Bill Clinton: “It says something. We just have to make sure we know what it says. For example, very often we assume that those numbers…”

“It says something. We just have to make sure we know what it says. For example, very often we assume that those numbers are there, there's some--maybe even an illegal practice, which may not be true. But if you go back to what Carmen said, one of the things that I've seen--or go back to what John Thompson said--and you know, Georgetown is my alma mater so I always try to cheer for John and try never to disagree with him. [Laughter] But there's some--let's assume that there is absolutely no conscious racism in any of these decisions. I have been now in an executive position--I've been President for 5\1/2\ years nearly; I was Governor of my State for 12 years. I've hired hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people. In every position I've ever held, I've always hired more minorities than my predecessors. When I was Governor, I hired more minorities, appointed more than all my predecessors combined. No one ever accused me of giving anybody anything for which they weren't qualified. But what I found out was, if that was a goal and you knew it was important, there was a certain network by which--the easy network by which those decisions are made, and you've got to break through the network and change the rules if you want to do it. Mr. Ley. So the numbers are important then?”