Bill Clinton: “Well, we had some blunt talk on affirmative action. I don't think the whole debate ought to be about affirmative action.…”

“Well, we had some blunt talk on affirmative action. I don't think the whole debate ought to be about affirmative action. I mean, you know, look at what we've done, for example, with something that's supposed to have a civil rights impact that's largely economic, the Community Reinvestment Act. It passed in 1977, over 20 years ago. Now, the Community Reinvestment Act was set up to say to the bank regulators, ``Look, you guys go in and look at these banks and tell them, you've got to take some of your money and invest it in inner cities and neighborhoods and with people who otherwise would not get it so they have a chance to build homes, to build businesses, to create jobs, to build neighborhoods.'' In the 20-year history of the Community Reinvestment Act, 85 percent-plus of the money loaned out under it to poor inner-city neighborhoods has been loaned in the 5 years since I've been President. So I think there are things we can do to improve education, to improve job growth, to improve not just having jobs but also income and ownership among minorities, to create opportunities for service that will bring people together, that will also mean fewer racial discrimination claims that have to be dealt with by Government, and also I think will help to tame the savage heart that still lurks within so many of us. President's Goals and Accomplishments Mr. Lehrer. What should the American people think about their President right now? You're going into your--the last 3 years of your administration; you got all this controversy today; you've got all kinds of things in the air.”