Petition drive to ban affirmative action faces hard fight

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10370893

BY MATTHEW HANSEN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Ward Connerly has proved himself the political equivalent of Superman over the past decade, flying through states and passing constitutional amendments that ban most forms of affirmative action.

Now, as the California businessman tries to pass such a ban in Nebraska, it appears that his opponents may have found something resembling kryptonite.

Defenders of current affirmative action policies are trying to disrupt Connerly's group at the outset at it tries to collect enough petition signatures to place the issue on the November ballot.



They send "blockers" who videotape petition circulators, document any alleged wrongdoing and discourage people from signing the petitions.

They accuse Connerly's group of deception and publicize cases in which minorities have signed the petition believing it would strengthen, not erode, affirmative action.

They employ aggressive legal strategies, challenge petition signatures and force the issue into court.

The new game plan is simple, says a leader of one national group that opposes Connerly.

FULL story at link.

Affirmative action dispute The Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative seeks to ban public agencies — including the University of Nebraska and state and local governments — from considering race, ethnicity or gender when hiring, selecting contractors or enrolling students. Such policies are commonly known as affirmative action.

Proponents say current state law encourages reverse discrimination against whites. The state and country have reached a point, they say, where minorities and women should be judged solely on merit and no longer need the assistance of affirmative action programs.

Opponents say the amendment would harm NU's efforts to recruit minority students. Affirmative action programs are necessary, they say, to combat deep-seated biases and historical inequality faced by racial and ethnic minorities and women.