But many minority companies saw their business fall to almost nothing as soon as courts ruled that the preference programs were unconstitutional.

In his abortive run for President this year, he repeatedly called for ending all preference programs.

Yet Yale officials have explicitly said that theirs was a preference program.

"The government shouldn't be establishing or mandating preference programs."

The Legal Times article said it had already been decided to strike down the preference program by a 2-to-1 vote.

He suggested preference programs based on economic status instead.

The Pentagon's proposal to eliminate the mandatory preference program in long-distance service is not final.

Affirmative action plans are tools to create a more inclusive workplace, and they should not be confused with preference programs.

Now, of course, preference programs are not measures of last resort; they are the rule.