Monday, November 05, 2012

Vote Yes on Question 6

We have not been getting frantic about the election here at the Vigilance blog, but that doesn't mean we aren't paying attention to it. We live in one of the bluest counties in the country, we are pretty sure we know what party is going to prevail locally. In fact, a lot of people from Montgomery County have been going to neighboring states, canvassing and helping out.

I have not done a poll of our TTF officers and directors and there may some disagreement of opinions about some of the issues, but I think I can safely say that a hundred percent of us support Question 6, Maryland's marriage equality referendum.

Teach the Facts formed to support our county school board's decision to improve the sex-ed curriculum by including some information about sexual orientation. This commonsense addition to the curriculum was controversial to a handful of noisy radicals, and the culture wars came to town. We are not an LGBT group, we have members who are gay and transgender but generally we stand together, whoever we are as individuals, to support fair treatment of people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and we stand for teaching students to make responsible choices based on the facts.

The Maryland legislature passed a bill permitting marriage between same-sex couples, and the governor signed it, and predictably there was an uproar and conservative elements have put it before the voters. It is Question 6 on the ballot and we are voting Yes for it.

It seems obvious that gay and lesbian people should have the right to marry the person they love, just like everybody else.

It seems obvious that it can only be good for the society as a whole when people have secure and stable homes and families.

It seems obvious that extending marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples does absolutely nothing to affect heterosexual marriages in any way whatsoever.

It seems obvious that the definition of marriage is not set in stone, even as we vote for or against a Presidential candidate who had a polygamous great-grandfather.

It seems obvious that children can be raised to be successful and happy without two opposite-sex parents, as we vote for or against a Presidential candidate who was largely raised by his mother and grandmother.

You may not understand why someone would fall in love with someone of their own sex, but that is not a license for you to judge them.

We are a country that loves freedom, and there is a deal that is made, you will allow me my freedom and I will allow you yours. I am not constrained to do things you approve of, and I return the favor by granting you the freedom to behave without my understanding or approval.

Nobody will be surprised that we support Question 6, but there is a reason to mention it here. Until now, every time that marriage equality has been put to the voters it has lost. Polls are showing that Marylanders favor Question 6, a clear majority has pulled out in front, and there is a good chance that we can break the pattern by passing this into law by popular vote in the state of Maryland.

But I am wary of the opposition. They have been organizing under the radar, in the churches and living rooms and Internet groups. This is really important to them, they feel their way of life will be threatened if gay and lesbian people can marry. It is a get-out-the-vote issue for conservatives, who will get off the couch and cast a ballot against this bill even if they don't care about anything else. It is not a sure thing that this measure is going to pass with a majority vote, no matter what the polls say.

The point is this: you need to vote, even if you are confident of winning. If you didn't vote early, you have one day to have your voice heard. If Wednesday morning you pick up the paper and find out that gay and lesbian couples have been denied the right to marry it will be your fault. So if you care, vote.

20 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

don't worry

there's no need for you to vote

it's a blue state

don't bother standin' in line

Obama already paid a bunch of bums to vote early and often

they've been around the block in Downtown Silver Spring until long past twilight the last couple of weekends

especially during the zombie walk

and people with Question 6 signs have been giving them extra stipends for gay marriage

you guys can relax with some popcorn and TV Tuesday

it's already over

relax

no problem at all

November 05, 2012 4:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's right, Anon. Roll over and play dead.

The writing's on the wall.

"The latest Gallup tracking poll finds Mitt Romney leading Barack Obama by one point, down from the five-point lead Romney had on October 29.

Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport released the results early to Bloomberg Businessweek, telling them “it’s tied today at 1 o’clock.”

According to the poll, Romney is leading Obama 49-48 percent among national likely voters, within the margin of error. In the last poll, before Hurricane Sandy, Romney was leading 51 -46 percent."

November 05, 2012 4:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mitt Romney speaking about Mormon faith

Mitt Romney speaking about Mormon theology. The REAL Mitt Romney!
(Interview done by Jan Mikelson WHO-Iowa)

November 05, 2012 5:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"In the last poll, before Hurricane Sandy, Romney was leading 51 -46 percent."

yes, where Obama got his big lift from his great response

now that he's back touring with Bruce Springsteen, Staten Island, Brooklyn and the New Jersey shore have descended into chaos with people cooking on bonfires in the streets, freezing,helpless to stop the looting and screaming at the mayor because FEMA has been ignoring them

nice that Obama could get his photo-op though

November 06, 2012 7:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

MADISON, Wis. -- Bob Dylan says he thinks President Barack Obama is going to win a landslide.

Dylan made the prediction Monday night midway through the song "Blowin' in the Wind" during a concert in the battleground state of Wisconsin.

Dylan spoke to the Madison audience as he was wrapping up his concert that came just hours after Obama appeared at a morning rally in the same city with rocker Bruce Springsteen.

Dylan made his comments during his encore when he said, "We tried to play good tonight since the president was here today."

He went on to say he thinks Obama will prevail Tuesday.

Dylan says, "Don't believe the media. I think it's going to be a landslide."

After his comments, Dylan completed the song to the roar of the crowd.

November 06, 2012 9:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

a little pathetic that Obama had to take Springsteen with across America yesterday because he's afraid no one would come to his rallies otherwise

Dylan is a genius

let's hope he's wrong about this though

November 06, 2012 10:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Obama Brokers Peace Between Chris Christie And Bruce Springsteen

"President Barack Obama has another achievement to add to his record. After Obama and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie became besties in the wake of the Hurricane Sandy disaster, Obama decided his friends should start showing Christie some love too according to the Hollywood Reporter. Rock Idol Bruce Springsteen, who was traveling with the President aboard Air Force 1 to help him campaign, spoke to Christie on the phone to discuss New Jersey and the devastation that occurred there.

Bruce Springsteen is a mega progressive and huge supporter of Obama. Christie is a major Bruce fan who has seen more than 120 Bruce concerts. Yet Bruce, because of his political beliefs has completely ignored Christie, even when they are at small clubs together.

Chris Christie has been one of Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s biggest cheer leaders. He was one of the first Governors to endorse Romney for President and was on the short short list for Vice President. Christie has also never had anything nice to say about Obama until recently. After Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey causing millions to lose power and billions of dollars in damage Obama and Christie have been tripping over each other to get to a microphone and praise the other’s handling of the situation. Obama and Christie toured the wreckage together and have spoken daily about the recovery effort.

Republicans through out the country have been so unhappy about Chrisite’s praise for the President that Christie was forced to reiterate to the press that he was still supporting Romney for President. Yet Christie still declined an invitation to a Romney Rally scheduled for this past weekend.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told the media that Monday night, during the President’s daily update call with Christie, he ”told the governor he had someone who wanted to speak with him.”
Christie said Obama told him:

“in times of real difficulty, the only thing better than one Jersey guy were two Jersey guys. And he put Bruce Springsteen on the phone.”

Later on Monday night Christie said at a press conference:

“Bruce said to me how proud he was of his state and how proud he was of the people in this state and how tough they are. And he’ll be back to the Jersey Shore soon. We had a good conversation today. It was great to talk to the president and even better to talk to Bruce.”

November 06, 2012 11:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Bruce, because of his political beliefs has completely ignored Christie, even when they are at small clubs together."

if true, this would indicate what a jerk Springsteen is

"Christie has also never had anything nice to say about Obama until recently."

maybe there was nothing nice to say until recently

"After Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey causing millions to lose power and billions of dollars in damage Obama and Christie have been tripping over each other to get to a microphone and praise the other’s handling of the situation."

oh brother

while Christie did express appreciation for Obama's suspending his campaign to help, the above statement is a little over the top

and, let's face it, what is a horror for millions was a godsend to Obama who took the focus off a campaign that was collapsing

right now, there is a backlash developing against Christie, Bloomberg and FEMA as it has become clear FEMA had no plan for such an event in the region

"Republicans through out the country have been so unhappy about Chrisite’s praise for the President that Christie was forced to reiterate to the press that he was still supporting Romney for President."

maybe he just wanted to clear up the confusion the press has been creating

I doubt Christie has felt "forced" into anything by Republicans

"Yet Christie still declined an invitation to a Romney Rally scheduled for this past weekend."

unlike Obama and Springsteen, he has his priorities straight

while Springsteen's state suffers, he has been partying across the country, drinking beer made in the White House on Air Force One

too bad people on the North Jersey shore can't even get water delivered to them by FEMA

"White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told the media that Monday night, during the President’s daily update call with Christie, he ”told the governor he had someone who wanted to speak with him.”
Christie said Obama told him:

“in times of real difficulty, the only thing better than one Jersey guy were two Jersey guys. And he put Bruce Springsteen on the phone.”

Later on Monday night Christie said at a press conference:

“Bruce said to me how proud he was of his state and how proud he was of the people in this state and how tough they are. And he’ll be back to the Jersey Shore soon. We had a good conversation today. It was great to talk to the president and even better to talk to Bruce.”"

how touching

I'm sure Asbury Park appreciates Springsteen deserting them at this time

Springsteen is in the same washed up category as Kris Kristfferson and Neil Diamond

he hasn't made a good record since 1980

November 06, 2012 1:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Bob Dylan says he thinks President Barack Obama is going to win a landslide."

which is not to say he endorses Obama

here he is talking to a reporter in September:

"Reporter Mikal Gilmore wanted to know what Dylan thinks of Obama...At first Dylan remarked that “You should be asking his wife what she thinks of him,” and then he grew understandably cranky with the interviewer: “He loves music. He’s personable. He dresses good. What the [expletive] do you want me to say?”

Oh, but it doesn’t end there!

Gilmore tried again, asking whether Dylan would like to see Obama re-elected. “I’ve lived through a lot of presidents! And you have too! Some are re-elected and some aren’t. Being re-elected isn’t the mark of a great president.”"

November 06, 2012 2:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OBAMA WINS!!!

November 06, 2012 11:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Question 06

View Question Text

Civil Marriage Protection Act (Ch. 2 of the 2012 Legislative Session)

Referendum Petition Details

Early Voting Election Day Absentee / Provisional Total Percentage
For the Referred Law 222,748 663,212 0 885,960 50.9%
Against the Referred Law 193,354 660,303 0 853,657 49.1%

http://elections.state.md.us/elections/2012/results/general/gen_qresults_2012_4_00_1.html

November 06, 2012 11:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

More votes counted


Question 06

View Question Text

Civil Marriage Protection Act (Ch. 2 of the 2012 Legislative Session)

Referendum Petition Details

Early Voting Election Day Absentee / Provisional Total Percentage
For the Referred Law 222,748 1,029,820 0 1,252,568 51.9%
Against the Referred Law 193,354 965,365 0 1,158,719 48.1%

November 07, 2012 7:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For the first time in history, voters have chosen to legalize same-sex marriage on the ballot. Gay rights advocates are already celebrating this development as a critical victory and a turning point in the fight for marriage equality.

Since the late '90s, a total of 32 states have held votes on same-sex marriage, and each time, voters have opposed the measure. For opponents of same-sex marriage, this string of victories has been a crucial talking point. As Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, the nation's leading group opposing gay marriage, said in a press release this summer: "The American people know in their heart what marriage is, and they have expressed that in the form of over 70 million votes cast in 32 consecutive state elections to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

But on Tuesday night, voters in Maine and Maryland chose to legalize gay marriage, according to exit polls and early returns. In Minnesota and Washington, the results were not yet clear as of this writing.

Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, an organization that has long advocated for same-sex marriage, spent more than $5 million in support of gay marriage in these states.

“This is a landmark election for marriage equality and we will forever look back at this year as a critical turning point in the movement for full citizenship for LGBT people," he said in a press release Tuesday night. "Voters in Maine came to the common-sense conclusion that all people deserve the ability to make loving, lifelong commitments through marriage."

Marc Solomon, national campaign director for Freedom to Marry, another prominent advocacy organization, said in a press release: “Today, a majority in Maine voted in favor of loving and committed same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry. Now the commitment gay and lesbian couples have made in life will be respected equally under the law, celebrated before their loved ones, and called what it is: marriage.”

For gay-rights advocates, the Maine vote is particularly heartening. Just three years ago, a popular vote overturned legislation that would have legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

"Securing marriage equality at the ballot box in Maine is especially appreciated the second time around," R. Clark Cooper, head of the Log Cabin Republicans, the largest Republican group that supports same-sex marriage, told The Huffington Post in an email.

Although six states and Washington, D.C. legalized gay marriage before Tuesday night, they did so through the votes of state legislators or court decisions. The new victory undermines the conservative premise that those early wins were merely the result of liberal bias in state legislatures and the courts, and it reflects what recent polls have shown to be a shift in Americans' views on the issue.

“It’s hard to overstate the national significance of this vote,” Solomon said. “For years, our opponents have argued that we could not win a majority vote at the ballot. Today, Maine voters proved them wrong, standing up for the Golden Rule and for freedom for all Mainers.”

Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage could not immediately be reached for comment.

November 07, 2012 7:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) beat Republican Tommy Thompson for Wisconsin's open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, becoming the nation's first openly gay senator.

"I am honored and humbled and grateful, and I am ready to get to work -- ready to stand with Barack Obama, and ready to fight for Wisconsin's middle class," said Baldwin to raucous cheers at her victory party.

Even during his four-way GOP primary race, Thompson was long considered the frontrunner. He was a popular governor in the state who later served as President George W. Bush's Health and Human Services Secretary and enjoyed high name-recognition in the state.

But his strategy of portraying Baldwin as a far-left liberal faltered. When he tried to go after her for not being strong enough in speaking out against Iran, Thompson's own investments in companies that do business with Iran became a bigger issue.

When he went after Baldwin for not supporting 9/11 first responders, he was quickly called out by independent fact-checkers and first responders' families for launching a dishonest attack. It also brought more attention to the fact that his firm profited off 9/11 responders with a lucrative federal contract, and raised more questions about why he was even talking about the 11-year-old issue to begin with.

Although Baldwin made history on Tuesday night when she became the first openly gay senator-elect in U.S. history, her sexual orientation was largely a non-issue in the race. In September, Thompson's political director tweeted a message deriding Baldwin's "heartland values," accompanied by a video of Baldwin dancing at an LGBT pride parade. Thompson later distanced himself from his aide's tweet.

"Now, I am well aware that I will have the honor to be Wisconsin's first woman U.S. senator. And I am well aware I will be the first openly gay member of the United States Senate," she added, with the crowd drowning her out and chanting "Tammy! Tammy!"

"But I didn't run to make history," she continued. "I ran to make a difference –- a difference in the lives of families struggling to find work and pay the bills, a difference in the lives of students worried about debt and seniors worried about their retirement security, a difference in the lives of veterans who fought for us and need someone fighting for them and their families when they return home from war, a difference in the lives of entrepreneurs trying to build a business and working people trying to build some economic security."

Baldwin will be succeeded in her House seat by state Assemblyman Mark Pocan, a Democrat who is also openly gay.

November 07, 2012 7:41 AM  
Anonymous svelte_brunette said...

Gay marriage by popular vote in Maine.

Gay marriage by popular vote in Maryland.

Gay marriage ban defeated by popular vote in Minnesota.

Electoral College count: 303:206


I love the smell of shellac in the morning.

It smells like…

(-sniff-)

…victory.



Have a rainbow unicorn day.

Cynthia

November 07, 2012 8:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, I thought fer shure that President Huckabee would win a second term.

November 07, 2012 9:15 AM  
Anonymous Robert said...

Hooray for Maryland! Hoorday for Maine! Hooray for Washington! Hooray for Minnesota! Hooray for Wisconson! Eugepae!

November 07, 2012 9:28 AM  
Blogger Priya Lynn said...

Anonyous said "Wow, I thought fer shure that President Huckabee would win a second term.".

LOL

I'm thrilled to be able to congratulate all my American friends to the south on a win for B-Rock Obama. The stakes couldn't have been higher in this election with the winner nominating between one and three supreme court justices who will determine the fate of Roe V Wade and a variety of issues related to rights equality for gays and lesbians. Republicans can't delay the economic recovery forever so by 2016 the American economy should be humming along nicely and a Democrat president will likely be elected again.

And of course an Obama election win wouldn't be complete without a review of all the things Bad anonymous assured us were as certain to come true as the sun rising in the morning. We remember in 2008 when he told us in detail all the things "President Huckabee" would do in his first and second terms. This year he told us all about the "16 years of the Romney and Ryan presidencies". During the past month and a half he repeatedly and gleefully assured us the Democrat campaign was in freefall everytime there was a normal fluctuation in the polls showing the Republicans doing less badly than they had. He ignored the majority of polls showing Obama in the lead and instead insisted the Republican biased Rasmussen poll told the real story. He hung his hat on the claim that Rasmussen was the closest poll on election day in 2008 while ignoring that since 2010 the Rasmussen poll had shown an average bias to Republicans of 3.9% and in fact Rasmussens last poll before yesterdays election had Romney winning by one percentage point.and bad anonymous smugly told us two days ago "popular vote: Romney 52, Obama 48 you heard at TTF first, people". Yes, we heard it and we won't let you forget it. Bad anonymous also assured us marriage equality votes were going down in flames, he told us gays can't win because they don't really care about marriage deep in their hearts but marriage won the vote in all four states. The ironic thing is that bad anonymous actually voted against his own best interests just like the vast majority of Republican voters. They are not amongst the top 1% of income earners so it took Democrat voters to force Republicans like bad anonymous to accept what is good for them.

November 07, 2012 11:28 AM  
Blogger Priya Lynn said...

There were in fact two winners in yesterday's election, B-Rock Obama and the truth. Never before had there been an election campaign with such total disregard for the truth as the Romney/Ryan campaign. Never before was there a sleazier pair promising the world and that it wouldn't cost anything. Romney pollster Neil Newhouse set the tone for the campaign when he was asked about a lie in their campaign and he responded "We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers.". And they certainly didn't, lying about how their five trillion in tax cuts and 2 trillion in new defense spending wouldn't raise the deficit or make the middle class pay more in taxes. Romney lied about abortion saying he had no interest in restricting abortion rights when he'd previously said he wanted to see Roe v Wade overturned and that he'd sign a person hood amendment that would make all abortion a criminal offence and some types of birth control illegal. He lied about Obama cutting 716 billion from medicare when it was not a cut in benefits but a savings in expenditures and Ryan's budget made the same cuts. He lied about the auto bailout claiming he supported it after he had vigoursly opposed it at the time. He lied in Ohio claiming chrysler was moving Jeep production to China, he lied about welfare saying Obama had cut the work requirement from welfare.

But Romney's and Ryan's campaign of outrageous lies didn't work. The American public was far smarter than they thought and stood up and said "NO, we will NOT reward you for your dishonesty". The American public voted the truth and if they had voted for Romney that would have been the end of any resemblance of truth in future presidential campaigns as Romney and Ryan would have proven the truth doesn't matter, that one can make up whatever outrageous B.S. they want and no one will call them on it. Well Mr. Romney, the American public called you on it. They stood up for the truth and elected Barrack Obama and we're all having a rainbow unicorn day.

November 07, 2012 11:28 AM  
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