Original sentence: "  The group is accused by the SPLC of being racist and sexist.An unofficial petition to ensure Paul appears in future debates garnered more than 12,000 signatures, the official petition garnered more than 7,000 signatures, while Anuzis' petition had 14 when he decided to withdraw it.In May 2007, Anuzis came under fire for associating with the Michigan State University chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, which was cited as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.Of the student leader, Kyle Bristow, Anuzis said, "This is exactly the type of young kid we want out there.On May 16, 2007 Anuzis called for banning U.Representative from Texas, Ron Paul from further Republican primary debates after the congressman made a comment on blowback from US foreign policy and 9/11.The Michigan GOP Headquarters was overwhelmed by the volume of phones and emails received in protest because of Anuzis' petition against Ron Paul's inclusion in the debates.This caused them to resort to shutting down their phones, taking their "contact us" form and phone number off their website, and callers leaving messages until Anuzis' voicemail and Blackberry were full.While this assertion was also made in the 9/11 Commission Report and by CIA specialists on bin Laden, the comments provoked controversy from some who interpreted Paul's remarks to be critical of America