Polls show we're loosing, balance shits against gay marriage in California - now is the time to act

Our worst nightmares are coming true.

Today we learned of the massive $25.4 million our opponents have raised so far. They are using this war chest to broadcast lies: 24/7 and up and down the state of California.

And the polls show the lies are working. We need your donation now.

Yesterday's CBS 5¹ poll shows that:

<p>"...likely California voters overall now favor passage of Proposition 8 by a five-point margin, 47 percent to 42 percent. Ironically, a CBS 5 poll eleven days prior found a five-point margin in favor of the measure's opponents."

People change their minds about Proposition 8 when they hear the lie that churches will lose their tax-free status if they won't marry same-sex couples -- EVEN THOUGH THIS IS NOT TRUE!

So this is crunch time. With less than a month before the election, we must get on the air now to answer these lies and swing votes back to our side.

And the ONLY way to do that is to raise more money. The generous $15.8 million that our supporters have given isn't enough. Not when the other side has nearly $10 million more than we do and the fundraising gap is growing.

So, how much will you sacrifice to protect your equality or the equality of people you love? It's that simple. Will you give up something, anything, to ensure equality?

I am. I'm donating 15% of my income to make sure that the No on Prop 8 campaign can answer these lies. It's going to make my life more difficult to make a donation of this size -- but I know I have to make this sacrifice to achieve victory on November 4.

What are you willing to give up today so we can protect our community from this pack of televised lies: A night out? A vacation you had planned? A home improvement project?

I ask you to do what you can. Donate to defeat Prop 8. Work the phone banks. And urge everyone you know to vote NO on Prop 8.

Because if we are not willing to sacrifice, we will not win.

[Shadow Dragon]

Even if prop 8 passes it can still be overturned causing all those "Marriage Protection Amendments" in other states to be overturned by Supreme Court, especially since Obama is wining he'll appoint alot liberal judges or couple supreme court justices.

[Black Cherry]

well maybe we should just start stoning them to death and then we don't have to listen to their ugliness or lies anymore...and do what we want anyway.

Campaigns are expensive. Rocks are free ;)

[Shadow Dragon]

Black Cherry wrote:

well maybe we should just start stoning them to death and then we don't have to listen to their ugliness or lies anymore...and do what we want anyway.
Campaigns are expensive. Rocks are free ;)

That's good if you get charge to assault with deadly weapon,since when does violence solves anything.

[mrSteven]

The poll sounds very fishy..

They said most or young voters are for Prop 8. that doesn't make sense.. They are in the same percetage range for ages 55 and over..

i believe we should wait and see what the field poll say in their next poll.

VOTE NO ON 8

[Student Gregg]

"The greatest fear, is that my parents will not love me. How do I tell them, I'm gay, I have HIV, I may soon die? What do I tell them? I love them very much and I always have?"

"Do your parents love you now?"

"Yes"

"They will still love you. You are their child. They held you at birth. They sacrificed and showered you and your siblings with love. They raised you to be independent, loving, and caring adult. You deal well in all your other endeavors.
If anything, they will love you more and pray for your health and happiness. You have had to adapt and protect yourself from negativity. But you won't have to worry about that at home. Your parents will always love and support you."

I have discussions like this one all the time. And if one of my children came home and told me, "Dad, I'm gay", it wouldn't change my love for them.

Please think about this, for your children...
Vote No on Prop 8

[mrSteven]

mrSteven wrote:

The poll sounds very fishy..
They said most or young voters are for Prop 8. that doesn't make sense.. They are in the same percetage range for ages 55 and over..
i believe we should wait and see what the field poll say in their next poll.
VOTE NO ON 8

Correction
65 and over not 55

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.as...

[Pagan and Proud]

Black Cherry wrote:

well maybe we should just start stoning them to death and then we don't have to listen to their ugliness or lies anymore...and do what we want anyway.
Campaigns are expensive. Rocks are free ;)

And words like yours are why I own a gun.

[james]

does anybody notice the terrible typo in the headline??? I assume they meant "shift"?????

[Emmatg52]

Just a minor point about violence never solving anything,.. think not? Then go ask the Carthaginians,...

Shadow Dragon wrote:

<quoted text>
That's good if you get charge to assault with deadly weapon,since when does violence solves anything.

[Student Gregg]

"The greatest fear, is that my parents will not love me. How do I tell them, I'm gay, I have HIV, I may soon die? What do I tell them? I love them very much and I always have?"

"Do your parents love you now?"

"Yes"

"They will still love you. You are their child. They held you at birth. They sacrificed and showered you and your siblings with love. They raised you to be independent, loving, and caring adult. You deal well in all your other endeavors.
If anything, they will love you more and pray for your health and happiness. You have had to adapt and protect yourself from negativity. But you won't have to worry about that at home. Your parents will always love and support you."

I have discussions like this one all the time. And if one of my children came home and told me, "Dad, I'm gay", it wouldn't change my love for them.

Please think about this, for your children...
Vote No on Prop 8
http://www.bidstrup.com/parents.htm

[ElPasoGuy]

"Polls show we're loosing, balance shits against gay marriage in California - now is the time to act"

I'd suggest the author of this piece reread his headline. Sooooooowly.

[tay]

"Polls show we're loosing, balance shits against gay marriage in California - now is the time to act"

Loosing?! Shits?! Who writes this garbage...

[mrSteven]

its one poll...

other 2 polls said we are ahead..

go figure!!!

[aRodeojock]

Pagan and Proud wrote:

<quoted text>And words like yours are why I own a gun.

I thought he meant stone the christians. I'm all for carrying out the orders of their holy book. Oh, and let's bring back the lions while we're at it!

[ScottyMatic]

Who's proofreading these headlines?

[Selecia Jones- JAX FL]

I think that even though it is a typo...it pretty much tells it like it is....we are shit on constantly and if prop 8 passes it will happen again.

[Cara_M]

The whole problem with this prop is not only will it ban same sex marriage but it's trying to force a religious belief onto millions of people. There's a reason religion and government are seperate people. This is a great example of that.

VOTE NO ON 8

[Selecia Jones- JAX FL]

I think Tina Fey had it right on SNL...The sanctity of marraige is between two unwilling teenagers....please get a life pekin.....your homophobia only shouts your homosexual desires. Come on in...the water is fine!

[Student Gregg]

In March 2000, Californians overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 22 — the California Defense of Marriage Act — which in its simplest terms, defined marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. In May of this year, the California Supreme Court, by a 4-3 vote, overturned the initiative, ruling that same-sex marriage was guaranteed by the state constitution as a "fundamental right." Chief Justice Ronald George wrote in his majority opinion, "Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation."

The predictable reaction to the ruling is the most controversial initiative on November's ballot: Proposition 8. The initiative would amend the state constitution and overturn the California Supreme Court decision. The text of Proposition 8 is short, simple and to the point: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

[Student Gregg]

Here are eight reasons why we should defeat Proposition 8 this November.

1. Proponents of Proposition 8 argue that it reflects the "people's will," as evidenced by Proposition 22. As public opinion polls show that support to allow same-sex marriages is growing rapidly, will those who are crying "majority rules" quietly step aside if Proposition 8 fails?

2. Until 1967, it was also the "people's will" that interracial marriages be illegal and the institution of marriage seems to have withstood this "assault" on its foundation, as it has withstood divorce, adultery and, in my case, a Catholic marrying a Jew.

3. The Supreme Court's decision is being attacked as bench legislation by a liberal activist court. It is important to note (in light of California's well-deserved reputation for being extremely liberal) that the Supreme Court is considered moderate, with Republican governors appointing six of its seven members.

4. Civil unions are a legal issue, which is where the state's involvement should begin and end. Marriages should be performed and recognized by churches, synagogues and mosques. If a religious institution does not want to acknowledge a relationship, then that is a private matter between that institution, the individuals and their God. However, when a state refuses to acknowledge a relationship, it is a public matter — and is indefensible.

5. I believe that a gay man can be just as good a father as a straight man, but that he can't be as good a mother as a woman, which is why a man and a woman is the ideal partnership for raising children. However, the reality is that millions of children in this state are being raised in situations that are nowhere near ideal and suffer as a result. If two committed, loving adults want to commit their lives to raising a child, God — and the state of California — bless them.

6. I have yet to be shown how allowing same-sex marriage in any way diminishes my marriage, my family or my role as a father.

7. It is easy to say that I would have supported interracial marriage if I were old enough to have lived through the then-controversy. In years to come, when the same-sex issue has faded to all but historical irrelevance, I want to be able to tell my grandchildren that I was there, publicly supporting those who needed the support. It will be the best way to know that if I had been in Birmingham in the '60s, I would have stood on the right side of the hoses.

8. If one of my children were gay, in love and wanted to get married, it would be impossible for me to look him or her in the eye and say I could not support the desire to be married. How can I possibly support a constitutional amendment that would legally demand that I — or any parent — do that to their children?

Same-sex marriage is a difficult issue and when it is positioned as an attack on traditional marriage, religion, God and families, it is easy to see why so many are so involved.

Parallels in history

However, parallels in history and current trends all indicate that this issue will eventually be resolved, that marriage and religion will not be negatively impacted, and that once again we will find a balance between religious freedom and individual rights. 2008 is the 30-year anniversary of California defeating Proposition 6, the Briggs Amendment, which would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. We were on the right side of history in 1978 and let's hope we are wise and fair enough to be there again this year.

— Scott Harris is a political commentator who lives in Ventura
By Scott Harris
[e-mail]
Sunday, September 28, 2008