Obviously Jesus must support blackmailing people who disagree with you.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081023/...gay_marriage_1

 

Originally Posted by AP

SAN FRANCISCO � Leaders of the campaign to outlaw same-sex marriage in <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_0>California</SPAN> made an offer to businesses that have given money to the state's largest gay-rights group: Give us money or we'll publicly identify you as opponents of traditional unions.

Supporters of same-sex marriage called the tactic "an attempt to extort people" and "a bit Mafioso."

<SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_1>ProtectMarriage.com</SPAN>, the umbrella group behind a ballot initiative that would overturn this year's <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_2>California Supreme Court decision</SPAN> <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_3>legalizing gay marriage</SPAN>, targeted about 35 companies in the appeal, spokeswoman Sonya Eddings Brown said.

She called the letter "a frustrated response" to the intimidation felt by Proposition 8 supporters, who have had their lawn signs stolen and property vandalized in the closing days of the increasingly heated campaign.

Certified letters from the group this week asked companies to withdraw their support of <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_4>Equality California</SPAN>, a nonprofit organization that is helping lead the campaign against Proposition 8.

"Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error," reads the letter. "Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. ... The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published."

The letter was signed by four members of the group's executive committee: campaign chairman Ron Prentice; Edward Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference; Mark Jansson, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and Andrew Pugno, a lawyer for ProtectMarriage.com.

A donation form was attached. The letter did not say where the names would be published.

<SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_5>San Diego businessman</SPAN> <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_6>Jim Abbott</SPAN>, who owns a real estate company and is a member of Equality California's board of directors, received one of the letters late Wednesday afternoon. His adult son called Abbott to read it to him.

"He characterized it as a bit Mafioso," Abbott said. "It was a little distressing, but it's consistent with how the 'yes' side of this campaign has been run, which is a bit over the top."

Abbott, who married his same-sex partner at the end of August, estimated that over the last decade he has given $50,000 to Equality California, including a recent $10,000 gift to underwrite a <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_7>San Diego event</SPAN> that raised money to defeat Proposition 8.

When asked whether ProtectMarriage.com planned to name businesses that have supported the No on 8 campaign, Prentice initially said he was unaware of any such effort.

"I'm not familiar of any organized attack against organizations that have given to No on 8," he said Thursday.

But when asked about the letter to <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_8>Equality California donors</SPAN>, Prentice confirmed they were authentic and said the ProtectMarriage.com campaign was asking businesses backing the other side "to reconsider taking a position on a moral issue in <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_9>California</SPAN>."

Prentice said it was his understanding that the letter was intended for large corporations such as cable operators Time Warner and <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_10>Comcast</SPAN> instead of small business owners like Abbott. Time Warner and Comcast are listed on Equality California's Web site as corporate sponsors that gave $50,000 each to the group.

Companies that have contributed directly to one of the campaign committees collecting cash to fight Proposition 8, including one set up by Equality California, also were recipients of the letter, Prentice said. That list includes companies such as Pacific Gas & Electric, Levi Strauss and AT&T.

"I think the IDing of, or outing of, any company is very secondary to the question of why especially a public corporation would choose to take a side knowing it would splinter its own clientele," he said.

<SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_11>Equality California executive</SPAN> director Geoffrey Kors said Thursday he has heard from two other business owners besides Abbott.
"It's truly an outrageous attempt to extort people," Kors said.
While an anti-Proposition 8 group called <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_12>Californians Against Hate</SPAN> has posted lists of <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1224805016_13>gay marriage ban</SPAN> donors on the Internet and even launched boycotts of selected businesses, Kors said that work has been independent of the official No on 8 campaign.
"They are going after our long-term funding and trying to intimidate Equality California donors from giving any more to the No on 8 campaign and from giving to Equality California ever again, which would impact our work for seniors, youth and other people in need," Kors said.

so this is like a counter strike before this protect marriage groups strikes first, cause it sounds like everyones getting outed here

 

Originally Posted by darkpoker12

I don't really care either way, but why is everyone who is yes on 8 an asshole? seriously?

for the same reason that if you're not voting for Obama your a racist. simple

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/art...cle/198/17175/

good video on the subject

40 years from now people are going to look back on the gay marriage bans out there and will wonder how the hell people were so stupid and intolerant. Sorta the way we now look at the way blacks used to be treated 40+ years ago with the separate restaurants, separate water fountains, separate schools, etc.

imo.

 

Originally Posted by MUPokerPlayer

40 years from now people are going to look back on the gay marriage bans out there and will wonder how the hell people were so stupid and intolerant. Sorta the way we now look at the way blacks used to be treated 40+ years ago with the separate restaurants, separate water fountains, separate schools, etc.

imo.

are gays not being allowed to attend the same schools and Straits?

are gays being hosed in the streets by police?

are gays forced to eat in different restaurants, use a different water fountain?

no

no

no

but not being allowed to marry or have similar benefits as opposite sex couples is a civil rights infringement.

man that is just wrong. I knew we had already vote against gay marriage but to trump millions people by 4 judges is just scary imo

 

Originally Posted by darkpoker12

man that is just wrong. I knew we had already vote against gay marriage but to trump millions people by 4 judges is just scary imo

good video huh

 

Originally Posted by MUPokerPlayer

 

Originally Posted by Mr Galt

The problem is the government attempted to promote marriage by attaching gov goodies to it. Get rid of the government goodies and there is no reason for the gov to be in the marriage business at all.

either do that, or allow gay couples the same government goodies. that's rly the only fair thing, regardless of whether or not you like the idea of gayness.

so if a buddy of mine and I just wanted to get the gov't goodies, whats stopping us, is their a gay love test to be performed by the gov't?

If your buddy was female, you could do that now.

I would never say "If you dont vote for Obama, you are a racist." But, there really is no legit excuse to be against gay marriage other than, you don't like gay people. All the excuses I've ever heard are b.s.

 

Originally Posted by j_money24

there are people in this world that still believe that people choose to be gay?

yes, yes their are

don't forget the "marriage is a religious institution"

bullshit, no it isn't anymore. why aren't religious people in a big fuss over atheists that get married?

Does it really matter. The voters of California already shot down gay marriage years ago, but the insane 9th circuit court said up yours voters. So if Prop 8 passes, then won't the 9th circuit just do the same thing again?

yeah god forbid you teach tolerance

jesse jackson approves!