Asshole conservatives are at it again in CA

[cboy4]

After failing multiple times to qualify an anti-marriage equality measure for the ballot, conservative organizations are now utilizing paid signature gatherers in another attempt to put this discriminatory constitutional amendment on the November 2008 ballot according to Equality for All, the statewide campaign to defeat such measures. In 2006, California became the first state where an effort to qualify such a discriminatory amendment failed.

Equality for All has confirmed that an out-of-state organization is backing this effort to permanently deny loving and committed California couples the right to marry. Nationformarriage.org and protectmarriage.com are financially supporting this effort.

“We are committed to a vigorous opposition campaign,” said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, and a member of the Equality for All executive committee. “Californians support equality and we are determined to make sure voters understand the very real pain that comes with marriage discrimination and how these types of amendments will only bring harm to California families.”

“These out-of-state extremists continue to expend time and resources to write discrimination into our California Constitution, in spite of the fact that Californians are tired of these costly and divisive campaigns,” said Lorri L. Jean, chief executive officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, and member of the Equality for All campaign’s executive committee. “California voters have a long history of supporting fairness and equal treatment under the law. We believe voters will reject this measure, and the politics of hate and division it represents.”

more---------> http://www.equalityforall.com/

[thunder rising]

1. If states laws were restricted to the resources within the state, we wouldn't have such issues

I think out of state financing of state amendments should be as criminal as any other federal election offense.

If you didn't know, this is the right wing's plan of attack. First, get states rights to determine and then overwhelm the states opposition with a national campaign.

This has been known for years.

Expose the money! Truth will seek it's own.

[MadMaddie]

2. Why are out of state organizations allowed to get items on the

ballots?

[Frances]

3. I HATE initiatives

Only the people/organizations with millions of dollars to spend succeed in getting them on the ballot. That's because in a state this big and this heavily populated, it costs so much money to buy TV and print ads. It's impossible for a grass roots organization to collect the required signatures, so only the super rich can afford to pay people to collect signatures.

When the iniative is placed on the ballot, the language is so confusing that most voters (me included) aren't sure what they say, so people vote based on the ads. (I ask people that I trust what they think.)

Anyway, a gay marriage initiative will bring out Repubs and socially conservative Dems so McCain can win the state.

[cboy4]

7. I do too. I typically vote no on most of them because

so many are sneaky.

And unless you read the legislative analyst's brochure, you can really be suckered.

The problem is most people are too busy or just plain lazy to do their homework.


on edit...typo

[still_one]

4. Thanks for the heads up. I can tell you from what I saw in Northern California

when they were trying to put signatures on the ballot to try and divide up the electoral college votes during general elections, people were walking away from the people trying to gather the signatures

I think people might be getting a little upset at these types of special interest groups that want to interfere in peoples personal lives, and fix elections, at least I hope so

[Frances]

9. I live in a red pocket in a blue area

and I see lots of people signing the petitions.

When I asked the last person gathering signatures if he was paid, he answered, "Of course."

We talked a while and it was clear he had no interest whatsoever in the initiatives themselves. He was just doing what he was paid to do.

I didn't sign because I am against initiatives on principle.

[msongs]

5. let's call it the donnie mcclurkin proposition - bad choice of elections to be on tho

since there is likely to be a huge democrats turnout - though of course many democrats are against equality.

Msongs

[Irishonly]

6. I've Not Seen Them In The Inland Valley

I will let them have it sort of nicely. I copied your post and sent it to my address book. I am so freakin tired of extremists.

[Maat]

10. I'm down here in the Murrieta/Temecula area ..

and I haven't seen them either.

[NMMNG]

8. If they're so bloody worried about marriage

Let them ban adultery and divorce. Not only do they actually harm it, but they're far more harshly condemned by the Bible than homosexuality.

[LeftCoast]

11. It's one of their last ways of 'activating' that core group of voters

What would be interesting is to see how the numbers have been in successive campaigns. My impression has been that as time has gone on, they have lost support.

One thing that occurs to me though is that they may be trying to gear up in order to capitalize on the eventual ruling by the CA SC on marriage equality. The court is taking it's sweet time coming to a decision but eventually I think they'll rule in our favor. These guys may be hoping to be well positioned to ride the almost certain howls of outrage that would generate.