Q: How can you make a gay man scream twice? A: Fuck him real hard. Then wipe your dick off on his curtains.
On Mar 9, 10:27 am, Tommy News <[email protected]> wrote: > Civil Rights matters should NEVER be placed on the ballot, because the > majorithy almost always votes against the minority. -T > > Gay-marriage showdowns likely in 5 states, including NC > > Foes and supporters of same-sex marriage are gearing up for five > costly and bruising statewide showdowns in the coming months on an > issue that evenly divides Americans. > > It’s an election year subplot sure to stir up heated emotions — even > beyond the confines of North Carolina, Minnesota, Maryland, Maine and > Washington state. National advocacy groups will be deeply engaged, and > advertising is likely to surface from each side that outrages the > other. > > “It’s crunch time,” said Brian Brown of the National Organization for > Marriage, the paramount fundraiser for opponents of gay marriage. “We > view it as a massive opportunity for a national referendum.” > > Brown predicts same-sex marriage will be rebuffed in all five states, > while gay-marriage supporters hope they can score at least a few > victories and break a long losing streak. Since 1998, 31 states have > had ballot measures related to same-sex marriage, and in every state > the opponents ended up prevailing. > > However, the most recent vote was in 2009. Gay-rights activists > believe public opinion is moving inexorably in their direction, citing > both national polls and policy developments such as repeal of the ban > on gays serving openly in the military. > > “The events of past few years are bringing new energy and vigor to our > side that allows our messaging to constantly evolve,” said Fred Sainz > of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay-rights group. “The other > side has remained very stale and stagnant.” > > A look at the states likely to vote on marriage this year: > > —In North Carolina on its May 8 primary day and in Minnesota on > Election Day in November, voters will weigh in on constitutional > amendments placed on the ballot by Republican-controlled legislatures > that would ban gay marriage. Neither state allows same-sex marriage > now, but supporters say the amendments — similar to those approved in > 29 other states — would prevent courts from empowering same-sex > couples to wed in the future. > > —In Maine, gay-marriage supporters have placed a bill on the Nov. 6 > ballot to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislature approved a > similar bill in 2009 but it was overturned by 53 percent of the voters > in a referendum that fall. The key question is whether voter sentiment > has changed enough in three years to reverse the outcome. > > (Page 2 of 4) > > —In Maryland and Washington, foes of same-sex marriage are expected to > gather enough signatures in the coming weeks to place measures on the > Nov. 6 ballot that would overturn recently passed same-sex marriage > laws. The laws are strongly backed by Democratic Govs. Martin O’Malley > of Maryland and Christine Gregoire of Washington — both Roman > Catholics — and strongly opposed by the Catholic hierarchy. > > Washington may provide gay-marriage supporters with their best chance > of victory. It has the only electorate in the nation that has voted to > grant gay couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples — > upholding a comprehensive domestic-partnership law in 2009. > > “We can’t take anything for granted — we have to make the case,” said > Evan Wolfson, president of the national advocacy group Freedom to > Marry. “We believe Washington is a state we can we win.” > > Freedom to Marry is among numerous national organizations girding for > what Wolfson calls “multimillion-dollar slugfests” in the five states. > It’s launching a “Win More States” fund with a goal of raising $3 > million for the campaigns. > > Bigger contributions are likely to come from the Human Rights Campaign > in support of gay marriage and from the National Organization for > Marriage opposing it, although neither group has publicly detailed its > spending plans as they ponder how to deploy resources for multiple > battlefronts. > > “It’s going to be a big challenge, but I think we’re up to it,” said > NOM’s Brown. “All we need is enough to get our message out.” > > Sainz said the Human Rights Campaign was encouraged by the zeal of > O’Malley and Gregoire. > > “These governors have put their heart and soul into these laws, and > are serious about defending them at ballot box,” he said. “That’s a > factor the opponents don’t have.” > > The opponents do have the Catholic Church leadership firmly on their > side. One example: the Minnesota Catholic Conference has already > contributed at least $750,000 for the amendment campaign, with more to > come. > > “It’s Democracy 101,” said Jason Adkins, the conference’s executive > director. “Our clergy has a duty to inform our people about the > consequences of redefining marriage.” > > (Page 3 of 4) > > In Maryland, Maine and Washington, Catholic leaders also have pledged > active campaigns. > > In two of the most recent defeats of gay marriage, a California-based > firm, Schubert Flint Public Affairs, played a key role. In California > in 2008, when voters passed Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage, and > also in Maine in 2009, the firm’s strategists oversaw ad campaigns > warning that “homosexual marriage” would be taught in public schools. > > Gay-rights backers denounced the ads as inaccurate scare-mongering, > but they were widely credited with influencing the outcome of the > votes. > > Schubert Flint has been signed up to provide tactical advice for the > gay-marriage opponents in Minnesota, and a leader of the Maine > campaign against gay marriage indicated he’s open to doing likewise. > > “We’ll likely use some of the same people we used before,” said the > Rev. Bob Emrich, chairman of the Christian Civic League of Maine. > “They did a good job last time. They suffered a lot of criticism, but > at the end of the day we won.” > > Brown said the National Organization for Marriage planned to continue > with aggressive ads. > > “The other side is going to scream … but this is no time for retreat,” > he said. “Whatever we do, we’ve gotten to a point where many on the > opposite side resort to calling folks bigots who disagree with them.” > > Sainz contends that gay-marriage supporters will be more adept this > year in countering opponents’ ads. > > “With every passing day, their arsenal of dirty tricks is more tired > and predictable,” he said. > > Maine, Washington and Maryland all could make history by affirming > same-sex marriage via popular vote. In the jurisdictions that now > allow gay marriage — Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New > Hampshire, New York, Iowa and the District of Columbia — it resulted > from court rulings or legislation. > > Barack Obama won Maine, Washington, Maryland and Minnesota in 2008, > and gay-rights forces hope that high turnout by voters seeking to > re-elect him might help the same-sex marriage cause. > > In Maryland, however, there’s a possibility that numerous black voters > — even if they back Obama — might vote against same-sex marriage. A > recent Washington Post poll found that among Democrats in Maryland, 71 > percent of whites supported gay marriage compared to 41 percent of > blacks. > > (Page 4 of 4) > > Obama, while supportive of gay rights, says he is still “evolving” in > regard to gay marriage, and it’s unclear to what extent he might speak > out on the ballot measures. Meanwhile, gay-rights groups are urging > the Democratic National Committee to contribute funds to the state > campaigns. > > In Washington state, the measure to quash same-sex marriage would > share the ballot with a proposal to legalize recreational use of > marijuana — a combination which gay-marriage opponent Joseph Backholm > hopes will aid his side. > > “Having those two things together there — I think it will give people > some pause,” said Backholm, director of the Family Policy Institute of > Washington. > > However, he acknowledged the possibility that Washington voters could > break the 31-state streak on gay-marriage measures. > > “Nobody wants to be the first to lose,” he said. “But that’s a reality > that people in Washington state are thinking about.” > > —In Maryland and Washington, foes of same-sex marriage are expected to > gather enough signatures in the coming weeks to place measures on the > Nov. 6 ballot that would overturn recently passed same-sex marriage > laws. The laws are strongly backed by Democratic Govs. Martin O’Malley > of Maryland and Christine Gregoire of Washington — both Roman > Catholics — and strongly opposed by the Catholic hierarchy. > > Washington may provide gay-marriage supporters with their best chance > of victory. It has the only electorate in the nation that has voted to > grant gay couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples — > upholding a comprehensive domestic-partnership law in 2009. > > “We can’t take anything for granted — we have to make the case,” said > Evan Wolfson, president of the national advocacy group Freedom to > Marry. “We believe Washington is a state we can we win.” > > Freedom to Marry is among numerous national organizations girding for > what Wolfson calls “multimillion-dollar slugfests” in the five states. > It’s launching a “Win More States” fund with a goal of raising $3 > million for the campaigns. > > Bigger contributions are likely to come from the Human Rights Campaign > in support of gay marriage and from the National Organization for > Marriage opposing it, although neither group has publicly detailed its > spending plans as they ponder how to deploy resources for multiple > battlefronts. > > “It’s going to be a big challenge, but I think we’re up to it,” said > NOM’s Brown. “All we need is enough to get our message out.” > > Sainz said the Human Rights Campaign was encouraged by the zeal of > O’Malley and Gregoire. > > “These governors have put their heart and soul into these laws, and > are serious about defending them at ballot box,” he said. “That’s a > factor the opponents don’t have.” > > The opponents do have the Catholic Church leadership firmly on their > side. One example: the Minnesota Catholic Conference has already > contributed at least $750,000 for the amendment campaign, with more to > come. > > “It’s Democracy 101,” said Jason Adkins, the conference’s executive > director. “Our clergy has a duty to inform our people about the > consequences of redefining marriage.” > > (Page 3 of 4) > > In Maryland, Maine and Washington, Catholic leaders also have pledged > active campaigns. > > In two of the most recent defeats of gay marriage, a California-based > firm, Schubert Flint Public Affairs, played a key role. In California > in 2008, when voters passed Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage, and > also in Maine in 2009, the firm’s strategists oversaw ad campaigns > warning that “homosexual marriage” would be taught in public schools. > > Gay-rights backers denounced the ads as inaccurate scare-mongering, > but they were widely credited with influencing the outcome of the > votes. > > Schubert Flint has been signed up to provide tactical advice for the > gay-marriage opponents in Minnesota, and a leader of the Maine > campaign against gay marriage indicated he’s open to doing likewise. > > “We’ll likely use some of the same people we used before,” said the > Rev. Bob Emrich, chairman of the Christian Civic League of Maine. > “They did a good job last time. They suffered a lot of criticism, but > at the end of the day we won.” > > Brown said the National Organization for Marriage planned to continue > with aggressive ads. > > “The other side is going to scream … but this is no time for retreat,” > he said. “Whatever we do, we’ve gotten to a point where many on the > opposite side resort to calling folks bigots who disagree with them.” > > Sainz contends that gay-marriage supporters will be more adept this > year in countering opponents’ ads. > > “With every passing day, their arsenal of dirty tricks is more tired > and predictable,” he said. > > Maine, Washington and Maryland all could make history by affirming > same-sex marriage via popular vote. In the jurisdictions that now > allow gay marriage — Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New > Hampshire, New York, Iowa and the District of Columbia — it resulted > from court rulings or legislation. > > Barack Obama won Maine, Washington, Maryland and Minnesota in 2008, > and gay-rights forces hope that high turnout by voters seeking to > re-elect him might help the same-sex marriage cause. > > In Maryland, however, there’s a possibility that numerous black voters > — even if they back Obama — might vote against same-sex marriage. A > recent Washington Post poll found that among Democrats in Maryland, 71 > percent of whites supported gay marriage compared to 41 percent of > blacks. > > (Page 4 of 4) > > Obama, while supportive of gay rights, says he is still “evolving” in > regard to gay marriage, and it’s unclear to what extent he might speak > out on the ballot measures. Meanwhile, gay-rights groups are urging > the Democratic National Committee to contribute funds to the state > campaigns. > > In Washington state, the measure to quash same-sex marriage would > share the ballot with a proposal to legalize recreational use of > marijuana — a combination which gay-marriage opponent Joseph Backholm > hopes will aid his side. > > “Having those two things together there — I think it will give people > some pause,” said Backholm, director of the Family Policy Institute of > Washington. > > However, he acknowledged the possibility that Washington voters could > break the 31-state streak on gay-marriage measures. > > “Nobody wants to be the first to lose,” he said. “But that’s a reality > that people in Washington state are thinking about.” > > In Maryland, Maine and Washington, Catholic leaders also have pledged > active campaigns. > > In two of the most recent defeats of gay marriage, a California-based > firm, Schubert Flint Public Affairs, played a key role. In California > in 2008, when voters passed Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage, and > also in Maine in 2009, the firm’s strategists oversaw ad campaigns > warning that “homosexual marriage” would be taught in public schools. > > Gay-rights backers denounced the ads as inaccurate scare-mongering, > but they were widely credited with influencing the outcome of the > votes. > > Schubert Flint has been signed up to provide tactical advice for the > gay-marriage opponents in Minnesota, and a leader of the Maine > campaign against gay marriage indicated he’s open to doing likewise. > > “We’ll likely use some of the same people we used before,” said the > Rev. Bob Emrich, chairman of the Christian Civic League of Maine. > “They did a good job last time. They suffered a lot of criticism, but > at the end of the day we won.” > > Brown said the National Organization for Marriage planned to continue > with aggressive ads. > > “The other side is going to scream … but this is no time for retreat,” > he said. “Whatever we do, we’ve gotten to a point where many on the > opposite side resort to calling folks bigots who disagree with them.” > > Sainz contends that gay-marriage supporters will be more adept this > year in countering opponents’ ads. > > “With every passing day, their arsenal of dirty tricks is more tired > and predictable,” he said. > > Maine, Washington and Maryland all could make history by affirming > same-sex marriage via popular vote. In the jurisdictions that now > allow gay marriage — Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New > Hampshire, New York, Iowa and the District of Columbia — it resulted > from court rulings or legislation. > > Barack Obama won Maine, Washington, Maryland and Minnesota in 2008, > and gay-rights forces hope that high turnout by voters seeking to > re-elect him might help the same-sex marriage cause. > > In Maryland, however, there’s a possibility that numerous black voters > — even if they back Obama — might vote against same-sex marriage. A > recent Washington Post poll found that among Democrats in Maryland, 71 > percent of whites supported gay marriage compared to 41 percent of > blacks. > > (Page 4 of 4) > > Obama, while supportive of gay rights, says he is still “evolving” in > regard to gay marriage, and it’s unclear to what extent he might speak > out on the ballot measures. Meanwhile, gay-rights groups are urging > the Democratic National Committee to contribute funds to the state > campaigns. > > In Washington state, the measure to quash same-sex marriage would > share the ballot with a proposal to legalize recreational use of > marijuana — a combination which gay-marriage opponent Joseph Backholm > hopes will aid his side. > > “Having those two things together there — I think it will give people > some pause,” said Backholm, director of the Family Policy Institute of > Washington. > > However, he acknowledged the possibility that Washington voters could > break the 31-state streak on gay-marriage measures. > > “Nobody wants to be the first to lose,” he said. “But that’s a reality > that people in Washington state are thinking about.” > > Obama, while supportive of gay rights, says he is still “evolving” in > regard to gay marriage, and it’s unclear to what extent he might speak > out on the ballot measures. Meanwhile, gay-rights groups are urging > the Democratic National Committee to contribute funds to the state > campaigns. > > In Washington state, the measure to quash same-sex marriage would > share the ballot with a proposal to legalize recreational use of > marijuana — a combination which gay-marriage opponent Joseph Backholm > hopes will aid his side. > > “Having those two things together there — I think it will give people > some pause,” said Backholm, director of the Family Policy Institute of > Washington. > > However, he acknowledged the possibility that Washington voters could > break the 31-state streak on gay-marriage measures. > > “Nobody wants to be the first to lose,” he said. “But that’s a reality > that people in Washington state are thinking about.” > > More:http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120309/NEWS/303090063/Gay-marr... > > -- > Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. > Have a great day, > Tommy > > -- > Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. > Have a great day, > Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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