Publication Date

5-10-1995

Abstract

In 1993 Bill Clinton nominated Lani Guinier to head the civil rights division of the Department of Justice. Soon after, Guinier's nomination became embroiled in controversy when the media and conservative legislators began to examine her writings on electoral remedies to Voting Rights Act violations. Almost immediately, Lani Guinier became known as the "quota queen" and her writings were derided as undemocratic and racially preferential. Still smarting from "nanny-gate," President Clinton quickly moved to avoid further attacks and withdrew Guinier's nomination. Foremost among the charges raised against Guinier was that her advocation of cumulative voting as an alternative to districting as a remedy for minority voting strength dilution represented an affront to democracy and was designed to unfairly advantage minorities. Unfortunately, the truth was somehow lost in the fury of political maneuvering and press sensationalism.

Disciplines

Economics

Included in

Economics Commons

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