It is rare for political leaders to say there is any politics in what they are doing. Usually they say they are doing something because it is right. If there is any political benefit, well, that's just coincidence. But now I apologize to the governor because I want to talk precisely about the political fallout of this plan. First, there is the obvious thing.
Next year is an election year.
There is a campaign, led by the businessman Ward Connerly, to have a vote on getting rid of all affirmative action in Florida. It would be better for the Republicans, from George W. Bush down to the local dog catcher, not to have a big, nasty fight over affirmative action in an election year. The only thing it would do is energize the other side. So maybe Jeb's plan will satisfy enough people to take the steam out of Connerly's more strident campaign. Maybe Jeb's plan will give the Florida Supreme Court more cover to kick Connerly's campaign off the ballot.