Reagan defends rights record

President Reagan defended his economic and social agenda before an audience of lawyers and judges at the American Bar Association's annual meeting in Atlanta. However, many participants in the ABA's panel discussions here criticized the President for insensitivity to women and blacks and for what some perceive as a lack of compassion for the plight of poor people, reports Monitor correspondent Curtis J. Sitomer.

Sounding more and more like a candidate for reelection next year, Mr. Reagan insisted he was committed to equal rights and opportunities for all. But he said this couldn't be accomplished through reverse discrimination and job quotas.

The President repeated general commitments to curb federal spending and to check crime, partly by putting less emphasis on the rights of the accused and more on victims' rights. He defended his nominees to the Civil Rights Commission , calling them ''independent.''

''They don't worship at the altar of forced busing and mandatory quotas,'' Mr. Reagan said.

In asking for support for a constitutional amendment to allow voluntary school prayer, the President said: ''The First Amendment was not written to protect the people from religious freedom. The First Amendment was written to protect people's beliefs from religious tyranny.''

You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Reagan defends rights record
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1983/0802/080220.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us