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An lucid explanation, please, on CA voters choosing Schwarzenegger by a huge margin while at the same time choosing to keep pimping for race-mongers by defeating the prop to end collection of racial data. There seems to be quite a disconnect here...

<p>Proposition 54, a constitutional amendment proposed by UC Regent Ward Connerly to ban most state agencies from collecting racial and ethnic data died Tuesday night after opponents successfully focused the attention on its possible effects on health care.</p> <p>Connerly proposed the initiative, he said, because the practice of classifying people by race is antiquated and divisive.</p>

Lost in the groping, the deficit, the child actors and the general mayhem that is the California recall circus is an important ballot initiative that could do wonders for the ethnic and racial climate of a state that's about ten years ahead of the rest of the country on the demographic curve. Proposition 54, also known as Ward Connerly's "Racial Privacy Initiative," would bar California state government from using racial classifications in its official business. Sadly, the measure seems to be losing support in the polls, perhaps in part because even Republican frontrunner Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't the courage to stand...

<p>Nadine McMillon, a Sacramento executive assistant, resents being asked her race or ethnicity.</p> <p>"Sometimes I check 'other,' and sometimes I check both 'black' and 'white,' " said McMillon, who's not satisfied with either option. "My mom is French European and my dad is mixed African American, American Indian and Irish."</p>

Rehashing Old GroundProp. 54 and the 1960 Census. By M. Royce Van Tassell Opponents of Proposition 54 paint a doomsday portrait of California under the Racial Privacy Initiative. Without the racial data Prop. 54 would prevent California from collecting, they argue, the Golden State would be plunged back into those benighted days when Bull Connor lumbered through the streets of Birmingham while the Ku Klux Klan ravaged the "negroes" at will. The debate today over Prop. 54 parallels almost exactly the 1957 debate over what questions to include on the 1960 Census, though that earlier debate focused on religious data....

NEW YORK -- California voters Tuesday will pick a winner in the surrealistic pillow fight for the governor's office. They also may bring the ideal of colorblindness closer to reality.Proposition 54, the California Racial Privacy Initiative, occupies a quiet corner on the boisterous recall ballot. With limited exceptions, the initiative would forbid state and local governments from ethnically classifying residents for public education, employment or contracting.Although it has been overshadowed by the gubernatorial brawl, the initiative enjoys surprising support among the Golden State's minority voters.The 2003 Multilingual Survey of California Voters found that every ethnic group polled favors the initiative....

According to this NY Times article, from last Wednesday, at his press conference after his economic summit, "Mr. Schwarzenegger said ... that he did not support Proposition 54, which would prohibit the state from collecting racial data. That initiative will appear on the same ballot as the recall on Oct. 7." (read down in article) If you oppose quotas and reverse racism, this should make you think twice about Arnold.

For distribution: Already, numerous articles are coming out of the mainstream press concerning CA's Proposition 54 -- The Racial Privacy Initiative (Classification by Race, Ethnicity or National Origin Initiative) to be voted upon at/whenever the "recall" vote is scheduled. Currently, this vote is scheduled for October 7, 2003. The following article appears at the RPI website, and is authored by Ward Connerly, Chairman of the RPI. Opponents to the RPI are using "any means possible" to delay this vote. Opponents are collectively lying about this initiative. Most particularly with regards to "medical matters" for minorities. Section (f) of Proposition 54...

<p>A national Latino civil rights organization fighting Proposition 54, the California initiative to ban the collection of racial and ethnic data, sued the state government today in San Jose federal court, charging that the hastily arranged Oct. 7 election violates the Voting Rights Act and California laws.</p>

<p>Renegade University of California Regent Ward Connerly didn't plan it this way, but his Oct. 7 ballot initiative promoting a "colorblind society" could end up helping Gov. Gray Davis fight off a recall attempt on the same ballot.</p> <p>At least that's the conclusion of two political analysts who have been studying the issue at California State University at Sacramento. Both believe Connerly's Proposition 54, embraced by conservatives but widely condemned by Democrats, could spark a big opposition turnout of minority and liberal voters -- a development that they say would benefit the embattled governor.</p>

Ward Connerly again. As if a year that has given us corporate criminality, pedophile priests and a new Adam Sandler movie were not already odious enough, now the notorious University of California regent is back in the headlines. For those who don't know, Connerly is the black — and he would probably disavow that characterization — activist who spearheaded the successful 1996 drive to end affirmative action in Golden State government and universities. Connerly's latest crusade? The so-called Racial Privacy Initiative, which, if approved by voters, would prohibit the state from collecting most forms of racial data on its citizens....

<p>As if a year that has given us corporate criminality, pedophile priests and a new Adam Sandler movie were not already odious enough, now the notorious University of California regent is back in the headlines. You remember Connerly, the black -- and he would probably disavow that characterization -- activist who spearheaded the successful 1996 drive to end affirmative action in Golden State government and universities and, more recently, failed to do the same thing in Florida.</p>

<p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) --  An initiative to ban the state from racially classifying students and state employees has qualified for the March 2004 primary election ballot.</p> <p>Titled "Classification by Race, Ethnicity, Color or National Origin," the constitutional amendment proposed by University of California regent Ward Connerly would prohibit separating, sorting or organizing individuals based on their race. The initiative does not prohibit classification by sex.</p>

<p>The San Francisco Chronicle is having a fit about people voting in their poll so they made it more difficult to do. Here's what you need to do: go here and look on the right for the poll box. There's an icon that reads "click here to vote." Click on that and register your votes.</p>

May is time for ethnic celebration. Cinco De Mayo is just one day. But the whole month is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Get out the egg rolls, and let's party! In government offices at the state and local levels, events that mix culture and history will take place throughout the month. (I'm speaking at an event at Lawrence Livermore Lab next week). But if the prevailing attitude of the Racial Privacy Initiative takes over, they won't be happening for long. The RPI means RIP for such festivities, and, by law, government workers will be left with a May known...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Ward Connerly envisions a California so colorblind that government officials would not be allowed to classify people by race. Voters will get to decide as early as November whether they share that vision. A signature drive ending Friday appears to have gained enough support to put Connerly's Racial Privacy Initiative on the state ballot. Six years ago, Connerly, a black member of the University of California's Board of Regents, won passage of a ballot measure that abolished racial and gender preferences in state hiring and contracting in California. It also ended affirmative action at public universities. His...

Racial privacy initiative heading for state ballotWard Connerly wants March 2004 vote By William Brand STAFF WRITER SACRAMENTO -- Backers of the proposed Racial Privacy Initiative say they intend to submit enough signatures of registered voters Friday to ensure the measure qualifies for the California ballot. But they also hope the measure won't be placed before voters until the March 2004 state primary. "There's already a lot of controversy concerning the governor's race this fall," Ward Connerly, the University of California regent who is the initiative's chief sponsor, said Tuesday. The initiative would ban state and local governments from...

<p>When America's best symphony orchestras evaluate potential musicians, the candidates audition "blind"; they play their instruments behind a screen so the auditioning committee does not know the musicians' race, sex or appearance but only hears the quality of their performance. Auditions are thus an honest meritocracy, and better symphonies are the result.</p>

FREE REPUBLIC HELP NEEDED Deadline April 10th for SignaturesRACIAL PRIVACY INITIATIVE CAMPAIGNTired of being asked? What is your race? It seems like every time we fill out a government form, the snooping bureaucracy wants to know:#147;What are you?#148;nbsp; quot;What#146;s your #145;race#146;?#148; Why should it matter to the government?Visit our Join ACRC page to unite with supporters to move our nation toward a color-blind society.nbsp; Petitions have been printed for the Racial Privacy Initiative -- get yours today.nbsp; You can help California have the chance to vote in the California November 2002 ballot to end the #147;silly little boxes#148; and...