The story describes a petition blocking campaign in Nevada. The Nevada State Education Association (NSEA) is gathering signatures to put an initiative on the ballot that would increase the state's gaming tax from 6.75 percent to 9.75 percent. Activists opposed to the initiative show up at signature-gathering sites and shout, argue and attempt to dissuade potential signers.

I have always found the practice appalling. More appalling, however, is reading that NSEA President Lynn Warne called it "thug tactics."

The Sun, of course, doesn't delve into the irony and hypocrisy of Warne's statement. Signature-blocking campaigns have a long and notorious history, almost always being the work of labor unions and their allies. This web site ties its origin to union activists in Oregon in 2001, but the practice goes back to at least 1993, when the California Teachers Association utilized it in an attempt to keep a voucher initiative off the ballot. CTA President Del Weber rationalized it by saying, "There are some proposals that are so evil that they should never even be presented to the voters."

One might argue that Warne could be unaware of signature-blocking's origins. Except that the method was used by Nevadans for Nevada two years ago in an effort to keep the Tax and Spending Control initiative off the ballot. The group was accused of using physical intimidation, prompting a lawsuit. NSEA was a member of Nevadans for Nevada, donating $25,000 to the group.

Well, you might say, that was before Warne became NSEA president. Except the "signature" moment of Warne's tenure so far has been her lawsuit to prevent Obama-leaning casino employees from participating in last January's Nevada caucuses.

And then there's the little matter of NSEA's education support affiliate and Teamsters Local 14. Talk about glass houses and stones.