Gay Marriage: Inciting a backlash, or dragging along too slowly?

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Moromn

What was I saying here?  I think my mind was
thinking moron.

[michaelflanagansf]

OMG!  I've never been much of a fan of Diane Feinstein, but she certainly has come through on the No on 8 campaign:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7LdC1RxvZg&gclid=CLiOgvfty5YCFRsRagodZWPJyQ

[jack]

OMG!  I've never been much of a fan of Diane Feinstein, but she certainly has come through on the No on 8 campaign:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7LdC1RxvZg&gclid=CLiOgvfty5YCFRsRagodZWPJyQ

she and boxer both, but i doubt it was from the goodness of her heart.  serious pressure was being applied, and her senate seat MIGHT have been in danger had she not.  she may yet prove to be one of the most corrupt of the democratic pols, making stevens look like an amateur.

[michaelflanagansf]

she may yet prove to be one of the most corrupt of the democratic pols, making stevens look like an amateur.

As I said, never much of a fan.  In fact I actually was involved in the recall effort against her in the 80s...on the other hand, this mayor I'm a fan of....

Newsom ignores risks, campaigns against Prop. 8
Erin Allday, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 29, 2008

(10-28) 20:45 PDT  -- In the last week of what could be one of the most important political fights of his career, Mayor Gavin Newsom is campaigning heavily against Proposition 8, turning to his supporters with pleas to vote and convince their friends and relatives to oppose the same-sex marriage ban.

The mayor is hosting a private fundraiser at his Russian Hill home tonight and has already picked up $125,000 in contributions from those attending the event. This afternoon, he's holding a forum with employees at Google, and over the next several days he'll be hitting nearly every major Bay Area radio station and staging rallies around the city.

Newsom says he owes it to his constituents in San Francisco to do everything in his power to fight the initiative. But political analysts note that the outcome of Tuesday's election could weigh heavily on Newsom's future in politics, and specifically his potential bid for governor.

At a No on 8 rally at UC Santa Cruz on Tuesday, Newsom told students that he recognized that the outcome of the election could hurt his career - but he wasn't losing sleep over it.

"The biggest problem in politics today is that we're risk-adverse. We're afraid of tomorrow's headlines," Newsom said. "I couldn't care less if the rest of my life I'm only known as the ex-mayor of San Francisco. I will regret nothing about standing up on this issue. I get to go to sleep at night having done the right thing."

continues:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/29/BAUQ13Q45P.DTL

[LoveEmBoys]

At a No on 8 rally at UC Santa Cruz on Tuesday, Newsom told students that he recognized that the outcome of the election could hurt his career - but he wasn't losing sleep over it.

"The biggest problem in politics today is that we're risk-adverse. We're afraid of tomorrow's headlines," Newsom said. "I couldn't care less if the rest of my life I'm only known as the ex-mayor of San Francisco. I will regret nothing about standing up on this issue. I get to go to sleep at night having done the right thing."

continues:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/29/BAUQ13Q45P.DTL

Wow, this is just awesome!

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Regardless of personal feelings about Feinstein or motivations
about doing the ad, as expressed above, I was glad to see an
actual recognizable person on a "No on 8" ad on television
several times yesterday, coming out and saying knock it off
and vote no. 

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Thank you Gavin Newsom.
My vote for you as our next Governor is secured!

[jack]

Regardless of personal feelings about Feinstein or motivations about doing the ad, as expressed above, I was glad to see an actual recognizable person on a "No on 8" ad on television several times yesterday, coming out and saying knock it off and vote no. 

far be it from me to reject any high powered support.  i just meant to be commenting on how VERY late in the game it comes.  i suspect if the pressure hadn't been fierce from the party and her advisors, neither she nor boxer would have been so out front. 

for that matter, what the HELL happened to the governator's vaunted and flaunted support against prop 8.  looks like he cheesed out to me.  by my lights he owes us a big one.  at least his wife has given a press release against prop 8, he hasn't even done that, or at least reiterated it for this news cycle.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

I'm not saying you are wrong Jack, in fact, I think one of the
main problems with the No on 8 campaign is that the ads do
not show the harm done to actual gay people when measures
like this pass.  I think all of the high profile celebrities who are
already out should be on an ad if they would and just tell the
camera how hurtful it is.  People that the public already knows.
Ellen, George Takei, and Michael Feinstein who have already
married, for example.  When people see the faces they are
affecting by their vote, it's harder to vote against that.  The
Yes on 8 people are showing children and the harm it will
cause and there's no equivalent in the 8 ads.  Feinstein's
is the most forceful one yet because it is one on one by a
name people know.  Or should know.

As much as I applaud some like Brad Pitt and Spielberg for
donating money to the campaign, I think celebrity help in
the ads themselves would be an even better help.  Maybe
Tony Curtis would do one.  His daughter is doing one for
another proposition.

[milomorris]

she and boxer both, but i doubt it was from the goodness of her heart.  serious pressure was being applied, and her senate seat MIGHT have been in danger had she not. 

I think you might be right. If so, this shows that pressure exerted on politicians from the population of sexual minorities actually gets something accomplished. Political power is good.

[michaelflanagansf]

Regardless of personal feelings about Feinstein or motivations
about doing the ad, as expressed above, I was glad to see an
actual recognizable person on a "No on 8" ad on television
several times yesterday, coming out and saying knock it off
and vote no. 

I agree completely - and this is why I posted it here.

[BayCityJohn]

far be it from me to reject any high powered support.  i just meant to be commenting on how VERY late in the game it comes.  i suspect if the pressure hadn't been fierce from the party and her advisors, neither she nor boxer would have been so out front. 

for that matter, what the HELL happened to the governator's vaunted and flaunted support against prop 8.  looks like he cheesed out to me.  by my lights he owes us a big one.  at least his wife has given a press release against prop 8, he hasn't even done that, or at least reiterated it for this news cycle.

October 30, 2008
Schwarzenegger Releases Position on Calif. Ballot Measures

Though he’s been saying for months he would not support California’s Proposition 8, which would strip same-sex couples of the right to marry, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made his vow official today by releasing his position on the state’s ballot measures.

According to The Sacramento Bee, Schwarzenegger said he would vote no on Prop. 8. His position aligns with that of nearly every major newspaper throughout the state.

http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid64671.asp

[jack]

Proposition 8 and the quiet governor

Back in April, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed to fight any attempt to pass a constitutional ban on  same-sex marriage. "I will always be there to fight against that because it should never happen," he told the Log Cabin Republicans at their San Diego convention -- a month before the state Supreme Court recognized the right of gays and lesbians to marry. And after that ruling, the governor again promised to oppose the effort to take away that right -- now known as Proposition 8.Schwarzenegger_2

But Schwarzenegger has been awfully quiet about an issue that could use his visible presence. Not that he has switched camps. He just hasn't been showing up to remind Californians that they generally champion expansive civil rights, not the elimination of such rights. He hasn't been around to reassure voters that their churches won't have to conduct same-sex marriages and their preschoolers won't have to attend gay weddings.

He attends rallies for Proposition 11, on redistricting, but is quiet about opposing Prop. 8.

In May, the Times editorial board, cheering the state Supreme Court ruling, noted:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he would oppose a ban, and his leadership on this matter is warmly welcomed."

Opposition, yes. Leadership, no. The governor said in April he would always be there. Guess he never said exactly where.

http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2008/10/proposition-8-p.html

[michaelflanagansf]

Thank you Samuel L. Jackson....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj-0xMrsyxE

[tfferg]

Progressive countries like Spain still have their people who just don't get it:

Queen of Spain speaks out against gay marriage

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • October 30, 2008 - 18:12

Queen Sofia of Spain has caused outrage among gay groups after extracts from a new biography show she is hostile to gay people.

The wife of King Juan Carlos... questioned the need for Pride parades and criticised lesbian and gay couples for "dressing up" as bride and groom.

Spain legalised gay marriage in 2005.

El Pais newspaper published extracts from The Queen Up Close yesterday.

"I can understand, accept and respect that there are people of other sexual tendencies, but should they be proud to be gay?

"Should they ride on a parade float and come out in protests? If all of those of us who aren't gay came out to protest we would halt traffic," the 69 year old Royal said.

"If those people want to live together, dress up like bride and groom and marry, they could have a right to do so, or not, depending on the law of their country, but they should not call this matrimony, because it isn't.

"There are many possible names: social contract, social union."

The Roman Catholic Church in Spain has been hostile to gay rights.

At the end of December Pope Benedict XVI addressed a "family values" rally in Madrid by a videolink from Rome.

...

Gay rights groups in Spain have criticised the Queen's comments.

"Many mothers of gays and lesbians are going to ask why the Queen understands that the Prince would marry a divorced woman, but she can't understand why other mothers wouldn't want that same happiness of marriage for their children," said the State Federation of Lesbians, Gays and Transsexuals president Antonio Poveda.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9443.html