President Obama Calls Proposition 8 Plaintiffs

President Barack Obama called Proposition 8 plaintiffs Paul Katami, Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier from Air Force One. Obama congratulated the plaintiffs on their Supreme Court victory. It is a nice moment for three people whom have been fighting for their civil rights.

Less Than Straight Talk From Jay Carney

The Washington Blade rightly asks how how can President Barack Obama be against both Proposition 8, and still be against gay marriage. Before Prop 8 was overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Prop 8 banned gays and lesbians from marrying. Obama should be a supporter of Prop 8. Yet, President Obama campaigned against Prop 8. The correspondent for the Blade questioned Carney on this inconsistency.

Washington Blade: I just want to follow up on the Prop 8 ruling. Back in 2008, candidate Obama came out against Proposition 8 when it was on the ballot, calling it “unnecessary.” I’m just wondering if the president shares the belief that the measure is also unconstitutional.

Carney: Well, again, I’m not going to comment on litigation particularly as here where we are not party to it, but the president’s positions on these issues writ large are well known, and he’s long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples. But I don’t have anything more for you on that.

Blade: I want to follow up really quickly on that, though. You said the president opposes “divisive and discriminatory” efforts against same-sex couples, but the effort here — the issue in question is marriage, so isn’t it inconsistent for the president to not support same-sex marriage and also to be against such measures?

Carney: Well, I don’t have any update for you on that particular issue in regards to the president’s views. I can tell you that divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits is something this president has long opposed. And I think that’s an important point to make. These are proactive and deliberate efforts to deny benefits and to be discriminatory.

Obama is a constitutional scholar. Granted, Obama is lousy in his interpretations of the Constitution. Obama supports warrantless wiretapping and drone strikes against U.S. citizens. So much for due process. The question is simple. Does Obama believe Prop 8 is unconstitutional. A yes or no answer would suffice. Obama does not even have the moral courage to provide a one word answer. Sad.

Side note: Carney is a worse press secretary than Robert Gibbs. I didn't think that was possible. Why Obama thought having a press secretary with no charisma and an inability to bullshit would be an asset is beyond me.

Rachael Maddow on Prop 8 Ruling

The brilliant Rachel Maddow breaks down the Prop 8 ruling.

Wing Nut Alert: Coral Ridge Ministries

Coral Ridge Ministries of Fort Lauderdale released a documentary on how President Obama was turning America into a socialist nation. Last time I check, Bush appointees Ben Bernanke and Tim Geithner were still running the economy and Bob Gates was still running the war on terrorism. That wasn't the change I was expecting.

Coral Ridge Ministries sent out a press release on how the decision to overturn Prop 8 means the end of mankind.

"With courts turning traditional values into a form of 'hate' actionable under the law. we are seeing the criminalization of not only Christianity but of the foundational values of civilization itself", said Robert Wright, a Washington representative for Coral Ridge Ministries, who helped draft a proposed Defense of Marriage Act.

"As the case heads to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and eventually to the Supreme Court, Americans need to pray that the judges diligently seek wisdom before ruling, Knight said.

Christianity is not about to become illegal under the First amendment people can see churches on nearly every block of every town and city in America. Knight has to present himself as the victim. Personally, I think being overly obsessed with the sexuality of other people is a really weird thing.

It is laughable Christian conservatives portray themselves as the victims when gays and lesbians are being denied the right to marry. It is the height of hypocrisy for the Christian Right to say their their stance isn't bigoted when they can't cite a scientific study saying gay marriage will lead to the decline of hetrosexual marriage. Finally, shame on Bill Clinton for letting Knight write DOMA.

Prop 8 Overturned

Prop 8 has been overturned by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker. Prop was declared unconstitutional under the due process and equal protection clauses.

California is able to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples, as it has already issued 18,000 marriage licences to same sex couples, and has not suffered any demonstrated harm as a result

The entire ruling is online. I haven't had the chance to read the whole thing since it is long.

Quote of the Day

"I have not talked to the president about it."

Robert Gibbs, asked by White House press corp about California Supreme Court ruling.

For the record: the California Supreme Court originally legalized gay marriage in the state. The court does not have the power to overturn a legal ballot initiative. What I find interesting is Obama running away from the LGBT community. During the campaign Obama came out against Prop 8. Obama is now abandoning parts of the base after winning the presidency. Change supporters on the Left don't want to believe is happening.



Bonus quote:

"Gibbs answer on prop 8 seems to ignore *candidate* Obama's opposition to it bc it 'needlessly' altered CA's constitution. Gah."

Ana Marie Cox

Portia De Rossi Is Sorry

Portia De Rossi apologizes for all her pain her marriage to Ellen DeGeneres caused heterosexuals. Now if De Rossi can get Ellen to apolize for the dog fiasco.

Hat to to Miss Bullwinkle.

Gay Marriage Video War

Litbrit posted a video on the silliness of being against gay marriage. Lisanova did a raw comedy video about how gay marriage has no effect on hetrosexual unions.

Slightly off topic: Jim Johnson channels his inner-Rockefeller Republican. Johnson points out that letting gay couples become foster adoptive parents would save Florida money.

Barack Obama Addresses Prop 8 on MTV

During an MTV interview, Barack Obama is asked about California's anti-gay marriage Prop 8.

"I think it's unnecessary," Obama told Sway, in response to a question sent in by Gangstagigz from San Leandro, California. "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about. Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don't contract them."

...In addition to expressing his opposition to Proposition 8, Obama said he believes and supports "strong civil unions ... that provide legal rights to same-sex couples [so] that they can visit each other in the hospital if they get sick, [so] they can transfer property to each other. If they've got benefits, they can make sure those benefits apply to their partners. I think that's the direction we need to go in. I think young people are ahead of the curve on this for the most part. Their attitude, generally, is that we should be respectful of all people, and that's the kind of politics I want to practice."

Pushing Rope has a post on Obama's Prop 8 position and other information.

Vote No on Prop 8 has details on how citizens can get involved to stop Prop 8.

Obama Against Prop 8

Barack Obama stepped forward to urge California voters to vote no on Prop 8. The anti-gay measure would make gay and lesbian marriages illegal in California.

About Prop 8
Why Vote No on Prop 8?
Prop.8 is unfair, unnecessary and wrong. Find out why Californians are voting no >>

Facts v. Fiction
Special interest groups behind Prop 8 have engaged in a deceptive campaign to confuse voters.
Get the truth >>

Who Opposes Prop 8?
Nearly every major newspaper in California, and a broad range of groups and leaders representing teachers, nurses, seniors, business and labor, oppose Proposition 8. See who is on the list >>

What is Prop 8?
Prop 8 would eliminate the fundamental right for same-sex couples to marry. Read the title & summary and ballot arguments >>

Barack Obama calls Prop 8 “Divisive and Discriminatory” >>

Hat tip to Pam.

Compassionate Conservatism: Gay Marriage Equals Books

John Stemberger is using the slippery slope argument to scare voters into voting yes for amendment 2. If you don't vote to make gay marriage, in florida, illegal than kids will be forced to read books promoting the gay lifestyle.

A Massachusetts couple, Robb and Robin Wirthlin, appeared with Stemberger and others at a press conference this morning promoting Amendment 2.

The Wirthlins said they were dismayed to learn that their son's second-grade teacher read from a book, King and King, in which a prince falls in love with and marries another prince after rejecting a series of princesses.

Passage of amendment 2 wouldn't prevent children from reading certain material. That is an education issue. Robb and Robin Wirthlin have come forward against Prop 8. The Wirthlins lost their court case against the school. What is little known is the "Wirthlins were members of a political organization pressing for an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage before the teacher read the book King and King to their son."

Why the Withlins lost the lawsuit.

In the suit, the Wirthlins said the school was attempting to indoctrinate their children about an "immoral lifestyle." The suit complained that school officials bypassed their parental rights to raise their children how they wish, and in doing so, violated their civil rights.

The Wirthlins lost their legal battle - the U.S. Supreme Court just declined to hear the case, letting the lower court ruling stand - but they are far from losing the war. They are part of the out-of-state effort by the Mormon Church, whose members have contributed millions of dollars to the Yes on 8 war chest, to pass Prop 8

The Wirthlins think gays and lesbians are immoral. Watch the video and see how the they bend over backwards to appear tolerate.



The school did not have to inform the Wirthlins. The couple did not challenge that in their suit. Contrary to their claims in the video. Robin Withlin proclaims she would rather keep her child ignorant than inform him about homosexuality. Keeping a child uneducated is not good parenting.

Conservatives that believe the King and King should be banned in schools do not support free speech. Reading black lists and book burning has been assiociated with the most dangerous fringes of society. Religious conservatives making laws to control consenting adults' sexuality is pure totalarism. Once people lose the choice of whom to sleep with or what to read, bye, bye freedom.

Florida Amendments & Calfornia Prop 8

Daily Kos has a useful guide to amendments on the Florida ballot. Please remember to vote no on anti-gay marriage Amendment 2. I have written in support of Amendment 4.

Amendment 1
Relating to Property Rights/Ineligible Aliens

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to delete provisions authorizing the Legislature to regulate or prohibit the ownership, inheritance, disposition, and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship.

Amendment 2
Florida Marriage Protection Amendment

This amendment protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and provides that no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.

Amendment 3
Changes and Improvements Not Affecting the Assessed Value of Residential Real Property

Authorizes the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit consideration of changes or improvements to residential real property which increase resistance to wind damage and installation of renewable energy source devices as factors in assessing the property's value for ad valorem taxation purposes. Effective upon adoption, repeals the existing renewable energy source device exemption no longer in effect.

Amendment 4
Property Tax Exemption of Perpetually Conserved Land; Classification and Assessment of Land Used for Conservation

Requires Legislature to provide a property tax exemption for real property encumbered by perpetual conservation easements or other perpetual conservation protections, defined by general law. Requires Legislature to provide for classification and assessment of land used for conservation purposes, and not perpetually encumbered, solely on the basis of character or use. Subjects assessment benefit to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions established by general law. Applies to property taxes beginning in 2010.

Amendment 6
Assessment of Working Waterfront Property Based Upon Current Use

Provides for assessment based upon use of land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes; land used for vessel launches into waters that are navigable and accessible to the public; marinas and drystacks that are open to the public; and water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities, commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction and repair facilities and their support activities, subject to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions specified by general law.

Amendment 8
Local Option Community Funding

Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement community college funding; requiring voter approval to levy the tax; providing that approved taxes will sunset after 5 years and may be reauthorized by the voters.

In related news: Cara has a good post on California's anti-gay marriage Prop 8. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is against Prop 8. If you live in California vote no.