Daily Archives: November 10, 2008

California’s Fight Over Equal Rights

California’s Proposition 8 — which, according to the New York Times was possibly one of the most expensive ballot measures ever contested, with a combined spending of almost $74 million from both opponents and proponents — sought to amend California’s Constitution to limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman, overturning a California Supreme Court decision recognizing same-sex marriages as a fundamental right, and it appears that the majority of California voters voted to pass the discriminatory proposition.

In typical political fashion, lies, propaganda and scare tactics were utilized in efforts to sway public opinion, including, but not limited to, asserting that public schools would be indoctrinated into accepting gay marriage against their parents’ wishes, churches would be sanctioned for not performing same-sex weddings and the institution of marriage would be irreparably harmed. The proposition has been reported as passing with 52% voting yes and 48% voting no. The Mormon Church spent almost $20 million to encourage passage of the bill. Lawyers and civil rights groups say Proposition 8 appears to be illegal and they may be right.

It’s rather interesting, in a hypocritical sort or way, to watch a U.S. Senator talk about how wrong it is to amend and rewrite the Constitution to destroy civil rights, when Congress has repeatedly passed illegal ‘legislation’ that amends the Constitution and totally destroys civil rights and freedoms — the Patriot Act, The FISA legislation, immunity for telecoms who willingly and knowingly spied on Americans illegally, etc. — while denouncing discrimination.

Passage of the bill has been attributed to record turnout of African-American voters by the press, an explanation that has been shot down by The Daily Kos. It’s ironic that a majority of voters in California voted for an African-American President, then apparently turned around and narrowly voted to discriminate against gays.

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