Video: Ad from supporters of marriage for gay Californians attacking lies in ads by anti-gay activists
A new television ad opposing gay marriage has apparently turned public opinion around in California on the issue, according to a new poll.
People can’t be sued for homophobic beliefs, just as racists cannot be sued because they choose to hate blacks or latinos. And anti-gay churches would not lose their tax exemptions, just as churches now do not jeopardize their tax exemptions because they espouse anti-semiticism.
A TV ad showing San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom saying California is going to have same-sex marriage “whether you like it or not” is being credited with flipping poll numbers to favor the Nov. 4 ballot proposition to amend the state constitution to undo the state Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage.
“This door’s wide open now. It’s gonna happen. Whether you like it or not!” Newsom says in a clip included in the ad paid for by forces supporting passage of Proposition 8.
The ad continues: “Four judges ignored 4 million voters and imposed same-sex marriage on California. It’s no longer about tolerance. Acceptance of gay marriage is now mandatory. That changes a lot of things: People sued over personal beliefs. Churches could lose their tax exemption. Gay marriage taught in public schools. We don’t have to accept this. (‘Whether you like it or not!’) Yes on 8.”
The ad omits the fact that the ruling came from the California Supreme Court, and that three of the four justices were Republicans. And the assertions that if Prop 8 loses homophobes could be sued over their “personal beliefs” and churches that promote hatred of gays could lose their tax exemptions are demonstrably false. People can’t be sued for homophobic beliefs, just as racists cannot be sued now because they choose to hate blacks or latinos. And anti-gay churches would not lose their tax exemptions, just as churches now do not jeopardize their tax exemptions because they espouse anti-semiticism.
Polls indicate that significant numbers of Californians are buying into the lies:
Although other recent polls have shown opposition to Proposition 8 (which means one supports same-sex marriage) running as high as 55 percent, and support for Proposition 8 (which means one opposes same-sex marriage) running as low as 38 percent, two polls released Oct. 6 and 7 show voters now have flipped.
Equality California said its internal polling shows 47 percent of likely California voters want to re-ban same-sex marriage and 43 percent want to keep it legal. Likewise, a CBS 5/SurveyUSA poll found 47 percent support for a ban and 42 percent opposition to it.
Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors sent out an urgent call for fundraising help on Oct. 7: “Our worst nightmares are coming true. Today we learned of the massive $25.4 million our opponents have raised so far. They are using this war chest to broadcast lies: 24/7 and up and down the state of California. And the polls show the lies are working. We need your donation now … So this is crunch time. With less than a month before the election, we must get on the air now to answer these lies and swing votes back to our side. And the only way to do that is to raise more money.”
Information on donating to fight to defeat Prop 8 can be found on the Equality California website.
