About this Blog
Direct democracy -- the Switzerland-inspired system of initiatives, referenda and recalls that allows voters to make and repeal laws in 24 states -- is poorly understood. It isn’t even very direct. Direct democracy has become blockbuster democracy: a half-billion-dollar international industry of signature gatherers, consultants, and election lawyers who use ballot measures less as a method of making law and more as a tool of mega-communications to boost some politicians, hurt others, and supplement lobbying campaigns.
Blockbuster democracy is a decentralized business that practices wide-open politics. This blog aims to provide a center of news, analysis and conversation for and about the industry. We will report from blockbuster democracy’s capital -- California -- but we’ll monitor ballot measures from across the country and around the globe.
Your Blogger: Joe Mathews is an
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Is Gay Marriage Initiative Being Nationalized?
On the financial front, the answer is yes, as out of state money pours into both the campaigns for an against Prop 8, the California ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage. But so far, the initiative campaign has been low-key on both sides, with appeals targeted to the very narrow set of Californians who remain undecided.
Polling suggests that the final result in Prop 8 will be close. And momentum is with opponents of the initiative (that is, supporters of same-sex marriage rights). If Prop's 8 defeat continues to look more and more likely as the election approaches in California, social conservative, Christian groups and others on the right may be tempted to turn their defeat to their advantage by nationalizing the gay marriage issue. The triumph of same-sex marriage in California would be pitched as a threat.
If they do, the Obama campaign and the Democratic party may have given them an opening. On talk radio and on Christian web sites, the big news this week has been the fact that the newly released Democratic party platform calls for repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. That act prohibits any federal recognition of legal same-sex marriages. Since such marriages are now legal in Massachusetts and California, the federal act effectively makes the U.S. government blind to reality and prevents legally married couples from achieving true marriage equality. Gay married couples in California and Massachusetts are not considered married when they file their federal income taxes, seek federal benefits, or are counted by the Census Bureau.
While your blogger agrees with the Democrats' position, I worry that taking a position on the matter -- rather than remaining silent as same-sex marriage gains momentum in the states -- may be a strategic blunder. Those on the right who oppose same-sex marriage now have an opportunity to turn the combination of a California initiative defeat and the Democratic promise of a federal appeal to argue that a vote for Obama is a vote for legalizing same-sex marriage nationally. Such an argument would have some basis in truth--and potentially divide the party and hurt Obama's candidacy.
don't fight the last war
Times have changed. Republicans were able to exploit the same-sex marriage issue in 2004 (aided immeasurably by the cowardice of many Democrats), but it will be far less useful to them in 2008. Voters are more worried about the economy and other issues. If Republicans really expect same-sex marriage to save them this time, they are truly flailing.
Same-Sex Festivals
(I recently spotted this article - Lou)
SEE "AMERICANS FOR TRUTH"
If anyone wants to see what little children (!) are allowed to watch on public streets (!) in San Fransicko and San Di(gay)go, see the "Americans for Truth" site. If you'd rather play ostrich instead of demanding an end to this, your kids and grand-kids won't be able to play ostrich later on (even if they want to) but will be engulfed by a flood that will destroy Sodomerica! While you're at it, see engines like Google and type in "Open Letter to the Noah/Lot Gang."
Feel free to make copies of the SF and SD depravity photos and quietly "plant" them inside every McDonald's along with a note saying that "this is what McDonald's likes to support!" And guess what Obama, Pelosi and other Homocrats like to support!
ACTION ALERT for Orange County
This Thursday, August 14th, from 5:30 p.m - 8:30 p.m. at 2020 Main Street, Irvine, California:
ACTION ALERT: Tell the Right-Wing Consultants NO to Prop 8!
http://www.theliberaloc.com/2008/08/13/action-alert-tell-the-right-wing-...
Federal Civil Unions = Marriage Equality, Not CA & MA marriages
Massachusetts and California do not have Marriage Equality! Marriage Equality is having ALL of the rights of marriage, including the 1138 federal marriage rights, not a legal category labeled "marriage" which is devoid of those rights. Barak Obama supports granting “civil unions and other legally-recognized unions" (including domestic partnerships and marriage) the 1138 federal rights of marriage. Presently, that includes 10 states! That would be Marriage Equality! Who cares what it is called? The vast majority of the LGBT community is more interested in their rights than the title.
The backlash to our marriage-only strategy has brought us an entirely new body of anti-gay laws: the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and 45 states passing laws or constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. 17 of those laws/constitutional amendments went further by also prohibiting civil unions and domestic partnerships. However, domestic partnerships and civil unions have never been successfully reversed on a direct challenge. The difference between California's same-sex marriage and California's comprehensive domestic partnerships is moot. When will our community start putting reality before rhetoric? True Marriage Equality can only be won in the US Congress, signed by the President. That is where we should be focusing our energies.
www.EqualityWithoutMarriage.org
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