Ye gods. Texas GOP offering "bulletin inserts" for Prop 2.

[tanyev]

How in the world is that legal?

Dear tanyev,

Please don’t forget that early voting for the Texas Constitutional Amendment Election begins this Monday, October 24th and will run through November 4th!

Proposition 2 would protect Texans from having to recognize same-sex unions that are granted in other states. By voting FOR Proposition 2, Texas voters will permanently codify Texas law to define marriage between one man and one woman.

Please encourage your friends and neighbors to vote early as well. For other resources, including bulletin inserts, go to http://www.texasgop.org/

Bulletin inserts pdf at http://www.texasgop.org/site/DocServer/Protect_Marriage_LO.pdf?docID=201&JServSessionIdr012=z7prmx57u2.app14b

[marbuc]

1. It's not legal

I'm looking forward to a Dem that will vigorously investigate church/political connections and revoke tax exempt status.

[texastoast]

2. I hear that

The TexasGOP and many, many Baptist churches who shill for shrub from the pulpit.

Fuck em. I'm voting for love.

[Silverhair]

4. Self delete. NT

[Silverhair]

3. Maybe it is a minor thing called: Freedom of Speech

They are managing to walk a very fine line here, but that is normal to get go as far as the law will take them.

Notice that they don't explicitly say, "Vote FOR Prop 2".

They encourage people to vote. That is legal for a church to do and not lose it's IRS code.

They state there is a particular issue on the ballot. Still legal.

They explain what that issue will do. You may not like the emotional impact of the work "protect" but it is legal. The rest of the explaination is language neutral. It states what the constitutional amendment will do. STILL LEGAL.

Nowhere have they said VOTE FOR PROP 2.

They then encourage people to vote and to get their friends to vote. - Still Legal.

So they have managed to stay barely inside the law.

Nothing requires them to distribute a leaflet in an area where the majority might be against the issue. By distributing it in a church, they are putting it in an area where they can expect an overwhelming majority to be on their side of the issue.

Conclusion: Smart Political move to get what they want. In Texas, the measure is going to pass anyway.

[Silverhair]

5. OOPS. I MADE AN ERROR.

I thought the lines in you OP was the insert.

Then I saw the insert.

Yes, that crosses the line.

Regret the error.

[karlrschneider]

6. Yep, it does specifically say "vote FOR..."

it's illegal as hell.
:grr:

[tanyev]

8. Yeah, sorry. If there is a way to cut and paste part of a pdf file,

I don't know how to do it. Maybe someone else can put the actual bulletin insert into this thread.

[AldebTX]

7. Pastor Resources

Pastor resources link on a Policital Party web page. What happened to the days of at least PRETENDING they weren't completely controlled by the religous right.

I am still confused....how is the GOP protecting marriage? Massachusetts allows gay marriage and the divorce rate there is HALF of what it is here in Texas.

There are so many things legislators NEED to be doing ....like finding a way to fund public education and all they can agree on is to put this constitutional ammendment up for a vote. Sad.

However there is a very good NO on Prop 2 editorial in the Dallas Morning News (a supposedly conservative paper).
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/102105dnedistateprop2.1d18d7a9.html

[Silverhair]

9. By Texas standards the Dallas News is a flaming liberal paper.

In any case, Prop 2 will pass.

[Silverhair]

10. HERE IS THE LOOPHOLE.

This is from their web site: http://www.texasgop.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Legal_Guide_For_Churches

The Nov. 8 Constitutional Amendment Election is different from every other election because it does not include candidates or parties on the ballot. It is simply NOT a partisan issue. Therefore, getting involved will NEVER jeopardize a church’s tax exempt status. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants freedom of speech on such issues and protects churches and individuals, including pastors. In fact, no laws exist to even imply a restriction.

It is an issue election, NOT an election of a person. The church has ALWAYS had the freedom to speak on issues.

[tanyev]

11. I don't begrudge a church saying what it wants to say about the issue.

I don't even have a problem with a church producing their own frickin bulletin inserts. But it just seems WRONG that this material is being provided by the Republican party.