As noted by Jefferson Thomas yesterday [0], the Missouri Catholic Conference is effectively subsidizing efforts to put Ward Connerly's Affirmative Action ban on the Missouri ballot by paying the same woman to run their signature collection efforts as is gathering signatures for Connerly.

The relationship between Catholic Conference leadership and affirmative action ban signature collector Edee Baggett was made clear by Baggett in recent testimony given when she was deposed in connection with a lawsuit.  As we noted last week, Baggett admits to running the petition circulation effort which would ban affirmative action [0] in Missouri. From Baggett's deposition:

Q.  And who have you -- who's your point of contact with Cures Without Cloning?

A.  It would be Jeff Roe from Axiom Strategies. I have spoken with -- I can't think of George's last name, but he's part of the group.

Q.  Is he connected with Axiom Strategies?

A.  No.  He's one of the -- I think he's over the Catholic diocese.  Lou DeFeo, a gentleman in Jefferson City, I've met him. 

While Lou DeFeo of the Catholic Conference was meeting with Edee Baggett --ringleader of the anti-affirmative action petition circulation effort-- did Baggett make clear to DeFeo the nature of the petitions she was helping gather? 

Did Baggett pull the wool over the eyes of DeFeo and the Catholic Conference and "forget" to mention that the same circulators who she'd have circulating the Catholic Conference petition would be circulating anti-affirmative action petitions at the same time?  Or did Baggett let DeFeo know that she'd also be pushing the Connerly petition and DeFeo simply choose to turn a blind eye?

Or did anti-stem cell research consultant Jeff Roe negotiate a "deal" with Baggett under which the Catholic Conference would get their petition circulated at a discounted price in return for their allowing her to carry anti-affirmative action petitions at the same time?  

And finally, has the Missouri Catholic Conference taken an official position in opposition to affirmative action programs?