``Rather than engage in divisive ballot initiatives, we must have a dialogue and cooperation and mutual efforts together to provide for every child in America to fulfill their expectations,'' McCain told Hispanic business leaders gathered in Washington in 1998.
A spokesman said in a statement that McCain has always opposed hiring quotes based on race. ``He believes that regardless of race, ethnicity or gender, the law should be equally applied,'' the spokesman, Tucker Bounds, said.
Obama said Sunday that affirmative action is not a long-term solution to discrimination, and that it must not ignore the problems of poor whites. But affirmative action does address ``some of the hardships and difficulties that communities of color may have experienced.''
He also argued ballot initiatives like the one in Arizona rarely help people work together.
``You know, the truth of the matter is, these are not designed to solve a big problem, but they're all too often designed to drive a wedge between people,'' Obama said.
Obama was asked whether he supports an official government apology for slavery or the country's treatment of American Indians. He replied that he would discuss the idea with Indian leaders but that it is more important to provide services that will help people escape poverty and improve their lives. The same is true of an apology or reparations for slavery, he said.
``I'm much more interested in talking about, how do we get every child to learn? How do we get every person health care? How do we make sure that everybody has a job?'' Obama said.
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