Maryland Marriage Equality Supporters Optimistic
This year the Maryland legislature passed a bill extending marriage rights to same-sex couples in the state, and the governor signed it. Oddly, the bill was implemented so that it did not go into effect until January, 2013, to give marriage opponents a chance to mount a referendum campaign against it.
As you can expect, the Nutty Ones are having a field day campaigning to "save traditional marriage." They will easily have enough petition signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. But that just brings the issue to a vote, it does not guarantee a win.
The Blade:
In reality there is no harm done to anyone if same-sex couples are allowed to marry. If you are not a homosexual person you will not be affected, plain and simple. No one's straight marriage will be undermined or challenged in any imaginable way. Your religious beliefs may not accept marriage between same-sex couples but if they are not members of your religion then that does not apply to them.
I hope the LGBT side is willing to fight hard for this one. They cannot count up the numbers in early June and say that everything will be fine in November, because in the intervening months we are likely to see an attack on a group of people like we have never seen before in this state. This will require tough, aggressive campaigning, deep-pocket funding, enthusiasm, charisma, it's going to be a hard battle but it is important for love to win in the end.
As you can expect, the Nutty Ones are having a field day campaigning to "save traditional marriage." They will easily have enough petition signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. But that just brings the issue to a vote, it does not guarantee a win.
The Blade:
The head of the campaign to defend Maryland’s same-sex marriage law stressed on Wednesday that he remains confident that voters will support nuptials for gays and lesbians in the likely November referendum.The battle will get ugly. You can be sure the other side is going to pull out every anti-gay stereotype they can think of. They will focus on sex, in particular anal sex. They will show you bizarre costumes, gender-atypical poses, quotes of gay and lesbian people saying "we want our rights" in ways that seem threatening to straight-but-insecure people. They will twist or invent statistics, cite discredited research, claim Biblical support that they don't have, historical support they don't have, popular support they don't have.
“We feel pretty good,” said Josh Levin, campaign director for Marylanders for Marriage Equality, told the Blade in an exclusive interview during a fundraiser for his organization at Bay Café in Baltimore. “The story since the beginning of the year has been momentum growing; whether that was passing the bill, signing it into law, the president’s announcement [in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples,] the NAACP nationally coming out in our favor. We’re just trying to build upon that as we go forward.”
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin, Equality Maryland executive director Carrie Evans and state Dels. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) and Luke Clippinger (D-Baltimore City) were among the roughly 175 people who attended. Marylanders for Marriage Equality spokesperson Kevin Nix told the Blade after the fundraiser that it raised “a few thousand dollars,” but he did not have an exact figure as of deadline.
Levin stressed he remains confident that he can run what he described as a “winning campaign” with between $5 and $7 million. Marylanders for Marriage Equality earlier this month opened two campaign offices in Baltimore and Silver Spring, and plans to have several others across the state in the coming weeks and months. Levin: Momentum behind Md. same-sex marriage law continues to grow
In reality there is no harm done to anyone if same-sex couples are allowed to marry. If you are not a homosexual person you will not be affected, plain and simple. No one's straight marriage will be undermined or challenged in any imaginable way. Your religious beliefs may not accept marriage between same-sex couples but if they are not members of your religion then that does not apply to them.
I hope the LGBT side is willing to fight hard for this one. They cannot count up the numbers in early June and say that everything will be fine in November, because in the intervening months we are likely to see an attack on a group of people like we have never seen before in this state. This will require tough, aggressive campaigning, deep-pocket funding, enthusiasm, charisma, it's going to be a hard battle but it is important for love to win in the end.
posted by JimK at 8:54 AM
13 Comments:
"This year the Maryland legislature passed a bill extending marriage rights to same-sex couples in the state,"
now, see, that was just stupid
"the Nutty Ones are having a field day campaigning to "save traditional marriage.""
if you persist in calling traditional marriage "nutty", you won't get far
you ain't gonna make it with anyone, anyhow
"They will easily have enough petition signatures to get the measure on the November ballot."
obviously, there was never any doubt
"But that just brings the issue to a vote, it does not guarantee a win."
no, the fact that every other state's electorate who has voted (thirty-odd) has won the right to keep traditional marriage is close to a guarantee though
"The head of the campaign to defend Maryland’s same-sex marriage law is confident that voters will support gays nuptials in the November referendum.
“We feel pretty good,” said Josh Levin, campaign director for Marylanders for Marriage Equality"
reading TTF can con
you into thinkin' you're the one
that can do what's never been done
that can win what's never been won
meantime, life outside goes on around you
“The story since the beginning of the year has been momentum growing; whether that was passing the bill, the president’s announcement, the NAACP nationally coming out in our favor.”
how can you take an organization seriously that still refers to African Americans as "colored people"?
"Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin was among the roughly 175 people who attended a fundraiser. Marylanders for Marriage Equality spokesperson Kevin Nix said after the fundraiser that it raised “a few thousand dollars,” but he did not have an exact figure as of deadline."
"The battle will get ugly. You can be sure the other side is going to pull out every anti-gay stereotype they can think of."
and the homosexual advocates will be slinging epithets and stereotypes at anyone who dares to defy their "noble" cause
"They will focus on sex, in particular anal sex. They will show you bizarre costumes, gender-atypical poses, quotes of gay and lesbian people saying "we want our rights" in ways that seem threatening to straight-but-insecure people"
sorry, kids
facts are part any worthy discussion
"They will twist or invent statistics, cite discredited research, claim Biblical support that they don't have, historical support they don't have, popular support they don't have"
they don't need to
statistics, research, scripture, history, and the public, not to mention common sense is on their side
which is why they always winn
"In reality there is no harm done to anyone if same-sex couples are allowed to marry"
if there is no longer a term that means marriage, our entire society loses
"I hope the LGBT side is willing to fight hard for this one"
me too
generally,the more homosexuals act up, the more the public is turned off
"This will require tough, aggressive campaigning, deep-pocket funding, enthusiasm, charisma, it's going to be a hard battle but it is important"
there are so many more important issues
Americans are really sick of this issue and there wonw't be much support outside the gay/lesbian complex
"Nine seventh grade students at a San Diego-based middle school were suspended last month after watching pornographic videos as part of a "gay test."
Students in all-boys English class at Bell Middle School in Paradise Hills wore gym shorts as they watched videos on their cell phones. Whoever became sexually aroused while watching the videos was labeled gay."
While Obama supporters whine that people are disrespectful of the President when a few random cases of shouting during speeches occurred, Obama is now paying actors to heckle Romney at campaign stops:
"DeWitt, Mich. — The protesters popping up at Mitt Romney's rallies throughout Michigan Tuesday look like run-of-the-mill grassroots liberals — they wave signs about "the 99 percent," they chant about the Republican's greed, and they describe themselves as a loosely organized coalition of "concerned citizens."
They're also getting paid, two of the protesters and an Obama campaign official said.
At the candidate's afternoon stop outside a bakery in DeWitt, a group of about 15 protesters stood behind a police barricade, a few of them chanting in support of Obama. Asked why he was protesting, a man dressed in a grim reaper costume pointed a reporter to a pair of "designated representatives" standing in the shade.
"I can't talk, you gotta get one of those people over there to talk to y'all," he said. "They're the ones who can talk to reporters."
Neither of the representatives agreed to give their names, but two protesters said they were getting paid to stand outside of the rally, though their wage is unclear: one said she was getting $7.25 per hour, while another man said they were being paid $17 per hour."
pathetic...
It appears possible that a private group -- not the Democratic Party -- compensated a handful of people to carry signs outside a Romney appearance. The Democrats are not happy about it, they had real demonstrators there in the summer heat, not paid, they didn't need paid help.
"It's a free country, they can go anywhere they want, but they're not with us," a Democratic official who was there said.
yeah, yeah, Nixon disowned teh Watergate burglars too
a couple of summers ago, you were holding the Tea Party responsible for anybody who showed up at their events
btw, there weren't a lot of demonstrators other than the paid ones
also, people at Harvard need to see other places:
"The hometown of Harvard University has declared a war on carbonation.
The mayor of Cambridge, Mass. introduced a policy resolution that would ban soft drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages in restaurants.
The ban is similar to one that was recently proposed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. That policy would ban any bottled soft drinks more than 16 ounces. The city is also considering limitations on popcorn and milkshakes.
However, the actual resolution calls for a complete ban on soft drinks.
“Whereas New York City has a plan to limit the serving size of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages sold in restaurants; now therefore bit it ordered that the City Manager be and hereby is requested to refer the matter of a ban on soda and sugar sweetened beverages in restaurants to the Cambridge Public Health Department for a recommendation,” the resolution read.
“In addition to being an obesity threat, soda is one of the contributing factors to an increasing rate of diabetes and heart disease amongst younger people,” Mayor Henrietta Davis told the Boston Globe. “"
this all started with Michelle Obama
"btw, there weren't a lot of demonstrators other than the paid ones"
Yes there were. The paid ones ended up standing in the shade and then leaving on a bus while the Democrats chanted and waved signs.
Glad to hear that Michelle Obama might have some impact on the country's health.
For those wishing to support Gay Marriage, this Saturday, Frederick’s LGBTQ Community Center will be sponsoring a Picnic in the Park:
June 23rd, Noon to 6PM.
Ballenger Creek Park
5420 Ballenger Creek Pike
(Apparently this place can be difficult to find, so a GPS is recommended.)
More info can be found here:
http://www.unityfrederick.org/Graphics/PDFs/FrederickPridePicnic2012.pdf
and at the PFLAG site:
http://www.pflagcentralmd.org/
For those who have Facebook accounts, even more info is available.
Unfortunately I have guests coming for the holiday and need to prepare the house, so I will be unable to attend.
Enjoy!
Cynthia
Tea baggers don't understand respect and decorum and they make us look bad to the rest of the world:
WH Heckler Railed Against Obama Before Interrupting Presidential Address
"Washington - White House correspondents and television viewers across the nation were left in a state of disbelief as a reporter turned heckler interrupted President Barack Obama more than once during his address Friday afternoon.
Neil Munro, a reporter from The Daily Caller, a conservative news web site, repeatedly interrupted the President’s speech on his new immigration policy in the White House Rose Garden.
India America Today editor Tejinder Singh and junior journalist Ankit Jain not only experienced the incident first hand, but also encountered Munro prior to his outburst.
Upon arriving, Munro approached Jain and stood next to him, saying, “Thanks for sharing the shade," to which Jain replied, “No problem.”
Observing Munro’s behavior, Jain noted, “He (Munro) was on his laptop (a Macbook) for most of the time while we were waiting, holding it at a weird angle so that it was almost upside down. He was typing on it pretty quickly.”
Munro, who was continuously talking to reporter Fred Lucas of conservative news website CNSNews.com, commented, "Obama's going to lose,” adding, "All these world leaders know it and so they're taking advantage of it. Putin is much more strong-willed than Obama."
He continued to give his opinion on world affairs, with a comment regarding Syria, that "Putin should get in one of his Russian attack helicopters." He then spoke about the G8 Summit, the annual meeting of leaders of the world’s largest economies, saying, "They're holding all these summits to make him look more powerful. They've held more summits this year than last year -- count them. And they don't work. They haven't accomplished anything. They still haven't convinced Angela Merkel to change her policies."
Munro, appearing irritated and upset, also discussed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney several times.
After the incident, when asked about the heckler, Lucas claimed, “Ask him, I don’t know.”
President Obama was five minutes into his speech when Munro first interrupted, to which the President, visibly irritated, responded with a raised finger, saying, “Excuse me, sir, but it’s not time for questions!” He continued, “Not while I’m speaking.”
A few minutes later, Munro began to shout again, to which Obama responded angrily, “And the answer to your question, sir - and the next time I’d prefer you let me finish my statements before you ask that question - is this is the right thing to do for the American people.”
Once again Munro attempted to talk on top of Obama, to which the President curtly responded, “I didn’t ask for an argument, I’m answering your question.”
Media reports have quoted Munro, who wore a press badge issued for temporary visitors instead of a White House correspondents badge, as claiming he had “no intention” of interrupting the president and that he was trying to time his question to come at the end of Obama’s remarks.
Occasionally reporters shout questions at presidents after they have finished an address and have turned to walk away from the podium. However, in sharp contrast to the regular White House correspondents flanking him, Munro’s breach of decorum was disrespectful and unprofessional.
The White House on Friday reacted in an email to India America Today, stating "The incident won't diminish the President's commitment to pursuing immigration policies that reflect our values, our laws and our history as a nation of immigrants." (IATNS)"
Russian ship carrying helicopters to Syria turns back
"A Russian ship carrying attack helicopters to the Syrian government turned back toward home Tuesday after its London-based insurance carrier canceled coverage, following a warning from the British government that the delivery would violate European Union sanctions.
U.S. and British officials said the ship, which had reached the North Sea near Scotland, appeared to be returning to its home port on the Baltic Sea.
The Obama administration declined to claim credit for stopping the journey of the Russian-owned merchant vessel Alaed. But the insurance tactic was originated by the Treasury Department four months ago to prevent at least two shipments of Syrian oil from reaching the open market via Iran, a senior administration official said.
In the earlier episodes, the American insurer of a Liberian-flagged vessel and the European insurer of a Maltese-flagged ship both canceled coverage after being told they were violating U.S. and E.U. sanctions prohibiting any involvement in arms shipments or economic support for Syria, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive issue.
The administration shared the tactic with its European allies, the official said. E.U. sanctions implemented two months ago prohibit insurance on Syrian goods.
About a dozen M-25 helicopters aboard the Alaed were first sold to Syria during the Soviet era and had been returned to Russia some time ago for refurbishment. The Obama administration charged last week that the aircraft, which it said were on their way back to Syria, would be used in President Bashar al-Assad’s attacks against civilians.
The charge came amid an increasingly tense diplomatic standoff between Moscow and Washington. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said last week that Russia was supplying the Syrian military with the means to intensify its campaign against the rebel opposition. Russia, one of Syria’s strongest allies, has refused to join the U.S.-led campaign to pressure Assad to honor a U.N.-brokered cease-fire and negotiate a transfer of power.
President Obama appeared to make little headway at the G-20 summit in Mexico in persuading President Vladimir Putin to join the international community in insisting that Assad step aside. Moscow has charged that the United States and its allies are fueling the Syrian conflict by assisting Syrian rebels.
...Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Al-Jaafari, told reporters outside the Security Council meeting that “we are a state, and we are free to buy weapons from wherever we want . . . there is no violation of international law.”
...In a radio interview Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney repeated his charge that Obama has showed weakness and “extraordinary naivete” toward Russia. He asserted that Russia is a “geopolitical foe” that “consistently opposes our actions at the United Nations.”
Administration officials appeared pleased with the success of the insurance gambit on two levels: It stopped the helicopter shipment and averted a direct confrontation with Russia.
While calling the return of the helicopters to Syria “intolerable,” Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby refused to gloat at a briefing for reporters. “I don’t think it suits anybody getting into any kind of finger-pointing game here at this point in time,” he said."...
"Embarrassing" GOP Effort Dropped
WASHINGTON — Republicans controlling the House on Wednesday dropped an effort to block the Federal Communications Commission from implementing new rules requiring TV stations to disclose online information about political ad buys by candidates, political parties and outside groups.
The FCC adopted the rule in April over protests from the nation's broadcasters, who especially objected to having advertising rates disclosed online. The information is already publicly available, but only if one visits a TV station in person to examine it.
Democrats strongly opposed to efforts to block the new disclosure rules, and picked up support from outside watchdog groups. That put Republicans on the defensive over appearing to favor keeping information regarding who's paying for political ads from voters. And, since the effort was unlikely to become law before the election, there was little reason for Republicans to push the matter.
The effort to block the FCC rule came during consideration of a bill providing financing for the agency. Missouri GOP Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said Republicans were dropping the effort to block the rules in deference to protests from Democrats. Democratic support is essential if the measure is to pass the full House.
"It is obvious what this is all about and it is embarrassing, frankly. It looks like you are trying to cover up the fact that these fat cats are coming into these elections and they don't want their names known," Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., said during earlier debate on the measure.
The FCC voted along party lines to require affiliates of the four major networks in the 50 largest TV markets to post the political information online during this election cycle. All stations would have to report such information online in the 2014 election cycle.
Republicans had sided with broadcasters, who argued that putting the information online would be costly. Democrats countered that it's actually easier than printing paper copies, filing them and making them available upon request."
"Unfortunately I have guests coming for the holiday and need to prepare the house, so I will be unable to attend."
me too
darn
TED talks -- finally, the GAY AGENDA has been revealed by LZ Granderson
Romney Asks Fla.’s Scott to Downplay Job Gains
Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign asked Florida Gov. Rick Scott to tone down his statements heralding improvements in the state’s economy because they clash with the presumptive Republican nominee’s message that the nation is suffering under President Barack Obama, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Scott, a Republican, was asked to say that the state’s jobless rate could improve faster under a Romney presidency, according to the people, who asked not to be named.
What’s unfolding in Florida highlights a dilemma for the Romney campaign: how to allow Republican governors to take credit for economic improvements in their states while faulting Obama’s stewardship of the national economy. Republican governors in Ohio, Virginia, Michigan and Wisconsin also have highlighted improving economies.
Scott should follow the advice of the Romney campaign and it won’t undermine his own message, said Mac Stipanovich, a political strategist and lobbyist in Florida.
“This is one of those situations where you could have it both ways and there’s enough truth in it that it would resonate,” Stipanovich said. “It would be better if everybody was singing from the same hymnal.”
Romney’s campaign is eager to sell its economy message in Florida, one of the most competitive electoral battlegrounds, where the past three presidential races were decided by 5 percentage points or less. Obama leads Romney, 46 percent to 42 percent, in a Quinnipiac University poll released today, a shift from May when the Republican was in the lead, 47 percent to 41 percent.
A Romney adviser made the request this week to Scott’s staff after press releases from the governor’s re-election campaign and Internet messages from the Florida Chamber of Commerce trumpeted the state’s drop to 8.6 percent unemployment rate in May from 8.7 percent in April, the people said. The national unemployment rate is 8.2 percent.
Scott’s news release said the jobless rate had dropped 11 consecutive months in Florida and asked supporters to “spread the news” on Facebook, Twitter and by emailing their friends."...
President Barack Obama brought down the house at his speech to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) this afternoon, receiving several standing ovations and providing a clear reminder of why he holds an overwhelming lead over Mitt Romney among Latino voters.
The day after Romney attempted to walk back some of his harsh rhetoric on immigration, Obama reminded Latinos of his longstanding support for comprehensive immigration reform — something he has not proposed since coming into office.
“Just six years ago, an unlikely trio — John Mccain, Ted Kennedy, and President Bush — came together to consider comprehensive immigration reform,” Obama said. “I, along with a lot of Democrats, were proud to join 23 Senate Republicans in voting for it. Today, those same Republicans have been driven away from the table by a small faction of their own party.”
The president went on to champion his executive order that halted the deportation of almost one million DREAM Act eligible youth. “In the face of a Congress that refuses to do anything on immigration, I’ve said that I’ll take action wherever I can,” he said.
He received a prolonged ovation from the enthusiastic crowd, allowing him to pivot and slam Republicans for refusing to work with him on immigration reform:
"We should have passed the DREAM Act a long time ago…It was written by members of both parties. When it came up for a vote, a year and a half ago, Republicans in congress blocked it. The bill hadn’t changed. The need hadn’t changed. The only thing that changed was the politics."
Obama also took a shot at Romney, who has refused to take a clear stance on the president’s executive order. “Your speaker from yesterday has a different view [from mine,]” Obama said. “In a speech he said when he makes a promise to you he’ll keep it. He’s promised to veto the DREAM Act, and we should take him at his word.”
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