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Michigan Prefers Equality (against preferential treatment of minorities)
The Wall Street Journal ^ | November 12, 2006 | Abigail Thernstrom

Posted on 11/12/2006 1:35:46 PM PST by Zakeet

Ward Connerly has done it again: A striking 58% of Michigan voters gave the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative a thumbs up; only three counties voted against it.

The language of the MCRI closely tracks California's 1996 Proposition 209, also led by Mr. Connerly. It amends the Michigan Constitution to "ban public institutions from using affirmative-action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes." The political and business establishments, pressure groups like the AARP, labor-union leaders, religious spokesmen, the professoriat, the major Detroit newspapers--all were opposed to MCRI. But a substantial majority of ordinary voters were thinking for themselves.

Patty Alspach was perhaps a typical supporter. A Democrat, she signed the petition putting the proposition on the ballot. Meanwhile, opponents loudly claimed that the measure was misleading, that voters were being duped, that it should be tossed off the ballot. "I read it," replied Ms. Alpach. "I understood it. I signed it. Now let me vote on it."

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: civilrights; democraticparty; discrimination; equaltreatment; jennifergratz; mcri; michigangop; proposition2; rinos; wardconnerly
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I have no idea why, but I haven't heard the MSM talk about this initiative.

Now, if we can just get something like this started down here in Texas.

1 posted on 11/12/2006 1:35:47 PM PST by Zakeet
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To: Zakeet

This is great, I hope it catches on. State-sponsored racism has been official government policy for way too long and needs to stop.


2 posted on 11/12/2006 1:40:17 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity ("A litany of complaints is not a plan." - GW Bush, referring to DNC's lack of a platform on ANYTHING)
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To: Zakeet
Now, if we can just get something like this started down here in Texas.

Be prepared for a fight because BAMN will show up and use everything from lawsuits to death threats to oppose it.
3 posted on 11/12/2006 1:45:23 PM PST by cripplecreek (If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?)
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To: Zakeet

Mr. Connerly we need you here in Texas.


4 posted on 11/12/2006 1:45:58 PM PST by freekitty
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California resident here saying congratulations to Michigan for voting for this. Death to racism.


5 posted on 11/12/2006 1:49:05 PM PST by CounterCounterCulture (we shall overcome)
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To: Zakeet

Wait for a judge in a few months to strike the vote down as "Unconstitutional"!


6 posted on 11/12/2006 1:54:58 PM PST by Bommer (If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?)
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To: CounterCounterCulture

I voted to support it last week. According to what The Univeristiy of Michigan, Michigan State, and Grand Valley University have said, they are going to try and find ways around it.

Good luck. If they try they will be sued.

Still waiting for some federal judge to tell us we can't follow the plain meaning of the words of the 14th amendment.


7 posted on 11/12/2006 1:55:05 PM PST by kjo
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To: Bommer

This law is going nowhere. If the 9'th Circus did not strike down California's law (Prop 209)then Michigan's law is here to stay.


8 posted on 11/12/2006 1:59:12 PM PST by ozoneliar ("The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants" -T.J.)
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To: kjo
According to what The Univeristiy of Michigan, Michigan State, and Grand Valley University have said, they are going to try and find ways around it.

It can't get to Texas fast enough for my kids' EQUAL college acceptance.

9 posted on 11/12/2006 2:03:06 PM PST by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: Zakeet

I like it,but it wont stand.


10 posted on 11/12/2006 2:04:42 PM PST by sgtbono2002 (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
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To: Zakeet

It is already being challenged. (the link will open a .pdf file)

http://www.bamn.com/doc/2006/061108-complaint-prop2.pdf


11 posted on 11/12/2006 2:26:04 PM PST by KStorm (I'd watch my wallet, but the Democrats took that, too.)
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To: Zakeet

What good is it? With the left in power, the universities, businesses, government agencies will just do whatever they damn well please and divide people even more.


12 posted on 11/12/2006 2:28:26 PM PST by Leftism is Mentally Deranged (Goal 4 of communism: Divide people into competing groups, leading to class struggle.)
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To: kjo
Still waiting for some federal judge to tell us we can't follow the plain meaning of the words of the 14th amendment.

The best line of "thinking" among the discrimination-mongers is that this ammedment to the state constitution violates the 1964 Civil Rights Act. They feel that words that aren't even in the 1964 law trump everything else.

13 posted on 11/12/2006 2:56:02 PM PST by 300winmag (Overkill never fails)
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To: Leftism is Mentally Deranged

What good is it ?

Perhaps none at all. When I circulated petitions to get it on the ballot I had serious concerns it would blocked by the Leftists.

When we managed to fight off B.A.M. and get it on the ballot I knew that almost all the Media was opposed as well as both major political parties. I kept donating money anyway to get the word out despite the odds against passage.

I knew if it passed it would be challenged in Court and that the Leftest would do everything possible to undermine it.

There is a old saying in prison --- Fight, F***, or Lock Up ( for protection ).


I ain't F***ing or Locking Up.

If the day ever comes when we can no longer fight within the political system I will at least know that I did everything possible to avoid the carnage.


14 posted on 11/12/2006 3:20:31 PM PST by Mike 9 or 10 (And I also think France should be destroyed.)
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To: GeneralStorm

With Granholm (D), Conyers (D), Levin (D), Stabenow (D), Cheeks Kilpatrick (D), Kwame Kilpatrick (D), Ficano (D), as well as a number of universities like you stated, the outcome of the vote by the citizens will go to the toilet-guaranteed.


15 posted on 11/12/2006 4:16:05 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
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To: Zakeet

I've noticed that as well. I was disappointed that it didn't receive much national attention. Gratz was on O'Reilly in October, but there really wasn't much substance to his interview - as it only focused on the fact that BAMN was threatening Gratz because of her stance and activism. (BAMN= by any means necessary)

I think that MSM was so preoccupied with throwing out the Republicans that they couldn't be bothered with this story.


16 posted on 11/13/2006 1:56:01 PM PST by kcbc2001
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To: Zakeet
I have no idea why, but I haven't heard the MSM talk about this initiative.

Why would they, the MSM, want to talk about it? It's just a local issue where the left lost 58% - 42%, although the Michigan GOP wanted to retain those racial preferences. And how are folks at FreeRepublic.com supposed to know about it when it doesn't even hang in the editorial sidebar for a little hangtime before flying through cyberspace like the March of the Wooden Soldiers?

17 posted on 11/18/2006 1:02:54 AM PST by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: neverdem
The Michigan RINO establishment lost badly, despite being equal treatment under the law in a vain bid to curry favor with the Left. In a Blue State, in a Democratic Year, Michigan voters saw through the Left's deception and voted to ban reverse racial discrimination. Both parties ought to get the message Americans are sick and tired of the Race Card TM being played for political advantage. Americans are not members of defined identity groups; they're first and foremost INDIVIDUALS. The kind of ugly group politics that has divided and polarized Europe has no place in our country.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

18 posted on 11/18/2006 2:29:12 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Zakeet

We lost a lot in the last election, but this is a gain, and an important one.


19 posted on 11/18/2006 2:31:30 AM PST by samtheman (The Democrats are the DhimmiGods of the New Religion of PC)
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To: samtheman
Americans are not kindly disposed to moderates and to liberal racism. Even in Blue States.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

20 posted on 11/18/2006 2:35:56 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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