Editor, Gazette-Journal:

On his first day as president, Joe Biden issued an “Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities.” Now, Mr. Biden’s cabinet nominees must explain whether his commitment to “equity” means he intends to abolish “equal treatment under law.”

In her confirmation hearing, Marcia Fudge, candidate for Housing and Urban Development Secretary, responded to Sen. Tom Cotton: “Not based on race but it could be based on the history of discrimination that has existed for a long time.”

This statement tracks that of Kamala Harris that “there’s a big difference between equality and equity.” There is a very big difference. It’s the difference between equal treatment and equal outcomes. Equality means equal treatment, unbiased competition and impartially judged outcomes. Equity means equal outcomes, achieved, if necessary, by unequal treatment, biased competition and preferential judging.

Those who push for equity have hidden thes...