Deeds Shares Small Business Growth Plan

Deeds's plan will "Increase state contracting for small, women and minority-owned (SWaM) businesses."
But why do race, ethnicity, and sex need to be considered at all in deciding who gets awarded a contract? It's fine to make sure contracting programs are open to all, that bidding opportunities are widely publicized beforehand, and that no one gets discriminated against because of skin color, national origin, or sex. But that means no preferences because of skin color, etc. either--whether it's labeled a "set-aside," a "quota," or a "goal," since they all end up amounting to the same thing. Such discrimination is unfair and divisive; it costs the taxpayers money to award a contract to someone other than the lowest bidder; and it's generally illegal to boot (see comments we submitted to the Colorado DOT here: http://www.ceousa.org/content/view/655/86/ ).

Do you intend to promote Bob McDonnell's agenda in such a completely unprofessional way? This isn't an article, it's a campaign ad! You conspicuously left out any questions about where the funding for this wish list will come from, in a State that has been left in a financial mess by the current, fiscally irresponsible Governor (10 million....really?). You left out how Mr. Deed's record is as liberal as they come, in complete opposition to Mr. Logan's false statement that he has a track record that shows otherwise.
For those with their feet firmly in the reality that faces us, who want to see a plan that is fiscally feasible, from a man whose integrity is sound, it's, bobmcdonnell.com .