FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Michael Bumgarner says he's never campaigned for a political cause before, but his strong opposition to same-sex marriage has prompted him to join thousands of volunteers going door-to-door in support of a ballot initiative that would ban gay nuptuals here.
"I've never stumped before, but I want to be a part of this," Bumgarner said. The retired insurance executive said his late mother would "turn over in her grave" if she knew that gays and lesbians could marry.
With less than 11 weeks until Election Day, supporters of Proposition 8 are ramping up their field organization and refining their message as they seek to persuade California voters to shut the door on same-sex marriage. It's the first time voters will be asked to weigh in on the issue in either California or Massachusetts — the states where gays have won the right to wed.
An estimated 15,000 backers of the measure knocked on doors and distributed campaign literature to registered voters throughout the state the last two weekends, according to Jennifer Kerns, spokeswoman for the Yes on 8 campaign.
The initiative is a constitutional amendment, similar to ones already enacted in 26 other states, that would overturn the California Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage. It needs a simple majority of votes to pass.
Ron Prentice, director of the coalition of religious and social conservative groups that qualified the amendment for the November ballot, said the group has ordered 1 million yard signs and 1 million bumper stickers.
"Unless the people are angry, nothing will happen," Prentice said. "We are going to change the Constitution and say on Nov. 4, 'Judges, you can't touch this.'"
For now, the campaign's goal is to identify supporters and voters who are unaware or haven't made up their minds about the measure, said Al Almendariz, a retired air traffic controller.
Almendariz led a team of five people canvassing a suburban neighborhood southeast of Sacramento last Saturday, and their script was concise. The volunteers told people who answered their doors they were with the Proposition 8 campaign, an effort that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman. They didn't mention same-sex marriage unless a resident brought it up.
"We're just polling — yes or no, not trying to find converts or change people's minds," said Christina Hirst, 28, a photographer with three young children. Hirst and her husband, Justin, 33, a high-school Spanish teacher, said they joined the door-knocking Saturday because they don't want their children hearing about gay relationships at school.
The literature that volunteers distributed was intended to reinforce the campaign's message that the amendment is "pro-marriage and children" instead of anti-gay.
"California should do more to encourage families to stay together," reads the pamphlets illustrated with close-ups of heterosexual couples posed cheek-to-cheek.
Frank Schubert, who is co-managing the Yes on 8 campaign, said the outreach effort is designed to counter the principle message of gay rights advocates, who are portraying the upcoming vote as a matter of fairness and equality.
"They want people to feel like you are a bad person if you support what has been the definition of marriage since the dawn of time," Schubert said. By having face-to-face conversations about why the amendment is necessary, organizers hope to reach potential supporters who may worry that voting for the measure would get them labeled as "bigots or homophobes," he said.
Bumgarner distributed handouts listing "Six Consequences if Proposition 8 Fails" that volunteers were encouraged to use as talking points. They included warnings that ministers who preach against same-sex marriage could be sued for hate speech, churches would be sued for refusing to host wedding ceremonies for gays, and that "children in schools will be taught that same-sex marriage is OK."
The amendment's opponents dispute those claims, saying that the Supreme Court specifically exempted churches from having to participate in same-sex weddings and that nothing in state law requires teachers to discuss marriage — straight or gay — with students.
Recent polls suggest the election could be close. A Field Poll taken last month found that 51 percent of likely voters said they would vote against Proposition 8, while 42 percent said they would vote for it.
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Where did all those weird diamonds come from?
Hopefully, it will post correctly this time:
Ron Prentice Gets Rich Fighting Gay Marriage
Ron Prentice is CEO of the California Family Council and Chairman of ProtectMarriage.com, the committee behind Prop 8 (the folks working to ban gay marriage in California).
Ron is set to be be honored at the Values Voter Summit 2008 (September 12-14) with Focus on the Family Action's Family Champion Award.
Justin McLachlan has broken a major story in the Proposition 8 battle: California Family Council contributions have mostly been spent on the generous salaries that Ron pays himself and his staff.
So far, there have been about a dozen news and blog pieces that have appeared online referencing the research Justin had done regarding Ron Prentice and his shady management of donor funds.
Folks volunteering for and making contributions to the Yes on 8 campaign should be aware that the operatives running the show have a track record of using contributions to generously reward themselves.
Please check out this link:
http://justinmclachlan.com/08/46/california-family-council-money
Sorry for the repeat comment, but those diamonds were bugging me.
Ron Prentice Gets Rich Fighting Gay Marriage
Ron Prentice is CEO of the California Family Council and Chairman of ProtectMarriage.com, the committee behind Prop 8 (the folks working to ban gay marriage in California).
Ron is set to be be honored at the Values Voter Summit 2008 (September 12-14) with Focus on the Family Action's Family Champion Award.
Justin McLachlan has broken a major story in the Proposition 8 battle: California Family Council contributions have mostly been spent on the generous salaries that Ron pays himself and his staff.
So far, thereâ
Nor was I saying there were...glad you are so "christian" and enjoy cutting off people's heads when they make a comment!
Mike,
You said "the native americans believed homosexuality to be natural".
Oh, well, why didn't you say that a long time ago? That changes everything. Homosexuality must be alright the, because somebody believed it to be alright. I'm sure when I die, I'm gonna stand before a Native American and give an account for my life....
Oh, wait....I'm gonna stand before God, and he's not Native American, American, Jewish, German, Japanese, or anything of the sort. He's God. And He says homosexuality is a sin. Native Americans aren't above God.
So sorry DP for the late reply. Just got back from Surabaya for my brother in law wedding at St. James church.
No I am afraid I am not familiar with Parents of American school students in Penang Malaysia across the strait. In Indo they have their own American school such as JIS in Jakarta.
So sorry DP for the late reply. Just got back from Surabaya for my brother in law wedding at St. James church.
No I am afraid I am not familiar with Parents of American school students in Penang Malaysia across the strait. In Indo they have their own American school such as JIS in Jakarta.
Good, the native americans believed homosexuality to be natural, peace out founding fathers!
If our founding Americans landed on Plymouth Rock today they would take one look around, get back on the boat, kick their compass and shove off!
NEVER, in my WILDEST IMAGINATION, would I ever have believed that this would be an issue!!!I am just glad that my father isn't around to see this country GO DOWN THE TUBES. God will NOT be mocked! I feel so sorry for the decent people of California, who want to do the right thing. I truly believe, in my Heart of Hearts, that justice will soon come to California. God help them.
You have to follow Christ's Doctrine to be Saved; To be his True Disciple. Otherwise your a Disciple of hell.
2John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
and again:
3Jn 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
and again:
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
1John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
You can say things like: "God made me this way, so its not sin." OR "God loves me and God is Love so its not sin." OR "I have the 'fruits of the spirit.' " OR "The spirit says this or that." If you do not follow all of Christ's Doctrine you lie and do not follow him.
1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
"several christian students pulled down a Jihadist Ramadan banner from nearby streets."
Ah, youth...!
aritonang-- I went to Dalat School on Penang growing up with a number of children whose parents worked in Indonesia. You wouldn't happen to be familiar with it would you?
But the church association (PGI) office in Central Jakarta was raided by the Jakarta metro police the other day because several christian students pulled down a Jihadist Ramadan banner from nearby streets.
Nobody got hurt but lots of windows got smashed. Thank God.
Thanks believer, yes the Mennonite Anabaptist are here in Indonesia along with the Adventist. All are sisters churches in PGI (Indonesian Church Association)