subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sun, Nov 08 2009 

Published February 21, 2008 11:32 pm - OKLAHOMA CITY — Critics of an anti-affirmative action petition drive in Oklahoma have accused petition-gatherers of lying to voters about what they’re signing.

Oklahoma: Critics accuse petition gatherers of fraud



The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Critics of an anti-affirmative action petition drive in Oklahoma have accused petition-gatherers of lying to voters about what they’re signing.

“We think we can and will stop it from going on the ballot,” said Shanta Driver, attorney and national spokeswoman for By Any Means Necessary, a national coalition aimed at defending affirmative action, integration and immigrant rights.

“This was racially targeted voter fraud. We’ve had people come up to us, who are labor leaders, say they were embarrassed because they signed this petition. They thought they were signing a petition that sought to do the exact opposite.”

The Oklahoma Civil Rights Initiative seeks to put a measure before Oklahoma voters that would ban government-sponsored race and gender preferences in public education, state hiring and the awarding of public contracts.

Ward Connerly, who has spearheaded opposition to affirmative action in employment and education in California and Michigan, told The Oklahoman the opposition group was making “ridiculous charges.”

“If we would have said this initiative bans affirmative action, we would have been throwing out the baby with the bath water,” said Connerly, who heads the American Civil Rights Institute. “This initiative says there should be no preferential treatment to anyone.”

The group also alleged that the petition included unregistered voters and duplicate signatures. There are some pages where all the signatures were in the same handwriting.

Other pages show multiple signers used the same mailing address, Driver said.

Connerly said his campaign is looking into the possibility of duplicate signatures.

“Duplicate signatures, it’s not only defrauding the people, it’s defrauding us because we had to pay for those ... signatures,” Connerly said.

The Oklahoma Civil Rights Initiative submitted 2,000 signatures — more than necessary to place the measure on the ballot. The Oklahoma Secretary of State found some duplication and irregularities.

It is still unclear if the office will certify the petition or defer to the state Supreme Court.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!



Featured Jobs

SALES
NYSE and Co., opening a new division. Will train. Looking for full-time or part-time. Call Mike, (417)448-4732....>MORE

SUNSHINE, INC

is currently accepting applications for Full time and part time evening evening shift and an awake overnight suppo
...>MORE

SEEKING MICROSOFT SYSTEMS ANALYST
Seeking Microsoft Systems Analyst. Candidate will assist with presales consulting, primary installation and support of W...>MORE

ARE YOU AN ACTIVE RETIREE?
Do you enjoy caring for others? Caring people needed to help the elderly in their homes. No experience necessary, traini...>MORE

JOPLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
JOPLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY - Children’s Assistant. 20 hours per week. Must enjoy working with children, posses excellent cust...>MORE

3RD PARTY LOGISTICS COMPANY

Looking for sales people with transportation sales experience, also broker agents. Please send resume to P.O. Box
...>MORE

HAIR STYLIST
for Carthage salon.
417-388-2074.
...>MORE

SERVICE COORDINATOR SUPERVISOR
SERVICE COORDINATOR SUPERVISOR full time, responsible for development and supervision of ongoing activities required to...>MORE

OPIES TRANSPORT
Now Hiring Over the Road Drivers with 2 years experience. 800-341-9963 www.opiestransport.com ...>MORE

OFFICE PERSON NEEDED

Some experience. Apply in person: Coss Painting, 712 Willard, Joplin.
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

2008 HONDA RUCKUS
black, low mileage, $1500. 918-961-8995....>MORE

2000 Freightliner
$20,000 Century Classic, 745,943 miles; 1998 Freightliner $15,000, 400,888 miles; 1996 Volvo $25,000, 1,167,593 miles 1 ...>MORE

2008 NISSAN VERSA
4-door, 4500 miles, 4 cylinder, automatic, power steering, air, AM/FM CD, power windows/locks, silver with black interio...>MORE

1986 FORD MUSTANG GT
Convertible, 5 speed, 112,000 miles, $3800. 417-439-1707 or 417-439-7901...>MORE

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, automatic, cold air, CD, extra nice, $2400. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

1999 FORD F350
crew cab, 7.3 diesel, 4x4, white, Astro top, best offer. 434-3995...>MORE

2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
4x4, asking $4500. (417)850-2454....>MORE

1993 ISUZU TROOPER
$2000 Good Interior Needs tune up. 417-396-8811....>MORE

TOYOTA, 2009 CAMRY LE,
excellent conditon, black/tan, 29,500 miles, bought from Fletcher, warranty, $18,900. 417-793-1613...>MORE

1997 NISSAN MAXIMA
Loaded, 98,000 miles, excellent condition, must see, $4500. 417-438-1609....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

BY OWNER REDUCED PRICE!
3 br, 2 ba, 1840 sq. ft., remodeled, all new interior, new roof, $79,900. 436 N. Wall, Joplin. 240-432-8336....>MORE

3 BR, 7 YEAR OLD
like new, all electric, 10 minutes to Neosho, 20 minutes to Joplin. No Smoking, No Pets, $700 Month, $350 Deposit. (417)...>MORE

DOWNTOWN JOPLIN

Commercial buildings.
For sale or lease.
For details phone
Bill Martin,
Quality Real Estat
...>MORE

3 BR, 1 BA, 827 S. PICHER
central heat/air, refrigerator, stove $500/$500. 437-6365....>MORE

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

HISTORICAL ROCK FILLING STATION

on Route 66 with lots of updates This solid old building has 1200 sq. ft. on 100x100 lot, on Main Street of Carter
...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE 2-4 P.M.
3 br, 2 ba, 2-car gar., 1660 sq. ft. with lots of amenities, 2228 W. 29th. $129,900. 417-825-0557....>MORE

3 BR, 2 BA, FIREPLACE
2 car attached, corner lot. Royal Heights area. $103,500. 417-434-0502 or 417-673-5584....>MORE

BRIARBROOK
3 BR, 2.5 ba, 1 year lease $725/$700, no pets. 417-310-0056....>MORE

ATTRACTIVE, COMFORTABLE 4 BR
3 ba, 2-level, 2600 sq. ft. home. Greystone Subdivision, $194,900. 103 Jason Blvd., Oronogo, MO. Open house, Sunday 11 a...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

KENNELL REDUCTION
Chihuahua’s and French Bulldog’s, AKC, pups to young adults, very nice, Chihuahua’s $100/up, Frenchis, $900/up. (417)394...>MORE

2 CREMATION NICHES
2 CREMATION NICHES Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, moving must sell quick. Call Carolyn, (417)624-3017....>MORE

TWO LIVING ESTATE SALES, ONE SITE

Saturday, November 7, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
28245 Fir Road, Carl Junction, MO.
Follow signs.
Downsizing
...>MORE

CHIHUAHUAS
Chorkies, WaPoos, Shih-Tzus, just in time for Christmas. $85 to $250. Registered and shots 417-438-6057...>MORE

COUCH
full size, with pillows, light pastel colors, lavender and blue, no cats, no dogs, no kids, $150 or offer. 624-2197....>MORE

COFFEE, END AND ENTRY TABLE
coffee, end and entry tables, Nordic Track Walk Fit, sewing machine desk, (417)206-4958....>MORE

YORKIE, POMERANIAN AND SILKY PUPPIES
wanting forever homes. Well socialized. Prices $75-$300. Early Christmas presents (417)652-7510, leave message. ...>MORE

WANENMACHER’S WORLD’S LARGEST
GUN SHOW -November 14 and 15. Tulsa Fairgrounds, Saturday, 8-6 p.m., Sunday 8-4 p.m. www.tulsaarmsshow.com....>MORE

BOW FLEX EXTREME HOME GYM

(417)438-9041
...>MORE

1950S CAVALIER COKE MACHINE
in working order, $350. (417)782-2751....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition