Mormons Tipped Scale in Ban on Gay Marriage

[Faygo Kid]

SACRAMENTO — Less than two weeks before Election Day, the chief strategist behind a ballot measure outlawing same-sex marriage in California called an emergency meeting here.

“We’re going to lose this campaign if we don’t get more money,” the strategist, Frank Schubert, recalled telling leaders of Protect Marriage, the main group behind the ban.

The campaign issued an urgent appeal, and in a matter of days, it raised more than $5 million, including a $1 million donation from Alan C. Ashton, the grandson of a former president of the Mormon Church. The money allowed the drive to intensify a sharp-elbowed advertising campaign, and support for the measure was catapulted ahead; it ultimately won with 52 percent of the vote.

As proponents of same-sex marriage across the country planned protests on Saturday against the ban, interviews with the main forces behind the ballot measure showed how close its backers believe it came to defeat — and the extraordinary role Mormons played in helping to pass it with money, institutional support and dedicated volunteers.

“We’ve spoken out on other issues, we’ve spoken out on abortion, we’ve spoken out on those other kinds of things,” said Michael R. Otterson, the managing director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormons are formally called, in Salt Lake City. “But we don’t get involved to the degree we did on this. . . "

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/us/politics/15marriage.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin '
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The Mormons have forfeited whatever little credibility they ever had.

And I don't want to be baptized into their "faith" after my death, thank you very much.

They can take their gold plates and their angel Moroni and their cult and they can stuff it.

[Deja Q]

1. So it wasn't the black people then? Just the mor ons?

[Realityhack]

2. not JUST

It would be incorrect to say it was JUST the Mormons. Their money wouldn't change anything if it were not for stupid voters.
It would also be wrong to say it was JUST the 70% or so of black voters that supported the measure. Their votes would not have mattered if so many others had not also voted for it.

There is plenty of blame to go around. However, we CAN say that the Mormon community as a whole contributed disproportionately to this disaster. And something fairly similar can be said of the black community.

[Karenina]

7. You're SOOOOOO NOT with US yet.

Spot the LIE, FOLLOW THE MONEY. THAT is axiomatic on this board and covers a broad range of issues.

[Realityhack]

9. Not with WHO?

Was that comment sarcasm (it's hard to tell sometimes)?

If not care to show me a factual misstatement in my argument?
Follow what money? The money that paid for advertisements? The voters decided the issue. The ads obviously helped but only because people are stupid.
Speaking of which... IMO this would not have happened if CA's constitution was better designed.

[Karenina]

12. Not with WHOM.

:hide:

[Realityhack]

15. Thank you for that enlightening answer. It is so nice to see that ...

grammar trumps content.
Now did you have a point or not?

[Faygo Kid]

3. Here's another quote from the article. Speaks for itself.

"In the end, Protect Marriage estimates, as much as half of the nearly $40 million raised on behalf of the measure was contributed by Mormons."

Wonder how many hungry that money might have fed, or how many sick might have been cured?

Oh sorry, we're talking about the LDS here. Their priorities are somewhat different.

[Gman]

4. ...how many Jews that died in the Holocaust that they could baptize

:wtf:

[Spectral Music]

5. Why is a religious minority allowed to have so much power over public policy?

There are fewer Mormons than GLBTs.

[Realityhack]

8. Because we have freedom of expression...

I assume you are not against that.

They don't 'have power' they spent a bunch of money on ads. If people didn't buy their crap they would just be poorer.

[Spectral Music]

10. I am against one group being able to buy laws that discriminate against others

That's all.

[Realityhack]

11. But they CAN'T *buy* laws.

They bought air time to make a case for a law. That is quite different. It isn't even like they paid for a politicians political campaign. It isn't like buying ads automatically wins you the change in the law.
Voters chose to change the law. Very sad but true.

While I agree with protesting the LDS for what they did... I don't think it is correct to over state the case or call for things like preventing groups from having freedom of expression.

[Karenina]

13. Let them PAY TAXES.

Can we get some recs?

[Realityhack]

14. No.

If they campaign for a candidate yes. An issue No. That would mean a change in the tax code that could have serious side effects.
Plus many donations were individual Mormons not the church itself. So it would not apply in this case anyway.

[navarth]

6. Polygamy = OK Gay Marriage = Not OK. Hmmm...

Hypocrisy......