, invest your vote in those who have YOUR interests in mind–not with a short-lived handout, but with the long-term freedom so that your choices are unlimited! Don’t worry about the transition–you will find a way! Most everyone is hurting! Those that aren’t are anecdotal, few and far between! Taking from them isn’t going to help your situation one iota! There simply aren’t enough of them! 1% already carries 40% of the tax load! Destroy them and their wealth and YOU will have to make up the difference! Are you SURE you really want that?
  
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HKS
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:40am
The Obama cover up machine must have missed one, wouldn’t you like to see some of Obama’s works in school. Those billions in campaign contributions, part of them go to cover this stuff up.

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RIGS
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:40am
Did anybody think she would say or answer in a different way. She is a racist like her husband.

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- SREGN
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 3:15pm
  We all got along pretty good until these two came along.
  
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666Sucks
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:38am
Communist hoar!

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The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:37am
Why does it take this long to find these stories?!

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LB
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:37am
If she had to pick a surgeon I wonder if she would pick one that was the most talented and experienced or the one that was not as qualified but was the right color. These idiots need to go. All the “I’m not going to vote for anyone” better re-think that choice and vote for Romney/Paul and get the traitors out of the White House.

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Stacey
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:34am
What do you expect from someone who says “for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country”? (I still can’t believe she said it!!)
…flaunting a $7000 designer jacket!!!…really??!
she makes me sick.

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- AhLeahIris
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:37am
  This woman is a complete disgrace:
  
  http://markamerica.com/2012/08/15/michelle-obamas-nutritional-finger-waggling/
  
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Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:32am
Do these people ever actually do ant work ? Is it all about their blackness ? That’s it ? We’re black…

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Tri-ox
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:29am
Typical.

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Wildblue3
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:27am
Race and Gender should not be a basis of hiring. It should be if you are best skilled for the job. If she could prove the ladies and other racial were better trained than the “old white guys” then she has a point.

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QuincySmith
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:27am
moochelle’s approach (hire women and blacks, notwithstanding their qualifications) is a great way to lower Harvard’s lofty standards. This approach mirrors the oblama’s approach to governing.

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- just happy
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 12:04pm
  harvards lofty standards are anything but LOFTY!!
  
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:23am
In a related note, I am calling on the NBA to end it’s racism and calling for them to draft and sign 50% of their rosters as whites. In addition, I am calling on fire departments and police forces to hire more paraplegic and amputee’s. For too long we’ve let things like merit and ability drive hiring decisions. Those should have nothing to do with that. Look at the POTUS, he is clearly not qualified for that job, but the power of political correctness allows an idiot to occupy the Oval Office.
Rant OFF

So when you are watching slow white dudes shooting set shots on Sunday afternoon and your house catches on fire you can trust that Steven Hawking will show up to save you.

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- biohazard23
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:29am
  Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
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- 666Sucks
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:43am
  I just applied for permits to start “The White Christian Bakery” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Black_Muslim_Bakery) and “White Entertainment Television”, time for true equality!
  
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- chips1
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 12:01pm
  White Entertainment Television could show reruns of Amos and Andy or Boston Blackie.
  
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- FREEDOMoverFEAR
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 5:45pm
  My buddy is a fire fighter here in CA and he said they just hired a 150 pound 5’6″ black lady over two white guys who both were over 6′. He made a great statement about this “We have to hire a woman to make the people feel warm and fuzzy inside, but it’ll be my ass on the line when we go fight a fire.”
  
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AJAYW
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:22am
Why did she marry and breed with a halfbreed if she thinks whites are so bad. I guess her offsprings are a quarter white, I sure she will not allow either to marry a white man or woman.

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- chips1
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:52am
  You can call them”Perina” because they are from checkerboard square.
  
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oldguy49
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:20am
go back to chicago………….herr ideas are working there

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NDPINDNT
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:20am
Maybe in the future we’ll start to see more papers from Obama while he was in college and further expose him for who he truely is. It would be nice to see these about 2 weeks before the elections.

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- HKS
  Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:35am
  Obama is spending millions to keep this stuff in hiding, at least until after the elections.
  
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jacobstroubles
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:19am
Oh…geeeezzz I’m so shocked…LOL

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HKS
Posted on August 15, 2012 at 11:19am
Proof positive for me, racist to the bone, so that would make Obama raciest by default.

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