Intentions versus results

Stuart Taylor has written the first serious journalistic consideration that I have seen of the study regarding the counterproductive effects of racial preferences in favor of black students in law schools: “Do racial preferences limit black lawyers?”
What are the intentions of the policymakers who adopt racial preferences? Do the policies have any consequences unintended by the polciymakers? Do they care about the results of their policies? Do the results matter when they can claim that their intentions are virtuous? (Courtesy of RealClearPolitics.)