Obama, McCain weigh in on affirmative action

Controversial affirmative-action ballot initiatives in three states — Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona — are making news for the presidential candidates. Arizona senator and presidential candidate John McCain has said he supports a measure in his state that would ban the use of preferential treatment when it comes to race or gender. He says he’s always opposed quotas. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wagged his finger at his rival.

Scott Wong, State Capital Reporter for the "Arizona Republic" talks to "The Takeaway’s" Adaora Udoji and John Hockenberry about the proposed measure in Arizona.

Wong says the initiative would prevent local and state institutions from discriminating against, or giving preferential treatment to any individual or group based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. The ban applies to public hiring, public contracts, public education, which would include college admissions and student scholarships.

McCain’s response: "I do not believe in quotas … I have not seen the details of some of these proposals, but I’ve always opposed quotas."

Obama’s response: "I am disappointed … that John McCain flipped, and changed his position. I think in the past, he has been opposed to these kinds of … referenda or initiatives as divisive."

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