" Why should we be surprised that 'hired hands" collecting signatures to earn money and being paid with out of state money aren't following the rules? "

" Affirmative Action is reverse discrimination, plan and simple. The public knows it and wants it eliminated. A person should be judged on their abilities, not on the color of their skin or their gender.

This group that is trying to stop this from being on the ballot know that if given the chance, sensible people will vote to do away with affirmative action. But instead of debating in the world of ideas, they resort to lies. They know they will lose an honest debate. They are even running a radio spot claiming that those that sign the pettition could be victims of identity fraud because some of the pettition gatherers have criminal records.

The group Nebraska United are so off based they have nothing on their side but lies to try and sway people from signing the petitions. "

" I'm collecting signatures for the petition, and I have done none of the things they accuse us of. I haven't seen anyone else do them either. I read that in Michigan the opponents of their initiative accused petitioners of exactly the same things. I'm sure you can find one or two bad apples in every barrel, but they shouldn't invalidate the valid signatures of thousands of Nebraska citizens.

We need to use paid petition collectors because the number of signatures has been continually raised by those in our state who hate democracy, to make it nearly impossible to collect enough signatures to make the ballot. "

" ... signing the petition is not the same as voting yes or no for Affirmative Action, right? It's simply allowing Nebraskans a fair chance to debate, decide, and put into action what they feel is the right thing to do -- IF it even gets through. I say to Nebraskans United, save your fire. You may need it later. It's not fair to dissuade petitioners and petition-signers in order to keep the majority of Nebraskans from having a fair and equal say. Also, as your "allies" are not "trained" to harass, but in some cases still do, the petitioners are "trained" to read a paragraph out loud, but sometimes, they don't. Nobody's perfect. Give them a break! "

" Sure it's a baseless charge, but our internal polling indicates that if this gets on the ballot, it will pass by a hefty margin, so we've got to throw every tool in the box at it to keep it from getting on the ballot. "

" The "paid" and "out-of-state" bogeyman is always the first thing that opponents of a given petition issue will trot out. Frankly, I could care less if a petition circulator is from Mars and being paid in "kitten blood". It DOESN'T CHANGE whether or not the underlying idea of the petition is good or bad -- and that's the ONLY issue. Nor do I particularly care if a circulator reads "an object statement" or not. I can read it myself (thank you) and I am aware that many of these hoops were put in place ad hoc in order thwart the whole concept of redress by petition in the first place. Lawmakers fear the voice of the people. And as long as they continue to try to manipulate and control the process TO THEIR ADVANTAGE, I have little sympathy for their plight. Moreover, many of these issues are very contentious (obviously). It is not beyond the realm of possibilities that opponents might slip their own people in -- as phony circulators -- with the express purpose and intent of messing up the process in order to get the entire issue taken off a ballot. "

" Um... that photo, which appears unaltered, shows petitions left unattended. How can we trust the process when paid petition circulators don't protect the process? We can't. "

" Boy would I say the group is "desperate" their radio ads are misleading fear mongering and now this? They seem intent on keep their own type of discrimination around. I didn't hear a word the petitioner said, I was READING the petition myself before I signed it. "

" Gee...a group with $181k to spend to collect signatures, gets $100k from NY, 80K from CA, and only ONE thousand from all those Nebraskans who consider this so, so important! So important, most of those collecting the signatures come from other states, and then only because they get paid for it. But, apparently, all these kindly people from other states are only doing it so we Nebraskans can have an open, honest debate on AA! I guess, without their money, we were incapable of having the discussion on our own! "

" I've signed petitions before, with the full intention should it come up on the ballot of voting "NO" on it at the poll... I see nothing wrong with ballot petitions, in theory... but, come on! Affirmative Action is necessary to overcome the racist attitudes those doing the hiring have. Just wait 20 years when the white male is the minority in the U.S., then these knee jerk jerks will be singing a different tune. "

" Simple...follow the MONEY...then you will see what and who is behind this one. It certainly is not from here...but it will be interesting if someone INVESTIGHATED the contributors to see why it is worth such large sums of money to influence Nebraskans on a non-issue like this one. Nobody spends hundresd of thousands of dollars to do a ballot issue without some kind of direct reward. "

" Trust me on this one.....if this info is coming out of Dave Kramer's office and Nebraskans United.....don't believe it!! Kramer is a "bull dog" and will do/say anything to win!!! Why do you think he is no longer
in his position in the Nebraska Republican Party!! Nebraska does NOT need affirmative action....if people can't get jobs on their qualifications then what do we owe them....a free ride? That is not the Nebraska way of life that I grew up with or believe it. "

" Get the issue on the ballot; the fraud accusations are unsubstantiated. Let the public read and vote. Obstructionists too may be breaking the law by houonding and fabrication of ways to prevent the petition from becoming a legitimate part of the democracy we should cherish and support. "

" If they're trained not to harass people, then I wonder why a Nebraska "Civil Rights Initiative" petitioner followed me to my car as I left Target about a week ago. After I said, "Ward Connelly? No thanks," this woman followed me, literally YELLING the words, "Don't you know that Ward Connelly is a black man?!" at me, after I refused and tried to walk away. It made me incredibly disgusted. What a disgrace. Frankly, I don't support initiatives that start in other states and cherry-pick Nebraska as their battleground. Go back to California and harass people there. "

" Wow, they have hit despiration. Are we a little worried about protecting our federal fat? Keep making up stories and excuses to try to kill the measure. I am amazed that the Kramer's group isn't willing to give voters a chance to decide for themselves. The petition puts it on the ballot - it doesn't put it in the constitution (yet). What is wrong with letting the voters decide - is it because Nebraskans United think they know better? If you consider yourself a smart voter, sign the petition and let the people decide. Seek the petition out and make sure you sign it... Any form of descrimination is still descrimination - whether it be traditional descrimination or laws created to promote reverse descrimination. "

" Should be totally unpaid. True "grassroots". The State Fair petition is pure. "

" This is why I won't sign any petitions. Period. "

" I was harassed three times in one day by these people at three different businesses. This was just a ridiculious idea in the first place. "

" Who's the money behind "Nebraskans United?" Probably our own tax dollars siphoned away from the University. Not that it matters. Even if the initiative makes it to the ballot and passes, the results will be ignored. Remember Referendum 422 a couple of years ago? Despite every road block imposed by the state, and a constant barrage of lies from the opposition, an almost all volunteer group of petition circulators managed to get the repeal of forced school consolidation on the ballot. The voters repealed that law by an overwhelming margin. The schools were "consolidated" anyway, the Legislature, Governor, and Attorney General refused to recognize the vote of the people, and after years of appeals and law suits, the state and federal courts upheld the state's decision to ignore the will of the people. With that precedent set, the initiative and referendum process in Nebraska is pretty much worthless, and the opponents of this petition drive have nothing to fear. "

" Gosh, out of state people trying to interfere with our business--- how dare they!
I hope our president, or our next president, or ---- wait a minute those guys are NEVER FROM NEBRASKA EITHER, why should we allow their names on our ballot? We pay pennies on the dollar for their election campaigns, yet we still vote for them because it IMPACTS OUR LIVES REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE FUNDING COMES FROM.

Get a grip people-- it doesn't matter who starts or funds something, if it impacts your life or the lives of those around you it should be addressed by you, not avoided or shunned because the topic may make you uncomfortable, or you disagree with it. Everyone deserves a right to vote, it's rather unpatriotic to fight against that right. "

" Nebraskans gave up their right to vote on ANY subject a long time ago when the legislature and the supreme court put so many barriers in front of the petition process that it has become a nothing attempt. Good going, you deserve every thing you get including taxed to death and discrimination against every one in some form or another! "

" I hesitate to put this idea in their heads, but if Nebraskans United wanted to have a real impact on the process they'd be out collecting signatures on the petition and then just not turn them in. People are aware that they can only sign a petition once, so every signature Nebraskans United got would be one less on a 'real' petition. Of course that would be wrong, but no more so than telling people that signing the petition will lead to identity theft.

Is there any effective process in place to make sure that the opposition to this, or any other, initiative aren't using this tactic? "

" I never sign petitions. I don't trust anyone with any of my personal information. Even if the cause is something I support, I never sign them. If I wanted to fight for something, I will find a different way. "

" Next year, me and some of my "like-minded" friends (with deep pockets) are going to start a petition drive. We'll call ourselves "Californians for Change" and we'll seek to end the controversial college football Bowl Championship Series.

Our highly paid (and lowly trained) petition collectors will stop every man, woman, and semi-legal resident and read our object statement - a cleverly worded bunch of double-talk that sounds too good to be true: Do away with the BCS and determine a true champion each and every year.

Only those who take the time to read the petition (and translate our double-talk) will find our true intent: the Nebraska Cornhuskers will be the National Champions every year, regardless of wins, losses, or Lee Corso.

Who's with me??? "

" Why are some of you people so scared for this to be put to the people's vote? The people of Nebraska can make an educated decision on this issue in November. Why not put your effort into convincing (the apparent majority) that they shouldn't vote for this in November. Fear is an interesting concept. You're afraid for this to be considered by the people. You are fear mongers with your radio commercials touting that people are going to have their identities stolen by signing the petition. There isn't any information you provide on a petition that someone couldn't get by looking on the internet or a phonebook. Some of you folks really should be ashamed of yourselves. "

" Is this the same group that says your identity will be stolen if you sign this particular petition? That is pure fear mongoring and makes me want to sign the petition even if I don't agree with the proposal just to get it on the ballot. That ad that is run on the radio is a pathetic attempt to scare people and an overt attempt to rob Nebrakans of their right to engage in the initative process. Pathetic. "

" This is why I sign ALL petitions... I respect and support all Americans who want to voice their opinions. And if a fellow American, regardless of their race/gender/orientation/education/religion/state of residence/funding/etc. is working hard to make a living by upholding and protecting our right to vote on the very laws that uphold and protect this country and ALL of it's citizens... well, then that's just a bonus that reminds me how great this country is! "

" How do we know that the people collecting signitures for the fair aren't doing the same thing? "

" Nebraska has some the most lack petitions rules in the country. That is why any joe blow with money can come into the state and try to change are laws. People elect officials to government and can't expect to be able to vote on every issue that comes up. Be an educated voted and you wouldn't have to be complaining. "

" Reverse discrimination! The biggest cry babies there is are those people say that! So many people were discriminated against over the first two hundred years of this country and it only took a couple of years for those who discriminated to say they were the ones now discriminated. Sorry that aren't a smart enough to stand out. "

" I, too, sign every petition. Since Nebraska only has the Unicameral, the "house of representatives" consists of the state's citizens. I'd rather have the citizens of this state voting on legislation that politicans. "

" Obviously, the petition backers have gotten the word out to flood the newspapers comment sections. Notice all the similarity in these notes. A lot of cut and paste, or copy cat ideas from the petition backers. I do know, from personal experience, a petitioner at Best Buy who was misrepresenting the petition and when I told him I did not believe in such lies, he started cussing me. Then when I came back out, he started in on me again. At least three or four others witnessed the event, so I figured it was worth it, if even only one person did not stop to listen to his lies. "

" I hadn't signed the petition but after Kramer's attack I'll sign it now. Let the people vote! "

" For the people who call AA "reverse discrimination".
I worked as temporary summer help with a company that is 90% male dominated and very physically demanding. I worked with some great guys that treated me as an equal(thankfully). I was trained by them to learn other aspects to the job so that I would have a better chance at bidding for a permanent position.
When the position came open, I bid for it and even had the support of my co-workers telling the hiring people to hire me(because I could work just as hard as they could). And when I did get the job I would have people tell me"you only got hired because of AA"
I have to say..I AM SO SICK OF HEARING THAT! There were other WHITE males that bid for the same position and didn't get the job. I don't know why they didn't get hired(maybe they did a lousy job in the interview), and I really don't care. I worked just as hard as the men did, earned their respect, and even had them telling the boss to get me hired on because I proved myself. I would imagine that Affirmative Action had a LITTLE something to do with my getting hired, but I can tell you right now that you could ask any one of the men I worked with and they will tell you I DESERVED that job on my qualifications.
The reason I am telling you this, is because had this been a job where I didn't get a chance to prove myself first, I garauntee you they wouldn't have hired me because I am a woman. They would have taken one look at me and thought "no way can she physically handle this position". I was one of the lucky ones that got the chance to prove myself first.
How many others out there do you think have been turned down for a position(with the same ability as a man) because she doesn't "look" as strong or able? And yes..maybe her application doesn't have the same qualifications on it as a man but that's because no one would ever hire her in the first place to gain any qualifications! Sometimes(maybe not all the time) I think that Affirmative Action has helped in that area. I don't believe that minorities should get a position because they are minorities, but no one can tell me that there still aren't people out there that will refuse to hire a minority based on skin color or gender even if they have the same qualifications. Minority bigotry is still very alive even in Nebraska. It's sad that a company is forced to hire minorities because of Affirmative Action, but without it we are losing tha chance at hiring some very good people.
I know many people that still use the N word for african amearicans and think everyone except for white men are stupid, and unfortunately some of them are the people that hire.
I'm sick of the "he or she got the job instead of me because they are a minority" excuse. How do you know what their qualifications are? Did you see the application? There are too many jobs out there to say you can't get one. You just might have to take a job that most snobby white men think they are too good for- you know- the ones that the minorities usually take?
Stop blaming Affirmative Action for "reverse discrimination" and realize that it actually was put in use for a good reason. If it wasn't there for some people, they would have never been given the oppurtunity to prove they can do the job.
And for you people that do play the race or gender card when you get fired? Shame on you too! Maybe you just got fired because you didn't do a good job. You are the people that make people believe that AA is discrimination. "

" I encountered a AA ban person outside a grocery store in south Lincoln. As my wife and I walked by he asked if we were registared voters. I said yes and he responded with, 'you have to sign this petition man, there's a bunch of dirty mexicans and middle eastern terrorists stealing jobs from white people.'
We turned and walked away. I couldn't even believe that someone would try to use that as a sales pitch "