Keyser Causes: Opinions and Such

2012 Republican Presidential Primaries: Or Why I am a Libertarian

2011-08-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

I've been following some of the more publicized political events of the past few weeks and have come to a conclusion: The Republican Party has lost its way. From where I sit in Saneville, it would seem that the only candidate hopeful that has any idea what would truly, honestly work in America AND solve the multitude of problems that besiege her is Ron Paul. He's the same today as he was yesterday and he'll be the same even if he's a Libertarian candidate on the ballot.

Foreign policy? Stay out of other country's business; protect our borders; bring home foreign-deployed troops; knock off the "preemptive strikes" and war mongering.

Tax policy? Stop building so many wasteful, illegal, and unconstitutional programs at the Federal level; level and then lower taxes with a tax on purchased goods rather than income; eliminate the IRS.

Economic policy? End the Federal Reserve; allow markets to fluctuate/correct to prevent bubbles, not encourage them; let free market decide actual costs and stop subsidies of ALL types, not just party favorites.

Social policy? Government has no business dictating morality, leave that to Church, home, and community; stop all forms of social legislation/dictation; give individuals and churches have the ability to finance social welfare.

Finally, I'll be frank on my personal views of the other contenders:

Mitt Romney: I've been told by several of my LDS friends that his is the defacto choice for Mormons. I completely disagree. I think he's a good person. I think he has strong values. However, I know his political ties are strong with special interests and I'd rather not elect someone in that position again. I'm tired of status quo governing by interests. I'd recommend Ron Paul over Mitt even if Ron Paul doesn't make the Republican ticket.

John Huntsman, Jr.: Let me begin by saying I'm a HUGE fan of his father. However, I'm not voting for his son. I just don't see him as the free market true capitalist this country needs to reign in the sprawl of government created by our current and past two party elected officials.

Michelle Bachman: Where do I begin. She's just not my cup of tea (pun intended again), politically or otherwise and she'd LOVE to make her way the only way. I disagree with anyone who thinks that way, regardless of their way.

Reimagining What Education Can and Should Be

2011-06-05T22:52:00.000-07:00

This guy nails the problems with current education systems and why dumping more funding on them to "fix the problem" is fundamentally a bad idea. What we need is a complete redesign, not an upgrade.

President Obama Refuses to Defend the Defense of Marriage Act

2011-02-25T08:26:00.001-08:00

From The American Family Association,

Yesterday, President Barack Obama informed the nation that his administration will no longer defend the institution of natural marriage - or the law that protects it.
DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) was passed in 1996 with significant bi-partisan majorities in both houses of Congress, and was signed into law by President Clinton. DOMA defines marriage in federal law as the union of one man and one woman.
The president said yesterday that he has instructed his attorney general not to defend this law in court, where it is currently being challenged.
This sets a very dangerous precedent, in which a president decides which federal laws he will defend and which he will not. He has changed our government from the rule of law to the rule of one man.
The Constitution directs the president to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed." President Obama took an oath to "preserve, protect and defend" that Constitution, but he's not doing it. He's subverting the Constitution rather than upholding it. He is in clear violation of his oath of office.
The good news is that Congress can intervene and defend this law in court. This creates the possibility that the law will be defended by those who believe in it and support it, rather than by lawyers in Obama's Department of Justice, who up to this point have mounted half-hearted attempts at best to uphold this law.
TAKE ACTION
Contact your representative today and urge him to appeal to Speaker John Boehner to mount a vigorous legal defense of DOMA.
Additional source: OneNewsNow - Obama admin. will no longer defend marriage law

To the Newly Elected Tea Party Conservatives

2010-11-03T17:17:00.000-07:00

There's a great piece on the WSJ to the newly elected Tea Party candidates. I'm not personally a big fan of these people. To me, they don't understand where they should go, they just ... went. Some without thinking. Republicans by any other name... However, I do feel this particular piece is worth sharing, so here it goes.

Judicial Bias and Prop 8

2010-08-05T08:40:00.001-07:00

Judge Walker impartial? I don't think anyone, even the opposition could claim that when it comes to his stance on so-called "same-sex marriage". It's a good thing this country has an appeals process. As he had no basis for his decision to deem Proposition 8 unconstitutional other than personal opinion and emotion, I'm certain his ruling will be overturned.

American Elected Officials, Are You Listening to US?

2010-02-16T22:32:00.000-08:00

I don't normally post stuff from Glenn Beck. I like the guy as a person, but like any talking head, he can get ... "out of bounds" from time to time. This post, however, is not from Glenn. I leave the reference here simply to maintain the authenticity of the original content which was provided to Glenn from an everyday American, who, like me, has grown disenfranchised with our current political parties and their so-called representation of our nation. So, without further ado, here's the entire post, copied unabashedly from GlennBeck.com:

GLENN: I got a letter from a woman in Arizona. She writes an open letter to our nation's leadership: I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?
Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:
One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.

Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.
Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.
Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.
Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!
Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.
Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.
Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why ‑‑ what do you have against shareholders making a profit?
Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.
Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band‑Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.
Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ‑‑ please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.
Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.
Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.
I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.
From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're morons.
We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when hewill rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.
Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming.

Perry v. Schwarzenegger: Testimony Wraps Up, Battle Begins

2010-01-29T07:56:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

The live testimony in the federal trial of Perry v Schwarzenegger, the historic court battle over the definition of marriage, finally came to a close yesterday afternoon.

Our lead trial attorney Charles Cooper and the rest of the Prop 8 Legal Defense Team did a superb job defending the will of the voters and the institution of marriage itself under extremely difficult circumstances in this San Francisco courtroom. As we consistently saw in most of the critical pre-trial rulings, virtually all of Judge Vaughn Walker’s significant rulings during the trial went against us.

For example, Judge Walker’s insistent efforts to broadcast the trial proceedings worldwide on the internet, in violation of federal laws, caused two-thirds of our expert witnesses to withdraw from the case just before the trial started. Quite understandably, these experts were fearful of the likely harassment and retribution they would suffer, personally and professionally, if their live testimony was broadcast worldwide as Judge Walker had ordered. As the trial started, the cameras were still rolling and there was no way to guarantee the witnesses that their testimony would not be broadcast. Even though the US Supreme Court later overruled Judge Walker and prohibited the broadcasting of this case, it was too late.

The loss of four witnesses put tremendous added pressure on our team of defense attorneys to find other ways to get our critical evidence into the record. So during over 30 hours of our cross-examination of the plaintiffs’ witnesses, our attorneys succeeded in moving key studies, statistics, reports and other evidence into the record, and obtaining critical concessions from the other side’s witnesses on many subjects, such as child-rearing and monogamy. Thankfully, our legal team was extremely successful in this regard.

After weeks of 20+ hour days, our attorneys finally were able to get a good night’s rest. We appreciate your prayers for them and your words of encouragement. Starting today, they will be working for the next 30 days to submit additional briefings to the judge. They will also start preparing to go back before Judge Walker sometime in March to present final closing arguments. And then we will await the court’s ruling.

No matter how Judge Walker rules, all sides agree that this is just the first stage in a much longer journey that will ultimately end at the U.S. Supreme Court. No matter which side wins this first legal test, the case is surely to be appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and eventually to the nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Even though the live testimony has ended, we must continue our efforts to secure the resources needed for a strong legal defense of Prop 8. Please help us with your own contribution, and forward this email to your friends and colleagues who themselves might make a donation. Our outstanding legal bills are substantial and the ongoing fight will be expensive.

Every person involved in our legal defense has made tremendous sacrifices. Lead trial counsel Charles Cooper and his team from the Cooper & Kirk law firm have done a spectacular job. Special thanks is also due to the excellent attorneys of the Alliance Defense Fund who donated literally thousands of hours of legal work as part of the defense team.

In particular, we are also extremely grateful to our own General Counsel, Andy Pugno, whose wife is due to deliver their third child any day now. Not only has he worked tirelessly for months on end and represented us ably in the courtroom, his entire family has paid a price as Andy has been fighting for the institution of marriage. We owe him, and his family, a debt of gratitude.

Below is a statement Andy released to the media late yesterday about the case. It’s an excellent summary of how this show trial unfolded.

Today concluded the presentation of evidence in the federal trial, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, challenging Prop 8's definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman. Our Prop 8 Legal Defense Team did a remarkable job in defending the will of over 7 million California voters who passed it into law.

What may be lost in all the sensationalism of the past two and a half weeks of trial is that the burden of proof to invalidate Prop 8 lies squarely with the plaintiffs. They cannot win unless they prove that the voters were "irrational" when they chose to preserve the traditional definition of marriage in our state. Contrary to their public relations claims, the outcome of this case does not depend on whether the Prop 8 sponsors can prove that homosexual marriage will harm traditional
marriage. The controlling legal issue is not whether homosexual marriage is good or bad, but rather whether the people have the right to decide what is best. The plaintiffs simply did not carry that burden.

Meanwhile, we have shown that limiting marriage to its longstanding definition is rational because marriage benefits children, not just the adults. Whenever possible, it is best for a child to have both a mother and a father. And man-woman marriage is the only human relationship that can biologically serve that distinctive purpose. A same-sex relationship can never offer a child both a
mother and father. It's that simple.

The plaintiffs put on a spectacular show-trial of irrelevant evidence, calling to the stand many "expert" witnesses to testify that allowing homosexual marriage would: help local governments raise more tax revenues, help gay and lesbian couples to accumulate greater wealth, and improve the self-esteem of homosexuals. But those are political arguments for society to consider, not legal
support for the claim that the US Constitution contains the right to homosexual marriage. The courtroom is simply not the proper forum for what is clearly a social, not a legal, appeal.

Thank you for your continued help through prayer, financial support, encouragement, and spreading the word. We – all of us – are responsible for the shape of our society when we hand it off to future generations.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice, Executive Director

Defending Prop 8: The Feeling Thermometer

2010-01-25T08:24:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

After two weeks of testimony from witnesses supporting the challenge to the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the plaintiffs are on the verge of resting their case today. Their attorneys say they want to introduce snippets of deposition testimony from various people, and then put a variety of other exhibits into the record before they rest their case.

From the trial’s start, it has been the responsibility of the plaintiffs to prove their case. But rather than address the initial complaint – a very weak argument of “equal protection” based on a very creative interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution – the trial has been about feelings. The plaintiffs’ case seems to boil down to one recurring theme: limiting marriage to only a man and a woman hurts the feelings of homosexuals. One of their expert witnesses even explained how he measures things on a “feeling thermometer.”

Here is an article from San Francisco Chronicle columnist Debra Saunders titled, “Federal court has become the new feelings forum.” Saunders notes, “Forget the law…feelings rule.”

Plaintiffs’ attorneys have brought witness after witness to the stand, from institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Stanford. Without exception, each witness admitted a very strong bias toward same-sex marriage. And without exception, each “expert” referred to the subjective feelings of homosexuals; forget about legal precedent, social science, religious freedom or the rights of voters.

Time after time, the Proposition 8 legal defense team skewered the plaintiff witnesses on cross-examination (although you won’t know this by reading accounts in the mainstream media). Not a single expert witness for the plaintiffs has been able to maintain their primary contention without having to make major concessions as to its validity. For example, one witness professorially lectured the courtroom on the premise that homosexual relationships are the same as heterosexual relationships and that allowing gays and lesbians to marry would have no impact on society’s understanding of marriage. On cross, the witness had to admit that sexual fidelity and monogamy is the exception rather than the rule among male homosexuals. Less than 10% of those relationships feature sexual exclusivity.

Yet we are supposed to believe that there will be no impact on society’s understanding of marriage if we redefine marriage to include relationships that are utterly bereft of a prime social normative of marriage – sexual exclusiveness. In the words of Andy Pugno, ProtectMarriage.com’s general counsel, the audacity of the arguments is “astonishing.”

Pugno’s excellent blog has covered a lot of the daily work of our outstanding defense attorneys. You can read his summary of Week 2 of the trial here.

Later today our attorneys will begin to present our case defending Proposition 8. Long before the actual trial began, the “playing field” was decidedly tilted against us. Chief Judge Vaughan Walker’s pre-trial rulings and those made during the trial have consistently gone against us. One of those rulings – to televise the trial – cost us a number of our expert witnesses, because although the US Supreme Court overturned Walker’s illegal order, it didn’t come soon enough to stop witnesses from withdrawing who feared their testimony would subject them to harassment.

The loss of expert witnesses is one of the reasons our attorneys spent so much time cross- examining the plaintiff witnesses. Without access to experts who can counteract the plaintiff witnesses, the legal team worked diligently to bring out contradictions in the testimonies of opposing witnesses.

The Prop 8 legal defense team is doing a magnificent job under extremely adverse circumstances created by this court’s rulings. As they head into what may be the final week of trial, they have been working nonstop for many weeks – literally sleeping less than two hours a night – to defend the people’s vote for Prop 8 and to uphold the proven definition of marriage. Please pray for their strength and wisdom during the balance of this trial.

Please also pray that the people of California and the nation will respond with their financial gifts to sustain our defense of the institution of marriage. This is costing us many millions of dollars – money that we don’t have. We are acting in faith that you and other believers will give generously. Please make a contribution today to help sustain this epic legal battle. Even though this judge has made things very difficult for our side and many believe he will ultimately rule against us, we remain supremely confident that we will win this case in the courts of appeal. We’ve already received the attention of the US Supreme Court, and we are looking forward to bringing the merits of the issue before them in due course.

This case could ultimately be the Roe v Wade for marriage, and we fervently believe the rule of law will win. Please help us continue the fight.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice, Executive Director

Our Philosopher-King Obama by Victor Davis Hanson on National Review Online

2010-01-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

Our Philosopher-King Obama by Victor Davis Hanson on National Review Online

What a great and very true to life editorial. All hail the philosopher-king and his utopia! Or something like that... perhaps a failed utopia like the one found in 1984 would be sufficient? Seems good enough for Mr. Obama.

The Perry Trial: Where It's Headed

2010-01-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

As we enter into the second week of the epic trial to preserve traditional marriage in the federal court case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, we can see how the challenge is shaping up. Our opponents are attempting to portray Proposition 8 as nothing but a continuation of past perceived discrimination against gays and lesbians. Their witnesses have testified about how they felt when Prop 8 passed, how they felt as couples, receiving raised eyebrows when seeking to check into a hotel with a king-sized bed, and how they felt receiving disapproving looks when walking down the street together. They’ve even put on witnesses claiming that our advertisements and messaging is reminiscent of anti-homosexual comments of Anita Bryant in a mid-1970s Florida campaign. What these witnesses have failed to say, however, is how invalidating Proposition 8 would provide a remedy for these perceived social slights.

Their “experts” have testified that same-sex relationships are the same as traditional heterosexual relationships, and that children with homosexual parents do just as well as children raised by a married mother and father. Legalizing same-sex marriage will have no impact, it is claimed, on traditional marriage.

Our attorneys have achieved some critical concessions from the plaintiff witnesses, particularly their so-called experts. For example, one academic had to admit that there are critical differences between how homosexual men view the importance of monogamy as compared to married heterosexual couples. For gay men, their witness acknowledged, sexual exclusiveness is the exception rather than the rule. Only slightly more than one-third of homosexual men believe that monogamy is an important factor in their relationships, and among that group nearly 75% have sexual encounters with multiple partners while in “committed” relationships.

Despite this incredible admission, the plaintiff witnesses still maintain that redefining marriage to include same-sex couples will have no impact on the institution of marriage. Apparently we are just supposed to accept that marriage no longer means a commitment of sexual fidelity to a partner, and that old-fashioned social mores can be jettisoned without any impact on our collective understanding about the meaning of marriage.

Whether the terrific efforts of our distinguished legal counsel to force our opponents into critical admissions will make any difference in this San Francisco courtroom remains to be seen. San Francisco is, after all, the most pro-gay marriage venue in the nation. But no matter what Judge Vaughn Walker may decide, we are extremely confident that the record we are building in this trial court will be extremely persuasive with the United States Supreme Court, where most people believe the Perry case is ultimately headed.

I do have to admit to a great deal of frustration in reading the mainstream media’s coverage of the trial. Their biases against traditional marriage are obvious, and it is as if they have already scripted the testimony. No concessions from the plaintiff experts will change their perception of the desired outcome. The media has shown bias toward same-sex marriage from the beginning, continuing the idle messages of bigotry, discrimination, and false messaging. Yet neither the media nor the plaintiff attorneys can point me to a single provision in the U.S. Constitution that establishes homosexual marriage as a matter of constitutional right, or a single federal case that has established a federal right to same-sex marriage. There is none.

This week we will hear more from various plaintiff witnesses. They will put one of the official Prop 8 sponsors, Bill Tam, on the stand and attempt to portray some of his own personal comments (written in Chinese) as being representative of the Prop 8 campaign. Of course, our attorneys will make clear that Mr. Tam played no role whatsoever in the decision making of the campaign. Whether the plaintiffs will call to the stand the members of the campaign Executive Committee or our campaign consultants remains to be seen. Our attorneys are looking forward to calling our defense witnesses as soon as the plaintiffs wrap up their case. Please keep us all in your prayers. And to get an accurate reading of what is happening in court, please be sure to check out Andy Pugno’s daily blog postings at www.protectmarriage.com/blog.

Finally, I have written to you many times about the extraordinary financial burden we bear in funding this extraordinary defense of traditional marriage. Here is a link to an informative post by Jordan Lorence of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) that describes the daily work of our attorneys. In addition to the Cooper & Kirk firm, ADF and Andy Pugno, we have many other attorneys working remotely, reviewing tens of thousands of documents, drafting motions and researching various matters that will come before the court. The defense of Proposition 8 is costing us millions of dollars. Please help us by making a generous contribution today. We simply cannot continue to be effective without your financial support.

May God bless you and your family. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice, Executive Director

Perry v. Schwarzenegger: Day 3 Summary

2010-01-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Day Three from the courtroom in the federal challenge to Proposition 8 brought much success for our Legal Defense team, including well-delivered cross examinations of the plaintiffs' witnesses. If you have not read Andy Pugno’s daily updates from the courthouse, please click here. You’ll read about critical admissions our team has elicited from the plaintiffs’ expert witnesses, including that many of the examples of discrimination against gays and lesbians introduced as evidence were long ago, and that there are critical differences in relationships between homosexual and heterosexual couples, undermining the contention that these relationships are the same.

As you have likely read, the United States Supreme Court issued a very favorable ruling to permanently stop the recording and broadcast of proceedings in the Perry trial. Our opponents had convinced the judge that televising this trial is a great opportunity to “educate” the public about same-sex marriage. But as we have repeatedly said, the courts should never become a tool to help advocacy groups sway public opinion. That is what political campaigns are for.

We continue to be pleased with the efforts of our attorneys. However, it is regrettable that Judge Walker has allowed the trial to proceed on the basis he has. Never before has a judge allowed the private views of an initiative’s sponsors and consultants to be used to determine what voters intended when they adopted the measure. Our arguments on this critical element of the litigation are likely to be of much greater interest to a higher court than has been shown by this San Francisco courtroom.

The news media is full of coverage of the trial and various developments. Here are links to some articles that may be of interest, including an insightful piece by Chapman University Law School Dean John C. Eastman.

http://bit.ly/8D7Ofp

http://bit.ly/7vavO3

http://bit.ly/7zopUJ

http://bit.ly/8uQydD

Remember to watch for Andy Pugno’s twice-daily updates from the courthouse. Please keep our attorneys and our witnesses in your prayers, and continue your financial support, which is essential to our success.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice, Executive Director

Perry v. Schwarzenegger: Day 2 Summary

2010-01-12T22:10:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Our stellar team of defense lawyers had another strong day undercutting the arguments of the plaintiffs’ experts in the federal court challenge to Proposition 8 (Perry v Schwarzenegger). As our General Counsel Andy Pugno reported earlier in the day the cross examination of Harvard Professor Nancy Cott was “a disaster” for the plaintiffs’ case.

Under cross examination by David Thompson, one of our defense litigators, Professor Cott first had to concede that she is not a neutral, independent expert as she had been presented for people to believe. In fact, Thompson got her to admit that she is an advocate for gay marriage and has testified in favor of same-sex marriage before legislatures, contributed to groups advocating for gay marriage and signed onto legal briefs in court cases seeking to legalize gay marriage. One of the groups that she has financially supported has openly encouraged polyamory as an alternative to traditional marriage. Polyamorous relationships are those involving three or more people who have a sexual relationship within a ‘group marriage.’

From a legal perspective, Cott made a particularly damaging concession that the public interest in promoting the raising of children by both a mother and father is a purpose that is promoted by traditional marriage. She also undermined the plaintiff’s characterization of marriage as a purely private decision when she conceded marriage is a highly public relationship in which society has great interest.

Professor George Chauncey of Yale University was the next plaintiff expert. He delivered interesting testimony about the history of discrimination that homosexuals have felt in America. His testimony included examples of gays and lesbians being jailed for engaging in homosexual sex, losing their jobs and being denied access to public accommodations because of their homosexuality. What Professor Chauncey didn’t explain, however, was what relevance past discrimination has to do with the constitutionality of Proposition 8. As the day was coming to a close, David Thompson began his cross examination and elicited an admission that, like Professor Cott, Chauncey is a gay marriage supporter who has contributed to several groups advocating the legalization of same-sex marriage. Tomorrow, Thompson is expected to question Professor Chauncey over his views that the messaging of the ProtectMarriage.com campaign is simply a continuation of past discrimination against homosexuals.

We have many days to go in the trial over traditional marriage. Today was a very good day. Several of our supporters in the courtroom asked our attorneys to dinner, in order to thank them for their efforts! Unfortunately, each of them declined because they needed to return to their temporary offices in San Francisco to immerse themselves in preparation for tomorrow’s hearing.

I hope that our communications over the past two days have given you a sense of the monumental effort being put forth to defend your vote and preserve traditional marriage. Please continue to support us with your prayers and financial sacrifice.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice, Executive Director
ProtectMarriage.com

Perry v. Schwarzenegger: Day 1 Summary

2010-01-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

ProtectMarriage.com’s lead counsel, Charles Cooper, confidently strode to the podium in the San Francisco federal courtroom of Chief Judge Vaughn Walker and began his opening statement in defense of Proposition 8 and traditional marriage. He did a superb job in setting forth the main elements of our case:

• Traditional marriage has served society well for centuries;
• It is a pro-child institution;
• It exists in main purpose “to promote naturally procreative sexual activity in a stable and enduring relationship" that will nurture children;
• That gays and lesbians were not the target of ill will or discriminatory intent in the Yes on 8 campaign;
• That “there are millions of Americans who believe in equal rights for gays and lesbians but draw the line at marriage;” and
• That California voters were perfectly within their rights to decline to take a risk of suffering the consequences of destabilizing the institution of marriage.

As proud as I was of Mr. Cooper and his eloquent articulation of the importance of traditional marriage, I have to confess to a feeling of being in a surreal environment. The courtroom was packed shoulder to shoulder, and many more filled the overflow room. Television cameras crowded the hallways. Reporters swarmed the courthouse looking for an angle to cover. And some of the most skilled attorneys in the nation argued before a federal judge about whether the institution of marriage is somehow illegal.

Never did I think I would see the day where God’s institution of marriage – the most stabilizing, pro-family, child-benefiting institution in human history – would be on trial before a federal judge in the nation whose forefathers founded the country on the premise of “in God we trust.”

But here we are.

Our General Counsel, Andy Pugno, is a key member of the defense team and is handling the crush of media demands of the trial. To keep our supporters informed of developments, Andy will be posting comments twice daily to the Protect Marriage blog. His comments about today’s proceedings are available at www.protectmarriage.com/blog. Please check our revamped website frequently for his commentary.

Our Communications Director, Carla Hass, will be tweeting live updates from inside the courtroom. You can follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/protectmarriage. Commentary will also be posted on our Facebook and MySpace pages.

We’re in for a real fight to save traditional marriage. The trial court proceedings are expected to last for weeks. The case will then be appealed and, ultimately, will end up before the United States Supreme Court. Please help us ensure that marriage is preserved for future generations by making a contribution today. One example of our costs comes from a recent ruling of the Court that requires immediate assistance from two dozen attorneys, at a rate of $50,000 per day! The costs are great, and so much is at stake.

Thank you for your support.

Ron Prentice, Executive Director

Prop 8 Federal Hearing Begins

2010-01-11T08:13:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

The legal battle to determine the constitutionality of California’s definition of marriage – enacted via Prop 8 as being only between a man and a woman – will begin in a few short hours in a San Francisco federal courthouse.

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of this case to the future of marriage in America. Not only is the constitutionality of California’s Prop 8 at stake, but so are the marriage laws of 45 other states and the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Our incredible legal team, led by Chuck Cooper and Andy Pugno and assisted by the Alliance Defense Fund, has worked tirelessly for months to prepare for this historic defense of marriage. As Andy Pugno recently said, this case has the potential to be the Roe v Wade for marriage. Most legal observers expect it will go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Please keep our Prop 8 attorneys, sponsors, consultants and supporters in your prayers as this trial unfolds. Ask God to impart His wisdom and strength as we undergo this trial. Many of us will be put on the stand and cross-examined by hostile attorneys bent on establishing that support for traditional marriage is akin to racial discrimination. Yet the institution of marriage has served society well throughout the history of our country, and never was considered a political issue until homosexual marriage activists decided to redefine it to suit their own interests.

Former Attorney General Edwin Meese III appreciates the importance of this battle and penned an op-ed just published in the New York Times. It’s an excellent piece that can be read it by clicking here.

In addition to your prayers, we ask again for a generous financial gift to allow us to continue our defense of marriage. This case has cost millions of dollars getting to trial, and will cost us millions more to win the final victory before the U.S. Supreme Court, for which we are all praying. We have no source of income other than the faithful contributions of you and other supporters. Please, make a contribution today.

We pledge to keep in constant communication with you throughout the trial. We will be sending updates and providing links to interesting and informative coverage and commentary. We also will maintain an active blog on protectmarriage.com as well as our social networking vehicles via Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Thank you for all your efforts to support Proposition 8 and the institution of marriage. Your prayers and support have sustained us and give us confidence that we will prevail in this historic battle.

Joining together in prayer,

Ron Prentice, Executive Director

To receive continued up-to-date coverage on the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial and breaking news on the legal threat to marriage in California be sure to click here to follow THE OFFICIAL PROTECTMARRIAGE.COM BLOG.

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The Perry Case: What's At Stake

2010-01-06T13:48:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

In five days, the people of California go on trial.

Next Monday, January 11th, trial will begin in the San Francisco courtroom of Judge Vaughn Walker in the federal case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger. The Perry case is about Proposition 8 which restored the traditional definition of marriage in California, to be sure, but it is also about much more.

What is at stake in the Perry case is not just the right of California voters to reaffirm the definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman; a federal court decision overturning Proposition 8 could also ultimately nullify the people’s vote on marriage in 45 states and the federal Defense of Marriage Act passed by Congress in 1996.

What is at stake is whether voters can rationally conclude that traditional marriage is a unique institution that promotes important interests respecting natural childrearing, and that those interests are broader than the personal, private interests of the adults involved. And what is at stake is whether voters may consider their own moral and religious views about marriage – or any other subject – when casting their ballots.

This is not the first time that a ballot initiative has been scrutinized by the courts. Nor is it the first time that the courts have dealt with legal challenges about the definition of marriage. In fact, courts have dealt with same-sex marriage claims all over the country, and judges have legalized it in a few states. But this is the first marriage case in the history of the nation where the thoughts, motivations, and personal beliefs of an initiative’s sponsors have been put on trial to search for “improper” intent.

San Francisco is undoubtedly the friendliest venue in the nation for a same-sex marriage lawsuit. This alone gives supporters of traditional marriage pause, realizing that the arguments advanced by our opponents will have a “home court” advantage in terms of local receptivity. Proposition 8 was opposed in San Francisco by over 75% of voters, the largest percentage of ‘no’ votes cast in any county in the state.

More concerning than the location of the trial, however, have been some of the pre-trial rulings issued thus far by Judge Walker.

In all previous legal challenges to state marriage laws, the courts have decided the issues without a full-blown “trial” involving witnesses, cross-examination, etc. Instead, the issues have always been decided on a record of legislative history, scholarly articles, social studies, and expert reports. For certain, the individual backers of a ballot initiative have never been put on the stand to have their personal beliefs and motivations questioned. At most, the courts look for legislative intent only in the Official Voter Information Pamphlet published by the State. Other things like TV advertisements, press releases, or even things said publicly by campaign workers are not considered relevant evidence of what the voters intended.

But Judge Walker has ruled not only that everything Prop 8’s backers communicated publicly is relevant evidence, but that even things not communicated to the public are also relevant. Thus, he ordered our campaign to disclose to our opponents all of our private, internal communications about messages considered for use but never actually delivered to the electorate, including drafts of materials that were never used. And, he ordered us to turn over copies of all our internal records and emails relating to the formulation of campaign strategy and messages.

Judge Walker has also ruled that the trial will delve into the personal beliefs of the Prop 8’s sponsors regarding marriage and sexuality. What relevance, you might reasonably ask yourself, could that possibly have to whether Proposition 8 is constitutional? That is an excellent question.

According to Judge Walker’s rulings, our opponents could try to use these things to show that Proposition 8 passed due to animosity or bigotry toward homosexuals. Or that Prop 8 was adopted because of “improper” religious views. Or that prohibiting gay marriage is akin to racial discrimination, in which case the traditional marriage laws may be presumptively invalid.

This is precisely what the plaintiffs in the Perry case are claiming. In fact, the plaintiff’s attorney David Boies told the Wall Street Journal that passing Proposition 8 to restore traditional marriage “is the residue of centuries of figurative and literal gay bashing.”

Thankfully, some of Judge Walker’s rulings have already been overturned by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. But as the trial begins, there is no question that virtually every ruling so far has put traditional marriage at an increasing disadvantage. The consistency with which the judge has sided with our opponents is anything but comforting to supporters of traditional marriage.

But one thing is for certain: no matter how Judge Walker eventually rules in the Perry trial, this legal saga is destined for appeals and a final decision in the U.S. Supreme Court. Ultimately, it will not be Judge Walker’s views on marriage that decide this case, but rather those of the nine Justices on the highest court in the nation.

I have no doubt that the final outcome of the Perry case will conclusively determine the future of marriage for the entire United States. Our legal team is working as hard as possible to win the trial in the district court, and is prepared to fight with every ounce of energy all the way to the US Supreme Court. We are counting on your continued interest and support along the way.

Sincerely,

Andy Pugno
General Counsel for
ProtectMarriage.com Yes on 8

The Manhattan Declaration

2009-12-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.org:

A few weeks ago, a coalition of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders and scholars drafted an impressive document which addresses the sanctity of life, religious liberty and traditional marriage, and calls on Christians to answer the clarion call to act on their conscience. The Manhattan Declaration is thoughtful, moving in its simplicity and truth, and has predictably drawn the reflexive ire of supporters of gay marriage.

The Declaration states, in part, that its drafters are “especially troubled that in our nation today…the institution of marriage, already buffeted by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is in jeopardy of being redefined to accommodate fashionable ideologies.” The Declaration also articulates serious concern that “freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions.”

As the Declaration points out, centuries of human experience confirm that marriage is the sustaining institution for the health, education and welfare of every person and every society. The Declaration also makes three salient points about the need to legally support traditional marriage and the dangers inherent in changing its definition based on the selfish desires of the politically powerful.

1. If the covenantal union of a man and a woman is indistinguishable from
homosexual “marriage,” the religious liberty of those for whom this is a
matter of conscience is jeopardized.

2. The rights of parents are abused as family life and sex education programs
in schools are used to teach children that an enlightened understanding
recognizes as “marriages” sexual partnerships that many parents believe are
intrinsically non-marital and immoral.

3. The common good of civil society is damaged when the law itself, in its
critical pedagogical function, becomes a tool for eroding a sound
understanding of marriage on which the flourishing of the marriage culture
in any society vitally depends.

Where marriage between a man and woman is honored, and where there is a flourishing marriage culture, everyone benefits—the spouses themselves, their children, the communities and societies in which they live. That is precisely what our exceptional team of attorneys is fighting for in federal court right now.

Therefore, and contrary to the core of what our opponents in federal court contend, it is out of love and concern for the greater good of society -- not animus and prejudice – that we forge ahead to defend the definition of marriage that millions of Californians adopted last year.

Since the Declaration was published November 20th, nearly 300,000 people have signed it, indicating their belief that marriage between a man and a woman is society’s most fundamental institution. Opponents have wasted no time going on the attack, threatening to cause disruptions in the diocese of every Catholic bishop who signed the Manhattan Declaration.

Eight days after the Declaration was made public, a post appearing on GayBuzz.blogspot urged homosexual activists to punish Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Catholic Diocese of Oakland for signing the declaration.

Please take the time to support our legal efforts to defend your vote for Prop 8, add your name to the growing list of Manhattan Declaration supporters, and share the document with your friends, family and colleagues.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice
Executive Director

Traditional Marriage is the Pro-child Institution of all Time

2009-12-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:
One of the components of our defense of Prop 8 in federal court includes the use of expert witnesses to drive our point home that Prop 8 is, indeed, constitutional and was not passed on the basis of animus toward homosexuals. From time to time, I’d like to share with you not only our experts’ credentials as they relate to marriage studies, but also some of the informed thought on the issue.

For the past 23 years, David Blankenhorn has dedicated himself to the issue of family policy and family well being, with an emphasis on the institution of marriage. As founder and president of the Institute for American Values, a non-partisan organization devoted to research, publication, and public education on issues of family policy, family well-being, and civil society, Mr. Blankenhorn has extensively written and spoken about these critical issues.

He has looked at the institution of marriage through an anthropological, historical and cultural lens to discern what the institution of marriage is, why marriage has developed in the way that it has, the societal interests marriage serves, and the impact that could result from changing the institution to include same-sex couples. His views are worth a closer look.

Dr. Blankenhorn believes the answer to the question of whether homosexual marriage should be legalized lies in how one defines what marriage is: is it a private, adult commitment, or is it, as he believes, a fundamentally pro-child social institution?

The primary purpose of marriage is to meet the emotional, moral and practical needs of a child by its biological parents, says Blankenhorn. Not that all marriages meet that goal, but that should not minimize marriage’s primary purpose in all corners of the world, spanning all cultures. Valued scholarship on evolution further solidifies that gender-complementary human pairing has ensured that a child will benefit from both a mother and a father, and women will share the responsibility of raising children with men, increasing the likelihood of a child’s success. That fact lays central, Dr. Blankenhorn argues, to the “emergence, universality and continuation of the marital institution.”

He also notes that the evolutionary record demonstrates that men and women, from the beginning, “developed a particular and unusual way of living together – a way of living that would later be called marriage – because to survive and flourish, a human infant needs its father and its mother needs its mate.”

These deeply held views by Dr. Blankenhorn are shared by numerous esteemed anthropologists, sociologists and historians whose scholarship was well established, accepted and non-controversial until homosexual marriage became a political juggernaut. They are also the beliefs of the vast majority of human beings, who subscribe to the underpinnings of traditional marriage.

A team of scholars from Child Trend, a left-of-center, non-partisan research group, said that the most beneficial family structure for a child is one headed by two biological parents in a low-conflict marriage. Child Trend goes on to say that research bears out that “it is not simply the presence of two parents, as some have assumed, but the presence of two biological parents that seems to support children’s development.”

As Dr. Blankenhorn so aptly puts it in his expert testimony for our federal case to defend Proposition 8, “The primary division in our species is between male and female. Scholarship reveals that marriage is the key human institution seeking to bridge that divide so as, insofar as possible, every child’s natural parents will also be its social parents. That is the reason, in a nutshell, why marriage is society’s most pro-child institution.”

Thank you for supporting the centuries-old institution of marriage, for our children, their children, and generations to come.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice
Executive Director

Atheism: It Just Makes Sense

2009-11-30T22:34:00.000-08:00

Californians Tired of Voting on Homosexual Issues

2009-11-19T13:27:00.001-08:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

A recent poll by the Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California reveals that Californians are weary of voting on the issue of homosexual marriage and simply don’t want to revisit the issue any time soon.

While homosexual activists are divided about whether to make their next electoral move to repeal Prop 8 in 2010 or 2012, one thing is clear from the poll: almost three in five Californians do not want to see the issue on the ballot in 2010.

Though we may be spared a formal campaign next year, the tactical work to preserve and protect traditional marriage continues. As we have previously mentioned, those fighting for same-sex marriage are internally honing their campaign skills, actively recruiting like-minded people to their cause, and embarking on a multi-million dollar public relations effort.

In fact, the group Love Honor Cherish has launched what they are calling a first of its kind social networking, all-volunteer effort to qualify an initiative for the 2010 ballot. Visitors to their site can watch training videos, connect with volunteers and download petitions to sign.

While it is unlikely that the new signature drive effort will result in the nearly 700,000 valid signatures required by April to qualify for the 2010 ballot, this is the fourth attempt to overturn Prop 8, exemplifying our opponents’ continued activism. We can only turn back their unrelenting efforts to destroy traditional marriage if we have your continuing financial support.

If you’re questioning where donations are being used, our current legal battle in the U.S. District Court will cost millions of dollars. Two groups now match your gifts, of whatever size, every month. So for every $20 gift, $60 is realized! This is a tremendous opportunity for every charitable gift to be maximized, and I ask for your help to get us through this period of high legal expenses.

In addition to the important victories for marriage across the nation on November 3rd (repealing a same-sex marriage law in Maine, and New Jersey’s governor’s race and Virginia’s attorney general and governor races all being won by traditional marriage supporters), it appears that Californians are remaining steadfast in their desire to protect the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.

I am grateful for your continued support of our efforts to reinforce our society’s institution of marriage from those who wish to strip it of every vestige of meaning.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice
Executive Director

Opponents of Traditional Marriage Hunt for Magic Bullet

2009-11-13T17:42:00.006-08:00

Odd how they have to resort to ~~lying~~ storytelling to justify their cause...

From ProtectMarriage.com:

The mainstream media and blogosphere is still abuzz with the outcome of last week’s victory for traditional marriage in Maine. Much has been made of how this decisive defeat bears on the future of the movement to make homosexual marriage legal across the country. Of course, California remains the epicenter of attention on this issue, as same-sex marriage proponents pledge to return the subject to a future ballot, and the legal suit against Prop 8, Perry v Schwarzenegger, heads to trial.

That is why it was no surprise to learn that in the wake of what was a crushing defeat, supporters of homosexual marriage wasted no time in dusting themselves off and focusing on a key component of their playbook: the field operations. They held an intensive two-day seminar in Sacramento called Camp Courage to teach the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) community the finer points of community organizing, leadership, grassroots development and team building. See full story here.

The seminar focused not only on the various tactics of a grassroots and community-based program, but used as a central point the strategy of storytelling. In fact, participants are encouraged to make their personal stories “flexible to fit into a particular situation” and to have more than one “self story” so that they “can select the most effective one to move the person with whom you’re speaking.”

I can’t help but be struck by the notion that as supporters of marriage between a man and a woman, we don’t have to spend time creating and refining our personal stories, because the “story” of traditional marriage is understood, accepted and revered by the vast majority of Californians, a fact borne out by the clear passage of Prop 8.

But we would be foolish to rest on our laurels while our opponents search for their silver bullet in this debate. While we are clearly on the right side of this issue, we are met by opposition at every turn, including in federal court, to protect marriage between a man and a woman. As we wind our way through the fight for the hearts and minds of Californians and the legal battles we face, your donation helps us preserve the sacred institution of marriage against opposition who are tirelessly at work crafting “their story.”

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice
Executive Director

Rights vs. Rites, Revisited

2009-11-10T22:36:00.000-08:00

The LDS Church has recently supported legislation in Utah supporting gay rights. This is not contradictory to their previous stance on same-sex marriage and Proposition 8. Rather, this is in affirmation of their conviction that civil rights and religious rights are to be protected, as they showed in their support of Proposition 8. Remember, Proposition 8 took no civil rights from same-sex couples. All it did was serve to protect the traditional definition of marriage, which, in the eyes of the church and those of us who supported the proposition, is a religious ritual or rite, not a civil right.

I've been saying this all along - we're not trying to limit people's right to practice homosexuality in their own homes. That's their choice. We're also not trying to hurt relationships or limit people's ability to care for each other. I've said all along that same-sex couples deserve civil rights such as hospital visitation, tax benefits, and other legislatively codified benefits enjoyed by married couples.

My favorite quote from the article:

"The church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage," said Michael Otterson, managing director of the LDS Church's public affairs office.
Otterson added that the statement of support is consistent with the church's prior position on such matters, as well as its stance on marriage. Both are found in the church's August 2008 statement titled "The Divine Institution of Marriage," www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage.

That statement, released prior to California's Proposition 8 vote last year on a constitutional amendment defining marriage, says the LDS Church "does not object to rights regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference."

And in his comments Tuesday night, Otterson underscored the LDS Church's position on marriage.

"The church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman," he said.

In addition to agreeing with Becker's approach to the ordinances, the church also recognizes the proposal attempts to balance vital issues of religious freedom, Otterson said.
"In drafting this ordinance, the city has granted common-sense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations ... "

Ants and Grasshoppers

2009-11-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

Forwarded to me from my sister-in-law:

Two Different Versions .......... Two Different Morals

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away..

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter..

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome.” Then Rev. Jeremiah Wright has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC draft s the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned , is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood.

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make sure that you pass this on to other ants. Don’t bother sending it on to any grasshoppers because they don't understand it anyway.

Should Musicians be Millionaires?

2009-11-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

Why is being a musician more profitable than being a doctor or a teacher? What is it about their value-add to society that justifies the money? Or is it simply the result of an out-dated business model built around unit sales and distribution?

Joss Stone recently put to words something I've felt for a long time on the subject:

"Who said that musicians have to be millionaires?" she asked. "Who made this a rule? We don't need that much money. We only need enough to make music, eat and go on tour."
Of course, that's all for her to say. Stone's contract with EMI is worth a reported £7.5m.

Why can't musician be the same as any other medium-high paying job, particularly if the free market and technology make the product the performer rather than the units (DMCA protected MP3s, CDs) the record industry wants to sell?

Maine Yes on 1 Supporters Targeted

2009-11-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

According to the Kingfisher Column, Yes on 1 supporters in Maine are being sought out by the No on 1 campaign and supporters.

Guys, it's getting old. If you want to terrorize people for their beliefs, there's a quaint patch of land out East you can move to. Way out East. In fact, it's quite popular there to target and terrorize people for their beliefs.

Here in the U.S., we vote rather than attack people for their beliefs. We do it according to our morals. Turns out the majority of the people still have some.

2009-11-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

I've been busy with work the last few days and am now just getting to posting something on Maine's victory for traditional marriage. Thank you everyone for your help, support, e-mails, calls, and donations to the cause. Hopefully the opposition is starting to see that it isn't a simple matter of "informing" us or "educating" us on their practices. We, as a people, sincerely just want to teach and nurture our children in a manner that agrees with the dictates of our consciences and morals.

From ProtectMarriage.com:

November 3, 2009 was an auspicious day for traditional marriage in America. The eyes of the nation have watched and waited for the outcome of a ballot initiative to prevent homosexual marriage from becoming law in Maine. It was the 31st attempt by a state’s popular vote to protect the definition of traditional marriage. Thirty times it had succeeded before, and the stakes were exceedingly high. Both sides needed the victory – one, to keep our nation on the course divined by God and the other to use it as an indication that the national tide is turning away from centuries of understanding and practice of this sacred issue.

But the night clearly and decisively belonged to traditional marriage, with 53 percent of Maine voters restoring the definition of marriage to between one man and one woman!

The outcome was particularly gratifying because the win came in the liberal New England region of our country where surrounding states have legalized same-sex marriage, with Maine widely expected by the media, political pundits and the national gay establishment to follow suit. And our opponents had every advantage: they tapped into vast financial resources of pro-homosexual activists across the country, raising nearly $5 million from all but 10 of our 50 states, claimed a volunteer corps of thousands, and were, of course, the darlings of the media.

Yet the traditional marriage campaign strategically and diligently went about the business of laying bare the experiences in states that have legalized same-sex marriage, sharing with Mainers what legal experts on both sides of the issue agreed would be an onslaught of legal actions against those who chose to exercise their conscience if gay marriage became law.

As a result of what occurred in Maine, we continue to herald that every single time voters have had the chance, they have supported traditional marriage. Voters are tolerant of homosexual relationships, but they draw the line at the centuries-old institution of marriage because they understand the serious consequences to society – especially children – when traditional marriage is dismantled.

In the end, our efforts – buoyed by God’s blessing and the prayers and hard work of many involved in Prop 8 – carried the day, for which we are deeply grateful. Yet with the same breath used to concede the race, our opponents clearly let it be known that they will continue the fight to make homosexual marriage the social norm. And while this particular battle was waged and won in Maine, the message from our opponents in California was equally clear.

Equality California issued a message to their supporters just yesterday urging them to contact President Obama to engage in the Prop 8 legal battle by asking the court to rule it unconstitutional. Make no mistake that our victory in Maine was a crushing blow to the gay activists who continue to fight us in federal court over Prop 8 and who, at this very minute, are directing their efforts to overturn it through another campaign.

We must not and will not rest on our laurels when we know that the other side is more focused than ever to push their agenda after Tuesday’s results. Please help us keep the momentum for marriage going strong by contributing to our fight right here in California. As we learned in the Golden State last year and again in Maine this week, every effort by each individual participating in our mission makes the difference in the final outcome.

Sit and Wait or Help the Fight: 'Yes on 1' Needs You Now!

2009-10-31T14:29:00.001-07:00

As a good friend of mine always said in college, 'It's Go Time!' Voters in Maine are gearing up to vote on Question 1 (a Yes vote ends the legalization of same-sex marriage in Maine) and it's time to help get the vote out and buoy up the campaign as much as possible!

To volunteer to help, go to StandForMarriageMaine.com.
To help spread the word, blog, tweet, FaceBook, and e-mail your friends about this monumental vote in Maine.

Question 1 is to Maine what Proposition 8 was to California. If you truly believe in a free society where religions and families are allowed to teach their children according to the dictates of their morals, you will vote Yes on Maine. See my previous posts on Proposition 8 if you want additional information. Just search this blog for "Proposition 8" or click one of the many tags on the right navigation pane.

Watch out CBS! Obama Admin Hates a Tattle-Tale

2009-10-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

You know the Obama Administration has done something horribly wrong when even CBS is starting to wonder where their numbers for economic recovery are coming from...

Check out the article. Make sure you understand the numbers behind the PRs. It isn't always as simple as it seems...

Standing for Something

2009-10-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Last week the Heritage Foundation released a report detailing some of the incidents of harassment and intimidation that came to those of us who worked for the passage of Proposition 8. The author, Thomas Messner, concluded his report with these words:

When people stand firmly by their beliefs about marriage as the union of husband and wife
despite facing social stigmatization, economic hardship, and other reprisals, they provide
an important example of civic courage and inspire particular virtues that are essential to
the proper functioning of any free and open society.

Sadly, we are all too familiar with stories of Prop 8 supporters who endured antagonism for their beliefs. But as the Heritage report notes, we mustn’t lose sight of the overriding importance of demonstrating courage to live according to our conscience. To fall silent at such critical moments is to fall prey to those who demand so-called “rights” that have far-reaching consequences.

Ironically, those who support homosexual marriage attempt to build their argument by painting traditional marriage supporters with the broad and ugly brush of intolerance, bigotry, prejudice and hatred. Their targets were not only Mormons, as we have previously pointed out, but also those from other denominations and people of no faith whatsoever.

The Heritage Foundation’s report lays bare the myriad of inexcusable offenses Prop 8 supporters experienced, at the hands of those who ostensibly want tolerance. And while the events in this report did indeed occur, they are extreme examples and certainly not applicable to all who worked successfully for the passage of the constitutional amendment on marriage.

Our detractors claim that they will stop at nothing to fully dismantle the societal norm of marriage between a man and a woman, and they are counting on bullying us off our position. However, the people of California have demonstrated that we will not be cowed into walking away from what we know to be best for society and children.

We count on your generous support to continue our efforts.

Thank you for your “civic courage” to forge ahead! The absence of our opponent’s respect cannot deter us from doing what we know is right: protecting marriage between a man and a woman, as God intended.

Sincerely,Ron Prentice
Executive Director

Religion in Politics: Nothing More American

2009-10-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

If you've ever read anything on the founding of this country, you'll note that all those men involved in the drafting of the constitution and establishing of the rights and liberties of this country strongly believed that Providence or the hand of God had more to do with the outcome of their experiment than they themselves had. This tradition of involving God in our political decisions and moral/ethical foundations can and should continue today. We are a religious people. America is and always will be one nation, under God. To pretend otherwise will, I believe, quickly lead us down a dark and well-worn path to destruction.

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Nearly a year after the passage of Proposition 8, one of the most ardent supporters of traditional marriage remains under attack by homosexual marriage activists. The same people who verbally harass and intimidate anyone seeking to defend society’s most important institution are proclaiming the bogus media mantra of “tolerance” and “non-discrimination”. Such attacks have not gone unnoticed by voters, and with vandalism to homes, businesses, and churches, many voters who initially favored same-sex marriage have now changed their opinions.

But when we learned of a Mormon apostle, Dallin H. Oaks, who recently urged members to exercise their freedom of religion in the face of Prop 8 intimidation, even we were surprised by the vitriolic response of four pro-homosexual marriage groups.

In a speech at Brigham Young University-Idaho defending the Church’s involvement in Prop 8, Oaks said “We must insist on our constitutional right and duty to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and the halls of justice. These are the rights of all citizens and they are also the rights of religious leaders."

But gay rights advocacy groups – including Mormons for Marriage, Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, the LDS Safe Space Coalition, and Foundation for Reconciliation – fired back, saying that the Mormon Church’s support of traditional marriage via Prop 8 runs “contrary to core doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Now, back to reality: file the above statement about “contrary to core doctrines” under the “If you say it enough times, people will believe it” heading. The LDS Church in the United States is known, among other things, for its high percentage of registered voters. Not only do they register to vote, they also vote! And, like the rest of us, Mormons vote according to their consciences and moral values. The other side repeatedly states that religious perspectives, and religious people, should have no voice in the public square. No religious perspectives allowed? How silly!

It is a sad day when our allies are recriminated – even if by disaffected church members – for simply exercising their religious liberties, which are protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It is even worse, and a potential precursor to our future, that such attacks continue nearly a year after a majority of Californians passed Prop 8.

We need your continued support to defend our right to protect marriage between a man and a woman and to push back against the radical attempt to silence public expression of religious beliefs. Whether it is in the courthouse or the court of public opinion, we will continue to find ourselves fighting for this liberty against well-heeled gay activists, particularly as California gears up for another statewide initiative to reverse Prop 8 in the coming years.

Most sincerely,

Ron Prentice
Executive Director

Support for Same-Sex Marriage Remains Low, Unchanged from 2008 in US

2009-10-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

There is some reassuring national news in the form of the latest survey on the subject of homosexual marriage conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. In spite of “mainstream” news coverage and other cultural influencers such as television shows, public school curricula and liberal religious denominations, the percentage of those who favor same-sex marriage is virtually stagnant.

According to a story carried by the Associate Press on October 9, only 39 percent of Americans support homosexual marriage, a number that remains unchanged from last year. Of the more than 4,000 people surveyed, nearly half objected morally to the notion of gay marriage. Cast against the backdrop of the Obama Administration’s distaste for the Defense of Marriage Act, the advance of same-sex marriage in Iowa and New Hampshire, Maine’s November ballot initiative and our own Prop 8 legal challenges, an uninformed person may think that marriage between any two (or more) persons was inevitable.

Yet after all the attention that’s been given to homosexual marriage, the people have not been moved regarding marriage’s definition. The study also found that same-sex marriage advocates are almost equally divided over the best way to pursue its legalization, with 45 percent in favor of moving forward aggressively to legalize it as soon as possible, versus 42 percent who believe such a push might create a backlash against gays and lesbians.

Still, we can’t be complacent, and supporters of traditional marriage should be empowered by these numbers. We know that right here in California, with deep disagreement among certain factions in the homosexual lobby, there is a ballot initiative in the works to repeal Prop 8 next year. We also learned last week of the unveiling of a $15 million, three-year grassroots and public education campaign by Equality California to gain public support for a 2012 effort to legalize homosexual marriage.

So, while the national polls continue to show a solid majority of people who favor traditional marriage, our adversaries are strategically and methodically moving forward with well-funded plans to destroy the institution we hold dear. Please donate today to protect the definition of marriage that has been the foundation of centuries of enduring society and family.

Help Marriage in Maine!

2009-10-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

Maine is in desperate need of financial assistance in the fight to protect marriage. If they do not receive additional financial support soon they are at risk of losing the fight. Your support can make all the difference. What happens in Maine will affect the rest of the US. Because of the support from people across the US and Canada California was able to overturn its same sex marriage ruling. We must not stand aside now and let Stand for Marriage Maine’s efforts fail due to lack of funding.

They're calling out for backup! They've done so much with so little. Let's help push them over the top. Protect Marriage!

Please read the message from Stand for Marriage Maine below and consider what you can do TODAY to make a difference!

We knew we were being vastly outspent from the fact that the No on 1 campaign was able to air their advertising upwards of 50% more than our Yes on 1 campaign ads. We had a clue that the other side was awash in money because of the dozens of paid staff members they have on board their campaign. But we never dreamed the situation was as dire as it is: our opponents have raised approximately $1.6 million more than we have and are conducting a financial assault on the institution of marriage. Overall, they have raised an astonishing $2.7 million from gay marriage supporters across the country!

We are in desperate need of additional financial support or we risk losing because our opponents are attempting to buy themselves an election – and destroy the institution of marriage in the process.

The latest financial reports detailing the amount of money that has come in for both sides of the Question 1 campaign shows that our committee, Stand for Marriage Maine has raised approximately $1.1 million while our opponents have raised about 2.5 times more than we have. This is an astonishing financial advantage our opponents have amassed. It explains why they were able to be on the air with ads nearly three weeks before our campaign was able to begin advertising. It explains why they can afford to operate multiple campaign headquarters. It explains how they can afford a statewide staff of field organizers and operate dozens of phone banks. And it explains why the institution of marriage is teetering on the ledge – at risk of being forever redefined in Maine. Our opponents are raising money from across the country from gay marriage supporters who see an opportunity to win their first victory at the ballot box in the history of the nation.

We cannot let them get away with this. We cannot let homosexual marriage activists from virtually every state in the nation decide that marriage will be redefined in Maine. Please don’t let our opponents succeed with this financial assault on marriage. Will you please, right now, make a generous donation to our campaign?

The good news is that even though we are being vastly outspent, we have run a financially prudent and efficient campaign. Our polling shows that we are dead-even right now and in a good position to win the campaign. Voters recall our advertising more so than the ads from the other side. We are defining Question 1 on our terms. And we know that we will win when voters come to understand the many consequences to families, children and society as a whole if same-sex marriage is legalized in Maine.

The only way our opponents can win is if they try to confuse the issue by running millions of dollars in advertising with false claims that we are lying about the consequences of legalizing homosexual marriage. They don’t want to defend the teaching of homosexual marriage to young children in public schools, so they are spending millions to try to deny and deny. They don’t want to talk about individuals, small businesses and religious groups being sued for refusing to support homosexual marriage, so they are spending millions to calls us liars. And they don’t want to explain to voters why the law they sponsored and advocated strips from Maine’s marriage statutes the interests of nurturing children, so they are spending millions making the oxymoronic claim that we are trying to “harm children.” We are trying to prevent 5, 6 and 7 year old children from being taught about homosexual marriage in school against the wishes of their parents and we are accused of “harming children?” If it weren’t so serious, this would be like describing an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ situation.

But it IS so serious. Our campaign strategists, who helped pass Proposition 8 in California and who have won dozens of initiative campaigns around the country, tell us that we cannot win if we continue to be outspent as we have to this point. It is amazing that we are still in a dead heat. We’ve had to cut our voter contact program dramatically. Every week we’ve cut our advertising budget. We’ve eliminated a statewide bus tour that we had planned for next week. We’ve had to cut back on staffing. And collateral materials. And direct mail. Our grassroots organizing has suffered.

Yet still we are in a position to pass Question 1. This is a testament to your strong support and to the common sense of average Mainers who know in their heart that marriage is worth preserving.

But let’s not fool ourselves. We have to raise more money, right now, if we are to pass Question 1. Please make a sacrificial contribution today, as if the survival of marriage depended on it. Because, quite literally, it does.

The campaign reports made available today lay bare the falsehood of our opponents’ claim that they have a homegrown, grassroots Maine-based campaign. The truth is their support has come mostly from the gay activist political elite from all corners of the nation, including Hollywood, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and the Democratic national political machine, Act Blue.com. They have raised money from virtually every state in the nation.

Why are homosexual marriage activists pouring money into Maine? Because never before have they been able to convince voters to approve homosexual marriage. Voters in thirty states have considered this issue, and in all thirty states they have voted to preserve traditional marriage and reject homosexual marriage. But our opponents think they can win in Maine. We are a small state. Raising millions of dollars to spend here will make a big difference. Recruiting hundreds of volunteers to come to Maine will make a big difference. And if they can win in Maine it would be historic. They will use a victory to attempt to convince the media that the mood of the nation has changed and that it is time for America to also abandon the God-created idea of marriage.

Will you let them get away with it?

So much is riding on the Question 1 election. We have three weeks left. We have three weeks to close the financial deficit we are in. We have three weeks to add to our advertising campaign. We have three weeks to buttress our grassroots operation. We have three weeks to talk to Maine voters about the importance of traditional marriage, and the consequences of abandoning it in favor of homosexual marriage.

But all this must start right now – today – and it must start with you and me. We’ve learned an important lesson. Our opponents are determined to do whatever they can to secure victory. We must respond, and respond now. It is up to you. There is no one but you. The only question is, will you be there for us when the fight for marriage needs you the most? We pray you will be.

Thank you for all your efforts to defend God’s precious institution of marriage. We look forward to your continued help. We are counting on you at this critical time.

Sincerely,

Marc Mutty
Chairman
Stand For Marriage Maine

Elected Officials Let Us Down Again

2009-10-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Proposition 8 became necessary as an initiative of the people because the California Legislature and Courts showed a consistent disregard for the people’s will. And late last night, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger again joined with the Legislature in dismissing the will of the people. Under the cover of darkness and at the eleventh hour before his constitutional deadline, Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bills (SB) 54 and 572 into law. It is apparent that “the people” must bring about the necessary reform, as many of our so-called representatives ignore us.

SB 54 mandates that all same-sex marriages that took place in other states or countries on or before November 5, 2008 will be legally recognized as marriages in California. Compare and contrast this new law with Article 1, Section 7.5 of the California Constitution, which you placed into law by voting for Prop 8: Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

SB 572 creates an annual day of commemoration – geared toward public schools and educational institutions – to celebrate Harvey Milk, the first openly homosexual person elected to office in a major city. You may remember that during the Prop 8 campaign those pushing for homosexual marriage proclaimed that school children would not be forced to learn about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. But now, every school district in California is encouraged to honor Harvey Milk specifically for his sexual orientation.

Governor Schwarzenegger, instead of acting on behalf of children and the vast majority of parents who want their children protected from indoctrination in the public schools, has instead folded his tent to the pressures of special-interest. After threatening to veto all of the bills on his desk if he could not reach consensus on the state’s water crisis, our governor decided that he couldn’t “beat them” so he “joined them.”

What are the good people of California to do? We are to continue in coalition, finding more and more like-minded citizens who will stand with us for the traditional family and the protection of children. We must prepare for the continued battle, influencing at the neighborhood level against legislation and special interest groups, and even our governor, to transform the make-up of our representative leadership.

Proposition 8’s success was a huge shot across the bow, throughout the United States, of what can be accomplished through strategic alliances. We know what can be done, and we will move forward, with your help. Please consider a contribution to the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund to help us continue the legal fight to preserve marriage as between one man and one woman.

Harry Reid, what WERE you thinking?

2009-10-12T22:10:00.001-07:00

The news could be wrong, it often is these days (pretty much bought and paid for and this is especially true for the Trib), but I'm wondering what Harry Reid may have been thinking when he signed a petition saying he would support Gay Marriage on a Federal level. Does he or does he not understand the question, "Do you affiliate with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or do you sympathize with the precepts of any such group or individual?"

I'm not going to judge here, but it could mean serious consequences for his standing in the Church. At the very least, I'm pretty sure his temple recommend could be revoked as that is one of the questions asked during a worthiness interview for such a recommend. He's entitled to his opinion, sure, but it does show an opposition to righteousness and eternal values and therefore will likely result in negative judgment in terms of worthiness... Simple: Live the law, receive the blessings. Reject the law, blessings are revoked.

Oh, in case you hadn't heard, here's the article on the subject.

Governor Ignores People, Flops on Prior Decision: EPIC FAIL

2009-10-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

Why would Gov. Schwarzenegger reverse his mind on Harvey Milk day? Money? Peer preassure in Hollywood? Who knows. The fact remains, he's just shown us how weak he can be.

Here's a full post on the story.

From the article:

"We don't know why the governor suddenly changed his mind and decided to impose a radical social agenda in every classroom," stated England. "One possible explanation is the influence of the governor's Hollywood friends. After a biopic on Milk received Academy Award recognition earlier this year, Hollywood political activists began lobbying the governor to sign the resurrected Harvey Milk Day bill. It seems that the governor places more value in the opinion of his Hollywood friends and their values than the values of the people who voted him into office."

Commercial for Yes on 1 (Maine)

2009-10-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

Mormons in Technology

2009-10-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Did you know that we have the LDS members to thank for the following technologies?

Roadometer (predecessor to the modern odometer)
hearing aid
audiometer
artificial larynx
stereophonic recording
television

The Church has continued developing and pushing the limits of technology, in particular in the areas of broadcast media, documentation production, and telecommunications. These areas or of particular interest to the worldwide Church and essential to its governance and communication.

There's a (so far) two-part series on this subject at LDS Tech.
Part 1
Part 2

Harvey Milk Day: Our Children Celebrating Debauchery

2009-10-08T23:08:00.001-07:00

Why the big deal with all the opposition to making Harvey Milk Day a reality in California? Let's just say we're not about to celebrate someone of his ... "calibre".

The man represented SO much more than what the LGBT community would have you believe. If you think you're children should look up to a man who raped a 16 year old boy after seducing him, admitted to being attracted to teenage boys and advocated having multiple sexual partners at one time as right and healthy, then go right ahead, support the bill to make Harvey Milk Day a reality.

Need proof of these claims? "...sixteen-year-old McKinley was looking for some kind of father figure...At 33, Milk was launching a new life, though he could hardly have imagined the unlikely direction toward which his new lover would pull him." (pages 30-31) "It would be to boyish-looking men in their late teens and early 20's that Milk would be attracted for the rest of his life." (page 24) "Harvey always had a penchant for young waifs with substance abuse problems." (page 180) "Harvey confided one night that at twenty-four, Doug was the oldest man Harvey had ever started an affair with." (page 237)

Please help oppose the bill that would force our children to celebrate this man's actions. SaveCalifornia.com has excellent resources on how you can help.

From the site:

BILL FACTS: SB 572 would establish every May 22 as "Harvey Milk Day" in K-12 public schools in California. Children would be taught to admire the life and values of late homosexual activist Harvey Milk, of whom the bill states: "...perhaps more than any other modern figure, Harvey Milk's life and political career embody the rise of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights movement in California, across the nation, and throughout the world."

Under SB 572, children would perform "suitable commemorative exercises," remembering the "life," "accomplishments," and "contributions" of Harvey Milk -- in other words, the entire homosexual-bisexual-transsexual agenda for which Milk advocated. There is no definition or limit to these "exercises," which could include gay pride parades, cross-dressing contests and mock gay weddings, or anything else Milk supported.

According to the reputable biography, "The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk," Harvey Milk repeatedly engaged in adult-child sex, advocated for polygamous homosexual relationships, and told a very public lie because he thought it would get him ahead. Since SB 572 would do "excerises remembering the life of Harvey Milk," kids could be taught to support and emulate these very bad values.

SB 572 would affect children as young as kindergarten. There is no parental notification or consent written into the bill.

BILL STATUS: "Harvey Milk Gay Day" has been sent to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has until Oct. 11 to sign or veto.

(Quotes taken from: Shilts, Randy (1982). The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0312523300)

What We Learned at Conference

2009-10-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

Conference was a bit different this time around. No earth-shattering changes, requirements, or anything like that. It seemed the general topic of the conference was to get everyone to focus on the spiritual basics. Pure, simple pleading to get our spiritual preparations in line with our physical preparations.

There's a great article summing it all up over at Meridian Magazine. While some of us are just starting into the food storage/emergency prep thing, I do think the members as a whole are doing a LOT better in that area now so it makes sense that it would be a back-burner issue now. President Hinckley did give an awesome talk where he related the dream interpreted by Joseph in Egypt (7 years feast, 7 years famine) and then told us to get ready. I'm pretty sure we're living that one now so it's a little late if you didn't listen when he first gave it...

Favorite quote from the Meridian article:

The emphasis on these basic principles suggests that we haven’t been following them as we should. Which brings to mind the well-known story of Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. Every season, even after the Packers had won two Super Bowls, Lombardi would address his players and start with the basics: “Gentlemen, this is a football.” (And Max McGee, the team’s star receiver who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history, would say, “Not so fast, coach, not so fast.”)

There wasn’t a player who didn’t already know what Lombardi would say – blocking, tackling, mental alertness. But he said it over and over because they fell short on execution. Our leaders are obviously telling us it’s time to execute the basics better and bulk up our spiritual preparations to match whatever we’ve prepared for our physical survival.

Having a house full of wheat, beans and rice will be insufficient if we are not strong in spirit and mind as we face prophesied events.

Let's prepare spiritual now in the manner we have been preparing physically.

Standing For Values in America: Defending Marriage

2009-10-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Marriage and the Public Good: Ten Principles is a study published by the Witherspoon Institute, and was created from the content of a conference that highlighted the findings of scholars from the fields of history, economics, psychiatry, law, sociology, and philosophy. Not surprisingly, academic research again affirmed that traditional marriage is in society’s best interest.

The institution of traditional marriage has taken some hits as a result of the increase in divorce rates, cohabitation, illegitimate births, and attention to homosexual partnerships. There can be no doubt that these four developing trends in particular have shaken the foundation of marriage and have had a negative impact on society as a whole.

The Witherspoon report defines the following ten distinct principles that summarize the value of marriage between a man and a woman:

1. Marriage is a personal union, intended for the whole of life, of husband and wife.
2. Marriage is a profound human good, elevating and perfecting our social and sexual nature.
3. Ordinarily, both men and women who marry are better off as a result.
4. Marriage protects and promotes the well-being of children.
5. Marriage sustains civil society and promotes the common good.
6. Marriage is a wealth-creating institution, increasing human and social capital.
7. When marriage weakens, the equality gap widens, as children suffer from the
disadvantages of growing up in homes without committed mothers and fathers.
8. A functioning marriage culture serves to protect political liberty and foster limited
government.
9. The laws that govern marriage matter significantly.
10. “Civil marriage” and “religious marriage” cannot be rigidly or completely divorced from
one another.

As we have discussed before, the benefits of marriage are supported by numerous social science facts. And, as the Witherspoon report rightly points out, “a marriage culture cannot flourish in a society whose primary institutions – universities, courts, legislatures, religions – not only fail to defend marriage but actually undermine it both conceptually and in practice.” Creating marriage was not the job of government and, likewise, government’s job is not to redefine marriage. But supporting the institution of marriage is government’s role, for the common good. Public policy and law should support marriage as an institution, or it will undermine its structure.

Unfortunately, the California Legislature has consistently attempted to undermine traditional marriage – and the public good it serves – even in the face of two voter declarations of strong support for this pubic policy. It’s time for them to start promoting traditional marriage instead of attempting to weaken it at every turn.

The ninth principle listed above – the laws that govern marriage matter significantly – is worth closer consideration as ProtectMarriage.com continues to defend the will of the people in the courts. Law and culture form a dynamic relationship: changes in one ultimately result in changes to the other, and together they constitute the choices that people understand to be available, acceptable, and admirable.

The Witherspoon and Harvard report findings represent the motivation behind the work of the ProtectMarriage.com coalition, that traditional marriage is a vital and exclusive societal value. Indeed, it is that premise upon which we mount our current legal battle over the constitutionality of Prop 8. You and I know that marriage between a man and a woman uniquely results in an impressive and irrefutable array of benefits to society, to children, and to married men and women.

ProtectMarriage.com will continue to engage in the legal battle to defend the passage of Proposition 8. Please support this historic cause by donating today. As we prepare for a hearing on our motion for summary judgment in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case before the U.S. District Court in San Francisco in a couple of weeks, we will keep in our minds what the Witherspoon report so eloquently pointed out: The law’s understanding of marriage is powerful. Judges should not attempt to redefine marriage by imposing a new legal standard of what marriage means, or falsely declaring that our historic understanding of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is rooted in animus or unreason.

If the definition of marriage is altered to become a genderless contract, we will create a culture in which it is impossible to value the unique benefits that a marriage embodies and will, ultimately, lead to those benefits no longer being realized.

I ask for your ongoing, committed help to preserve and protect the preeminent institution of marriage in California. As it is protected, every current and future resident will benefit, not just the seven million people like you who passed Prop 8.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice
Executive Director

Maine Needs Your Help!

2009-09-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Urgent donation help needed in Maine! I just donated - please do your part! From DigArmy:

You are probably aware of the marriage campaign going on in Maine as they're working to keep marriage defined as between a man and a woman. I started talking with Stand for Marriage Maine's campaign about a week ago and have become aware of the pressing need they have for cash donations. Their coffers have run completely dry and they still have a month to go in the campaign. Maine is the second state that has had the opportunity to actually vote on their marriage law. If we lose Maine, the opposition will be able to say that people voted it in.

I was on twitter yesterday and saw a link go by with the comment "I'm obsessively compulsively hitting refresh---donations are pouring in for equality!" I went to the link and they had a goal of 30,000.00 with a graphic showing how much had been donated. I looked at the number and hit refresh. Every time I refreshed, the number increased. In the five minutes that I monitored the page, the amount had risen thousands of dollars. Imagine what damage they can do with that kind of firepower unopposed.

The opposition is martialing it's forces and donations are pouring in to their coffers from gay marriage advocates all over California and other states nationwide. After their stinging loss in California, they can't afford to lose Maine. They're pouring all their attention and resources into the state hoping to tip the election. We need to help our brothers and sisters in Maine. There is a dire need for donations. We can't afford to lose this fight. You can't protect marriage with empty air. Please forward this message to friends, neighbors, churches, ANYONE who can help! and let's get them the help they need to win.

Stand for Marriage Maine's Campaign page is here, click to donate: http://www.standformarriagemaine.com/

It's our turn to help a neighbor! Send this out to anyone you know who also might be able to help! A little from many can go a long way.

Shameless Disregard

2009-09-28T13:06:00.001-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

It’s crunch time in the halls of California’s State Capitol. The Legislature has adjourned for the year, leaving behind hundreds of bills for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature into law, or veto, before October 11th.

Among these many proposals are two bills that threaten both traditional marriage and our hard fought victory for Proposition 8. We need you, as the active defenders of historic marriage, to contact the Governor and strongly urge him to veto these bills.

Senate Bill 54 is the first bill where we need your help. Authored by Senator Mark Leno, (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by Equality California, SB 54 is a direct assault on Proposition 8. And as you are well aware, both Senator Leno and EQCA have long histories of promoting homosexual marriage in California.

If signed into law, SB 54 would legally recognize in California homosexual “marriages” that were performed outside California prior to the passage of Prop 8. This effort is not only an absolute and total affront to the seven million Californians who passed Prop 8, but it is in direct conflict with the language of Proposition 8, which states that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

The Governor needs to hear from you right away. Pro-gay marriage activists claim to have submitted more than 40,000 signed petitions seeking the governor’s favor. We must remind Governor Schwarzenegger that elections and our Constitution matter. The majority of Californians have voted twice now to uphold traditional marriage, and the highest Court in the state has upheld Prop 8. Our governor has a duty as well to uphold this constitutional definition of marriage by vetoing SB 54.

Senator Leno and his friends at Equality California – whose highest goal is to overturn Prop 8 – are trying to circumvent the law, undercut the Constitution and disregard the will of the people. Please make your voice heard by asking Gov. Schwarzenegger to veto SB 54.

The second threat to traditional marriage on the Governor’s desk is SB 572, also authored by Sen. Leno and supported by EQCA. If signed into law, it would designate May 22 as “Harvey Milk Day” in public schools across the state, requiring it to be observed annually as a day of “special significance.” As such, schools would observe this day by conducting exercises remembering and recognizing the life of Harvey Milk, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and first openly homosexual elected official in the United States.

This is yet another of too many examples where the gay lobby is blatantly pushing their agenda on our children in the schools. Sen. Leno would have us believe that they simply want to draw our kids’ attention to the many “accomplishments” of Mr. Milk as a member of the Board of Supervisors. But the bill’s supporters are far more transparent about their motives.

They are shamelessly on record as saying that SB 572 is needed to recognize “Milk's lasting legacy as well as encourage an open discussion about the historical and present-day challenges faced by the LGBT community.” Moreover, in support of the bill they write: “sexuality and gender tolerance should be a core component of teaching and learning about the civil rights movement.”

Remember last year during the Proposition 8 campaign when our opponents said that they would never try to promote their agenda in public schools? SB 572 proves that is not true. These activists could not be any more transparent about their efforts to require our children to celebrate icons within the homosexual movement.

Just as we won the fight to protect our children by passing Proposition 8, we must continue to protect them by demanding the Governor veto SB 572.

Take action today. Please call or write Governor Schwarzenegger and ask him to veto SB 54 and SB 572.

ProtectMarriage.com will steadfastly continue to defend against the efforts of our opponents, who will constantly attempt back door legalization of homosexual “marriage” or forced instruction about homosexuality to our young children, under the guise of civil rights lessons.

Loyally,

Ron Prentice
Executive Director

P.S. Please do not delay your action contacting the governor. Although he has until October 11 for his decision, it could be made any day.

Help Stand For Traditional Marriage in Maine

2009-09-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

The battle in Maine is heating up. Earlier this summer, the state legislature voted to neuter marriage in the state. Because enough signatures were gathered, the citizens will get to vote this November to veto the law. But they need help.

If you don't live in Maine, you can still help get positive information out. One way you can do this is by bumping up pro-marriage sites (so that when Maine citizens do an Internet search, they are able to find good sources of information).

What you can do:
1. The most important thing we can do is donate to the Stand For Marriage cause. Click here and then here.

2. Post the Stand for Marriage button on your blog. Because it links to the "Stand for Marriage" site, it will help its rankings and searchability. Copy and paste the following code into a text box (for wordpress), or an html box (for blogger):

< a href="http://www.standformarriagemaine.com/"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp287/digitalnetworkarmy/yeson1small.jpg" alt="maine" border="0" /></a>

3. If you don't want the button, you can just link to the site in your sidebar: http://www.standformarriagemaine.com/

Thanks!

Education Reform? Impossible.

2009-09-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

A good friend and former collegue of mine has posted this absolutely wonderful article regarding education reform on Campaign for Liberty. In it, he outlines why any effort to reform our current education system will end in failure. One of my favorite quotes from the piece:

To most Americans the public education system is sacrosanct, and to attack it, let along advocate its abolition, is in and of itself immoral. That is because somehow Americans have created and accepted a notion that everyone is entitled to an education at his neighbor’s expense. This underlying assumption was evident in President Obama’s Race to the Top speech when he said that "The future belongs to the nation that best educates its people." A nation has no right or obligation to educate anyone. Instead, the state’s only role is to protect the right of the free individual to secure his education of choice by his own means.

The full article.

Question 1 in Maine: Proposition 8 All Over Again

2009-09-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Marriage is on the ballot in Maine this year! As hundreds of people from across the United States gave to help pass Proposition 8, now is our opportunity to assist Maine’s citizens.

Just as it occurs in California, legislators in other states also ignore the desires of the people and succumb to pressure from gay marriage activists, passing same-sex marriage legislation. This is what happened in Maine. Fortunately, the Maine constitution gives voters the final say. Over 100,000 Mainers signed petitions to put this issue on the ballot as Question 1. A Yes vote on Question 1 this November will preserve traditional marriage and veto the legislative enactment of same-sex marriage.

The outcome of the election in Maine has profound implications for the nation, and for us in California. Never has the homosexual community been able to convince voters to support their position at the ballot box. But they have a chance to do so in Maine. Polling shows the race to be close, and our opponents have some key advantages. Homosexual activists have been working to build a grassroots organization in the state for the past five years. They have the support of Governor Baldacci, who recently headlined a major fundraising event, as well as the Democratic legislative leaders. They are receiving a massive infusion of cash and volunteers from throughout the country.

The stakes are high, because a victory in Maine by gay marriage activists will be trumpeted as a sign that the mood of the country has changed. Despite losing all 30 prior campaigns around the nation, same-sex advocates have been able to convince the media that it is “inevitable” that homosexual marriage will soon be the law of the land. A victory in Maine would give them the “proof” they have been seeking and will encourage the media and our opponents to write marriage off as a relic of history.

If marriage loses in Maine, the push to annul your hard work in California will be significantly impacted. We can expect a full-scale assault on Proposition 8 in every forum – legislative, judicial and at the ballot box. If homosexual marriage wins in Maine, we can be certain that hopes will be buoyed, and tens of millions in dollars will follow to rip traditional marriage from California’s constitution.

The importance of the outcome of Question 1 in Maine has not been lost on our opponents. Already, Equality California and the Courage Campaign are directing massive funding and volunteer support to Maine. They, and gay activist groups around the nation, are urging all their supporters to make Maine the battleground this year. They are encouraging their supporters to take a “vacation” in Maine – spending a week there walking precincts and volunteering in the No on Question 1 campaign. Those who cannot travel to Maine from California are organizing phone banks where gay activists telephone Maine voters to encourage them to oppose Question 1. Thousands of calls have already been made.

And, of course, these groups are making large direct cash donations to our opponents and urging their members to do the same. Because of the infusion of funds from across the country, the No on Question 1 effort has been on television for three weeks now. Their ads portray homosexual marriage as normal, natural, fair and equitable. The underlying message of their ads, of course, is that if you oppose gay marriage you are a bigot.

The good news is that the Yes on Question 1 campaign is mounting a strong defense of traditional marriage. In fact, they have retained the same consulting firm – Schubert Flint Public Affairs – that worked with ProtectMarriage.com to pass Proposition 8 in California. The Stand For Marriage Maine committee has the strong support of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (which covers the entire state of Maine), the evangelical community, local LDS activists and others across the state. National groups including the National Organization for Marriage, Family Research Council Action and Focus on the Family are making Maine a priority.

Stand for Marriage Maine began their own television advertising campaign today. Here is a link to their first spot. However, they only have the funds to keep this ad on the air for two weeks. They must raise $200,000 right away to keep their ads on the air.

Maine is a very small state. It is not possible to raise the necessary $3-5 million solely from donors in Maine to successfully preserve marriage. This is why the Stand For Marriage Maine Committee has asked for our help.

Will you please consider making a donation to Stand For Marriage Maine today? I know that many of you gave sacrificially for the passage of Proposition 8, and I risk offending some by this request. However, some of you may wish to return the favor that was offered to our Prop 8 campaign from people across the country. Whether you can afford to give $10 or $10,000 -- please make your gift today. Every penny will be used to preserve marriage and continue the strong advertising campaign for Yes on Question 1 that is now underway.

Please also forward this email, and the link to the Yes on Question 1 TV spot, to all your friends, family and colleagues. We need every supporter of traditional marriage to understand what is at stake this year in Maine and to help any way they possibly can.

Thank you for your consideration of a financial gift. Also, please pray for our friends in Maine who are working so hard to preserve marriage’s original purpose and intent.

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice
Executive Director
ProtectMarriage.com

PS – Contributions to Stand for Marriage Maine are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions of $50 or more are publicly reportable according to state law.

On Proselyting

2009-09-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

People often ask me why we, Latter-Day Saints, Mormons, actively proselyte both as members and as full-time missionaries. There are many reasons people do, but the best is out of love for others, in particular, our friends. Penn (of Penn and Teller) had someone approach him in a similar manner with a Bible and while his beliefs may not have been changed, he understood and eloquently explained why someone would do such a thing. He also explains why the approach was decent and not intrusive and I think any who would foist their opinions or beliefs on others should take note. Love, concern, and a selfless sense of giving should motivate any such action. Condemnation, judgement, and other un-Christlike behaviours are NOT worthy motivators.

Penn Says: A Gift of a Bible

The Problem With "Modern" Psychiatry

2009-08-18T21:17:00.001-07:00

This has baffled me for some time now. Why is it considered OK to change a person's body to match their sexual desires but not OK to change their sexual desires to match their body? Analogy over on Secular Heretic's blog on this topic.

Hallmark Announces Pro-Gay Cards

2009-08-18T21:12:00.001-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Two weeks ago I shared an example of how some in the clothing industry seem to be more interested in selling the homosexual marriage agenda than they are in selling clothes. (I wonder if shareholders of Levi’s have agreed to take a cut in their dividends to pay for such propaganda?)

Levi’s isn’t alone in connecting its brand with a social cause. Enter Hallmark, stage left, which recently announced it would introduce a line of gay-marriage cards. Along with Levi’s “white knot” scheme, is Hallmark’s motive based on a hot profit opportunity, or a hot opportunity to market same-sex marriage?

A look at the numbers gives us a clue to the answer.

The homosexual population in America is estimated to be between 2% and 3% of the population. In California, where same-sex marriages were performed for five months in 2008, there were less than 18,000 marriages involving fewer than 36,000 people out of a population of over one million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, many from out-of-state. That means that for every gay who chose to marry during that open period, more than 30 did not, in spite of what we were told was a pent-up demand for same-sex marriage.

Is it worth it for Hallmark to pitch a specialized line of cards to this very small segment of potential marriages, or do they have another agenda? I do not know how much it costs Hallmark to create a specialized line of cards, or how many cards they must sell to recoup start-up costs and begin making money. But if homosexuals constitute a singular market segment worth pursuing, why not produce specialized wedding cards for other groups that make up a small segment of the population?

• American Jews are nearly 2% of the population. Why not a card featuring the groom’s smashing of the glass, or other interesting parts of their ceremonies?

• Muslims in America weigh in at over 1%. Why not a card centered on the Nikah ceremony and their colorful traditions?

• What about special cards for Episcopalians (1.7%), Lutherans (2.7%), Presbyterians (1.3%) or Mormons (1.8%)?

• And while we’re on religion, Baptists as a faith tradition (16.3%) are at least five times the number of gays. Ever see a Hallmark wedding card prepared specifically for them?

Let’s not stop with religions and cultures. What about those who wed while skydiving, or scuba diving, or at sporting events? Or those who have no wedding ceremony at all?

Again I ask, if gay wedding cards are a money-maker, why not market to groups who are at least as big as the gay market … and will contribute by producing tomorrow’s customers?

We will be convinced that Hallmark is solely market oriented in pitching wedding cards about gay marriage when we see similar cards oriented toward other similar-sized markets. Until then, their recent “marketing” announcement indicates another attempt to normalize homosexual marriage.

ProtectMarriage.com on Equality California Decision to Pursue a 2012 Election Repeal of Proposition 8

2009-08-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

Statement from Ron Prentice, Executive Director, ProtectMarriage.com:

SACRAMENTO--While Equality California announced today that they intend to pursue a 2012 election year repeal of Proposition 8 and legalization of homosexual marriage in California, it is clear that they do not speak for a unified movement on their side of this debate. The group known as the Courage Campaign said today they will still pursue a 2010 constitutional amendment, forcing Equality California to state that they will also support the 2010 measure if it qualifies for the ballot.

Notwithstanding the decision by EQCA to shift focus to a 2012 election, which they readily admit is a crass political decision, they will lose then just as surely as they would in 2010 or any other year. The people have spoken twice on this issue, both times reaffirming traditional marriage. If asked to do so, they will indeed vote again to protect traditional marriage.”

The pro-gay marriage advocates had all the advantages they could ever hope for in 2008, including a misleading ballot title and summary, the sympathetic (and ultimately proven to be false) claim that a vote for Prop 8 would be a vote to “divorce 18,000 couples,” the benefit of asking for a “no” vote, and a very favorable electorate driven by the historic election of Barack Obama as President. They will never have these advantages again. But for all they had going for them in 2008, they failed, because the people are not with them. In fact, most public polling shows that support for homosexual marriage has peaked and retreated significantly from its high water mark.

ProtectMarriage.com is nonetheless not resting on our victory from 2008, but working aggressively to educate the public and to help the public continue to understand the very vital role that marriage plays in our civil society. While the other side issues many press releases about their activity, we are quietly but effectively building on our majority in California.

Based on ongoing conflict among the pro-homosexual marriage groups, it is still unclear if or when this issue may appear before voters in California. But whether in 2010, 2012, or beyond, ProtectMarriage.com will be ready to defend marriage and emerge victorious again.

Make a Weakness a Strength

2009-08-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

Weaknesses, whatever form they may take, are given to mankind to help us become stronger. If no moral choice was difficult for us, we would never learn how to make righteous decisions. And without that exercise of free agency, we would never learn how to be like our Creator. God is who he is because he chooses to do right at ALL times. Perfect obedience to eternal and universal laws creates the perfect Judge and the only One worthy of universal glory given by all His creations. By following His example, we become more like Him. Overcoming our weaknesses, yes, even homosexual tendencies, is part of the trial that is this life. As we strive to do so, we receive help and eventually those things which once seemed impossible to overcome become areas of strength.

While I believe genetics or physiological makeup may not show the cause of homosexual tendencies, I personally believe people do feel the way they do for a reason; whether that's a choice or not, I do not know. I do, however, know that it doesn't matter either way. Either way, I have to believe, based on people I've known who have gone from one orientation to the other and sometimes back again, that it *can* be mutable and is not simply an unchangeable part of who someone is.

My point is that the debate on what causes these tendencies is secondary to the fact that they can be overcome when one is willing and puts for the correct effort. The same is true for any weakness. However, the media and certain circles would rather focus on the former rather than the latter.

From ProtectMarriage.com:

Two important events took place in the past week, but only one has found its way into the mainstream media. First, the American Psychological Association (APA) issued a report from its task force on “therapeutic responses to sexual orientation.” In the report, strong warnings were issued against therapists attempting to “reorient” homosexuals to heterosexuality. This one got significant press.

Yet at this week’s APA convention held in Toronto, two psychologists released the most recent statistics from their longitudinal study of sexual “reorientation" through therapeutic treatment. This study found that therapeutic work to alter one’s sexual “orientation” has been successful, and remains consistent over time. Therapeutic work, if undertaken, is especially successful when teamed with religious faith. This study has received little to no attention in the media.

While the APA task force issues strong warnings against psychotherapeutic goals of changing one’s sexual “orientation,” another reputable study presents data showing long-term success with reorientation.

Why does it matter? Because the issue of the day is whether or not homosexuality is immutable; that is, can a person’s sexual orientation change? This is one of the critical questions that will no doubt be addressed in the courts of America.

In the battle over marriage’s definition, now moving toward the U.S. Supreme Court, the homosexual lobby proclaims that sexual orientation cannot be changed. In carefully chosen words, pro-gay communications state that gays are “born that way.” They do not say, however, that homosexual orientation is genetic, because research does not agree. But you can bet that immutability will be argued in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case now underway in the federal district court in San Francisco.

Perry v. Schwarzenegger is growing in size and costs, and is shaping up to be the legal case that may decide the fate of marriage’s definition in every state of the country. Issues such as immutability, rights, compelling government interests, and child development will all figure in to materials presented to the Court.

The Proposition 8 Legal Defense Fund has been granted the right to intervene in this case on behalf of the official proponents of Prop 8, to singularly represent the majority of California’s voters who placed traditional marriage into the constitution of the state. Our committee, alone, is defending the will of the voters. And as the importance of this legal case builds, so do the expenses of top-rate legal representation! Our coffers were significantly depleted in defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 before the California Supreme Court. This new Perry v. Schwarzenegger federal court challenge means we will need to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure that lawyers for gay marriage activists do not convince federal judges that marriage can be redefined “willy nilly” (as Justice Joyce Kennard famously commented of state court efforts to overturn Prop 8) and replaced with homosexual, genderless marriage. Please consider a generous gift today to the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund.

The pro-gay lobby’s claim of immutability is one of the things that upsets the African-American community, as gay activists demand their “civil rights,” likening their “plight” to the decades of public and private discrimination suffered by African-Americans.

However, a former administrator at the University of Toledo brings clarity to the issue. Crystal Dixon, fired from her position as Assistant Vice President of Human Resources for her remarks, wrote this in a column to the Toledo Free Press:

As a Black woman... I take great umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are ‘civil rights victims.’ Here's why. I cannot wake up
tomorrow and not be a Black woman. I am genetically and biologically a Black
woman and very pleased to be so as my Creator intended.

And Ms. Dixon was terminated because she spoke her conscience, as a private citizen. This is the course that is being paved in our legislatures and courts across the land: those who disagree with political correctness will be silenced by the imbalanced, irrational laws of “tolerance.”

Please help the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund today!

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice, Executive Director
ProtectMarriage.com

The Voice of the People

2009-08-05T10:31:00.001-07:00

I was reading a passage in the Book of Mormon this morning that struck me as particularly relevant to our current time. Liken the scriptures unto us, a former prophet had told his people, and I believe that applies to us today.

In the passage, the people were being ruled by a righteous king, Mosiah. He was getting old and inquired of his people who they would have take his place. The will of the people was that his son should be appointed King. When his son refused the crown to pursue a mission for the Savior to the unbelievers, King Mosiah proposed that the people change their government to a more democratic format. He recommended Judges and appointed representation by vote of the people.

Then he spoke of the importance of the voice of the people and how it can be used to measure the morality of a society. This is the part that was particularly of interest to our day and time:

Mosiah 29: 26-27

26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.

27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

In our day and time, we often see small groups of people working to force their agenda on the masses. My plea is that we look beyond the small disputes to see the big picture. Tolerance should never lead to general acceptance of that which is morally wrong. When we, as a country or people, accept evil into our homes and lives without questioning the morality of doing so, we come dangerously close to the time that we will be visited with "great destruction" as spoken of by Mosiah.

WSJ Piece Defends Traditional Marriage

2009-08-04T13:32:00.001-07:00

Key excerpt from the article:

It would be disastrous for the justices to do so. They would repeat the error in Roe v. Wade: namely, trying to remove a morally charged policy issue from the forums of democratic deliberation and resolve it according to their personal lights. ...

By short-circuiting the democratic process, Roe inflamed the culture war that has divided our nation and polarized our politics. Abortion, which the Court purported to settle in 1973, remains the most unsettled issue in American politics--and the most unsettling. Another Roe would deepen the culture war and prolong it indefinitely. ...

Lawyers challenging traditional marriage laws liken their cause to Loving v. Virginia (which invalidated laws against interracial marriages), insinuating that conjugal-marriage supporters are bigots. This is ludicrous and offensive, and no one should hesitate to say so.

Kids Asked to Question Their Sexual Orientation in Schools, Game of Life Now Includes Gay Marriage as does Sims 3

2009-07-18T07:17:00.001-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

In some California schools, the moniker “LGBT” now includes a “Q” at the end. What does the Q mean? It stands for “questioning.” Schoolchildren are encouraged to question their sexual orientation and, presumably, work their way through the alphabet to see if they happen upon an orientation that seems to suit them. As if children don’t have enough confusion that naturally arises in their development, they are now encouraged to question their sexual orientation. This is irresponsible and intentional, yet it goes unchallenged by state education officials.

But it’s not just public schools – or Hollywood’s proliferation of gay characters – who want us to believe that “being gay” is common or cool. Now the homosexual agenda – and homosexual marriage – is being pushed on kids through such activities as popular online video games, and formerly trusted board games.

The well-known game of “Life” now gives its players the ability to have a same-sex partner and choose homosexual marriage and child rearing as a way of life. This new development in the game forces unsuspecting parents to confront a discussion about homosexual behavior and gay marriage with their children. In a huge understatement, a gay-friendly blog has commented that the confrontation is “not always welcome.” To make matters worse, the very popular online game “Sims” has come out with an interactive gay marriage option. Gay content is nothing new to Sims. However, in previous versions, the game restricted its players to only allow their gay characters to live together. “Sims 3” has stepped it up a notch and now gives players the chance to marry their gay characters. Electronic Arts, an international distributor of games, announced Sims 3 sold 1.4 million copies in its first week. That’s 1.4 million homes that have children being confronted with gay marriage every time they play the game.

What is a parent to do to fend off this relentless cultural assault on our values? First, be vigilant and pay attention to what is happening around you. Don’t let your children watch any television program or play video or board games that run contrary to your family’s values. Get involved with your children’s school to make sure you know what is being taught, and what interest groups, such as the ubiquitous “gay/straight alliances” are active on campus. Spend time with your children to reinforce the values your family holds dear.

Protect Marriage will continue its work against the ceaseless effort to spread the “gospel” of same-gender marriage to our children. You can help us in our efforts by supporting the Protect Marriage Action Fund. The Action Fund will work to inform parents (and all citizens) of the truth of marriage’s history and purpose, and the homosexual activists’ efforts to advance their special interest agenda in the schools, the Legislature, the Courts and in the court of public opinion. It is a tough task and we have a long road ahead of us. Please help us by clicking here to make a donation.

Support for Traditional Marriage Grows Across the Country and on Capital Hill

2009-07-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

From Brian Brown of NOM California:

Three national polls now confirm an astonishing truth: Support for gay marriage is not growing. Strong majorities continue to oppose gay marriage.

As Maggie Gallagher recently told the press: "Three recent polls (Pew, Gallup and CBS News/NYT) confirm that strong majority of Americans continue to oppose gay marriage, despite the recent push for gay marriage in Iowa and the northeast. Strong majorities of Republicans and independents oppose gay marriage according to the latest Pew poll. Even 41 percent of Democrats oppose gay marriage. Our challenge--and it's an exciting one--is to build an organization that helps translate public opinion into an effective political force, one that helps the views of ordinary Americans get heard here on Capitol Hill and across the country." (You can find links to all three polls at the bottom of this letter.)

Do you realize how revolutionary this news is? These polls turns the conventional wisdom on its head. Gay marriage is inevitable, "they" say, and the media trumpet; there are no arguments against it.

But the truth is very different: After six years of public scrutiny and debate, gay-marriage advocates have failed to persuade the American people. (Help us get the word out! Send this good news to three of your friends.)

And that's in spite of the mainstream media, in spite of the recent court decision, in spite of the massive top-down push to ram gay marriage through blue-state legislatures in New England.

Through it all, the truth shines out. Americans know the difference between hatred and common sense, between the evil of bigotry and the profound good of marriage. Between two dudes, however lovingly committed to each other, and a man who is willing to take on the responsibility of becoming husband to a wife and their children.

Facts are stubborn things. Maybe you have already heard about the big joint statement by Equality California and two other gay rights groups: They will not try to get an amendment overturning Prop 8 on the ballot in 2010. They urge other gay-marriage supporters to abandon the attempt. Why? Because they are afraid they will lose.

According to the LA Times, Ron Buckmire, president of one of the groups which signed the joint statement, said he made his decision after his group went door to door to talk to voters about same-sex marriage in South Los Angeles. "It was a huge success. We had 70 volunteers, working for five hours, knocked on 1,200 doors," he said. And yet after that massive effort, how many hearts and minds were they able to change? Just 50 people, Buckmire said. "Do the math."

Even in the bluest of blue states like California, the American people just don't buy this gay marriage thing.

The Supreme Court looms ever larger in the mind of the gay-marriage movement, a movement dedicated to imposing their values whether we like it or not.

So this week in Washington, I paid special attention, as hearings with Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor wrapped up.

In public, Judge Sotomayor was channeling her inner Scalia. She's having no truck with any living constitution. That constitution is dead, written in stone, as far as she's concerned. All she does is apply the law to the facts.

But Judge Sotomayor suddenly clammed up at the oddest moments. Sen. Chuck Grassley raised the issue of DOMA. And then Sen. Lindsey Graham tried to get her to say something, anything, about how she and the Supreme Court should decide what is a "fundamental right." Graham pointed out the disparity: Ask the good judge about, say, "stare decisis" and she can ramble on at length. Ask her how the Supreme Court decides what a "fundamental right" is... and suddenly she can't say anything at all?

Judge Sotomayor wasn't going to say anything at all that might clue the American people in to her views.

As NOM president Maggie Gallagher told the press, "By refusing to answer basic questions about her views of the Constitution, Judge Sotomayor is not displaying the kind of honesty we expect from judges. All Americans who support marriage as the union of husband and wife--and every American who treasures democracy and freedom--has reason to be concerned."

Kudos to Senators Grassley and Graham for raising the marriage issue. It's probably the single most important case Judge Sotomayor is likely to influence in our lifetime. And remember: The Supreme Court reads election returns. (To help us fight to protect marriage, can you give as little as $5 a month? Or, if a one-time donation is easier, we can use any help you can give us--$10, $20, $250, whatever you can spare--to amplify your voice in Washington and around the country.)

I had my first quintessential Washington moment this week. I was sitting actually in a smoke-filled room (literally! cigars!) talking on the phone about the harassment and intimidation people who speak up for marriage face. The guy sitting next to me, a distinguished-looking man of 70 years or so, says to me, "Excuse me, I couldn't help overhearing you. Can I talk to you about this marriage thing?"

I move over to chat. I explain why marriage matters--it's a universal human social institution, necessary in a way that no other relationship is. When a baby is born, I tell him, there's bound to be a mother somewhere close by, but marriage is how we attach the father to the mother-child bond, so we can make sure men live up to our responsibilities in family and in society.

That struck a big chord. "You are right," he said, "Men are promiscuous." (That's his words, not mine!) "Thank you," he tells me, "I never heard that argument before; that makes a lot of sense."

Meanwhile, this being a Washington scene, every now and again we were interrupted by folks who wanted to say a few words to my new friend. I couldn't help noticing that they kept addressing him as "Congressman."

"I'm a Democrat," he told me. "I'm not going to vote with you on most things, but this gay marriage thing... maybe that goes too far."

Truth is powerful. The only way they can win is if they succeed in silencing and intimidating us. Thank you so much for all you do to encourage and help me--and all of us here at NOM--fight for marriage.

A final note of good news. Next week, I believe marriage forces will be announcing a huge victory in Maine: The people will get a chance to repeal the gay-marriage bill rammed through the legislature this spring. The gay-marriage juggernaut has been halted in its tracks in Maine (thanks to your help!) and the people will decide the future of marriage this November.

And right out of the box, the press is reporting that marriage advocates are taking a fundraising lead. It's a broad coalition, Stand for Marriage Maine, with many players. But we are very, very proud to announce that thanks to your help, NOM has played a key role in pulling together a big chunk of early money to make this happen--$160,000 so far. As the Bangor Daily News put it, "The National Organization for Marriage in New Jersey, which helped defeat a gay marriage movement in California, chipped in another $160,000."

This is great news! But it's just the beginning. If we want really good news to come out of Maine, we'll need your help--all the help you can give us. We'll need your prayers, your vocal support, and your financial sacrifices. I know these are tough times... but we have tough battles ahead. Whether you can spare $5 or $500, we will work to turn your money into more positive, pro-marriage headlines.

We will not be silenced. We will not be intimidated. Be not afraid! Common sense and kindness endures.

We will never ever be afraid to stand up for God's truth about marriage, or for the children who deserve a world where grownups dare to speak truth to power: Marriage is about drawing together men and women in love to make the future happen.

God's blessings upon you and your family--for your friendship and courage and common sense in standing up for marriage.

Gay Community Activists Split over 2010 Ballot Initiative Fight

2009-07-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

The Los Angeles Times reported this morning that several gay marriage groups, including Equality California, have announced that they do not support mounting an initiative in 2010 to legalize gay marriage because they cannot be sure of victory. This announcement took other homosexual groups by surprise and was ridiculed by some of them. This rift shows that there are many factions in the gay community who are determined to pursue their agenda with or without their allies. The recent federal lawsuit (Perry v. Schwarzenegger) seeking to invalidate Prop 8 and the nation’s marriage laws was brought by a new, outside group with independent access to funding. It was only after this group secured the services of two high-profile attorneys to represent them that others in the gay community agreed to support their cause.

CA Legislature Attempts to Undermine Will of People

2009-07-08T23:05:00.000-07:00

As if the Legislature doesn’t have enough issues to deal with given the chronic $26 billion state budget deficit, some legislators are advancing a new bill in Sacramento designed to rip a huge hole in Proposition 8 and further undercut traditional marriage in California.

We need your help immediately to contact legislators and the Governor to oppose Senate Bill 54, which seeks to undermine Proposition 8, and further attempts to sneak this change by the people of California through a legislative maneuver known as the “gut and amend.”

Last week, Senator Mark Leno stripped out the contents of SB 54 – dealing with health care coverage -- and inserted language that would legalize gay marriages performed in other states and nations prior to the passage of Proposition 8. This proposal is in direct conflict with California’s constitution – as amended by the passage of Proposition 8 – that provides only marriage between a man and a woman will be valid or recognized in California. Further, it goes well beyond the California Supreme Court’s decision that allowed to remain valid a limited number of same-sex marriages performed in California last summer before Proposition 8 passed.

It is simply wrong and undemocratic for liberal gay activists like Senator Mark Leno to attempt to circumvent the decision of voters and rewrite our constitution behind our backs with this sneaky “gut and amend” maneuver. That’s why we’re asking you to take action TODAY and urge the legislature, and if it gets to him, the Governor, to oppose this effort to undermine Proposition 8.

Please become an active supporter by opposing SB 54.

Senator Leno’s SB 54 is such a direct assault, and your action will make a difference.

SB 54 will be heard THURSDAY in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. While the odds of stopping the bill here are low, we think that applying pressure now will drive up more no votes on this bill, which helps increase the odds of the Governor vetoing the bill. If the bill makes it to his desk, we are ultimately looking at an effort designed to encourage Governor Schwarzenegger to veto this legislation.

But for now, the fight is in the State Assembly.

Write your state Assembly representative expressing your opposition to SB 54. Ask him or her to vote against SB 54 if it makes it to the Assembly floor.

In particular, if any of the following members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee represent your home area, please call or email them immediately to urge them to oppose SB 54. Your immediate action will send a clear message that Californians are watching and will not sit idly by while liberal legislators attempt to rip a huge hole in Proposition 8.

Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D – West LA, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood)
Assemblymember.feuer@assembly.ca.gov
(310) 285-5490

Assembly Member Van Tran (R – Costa Mesa, Garden Grove)
Trish.zanella@asm.ca.gov
(714) 668-2100

Assembly Member Julia Brownley (D - Calabasas, Oxnard)
Assemblymember.Brownley@assembly.ca.gov
(818) 596-4141

Assembly Member Noreen Evans (D – Santa Rose, Napa)
Assemblymember.evans@assembly.ca.gov
(707) 546-4500

Assembly Member Dave Jones (D – Sacramento)
Assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 324-4676

Assembly Member Steve Knight (R – Palmdale, Victorville)
Assemblymember.knight@asm.ca.gov
(661) 267-7636

Assembly Member Paul Krekorian (D – Burbank)
Assemblymember.krekorian@assembly.ca.gov
(818) 558-3043

Assembly Member Ted Lieu (D – El Segundo)
Assemblymember.lieu@assembly.ca.gov
(310) 615-3515

Assembly Member William Monning (D – Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel)
Assemblymember.monning@assembly.ca.gov
(831) 425-1503

Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (R – Redding, Yuba City)
Assemblymember.nielsen@assembly.ca.gov
530-223-6300

Excerpt from 'Be of Good Cheer' by Thomas S. Monson

2009-06-26T13:32:00.001-07:00

This lifted my spirits today and I wanted to share it with others:

In about March 1946, less than a year after the end of the war, Ezra Taft Benson, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, accompanied by Frederick W. Babbel, was assigned a special postwar tour of Europe for the express purpose of meeting with the Saints, assessing their needs, and providing assistance to them. Elder Benson and Brother Babbel later recounted, from a testimony they heard, the experience of a Church member who found herself in an area no longer controlled by the government under which she had resided.

She and her husband had lived an idyllic life in East Prussia. Then had come the second great world war within their lifetimes. Her beloved young husband was killed during the final days of the frightful battles in their homeland, leaving her alone to care for their four children.

The occupying forces determined that the Germans in East Prussia must go to Western Germany to seek a new home. The woman was German, and so it was necessary for her to go. The journey was over a thousand miles (1,600 km), and she had no way to accomplish it but on foot. She was allowed to take only such bare necessities as she could load into her small wooden-wheeled wagon. Besides her children and these meager possessions, she took with her a strong faith in God and in the gospel as revealed to the latter-day prophet Joseph Smith.

She and the children began the journey in late summer. Having neither food nor money among her few possessions, she was forced to gather a daily subsistence from the fields and forests along the way. She was constantly faced with dangers from panic-stricken refugees and plundering troops.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks to months, the temperatures dropped below freezing. Each day, she stumbled over the frozen ground, her smallest child—a baby—in her arms. Her three other children struggled along behind her, with the oldest—seven years old—pulling the tiny wooden wagon containing their belongings. Ragged and torn burlap was wrapped around their feet, providing the only protection for them, since their shoes had long since disintegrated. Their thin, tattered jackets covered their thin, tattered clothing, providing their only protection against the cold.

Soon the snows came, and the days and nights became a nightmare. In the evenings she and the children would try to find some kind of shelter—a barn or a shed—and would huddle together for warmth, with a few thin blankets from the wagon on top of them.

She constantly struggled to force from her mind overwhelming fears that they would perish before reaching their destination.

And then one morning the unthinkable happened. As she awakened, she felt a chill in her heart. The tiny form of her three-year-old daughter was cold and still, and she realized that death had claimed the child. Though overwhelmed with grief, she knew that she must take the other children and travel on. First, however, she used the only implement she had—a tablespoon—to dig a grave in the frozen ground for her tiny, precious child.

Death, however, was to be her companion again and again on the journey. Her seven-year-old son died, either from starvation or from freezing or both. Again her only shovel was the tablespoon, and again she dug hour after hour to lay his mortal remains gently into the earth. Next, her five-year-old son died, and again she used her tablespoon as a shovel.

Her despair was all consuming. She had only her tiny baby daughter left, and the poor thing was failing. Finally, as she was reaching the end of her journey, the baby died in her arms. The spoon was gone now, so hour after hour she dug a grave in the frozen earth with her bare fingers. Her grief became unbearable. How could she possibly be kneeling in the snow at the graveside of her last child? She had lost her husband and all her children. She had given up her earthly goods, her home, and even her homeland.

In this moment of overwhelming sorrow and complete bewilderment, she felt her heart would literally break. In despair she contemplated how she might end her own life, as so many of her fellow countrymen were doing. How easy it would be to jump off a nearby bridge, she thought, or to throw herself in front of an oncoming train.

And then, as these thoughts assailed her, something within her said, “Get down on your knees and pray.” She ignored the prompting until she could resist it no longer. She knelt and prayed more fervently than she had in her entire life:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I do not know how I can go on. I have nothing left—except my faith in Thee. I feel, Father, amidst the desolation of my soul, an overwhelming gratitude for the atoning sacrifice of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. I cannot express adequately my love for Him. I know that because He suffered and died, I shall live again with my family; that because He broke the chains of death, I shall see my children again and will have the joy of raising them. Though I do not at this moment wish to live, I will do so, that we may be reunited as a family and return—together—to Thee.”

When she finally reached her destination of Karlsruhe, Germany, she was emaciated. Brother Babbel said that her face was a purple-gray, her eyes red and swollen, her joints protruding. She was literally in the advanced stages of starvation. In a Church meeting shortly thereafter, she bore a glorious testimony, stating that of all the ailing people in her saddened land, she was one of the happiest because she knew that God lived, that Jesus is the Christ, and that He died and was resurrected so that we might live again. She testified that she knew if she continued faithful and true to the end, she would be reunited with those she had lost and would be saved in the celestial kingdom of God.8

From the holy scriptures we read, “Behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in [Him], they who have endured the crosses of the world, . . . they shall inherit the kingdom of God, . . . and their joy shall be full forever.”9

I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.

My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.

I declare that God lives and that He hears and answers our prayers. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and our Redeemer. Heaven’s blessings await us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

LDS Prophets Warn of Political Machinations

2009-06-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

Veto Harvey Milk Gay Day in CA

2009-06-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

From DNA:

Heather, at her blog "Does My Vote Really Count ," has a really good posting on the latest efforts to make "Harvey Milk Day" official. This formal recognition of homosexual activism through SB 572, will directly affect all of CA's public school children, and their families. If you want to make a difference, please make note of the following phone #'s, and make the appropriate phone calls!!!

Help Drop Homosexual Activist from Education Department

2009-06-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

From DNA:

Kevin Jennings, founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), was appointed by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to be Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.

GLSEN once sponsored a conference at Tufts University that was advertised to "youth only ages 14 to 21."
Three homosexual activists employed by the Massachusetts Departments of Health and Education led a youth workshop titled "What They Didn't Tell You about Queer Sex & Sexuality in Health Class." Among other activities, the activists guided the students on gay sex practices.
Jennings has spoken publicly about a high school student he once counseled who was in a sexual relationship with an older man -- yet Jennings never reported this abuse to the authorities, the school, or the child's parents.

GLSEN is the chief national group promoting policies to force affirmation of homosexuality in schools, beginning in kindergarten.

Should he be overseeing a major federal program designed to promote the health and well being of students and families? We can only assume, given his past, that he will steer grant money toward programs like those offered by GLSEN that put a homosexual agenda ahead of the rights of parents and the safety of students.

What You Can Do:

Call Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at 202-401-3000 (e-mail: arne.duncan@ed.gov) and urge him to withdraw his appointment.
Call President Obama at 202-456-1414 (email: here) and urge him to withdraw this appointment.

What happens when we ask God to leave...

2009-06-08T07:24:00.001-07:00

*I received this from a friend, but it is so true.

Our economy is hurting. Our unemployment is at a 25 year high. Our stocks, retirements, and savings have taken nose dives. Wars, tsunamis, earthquakes, plane crashes, "climate change"...the liberals blame Bush. The conservatives blame Pelosi and the democratic congress....

But I blame us. The American citizens.

We have asked God to leave our schools, our courts, our government, our public lives...and yet we still expect Him to come calling when we are in need?

Proverbs 1: 24-32 (NLT)
24. "I called you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. 25. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. 26. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you -- 27. when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. 28. "When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. 29. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. 30. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. 31. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. 32. For simpletons turn away from me -- to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency."

We can change our situation. Look for the promises. Remember the Lord.

Proverbs 1:23;33 (NLT)
23. "Come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise." 33. "But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm."

God Bless us. God Bless America.

California School Introducing Grade 5 Students to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual Behaviors

2009-06-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Elementary school teachers in Alameda, Calif., will introduce lesson plans to their educational curriculum beginning next year that address gay and lesbian issues, KCBS News in San Francisco reports.

Kindergarten through grade 5 students throughout the county will be exposed to same-sex educational material aimed at promoting tolerance and inclusiveness.

The curriculum –– which will include lessons to introduce students to “LGBT” (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual) issues –– will be designed to discourage bullying and teasing based on gay and lesbian stereotypes. The plan will be implemented despite objections by parents who complain children are too young to be exposed to the material.

Many parents are condemning the lesson plan as sex education in disguise and are angered that they will not be allowed to exempt their children from the lessons. Opponents decry the curriculum plan as an effort to advance the gay, lesbian and transgendered agenda.

Those opposed to sexual orientation lessons for children are so upset they are threatening to sue the school board, ABC News reports. Promoting gay, lesbian and sexual orientation should be a parents' rights issue, parents say, and is not an appropriate topic for school children.

The Alameda school district's legal counsel, however, recommended the plan because the curriculum does not deal with health or sex education, which are topics that do require opt-out provisions.

“It was the opinion of our legal counsel that this curriculum was not health or sex education curriculum,” school board president Mike McMahon told CNS New.

“If a student responds that one family in the book is made up of a mother, a father, and two children and a cat, you may acknowledge that some families look like this, but ask students for other examples of what a family can look like.”

School Board Member Trish Spencer, who voted against the plan, said she worries that its implementation could lead to the harassment of students who have religious objections to homosexuality. She cited that bullying due to religion is a bigger problem for the district than bullying based on homosexuality.

Also adamantly opposed to the plan is Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families.

“This will be done whether parents like it or not, and it shows the hostility against parental rights and traditional family values,” Thomasson, told CNS New.

Last month, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative to make same-sex marriage illegal that passed in November.

The Alameda school board said it will review its decision to implement the curriculum at the end of next year’s school session.

© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Schools Teaching LGBT "Values"

2009-05-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Can someone explain how we don't have curriculum to teach tolerance for other specific minorities in our schools and yet somehow need to teach kindergarten aged kids about sodomy and other forms of fornication?

Updates from DNA:

California Research Institute has sent out a bunch of updates today. Beetle Babee has been blogging up a storm.

1. The Alameda School district meetings about teaching pro-homosexuality curriculum were all a facade for democracy:

California School Board Forces Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Curriculum on Elementary school Children

2. GLSEN Founder, Kevin Jennings has been asked to be the National Supervisor charged with overseeing “Safe Schools”:

Parents Beware! GLSEN Founder to be National Supervisor for “Safe Schools”

3. LGBT curriculum may be coming to a school near you. Find out and Take action.

CRI: Is “Multisexual” Indoctrination Coming to Your School? Find Out!

Dissent for Gay "Marriage" Growing

2009-05-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

I've often seen many gay activists shouting at the world into a complying television camera that their cause is gaining support amongst the general population. Perhaps they should get out of their caves a little more often. A new Gallop poll shows that contrary to what the media (and gay activists) want us to believe, dissent for gay "marriage" is growing.

Perhaps they think tightly controlled, bought-and-paid-for legislatures and/or governers passing laws legalizing gay marriage constitutes support amongst the general population?

LDS Church Response to Supreme Court Decision on Proposition 8

2009-05-26T23:57:00.000-07:00

Today’s decision by the California Supreme Court is welcome. The issue the court decided was whether California citizens validly exercised their right to amend their own constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. The court has overwhelmingly affirmed their action.

Educating on Value of Marriage

2009-05-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

In the next phases of the efforts to keep the traditional definition of marriage in California, ProtectMarriage.com (the people behind the big push for Proposition 8) is planning on focusing on funding large-scale efforts aimed at educating and informing the general public. From ProtectMarriage.com:

Our opponents have vowed to qualify a new measure to the 2010 ballot to overturn Prop 8. ProtectMarriage.com is moving forward with efforts to fund education and outreach to citizens on the importance of traditional marriage. We begin this effort from scratch and must raise several million dollars to get our message out.
Your contributions sustained us during this long, hard fight to win approval of Proposition 8. We’re in a new phase now and ask for your continued support. Please click here to make a contribution to the ProtectMarriage.com Action Fund to preserve our Prop 8 victory.

If you helped in the past, thank you. If you are able to help now and in the future, please don't forget the struggle it was to get here. We need your help going forward as well!

Click here to visit ProtectMarriage.com and donate what you can to this renewed effort and on-going battle.

Prop 8 Supported by California Supreme Court

2009-05-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

From Nom:
Earlier today, the California Supreme Court ruled 6-1 upholding the constitutionality of Prop 8.

This is a tremendous victory for marriage, or as Maggie put it, "This victory for Prop 8 is a victory for children, for civil rights, and for the common good." Below (and on our website) you can find the full statement we released to the press a few minutes ago.

And it's a particularly sweet victory for NOM, as well. Thanks to your support, we were able to drop everything in the fall of 2007 and pour our efforts into the Prop 8 campaign -- first helping to get Prop 8 on the ballot when the conventional wisdom said it was impossible, then emerging as the single largest donor helping to win the campaign that many said was unwinnable.

Humble Gratitude

2009-05-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

Proposition 8 stands. The definition of marriage has been enshrined once again in the state constitution representing the will and beliefs of the people. Today, I give thanks. Thanks to God, the judges who ruled honestly and fairly on behalf of the people of California. Thanks to those who spent so much of their time and energies in protecting families and upholding righteousness.

Today, we have much to be quietly grateful for.

Storm Brewing for Prop 8 Supporters (Win or Lose)

2009-05-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

Army marching orders and group think propaganda here:
http://www.dayofdecision.com
(Love the use of big, bigger and HUMONGOUS fonts on the page. Really gets the point across in a logical, methodical way)

It's funny - we were ready to accept the decision either way the first time. The LGBT community will not be happy until the rights of those who believe in traditional marriage are completely destroyed. And even then, the result will not be quiet gratitude as the Prop 8 supporters showed at the election but rather a collective "Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah!" followed by Monty Python-esque raspberries - PPPBBBBBTTTTT!!!!

I sincerely hope they prove me wrong, but given the history here, I doubt it.

HUGE victory for marriage in New Hampshire!!!

2009-05-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

From NOM:

A few minutes ago, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted by a 2-vote margin (188-186) to reject amendments to the same-sex marriage bill that had been required by Governor Lynch as a condition of his signing the bill.

Same-sex marriage advocates were SHOCKED! As one blogger wrote: "We were hardly even watching since we thought the vote was such a sure thing." State Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley has been pressuring legislators for weeks in an effort to push this bill through. I'm told the shocked look on his face after the House vote today was unforgettable!

There is already talk of the parliamentary wrangling to come as proponents seek to salvage the bill. More details will follow, but we need to keep the pressure on, urging Governor Lynch to keep his word and veto the bill today!

ACTION NEEDED!
If you live in New Hampshire, please email Governor Lynch again today. Urge him to make good on his promise to veto the same-sex marriage bill. The House refused the religious liberty amendments. Now it's time for him to keep his word, veto the bill, and move on. Click here to send a message to Governor Lynch!

Then forward this message to anyone you know who lives in New Hampshire!

Week in Review from NOM

2009-05-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

From Brian Brown of National Organization for Marriage:

If it's Tuesday this must be Maine! I know it's Maine because I saw a moose!

If it's Wednesday, I think I'm in New Hampshire!

Today Maggie's in D.C., but she's talking to the New York Times Albany reporter about NOM's amazing entry into the tough, tight battle for marriage in the New York state senate. The vote is very close, even though Democrats control all branches of government. Once again, this push for gay marriage in Albany is playing to the base on the part of the Democratic party--and a lot of Democrats don't like it. Let me tell you something: These politicians are going to hear from their voters what the people think about same-sex marriage. Thanks for all your help! (Can you help us continue to be your voice on marriage? Can you give $5, $50, or even, if you have the means in these difficult times, $1000 to protect marriage for this generation and the ones to come?)

Welcome to our crazy world. Of course I wish nobody had to do what I do for a living: fight gay marriage. You and I didn't decide that now is the time to impose gay marriage on unsuspecting voters in the Northeast. But let me tell you something: The people who did are in for an unexpected fight!

In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch is trying to weasel his way out of his repeated commitment to the people of New Hampshire, by saying he'll sign a gay marriage bill if they go back and put in some religious-liberty protections. I mean, don't get me wrong: It's nice that Gov. Lynch personally at least doesn't want to use same-sex marriage to go after churches (unlike some of the base in his party). But politicians who get elected saying one thing are supposed to keep their word. Our press release says it best:

"Governor John Lynch has repeatedly promised voters that he opposes same-sex marriage. When he signed the civil union legislation into law, he told people, 'I still think marriage is between a man and a woman.' Voters believed him, but now he claims that he must look at the issue through a broader 'lens' than being a man of his word. This so-called lens is really just weasel words to explain away why he is breaking his word to voters. It is really unfortunate that he is proving himself to be just another politician who cannot keep his promises. Unfortunately, New Hampshire children and families will pay the price for this betrayal." (We will need your help to defend marriage, in New Hampshire and around the country--can you possibly help us out today?)

His language does nothing to stop schools from taking young children to celebrate a lesbian wedding, as happened in California. His language does nothing to protect photographers and other professionals from being fined because they refuse to participate in something they morally oppose, as happened in New Mexico. Nor does it protect medical professionals who object to procedures like artificial insemination of a lesbian couple.

And it doesn't protect the voters in New Hampshire from a runaway government that doesn't seem to care what they think about the future of marriage. You want to change the definition of marriage in New Hampshire? Put it on the ballot and let the people decide! The only reason not to do that is because your base knows: The people don't want it.

We will fight to be your voice in New Hampshire, Maine (more on that next week), Iowa, New York, New Jersey, D.C. and all across this great and God-blessed country of ours.

Thank you. You are why I do what I do--you, and all our children and grandchildren yet unborn.

"The Greatest Boondoggle in History": Banks Buoyed at Taxpayers' Expense

2009-05-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

"If the goal of Tim Geithner and other regulators was "to rip off the American taxpayer for the benefit of the least-deserving wealthiest people you can imagine, well - mission accomplished."

More here.

Great "Un-News" of the Week

2009-05-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

From NOM:

All the news you never heard this week:

Black pastors in DC rise up when the city council passes a bill to recognize same-sex marriage performed outside the district. City Councilmember Marion Barry, the former mayor of DC, suddenly decides to switch his vote and vote "no." The rhetoric became a little hot for my taste, but the important message is what Barry told the Associated Press: "The black community is just adamant against this." Does the political establishment care? Or are they going to keep taking their most loyal voters for granted? One drama unfolding in our midst.

In Maine, politicians voted for same-sex marriage, knowing that they could please their base and still be safe from the voters' wrath because in Maine, voters have the People's Veto--it's not hard to get same-sex marriage before the people of Maine for a direct vote. A new coalition, the Maine Marriage Coalition, has been formed and we look forward to helping them fight to protect marriage in Maine. (You can fight back! Can you help defend marriage in Maine and across the country, by donating $5, $10, or even, if God has given you the means, $100 or $500?)

In New Hampshire, press reports indicate (and we've heard similar reports privately) that the state senate only narrowly passed a gay marriage bill under intense pressure from bigwig Democrats in Washington, D.C. What kind of pressure? Press reports say the Granite State was warned that the date of the first presidential primary might be switched away from New Hampshire. We can't say for sure whether that happened, but it would help explain the mystery: Why, given the incredible public outcry against same-sex marriage in New Hampshire, and the fact that pro-gay marriage candidates lost two special elections in a row in the last few weeks--why are New Hampshire Democrats pushing this issue on the voters at this time?

Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, may yet save the people of New Hampshire from this unfair imposition of the "base's" values and priorities over those of the majority of the people. As I write, he has not yet publicly said whether he will veto the gay marriage bill in New Hampshire. NOM and the Cornerstone Policy Research Action have launched a new ad, "Promises," showing all the times the Governor has repeatedly told the voters he opposes same-sex marriage. Will he be a man of his word? Here's another important drama--and another area where we need your help. Can you consider making a monthly donation of as little as $5?

But the biggest drama of the week is what gay marriage activists are doing to Carrie Prejean. You can see links below to me and Maggie talking about the attacks on Carrie on national TV. Here's the point I want to make to you: This young woman is not being smeared and attacked for anything she did wrong; she is being viciously attacked for one great thing she did right. She spoke up for marriage, honestly, with great decency and kindness. For this she is under assault by a movement which does not want to debate; they want to silence and harass--so the next person tempted to speak up for truth will be afraid.

We need more young men and women with courage--and a community that backs them up. Do you know a fine young man or woman who wants to speak up for marriage and for life? NOM is cosponsoring (with the Ruth Institute) a student conference with students from all over the country, coming together to figure out how to stand up to the bullies, to find the courage in community to continue to speak for truth on some of the most hostile territory in America--college campuses. Help us find next-gen leaders who want to mine the intellectual resources of The Ruth Institute's Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse and other top scholars in the marriage movement, and to learn how to articulate the pro-marriage message on their campuses. To sign up, visit the Ruth Institute's website or fill out the online application. The conference is being held at the University of San Diego, August 6-9th. Best news: It's free to students. Some travel assistance is also available. Questions? Email Jamie Gruber, Executive Director of the Ruth Institute, at jgruber@ruthinstitute.org.

Stay strong, and would you please do this for me? Pray for Carrie, and for the many (less famous) others in California and elsewhere who are being hatefully attacked not for their shortcomings but solely for their virtues--because they dared to stand for God's truth about marriage. This is a movement which no longer appears to believe that tolerance is a two-way street; a movement that tries to hurt people who've never hurt anyone, in order to intimidate and prevent anyone from speaking up for marriage. They want to divide and distract our attention from the real issue: Gay marriage has consequences.

God's blessing on you and your family always,

Brian S. Brown
Executive Director
National Organization for Marriage
20 Nassau Street, Suite 242
Princeton, NJ 08542
bbrown@nationformarriage.org

NOM Interviews of the Week!

Maggie v. Perez Hilton on Larry King Live

Brian Brown on CNN Headline News

NOM in the News

5/2/09 - Maggie on MSNBC

4/1/09 Maggie, Stephen Baldwin, Shanna Moakler, and Joy Behar on Larry King Live

5/1/09 Brian on MSNBC with David Shuster

5/5/09 Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Campaign to destroy Miss California escalates
By Allahpundit

Maggie Gallagher from the National Organization of Marriage issues this statement. I told you it wouldn't work.

Because Carrie honestly said what she believed in answer to a question-marriage is the union of a man and a woman- she is now the subject of ongoing character assassination.

5/6/09 Calif pageant eyes Prejean for contract violations
The Associated Press

NOM President Maggie Gallagher also issued a statement Tuesday sympathizing with Prejean over the release of her modeling picture and saying it did not disqualify her as a traditional marriage advocate.

"Of course Carrie is not perfect," Gallagher said. "On a personal note, as a former unwed mother, I want to say to Americans: You don't have to be a perfect person to have the right to stand up for marriage."

Help Protect Schools and Children in California

2009-05-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

From ProtectMarriage.com:

As Californians wait for a decision from their Supreme Court upholding traditional marriage’s definition in our Constitution (expected in the next couple of weeks), homosexual marriage activists are ramping up their rhetoric to portray anyone who voted for Proposition 8 as hateful bigots. Yesterday, Equality California released an email that referred to us as being “motivated by fear and hate.” The ostensible subject of the email was their push for the state of California to recognize Harvey Milk Day as a statewide “day of significance,” thereby commemorating Milk in public schools across the state.

Ironically, this same group of same-sex proponents fraudulently argued several months ago that public school curriculum would never promote same-sex marriage! Yet now they are pushing a bill that would require schools to hold ceremonies on campus to honor a man for his sexual identity. We don’t have to imagine what they would require if gay marriage was legal in California. Attorneys representing gay marriage in Massachusetts argued that parents should never have the right to shield their children from homosexual marriage curricula!

A couple of weeks ago, an official with the Human Rights Campaign said on a national television program that supporters of traditional marriage are “outright bigots” who can only prevail through “lying and misrepresenting the facts.”

You can see the strategy that is being used: anyone who disagrees with the aggressive homosexual agenda is a hateful bigot, and any argument against it is based on lies and misrepresentations. Worse still, the media never challenges this characterization by gay activists.

But don’t lose heart! When those who oppose you can provide nothing more than insults, you’re on the right track! The reasons for the protection of traditional marriage come from sound public policy, and people of good will and clear conscience can stand tall for marriage and children.

ProtectMarriage.com Forms New Educational and Advocacy Arms

As we’ve promised, ProtectMarriage.com has formed a 501(c)(3) organization called the ProtectMarriage.com Educational Foundation. The foundation’s charter is to educate the public about the importance of maintaining the historic purpose and meaning of marriage. We will be working with faith communities, ethnic constituencies and citizens across California to advance a pro-marriage, pro-family discussion. We also have established a 501(c)(4) advocacy group, ProtectMarriage.com Action Fund, to promote pro-marriage positions in the Legislature and court of public opinion.

We’re now in the process of finalizing our implementation plans for both groups. The challenge ahead is significant. We will be hiring staff and field organizers across the state. We will be conducting polling and focus groups to refine messages. We will be working with scholars and academic experts on the importance of marriage. And we will be recruiting volunteer leaders in communities across the state to work with us.

This new effort from ProtectMarriage.com Action Fund could not come at a better time. Equality California has just launched a new series of television ads promoting their idea of family. One ad features two gay men and their sons. Another features two lesbians and a teenaged daughter. The children don’t have a mom and a dad, but two “dads” or two “moms.” That is exactly what gay marriage does – it intentionally denies a child either a mother or a father.

Note the positioning here: supporters of traditional marriage are hateful and bigoted, and our opposition’s ads promote themselves as loving couples who are being denied their “rightful” desire to marry (by these hateful bigots).

During the Prop 8 campaign, we never once allowed gay marriage advocates to go unchallenged when they stated, “Gay marriage is not about children.” To the contrary, marriage has everything to do with children! And we cannot allow the accusations and insults to go unanswered, as they could begin to have an impact on people.

ProtectMarriage.com Action Fund and ProtectMarriage.com Educational Foundation will be the organizations that lead the defense of marriage in California. We need your help. Will you please make a contribution of $1,000, $500, $250 or $100 to the ProtectMarriage.com Action Fund to support our work? Of course, every dollar counts, and we will appreciate gifts of any size. We need to pay for polling and focus groups, hire staff and consultants and retain academic experts. Our opponents plan to hire 25 field organizers in the next few weeks and have already launched new television ads. We must implement our plan now! You can make a secure donation by clicking here. As a 501(c)(4), contributions to the ProtectMarriage.com Action Fund are not tax deductible, but contributions are protected from public disclosure.

Several news organizations reported today that our opponents are getting ready to take this issue to voters in 2010. The work that we do together now could make all the difference in whether the institution of marriage as we have known and loved it survives. Please help us defend marriage by making a contribution today.

Marriage Updates

2009-05-06T22:47:00.001-07:00

There is a lot of marriage news and updates today.

1. Maine Marriage Coalition:

In maine, the people can veto the marriage bill signed today and place marriage on the ballot. Unlike CA, no marriages will be performed until after the referendum. NOM has partnered with the Maine Marriage Coalition. They need 55,000 signatures in order to get the referendum.

What you can do:

A. Please read BB's article here.

B. Early financial support will be critical to the effort as the window for collecting signatures will short. Your support today will allow us to start the referendum process immediately when the law is signed, ensuring that the measure does not take effect before the people of Maine have had their say. Please use this hyperlink to make a secure online donation today.

2. Harvey Milk Day in CA: This morning the Senate Education Committee passed SB 572, legislation that will declare May 22 Harvey Milk Day in California. Read article here.

What you can do:

A. Call your own California state senator to say you want him or her to “Vote NO on SB 572, Harvey Milk Gay Day, which a large majority of California parents oppose, which parents don’t want, and children don’t need.”
Find your state senator | Send a pre-written email message opposing SB 572

B. Especially call self-proclaimed “pro-family” Republican Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria and self-proclaimed “pro-family Christian” Democrat Dean Florez of Shafter. Both men, who voted in favor of Harvey Milk Gay Day, want to be elected to statewide office in 2010.

Abel Maldonado (916) 651-4015

Dean Florez (916) 651-4016

C. Lastly, flood Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with phone calls. Leave a message that you want him to “Veto SB 572 like you did last year. Eighty percent of Californians don’t want Harvey Milk Gay Day in public schools. Parents don’t want this, and children don’t need this.”
(916) 445-2841

3. New Hampshire Update:

Despite major flaws in the Senate amendments to HB436, one of which was introduced just today, the House voted NOT to send the bill to a committee of conference, and voted to just send the bill along to the Governor.

A. Read article here

B. Call governor Lynch (603) 271-2121: Remind him of his promise to defend marriage.

Maine Neuters Marriage

2009-05-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

About an hour ago, Maine followed MA, CT, VT, and IA.
Marriage is now genderless in that state. Read Pomegranate Apple's write-up here.

What you can do:

Please be aware of what is going on in your state. Call your representatives—remind them how you feel about marriage.
If you don’t have a marriage amendment, encourage your reps to organize one.
If your state has an amendment, encourage your reps to support the DOMA.

These laws are being changed by a very small minority. They succeed because they are extremely vocal. They talk to their representatives. They call them. They build personal relationships. (They also have a lot of money).

We need to develop relationships with our representatives. Let them know your name.

Every little bit can make a significant difference!

Stop Harvey Milk Day in CA Public Schools/ SB 572

2009-05-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

From Beetle Babee's post:

Action Alert: Oppose the pro-gay “commemorative exercises” of SB 572

Children are already being indoctrinated into the homosexual lifestyle in government schools, but a new bill in the California Legislature would make things much worse.

SB 572 by homosexual activist state senator Mark Leno of San Francisco, a Democrat, would create an official “gay day” called Harvey Milk Day. It would be pushed on every California government school, affecting children as young as kindergarten.

TAKE ACTION NOW

1. EMAIL: Use SaveCalifornia.com’s Email Lobbying System right now to send a pre-written message opposing SB 572 to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and your California state legislators.

2. PHONE: All day Tuesday, call the 6 Democrats and 3 Republicans on the Senate Education Committee to urge them to oppose SB 572. The committee will hear and vote on SB 572 this Wednesday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 4203 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.

Six Democrats who all support the homosexual agenda
Gloria Romero of East Los Angeles (916) 651-4024
Elaine Alquist of San Jose / Gilroy (916) 651-4013
Loni Hancock of Alameda County (916) 651-4009
Carol Liu of Pasadena / Glendale / San Gabriel Valley (916) 651-4021
Alex Padilla of L.A.’s San Fernando Valley (916) 651-4020
Joe Simitian of Palo Alto / Santa Cruz (916) 651-4011

Three Republicans who generally vote pro-family
Bob Huff of Glendora / Yorba Linda (916) 651-4029
Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria / San Jose (916) 651-4015
Mark Wyland of Carlsbad / San Juan Capistrano (916) 651-4038

California’s liberal “Republican” Governor
Call Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to urge him to veto SB 572 if it reaches his desk. Tell him, “I want you to oppose Harvey Milk Gay Day in public schools like you did last year. This bill takes away from academics, parents don’t want it, and children don’t need it. Veto SB 572.” Call the Governor to leave a message at (916) 445-2841.

Good News for Marriage

2009-04-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

Uplifting news from National Organization for Marriage:

I have so much good news to tell you about marriage.

Good news? On a week that started with Miss California losing her dream of the Miss America crown--just because she thinks, like you and me and the Main Street majority--that marriage means a man and a woman?

Yes!

Let's start with Miss California. Think about it. At the exact moment when media is pushing one main manufactured message point--give up, despair, the younger generation is on our side, you have no hope--what happens?

A gorgeous 21-year-old beauty queen is asked in a split second to choose, as Maggie Gallagher writes, between the truth and the tiara, between her convictions and the crown, between courage and capitulation.

It was, as a San Diego pastor friend of mine put it, a real "Queen Esther" moment for Carrie. Her faith was tested and she passed with flying colors--she showed the whole world the crown that she is really seeking, didn't she? How many others are taking inspiration from that moment--taking renewed courage to show our convictions--to act to support marriage?

Thanks to Carrie, 20 million or more young adults who support marriage have a new voice for their views, and a new platform to reach out to their friends, neighbors, peers. If Miss California has the courage of her convictions, how can they--or any of us-- stay silent any more?

By the way, far more young adults are on our side on this issue than the media would have you believe. In California, one of the most liberal states in the nation, 45 percent of young adults voted for Prop 8. Is it so hard to imagine persuading another 5 to 10 percent of young people about the importance of marriage as the union of husband and wife? Thank you, Carrie, for launching a youth counter-revolution on marriage!

Perez Hilton, the "celebrity blogger" who asked the question, clearly thought he would manufacture yet another gay marriage moment. Well he did, but not in the way he thinks. Thank you Perez Hilton for giving us Carrie Prejean.

Perez Hilton also underscored the main message of NOM's "Gathering Storm" ad: Gay marriage as a movement is not about quietly letting two men live as they choose--it's about changing how the rest of us live, what we can say, what we believe, what our children and taught. It's about imposing a new morality on the American people--misusing law if possible, harassing, intimidating, and punishing those who disagree with same-sex marriage into silence and submission. (If you doubt me, see the video that Perez Hilton put up himself on his website about Miss California--he's totally unashamed of what he did, isn't he--he's proud.)

But most Americans are appalled at the way she was treated.

We'll be working hard at NOM to help get Carrie's message out to the next generation--and to the politicians and judges bent on redefining marriage.

My goal this week is to find 20 people willing to make a monthly pledge to NOM. Can you reach down and sacrifice $1 a day for marriage? That's a monthly pledge of $30. If that's beyond your means, what about 5 cents a day for marriage--that's a pledge of $1.50 each month? Alone they can intimidate us; together we can stand for truth. Help us be your voice for our shared values: to defend truth, and decency, and civility and the liberty of all Americans, including Carrie Prejean, to stand for marriage in these troubled times.

Here's my personal pledge: Your sacrifices will make a difference.

Other good news: Victory in New Hampshire! I don't just mean the unexpectedly tough fight gay marriage advocates are having in New England generally.

Jeb Bradley's campaign this week for an open senate seat in New Hampshire turned into a referendum on same-sex marriage when Judge Bud Martin said he favored gay marriage. NOM jumped in to help, and, thanks to your courage for standing up for your conviction--Jeb Bradley won with 61 percent of the vote! This is the first test of how the gay marriage push is playing in New England and its not good news for folks who are claiming opposition to gay marriage is over.

As Maggie says, politicians might want to think twice before consulting that noted political strategist Meghan McCain about gay marriage. Rudy Giuliani (not a social conservative but a really smart man) also jumped into this debate--making it clear that he opposes same-sex marriage. That's his judgment about how this gay marriage push is playing in a blue state like New York.

In Connecticut, gay marriage advocates expected to quietly pass implementing legislation the court had ordered. NOM's "Gathering Storm" media campaign, highlighting the religious liberty consequences of same-sex marriage--along with outreach to voters by NOM and other groups including the Family Institute of Connecticut--generated a flood of calls. The two leaders who were pushing SB 899, Michael Lawler and State Sen. Andrew McDonald, are the same two characters who proposed a bill which would take control over church property away from churches and into the hands of government-approved boards. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice...? But the people of Connecticut were not fooled. The senators walked into the chamber expecting they could just pass the bill; instead the public outcry and an internal revolt among conservative Democrats provoked the surprise headline of the week: Connecticut passes substantive religious liberty protections.

It's not perfect. It's not by any means all that we want. We will never back down on the important of protecting marriage as the union of one man with one woman. We will fight for God's first great truth about who we are as human beings.

But let's savor a totally surprising victory on the most difficult turf under the worst circumstance--a court ordering gay marriage. The Connecticut religious liberty protections are a real, totally unexpected victory that shocked the mainstream media--and you made it happen.

Thank you.

You'll notice from our "NOM in the News" clippings appended that Maggie and I are spending a great deal of time speaking up in public to the media; it's an honor to be your voice for our values. Just to let you know: The New York Times took a nasty shot at Maggie (see Frank Rich's column, "The Bigots' Last Hurrah"). Don't worry. Maggie will continue to speak with courage and civility for marriage as a great good. We won't descend to their level. We can take the hits because we know the truth doesn't change; we know that marriage is good. Name-calling can't change the truth. (See for example, Maggie's great comments to the New York Times on Miss California, "The truth over a tiara.") Gay marriage advocates have the big donors and the big media on their side. We have two things: the truth, and you. Your support is what makes NOM's work possible. Thank you. (To donate, click here.)

Another bit of good news: Orson Scott Card, one of the great authors of our times (and a noted science-fiction writer in particular) has agreed to join NOM's board of directors. What courage from a great artist in these times!

We're moved and grateful for Orson Scott Card and for so many people, of all races, creeds and colors, are coming together to support marriage. (For more information see NOM's press release here.)

Keep the prayers, the letters, and the phone calls coming. We appreciate everything you do to make sure that, as Maggie likes to say, "truth and love will prevail over hate and lies."

Thank you!

And God bless you and your family,

Brian Brown
NOM

Miss California Stands Up for Beliefs, Takes Heat

2009-04-20T09:57:00.001-07:00

I'm not one for pageants, I admit, but I do believe that those competing should be allowed to state their opinions and not be afraid of reprimand for doing so.

Miss California, when asked her opinion of so-called "same-sex marriage", said that "marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised." Good for her. She shouldn't feel ashamed of standing up for what she believes in. No one should.

Religious liberty is one of the founding principles of this country. Let the woman believe as she wishes and don't tread on her right to express that belief!

Fighting the Good Fight For Marriage

2009-04-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

The battle continues across the country for defending marriage, parental rights, and religious rights. I don't have much time today, so I'll post this uplifting e-mail from NOM's Brian Brown:

Let me step back from the news headlines and tell you what is really happening out there.

The ultimate goal of the architects of gay marriage in this country is to get inside your head and make you feel despair. Make you feel alone. Make you feel powerless. They need you and me to give up. That's the only way they can win.

They know that only one thing stands between them and their peculiar drive to end marriage as we know it: the good sense and good will of the American people.

Even with all the enormous powerful assets on their side: a news media almost uniformly sympathetic, an enormous war chest of money fueled by wealthy donors, a network of powerful people capable of punishing anyone who disagrees, backed by angry netroot mobs licensed to hate good Americans who speak up for marriage: They cannot take their case to the American people and win.

Not in California, not in New York, not in Connecticut, not even in Vemront. As NOM's president, Maggie Gallagher, kept reminding the news media during their "big mo" message meme: One thing that hasn't changed is the opinions of the American people. Only one-third of Americans in the latest (March 12) CBS News poll said they support same-sex marriage.

This is a movement dedicated to imposing gay marriage on you and your children, whether you like it or not.

(Now I know by the way that not all gay people or gay marriage supporters think like that. And even for those who do, in the midst of this vigorous battle for God's truth, we are charged with the task of nurturing charity in our hearts towards the people with whom we disagree.)

It's clear now that the last two weeks Iowa-Vermont-DC-New York-New Hampshire were a one-two-three-four punch that was part of a coordinated strategy with one single goal: to engineer a story line that the marriage debate is over--gay marriage advocates have won. It's over. Despair is the only option.

Instead something extraordinary happened: You didn't give up, you fought back!

In New Hampshire, thanks to Cornerstone Policy Research, hundreds of people crowded the capitol to protest the gay marriage bill. Kudos to Kevin Smith's leadership. Thanks to you NOM was able to reach out and help spread the word in New Hampshire using sophisticated technology--and the people of New Hampshire responded to the call to speak truth to power! Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire just announced he's with us on marriage.

In nearby Rhode Island, Catholic Online reported that "Gov. Donald Carcieri announced he would throw his support behind the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM)."

Well I wouldn’t necessarily put it that way, but the feisty NOM Rhode Island chapter, under the leadership of new executive director Chris Plante, generated local headlines with a Providence press conference and rally to announce NOM's new "Gathering Storm" media campaign. Thanks Gov. Carcieri, and all the good people of Rhode Island who stood up for marriage!

In Connecticut, thousands of calls are flooding the legislature to protest SB 899, a bill that supposedly "implements" the Connecticut court decision by repealing protections against using public schools to propagandize for gay marriage. Once again you helped us swing into action to help in this fight. Within 24 hours of learning that the bill was being taken up NOM hit the airwaves with a brand new radio ad. (You can hear the ad, and all of NOM's ads, here. Help us take this message to the next level--can you donate $10, $40, or $80 to put a marriage ad on the radio today?)

And yes, we're working on New York and New Jersey too--more on that in the future.

In Iowa, we are working with Congressmen Steve King to contact thousands of Iowans to personally urge them to call their legislators and let them know: Same-sex unions are not marriages. Iowans want the chance that Californians and people of 29 other states have claimed for themselves: the right to take this issue out of the hands of judges and politicians and to decide the future of marriage themselves.

Do not believe the sophisticated media spin: The battle in for marriage in Iowa and elsewhere is not over. We have not yet begun to fight!

Speaking of the media campaign, it has been an enormous success: Millions of people have viewed our "Gathering Storm" ad, which you can see here. In fact, we broke into the top 100 videos on YouTube in the entire country. Thank you. (Stephen Colbert even made fun of our ad last night. The "Colbert Report"--now we've really made it into the big time! Thanks, HRC!)

(Help us spread the word! Believe me, we understand that not everyone can give money. We appreciate all you do: your prayers especially, your words of encouragement, your courage in speaking out in your own community, your willingness to email and call politicians and alert your friends. But the battle for marriage is urgent now: We need your help. If God has given you the means can you give $10, $50, or $100, today to protect marriage?)

This first ad in our $1.5 million media campaign helped us kick off our much larger goal: recruiting two million for marriage . (A side note: No, we don’t call it "2m4m," that's what MSNBC's gay-marriage advocate and sometime journalist Rachel Maddow called it--amazing how much stuff they just make up while calling our side "liars," isn’t it? Silly stuff.) The response has been so tremendous so far, I'm thinking of renaming it: ten million for marriage!

(If God has given you the means, can you reach down and spare $2 a month for marriage? Just $2 a month can help us find two million Americans to work with you to defend marriage. Or if God has given you the means, can you spare $20 a month? Or even $200 a month?)

Another amusing side note: At the same time that HRC's Joe Solomonese called us liars and bigots on national TV for noting that same-sex marriage has consequences for religious liberty, the Washington Post published an story on... how scholars agree that same-sex marriage has consequences for religious liberty. ("Faith Groups Increasingly Lose Same-Sex Marriage Battles," April 9.) Nice timing, that Joe!

The gay marriage advocates interviewed by the Washington Post were unashamed about cutting off religious people's rights: "We are not required to pay the price for other people's religious views about us," said Jennifer Pizer, director of the Marriage Project for Lambda Legal, a gay rights legal advocacy group.

Finally, the Washington Post acknowledged that even worse may be to come: "Some legal analysts suggest that religious groups that do not support gay rights might lose their tax exemptions because of their politically unpopular views. Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University who supports same-sex marriage, said current law 'puts us on a slippery slope that inevitably takes us to the point where we punish religious groups because of their religious views.'"

We're telling the truth about what gay marriage is going to mean--for children and for faith communities. That's what’s making the Human Rights Campaign go ballistic.

Finally, I'd like to close by sharing with you an extraordinary interview Maggie Gallagher did with Dallas Morning News columnist Rod Dreher:

Rod Dreher: Maggie, you and I are on the same side of the gay marriage issue, but I am pessimistic about our chances for success. You, however, are optimistic. What am I missing?

Maggie Gallagher: Vaclav Havel mostly. "Truth and love wlll prevail over lies and hate." On that basis Havel took on the Soviet empire. Where is that invincible empire now?

Same-sex marriage is founded on a lie about human nature: "there is no difference between same-sex and opposite-sex unions and you are a bigot if you disagree."

Political movements can--sometimes at great human cost and with great output of energy--sustain a lie but eventually political regimes founded on lies collapse in on themselves.

I don't think of myself as optimistic: just realistic. What does losing marriage mean? First the rejection of the idea that children need a mom and dad as a cultural norm--or probably even as a respectable opinion. That's become very clear for people who have the eyes to see it. (See e.g. footnote 26 of the Iowa decision.)

Second: the redefinition of traditional religious faiths as the moral and legal equivalent of racists. The proposition on the table right now is that our faith itself is a form of bigotry.

Despair is gay marriage advocates' prime message point. All warfare, including culture war, is ultimately psychological warfare. You win a war when you convince the other side to give up.

So now you want to decide we've lost on an issue where, in the March 12 CBS News poll two-thirds of Americans agree with us. I mean, does this make sense?

...People are flocking to the National Organization for Marriage (www.nationformarriage.org), not because we try to scare them about how bad things are going to be--but because we offer them a chance to come together with other people of all races, creeds and colors to stand up for a core and timeless good.

Here's what I know that maybe you can't see: There are enormous untapped energies out their waiting for someone to organize them effectively.

RD: It's my view that our side has lost this battle, at least in the long run, because we've lost the culture. Bottom line: I believe we should retreat to a strategically defensible position while there's still time. You disagree. What's wrong with my analysis?

MG: Rod, you are bargaining with yourself by saying "give up marriage and focus on religious liberty protections." The proposition on the table is your faith is a form of bigotry and Americans don't grant religious liberty protections to bigots.

Conceding the main point--that our marriage tradition is a good and honorable thing that deserves respect--is not going to help you win any religious liberty protection.

We need to build effective grassroots organizations in blue states. Or we are going to lose marriage. And religious liberty.

Abandoning the 60 percent or so of Americans who agree with you on marriage isn't going to help you win any fight at all.

We need to do a lot of things but one of the key ones is: we have to find the people who care about marriage and organize them into an effective force. Especially in blue states.

We don't do that, the churches are going to get rolled.

I don't have time for pessimism. The stakes are too high.

Hope is a virtue. Despair is not only a temptation, it's the greatest lie of them all. Because we know who wins in the end, don't we?

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be your voice for God's truth about marriage.

Keep me in your prayers. You are in mine.

Oppose CR 92 | No Forced Day of Silence

2009-04-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Congressional Resolution 92 will receive an up-or-down vote on or before April 17, which is the National Day of Silence -- a day when students across America are encouraged to show their support for the homosexual community by refusing to speak. On, pril 17, thousands of public high schools and increasing numbers of middle schools will allow students to remain silent throughout an entire day-even during instructional time-to promote GLSEN's socio-political goals and its controversial, unproven, and destructive theories on the nature and morality of homosexuality.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=481090 The CR 92 seeks to affirm congressional support for the event and encourage local education authorities to adopt policies that prevent bullying based on sexual orientation. Laurie Higgins (IFI) explains: "It requests that the president issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the National Day of Silence with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities." Bullying is wrong across the board. There is no need to focus only on sexual orientation. What you can do:

Call your school ad ask whether the administration and/or teachers will be permitting students to remain silent during class on the Day of Silence.
If students will be permitted to remain silent, parents can express their opposition most effectively by calling their children out of school on the Day of Silence and sending letters of explanation to their administrators, their children’s teachers, and all school board members.
Call your representative and ask him/her to vote no on CR 92.

Iowa Desparately Needs Your Help!

2009-04-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

I know I've just been reposting a lot of mailers from prominent advocates of traditional marriage lately, but it's about all I can do right now given other demands on my time. Suffice it to say that by reposting, I too am adding my voice theirs.

On that note, a message from protectmarriage.com:

Following the Iowa Supreme Court's unanimous ruling Friday that overturned state law protecting marriage as between a man and a woman, organizations across the country are urging ALL citizens to contact Iowa lawmakers. The Iowa House DOES have the ability to protect marriage by passing House Joint Resolution 6 (HJR 6), known as the Iowa Marriage Amendment.

HJR 6 is the first step toward giving Iowans the chance to vote to protect marriage, in response to the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling.

In order to debate HJR 6, the House must force it out of committee with a procedural vote. The House Republicans are prepared to initiate this procedural vote, but to pass it they need your help!

Take Action

Please contact the House Democrats listed below, and ask them to vote to bring HJR 6 out of committee. These legislators have indicated they support traditional marriage and therefore, they SHOULD vote to bring the IMA out of committee.

Representative Brian Quirk – brian.quirk@legis.state.ia.us, 515.242.6436 (desk)

Representative Mike Reasoner – mike.reasoner@legis.state.ia.us, 515.281.3238 (desk)

Representative Kurt Swaim – kurt.swaim@legis.state.ia.us, 515.242.6417 (desk)

Representative Larry Marek – larry.marek@legis.state.ia.us, 515.242.6442 (desk)

Representative Kerry Burt – kerry.burt@legis.state.ia.us, 515.281.7342 (desk)

Representative Wayne Ford – wayne.ford@legis.state.ia.us, 515.281.4061 (desk)

Representative Nathan Reichert – nathan.reichert@legis.state.ia.us, 515.281.7332 (desk)

Representative Paul Shomshor – paul.shomshor@legis.state.ia.us, 515.281.7325 (desk)

Representative Phyllis Thede – phyllis.thede@legis.state.ia.us, 515.281.7336 (desk)

Sincerely,

Ron Prentice
Chairman
ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8

Sad Day for Vermont... and Our Nation.

2009-04-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

From NOM:

By only one vote, the Vermont House just voted to override Governor Douglas's veto, overturning the common sense definition of marriage shared by people of diverse faiths, backgrounds, nations, and political parties. Today is truly a sad day for Vermont and this nation.

But we take heart in knowing that this vote was not representative of what Vermonters understand marriage to be. We know that the Vermont Legislature did everything in its power to avoid allowing Vermonters to vote directly on the future of marriage.

In the wake of the Iowa Supreme Court decision and Vermont Legislature's action, the National Organization for Marriage will tomorrow launch a new national ad campaign that highlights how same-sex marriage undermines the core civil rights of those who believe in the simple truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

Today is indeed a sad day, but let all of us who understand that marriage is the union of a husband and wife redouble our commitment to ensuring that same-sex marriage does not spread throughout our nation, that religious liberty is protected, and ultimately that marriage is restored in these states as well for the sake of our children and grandchildren.

Iowa Needs Your Help

2009-04-04T19:38:00.000-07:00

From NOM:

We have just three weeks in which to bring HJR 6 to the floor for a vote in the Iowa House. If we can get it to the floor, I am confident it will pass.

Unfortunately, the measure is being blocked by the House leadership, and will require a 2/3 majority to even bring it to the floor. Already, Iowa legislators are hearing from their constituents, and some are even canceling town hall meetings and other public events simply because they don't want to face voters angry about their unwillingness to stand for marriage.

Let's keep the pressure on!

We have identified a list of 33 Iowa House members whose support will be critical to our efforts to bring HJR 6 -- the Iowa Marriage Amendment -- to vote by the full House during the last two weeks of this year's legislative session.

These 33 legislators need to know how critical this issue is, not only to their own constituents, but also to the entire nation, as the Iowa decision will embolden and energize gay marriage activists all across the nation. The Court had it wrong -- "The traditional notion that children need a mother and a father" isn't "based more on stereotype than anything else." It's based in common sense, natural law, and the very essence of the way God designed the family structure. Marriage is about moms and dads -- raising their baby together.

But gay marriage activists are targeting these legislators, too. We have a short window of time to act before this year's session ends and need your help today.

Together we can send a message to the Iowa House of Representatives: Vote YES on HJR 6, and let the people vote to protect marriage!

Religious Liberty Threat in Connecticut

2009-04-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

The Lawlor-and-McDonald-controlled Judiciary Committee in Connecticut just passed a same-sex marriage bill -- without religious liberty protections! For the second time in a month, Lawlor and McDonald have used their Judiciary Committee roles to attack religious liberty and people of faith in Connecticut.

Last month, they failed in their efforts to involve the state in matters of internal church governance -- but only after an historic uprising from the people of Connecticut. But now they're back at it again with a bill to enshrine last year's CT Supreme Court ruling into statute, without any substantive protections for churches, religious organizations or people of faith. In the process, they fought off amendments that would have given conscience protections to Justices of the Peace, limited teaching on homosexuality in the schools, and protected religious liberty rights of churches and religious organizations (like Catholic Charities!).

SB899 was approved by the Judiciary Committee this past Monday evening, and now goes to the full Senate, where there will be efforts to add a religious liberty amendment to the bill. NOM has just launched a radio ad campaign in Connecticut focused on protecting our religious liberties. (Listen here.)

If you live in Connecticut, please use this link to send an email to your state senator and representative, urging them to support a religious liberty amendment to SB899.
Then make plans to attend the Rally for Religious Liberty in Hartford at 10:00am next Tuesday, April 7th. The rally is being sponsored by the Family Institute of Connecticut, and will meet on the North Steps of the Capitol (overlooking Bushnell Park). Please help us have a great turnout on Tuesday!
For those living outside Connecticut, please forward this email to anyone you know who lives in Connecticut. It was only because of the tens of thousands of calls and emails that we were able to defeat the last attack on the Church in Connecticut. We need to get everyone we can involved in this effort to protect religious liberty in Connecticut! Click here to forward this message to five friends right now!

Now is our chance to step up and help protect people of faith in Connecticut. If we don't act now, we'll soon begin to see Connecticut penalizing religious organizations just as we've seen in Massachusetts and New Jersey -- stripping adoption licenses, taking away tax exemption -- all because an organization refuses to go against its core religious beliefs.

Please take action today. We need your help!

Iowa Judges Impose Same-Sex Marriage

2009-04-03T12:31:00.000-07:00

From NOM:

The Iowa state supreme court summarily rejected that state's marriage laws and imposed same-sex marriage.

As I told the press, "Injustice has been served today. The gay marriage movement today once again used the courts to push an untruth on unwilling Iowans: Same-sex unions are not marriages and Iowans should not be forced to treat them as such."

I also reminded the press: "The majority of courts as well as the majority of Americans have rejected the arguments the Iowa judges imposed." There is no more a constitutional right to gay marriage than there is a constitutional right to have your cat called a dog, because after all they are both small furry animals with four legs and a tail.

Reading the decision is like watching another bit of the fabric of our civilization unravel:

Why do same-sex couples need marriage? "The inability to obtain for themselves and for their children the personal and public affirmation that accompanies marriage." Translation: "Iowans don't think two guys pledging to a homosexual union are a marriage. So we, the guys with the fancy law school degrees and the black robes, the ones who know better than ignorant you, are going to give same-sex relationships the public affirmation the public hasn't."

The most heartbreaking sentence however is Footnote 26.

In Footnote 26 these justices conclude: "The traditional notion that children need a mother and a father to be raised into healthy, well-adjusted adults is based more on stereotype than anything else."

Justices? Injustices. I hate being right about something so sad: but gay marriage really is about rejecting the natural family, the importance of bringing together the two creators of the child, the mom and the dad, to raise their baby in love together. The Iowa court ruling once again makes that connection crystal clear.

Read it and weep.

Or if you are like me, read it and rise up to fight for the truth! Fight for justice for our children, fight for love of the core values of our own (and any decent) civilization.

Rep. Steven King in Iowa has issued a stinging rebuke to this court and a stirring call to the Iowa Democratic leaders to permit the people of Iowa to decide the future of marriage. We'll be partnering with him and other Iowans to urge the legislature to act now to reverse this injustice.

The battle ahead is immense. This is one of the legislatures "flipped" by gay billionaire Tim Gill--exactly in anticipation of this moment. If I have your support, I know the fight is worth it!

Can you help us at this critical time by giving $50, $500, or even, if God has given you the means, $5,000 to support marriage? Can you afford to pledge even $1 a month to support marriage?

25 for UFI: Be a part of 30 years of defending the family

2009-04-01T23:20:00.000-07:00

The values that we stand for are under attack. Motherhood, fatherhood, marriage, life, liberty, and family are all in the crosshairs of radical and liberal organizations and governments. The opposition wants abortion to become a basic human right. They want parents and religion replaced with government. They want to destroy marriage all together. The anti-family movement is hard at work at your state legislature and in Washington, D.C., they take their agenda to the United Nations and seek to topple the institution of the family around the globe. Liberals have a stronghold on Europe, and they are looking to expand.

For more than 30 years United Families International (UFI) has fought against the anti-family opposition. UFI representatives have traversed the globe defending the unborn and protecting the traditional family. Local UFI chapters watch state legislatures and work with pro-family lawmakers to ensure that the family has a voice inside statehouses across the country. Our ECOSOC status at the UN allows UFI to collaborate with UN delegates to insert pro-family language into UN treaties and resolutions. At times when others are weak, UFI stands their ground and protects the family values that we hold dear.

25 for UFI is your chance to join United Families International in the fight for the family. 25 for UFI seeks to find 1,000 individuals who will give $25 for the protection of motherhood, fatherhood, marriage, life, liberty and family. The 25 for UFI campaign has almost zero overhead, so you may rest assured that your donation will go directly to the international battle for the family. Join us, stand with UFI, and be a part of this worthy cause.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE AT www.25forUFI.org

Your financial contribution keeps the work moving forward (and as a bonus, is 100% tax-deductible).

Help Protect the Right of Conscience

2009-04-01T23:04:00.001-07:00

For the past few weeks we have been fighting an uphill battle to protect the right of conscience, currently under attack by the Obama Administration, but now we have a chance to make a difference in the U.S. Senate!

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has proposed an amendment in the Senate that would protect the right of conscience for health care workers! The Senate is scheduled to vote on this amendment TOMORROW afternoon.

Contact your Senators today and tell them to vote YES on the conscience protection amendment!

This amendment is crucial in our fight to protect doctors and nurses around the country from being discriminated against for refusing to participate in abortions and other medical procedures that violate their conscience.

Sadly we have already seen cases of discrimination. For example in 2008 a nurse was forced to leave two different hospitals because she refused to sign a form pledging to assist in abortions.

Please act NOW and tell your Senators to vote YES on Senator Coburn’s amendment.

Thank you for joining me in standing up for the right of conscience!

For Life,

Marjorie Dannenfelser
Susan B. Anthony List President

eHarmony Goes Gay

2009-03-31T23:11:00.000-07:00

I remember hearing about this last fall and now the site, eHarmony.com, is launching Compatible Partners, a gay matchmaking site foisted upon it as a result of a discrimination lawsuit settled last November. For anyone who still thinks redefining marriage grants rights to homosexual couples and doesn't hurt anyone else, read on.

Read it at Los Angeles Times

Public Support for Protecting Marriage is Increasing

2009-03-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

From the National Organization for Marriage:

Here's the totally unreported good news you won't get anywhere else: Public support for protecting marriage as the union of husband and wife is increasing!

The Public Policy Institute of California's latest poll also reports the same basic result: increasing public support for marriage and against same-sex marriage. Forty-nine percent of Californians now say they would oppose legalizing gay marriage, compared to 44 percent who say they favor it. That's about a 5 percent jump in support for protecting marriage compared to PPIC's last poll in October before the elections.

And remember: Both Field and PPIC polls consistently under-counted support for Prop 8 last November. PPIC predicted just 44 percent of Californians would vote for Prop 8, while 52 percent actually did!

Clearly there's a public backlash against the campaign of intimidation being waged, and a new willingness to stand up for marriage.

New Hampshire House Rejects then Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill

2009-03-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

From NOM:

The New Hampshire House voted this morning to reject the same-sex marriage bill on a 183-182 roll call vote, only to reverse position moments later on a motion to reconsider. On motion to reconsider, proponents successfully pressured 3 representatives to change their votes. The bill then passed the House by a 186-179 margin and is now headed to the Senate.

Please take a moment today to send an email to the members of the New Hampshire Senate. Thanks to your efforts, we nearly pulled off an unexpected victory in the House. With your help today, we can make the difference for marriage in the Senate. Click here to send your message.

Just three weeks ago, we were expected to lose by a wide margin in the New Hampshire House, but because of your efforts very nearly pulled off a shocking upset victory. Those on the ground in New Hampshire are telling us that your efforts -- contacting NH legislators and supporting the NOM Northeast Action plan -- were critical as we were able to send thousands of emails to New Hampshire lawmakers and run radio ads throughout the state.

Unfortunately, a loss is still a loss, and we have lots of work ahead in the Senate. Please join us in contacting the NH Senate today.

We also need to expand our Northeast Action Plan so that our radio ads continue to be heard throughout the Northeast. Can you spare $25, $50 or $100 today? Click here to make a secure online donation.

Vermon Legislature on the Loose!

2009-03-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

From The National Organization for Marriage:

If we don't act now, by the end of the week, Vermont could become the first state to adopt same-sex marriage legislatively -- without a court order hanging over their heads.

I need two things from you today. It'll only take about 5 minutes, but your action could make the difference for marriage, not just in Vermont, but in the nation. Once the floodgates open in Vermont, it will be easier for other state legislatures to follow suit.

We need to remind these legislators that their constituents are watching, and that they will be held accountable for their votes. We can't let them forget that 17 Vermont legislators lost their seats over civil unions in 2000. Urge them to adopt a proposed amendment sending the same-sex marriage bill to the people of Vermont for a vote. Tell them this is too important an issue to ramrod through in just a few days -- with no real public debate.

Here's where things stand: Despite our best efforts, the Vermont Senate passed Senate Bill 115 Monday night on a vote of 26-4. The vote sends the bill to the Vermont House, where the leadership is expected to try to push it through quickly -- a committee vote is likely within the next day or two and a vote of the full House may come before the end of the week.

While the Democratic leadership claims to have enough support to pass the bill, our efforts this week are critical. Working together, we can stop this, and at the same time put Vermont legislators on notice that the nation is watching, and that their constituents care about marriage. Even if the leadership succeeds in ramming the bill through this week, the margin of passage is critical. Governor Douglas opposes same-sex marriage, and is considering a veto. The House vote is certain to be closer than the Senate vote, and we need to keep the pressure on.

One legislator told the Burlington Free Press yesterday that he'd received 300 calls and emails about the same-sex marriage bill (an unheard-of number in Vermont!)-- and that supporters of same-sex marriage outnumbered opponents by a 2-1 margin! Let's correct the record, and make sure that every pro-marriage Vermonter contacts his or her legislators today!

Here's what I need you to do:

Contact the members of the Vermont House. If you live in Vermont, your action today is critical. Even if you've taken action before, please use this hyperlink to send a message to all 150 members of the Vermont House of Representatives, urging them to respect the voice of all Vermonters, and send this to the people for a vote -- not rush it through in just a few days.

Even if you don't live in Vermont, please send a message letting the Vermont House know that the nation is watching, and urging them to respect the voices of their constituents -- let the people vote!
Forward this message to every person you know in Vermont! Click here to send this email to five friends! We have three days to get every pro-marriage person in Vermont to contact their legislators, and we need your help!

Thank you for all you're doing to stand for marriage. The need is urgent, and we couldn't do it without your help.

Brian S. Brown
National Organization for Marriage

Marriage in Vermont is in jeopardy TODAY!

2009-03-23T08:37:00.001-07:00

This afternoon, the Vermont Senate is holding a rare special session to vote on a handful of bills including S.115, the same-sex marriage bill. A vote on the SSM bill is likely to take place sometime after 3:00pm. Unless we take decisive action now, it looks increasingly likely that the bill may pass.

Please take action before 3pm today! Send emails to every member of the Vermont Senate to let them know how important protecting marriage is.

Even if you're from out of state, help us send a message to the Vermont Senate.

And especially if you live in Vermont -- TAKE ACTION NOW!

1. TAKE ACTION! Use this hyperlink to send a message to all 30 members of the Vermont Senate, urging them to respect marriage and the voices of their constituents by voting NO on S.115.

2. FORWARD TO A FRIEND! Then, click here to forward this email to five friends, especially anyone who lives in Vermont. We must get this email into the hands of as many Vermonters as possible before 3pm today!

Even if you sent a message to the members of the Judiciary Committee last week, please take action today!

What's in a Word?

2009-03-21T13:13:00.001-07:00

What's that, don't like the current definition of a word? Why not just change it? That's exactly what Merriam Webster decided to do. They've settled the debate for us. Turns out we've been wrong all these centuries about marriage. Luckily they were there to set the record straight (or ... gay?). For these many centuries, we've been mistaken, you see. Marriage, it turns out, was in need of redefining by an official source.

It's not news (change was made in 2003), but it shows how politicization of the dictionary continues to influence public policy. You can read the full report here.

Perhaps they should reexamine some other hotly debated definitions while they're at it. After all, it seems the popular thing to do these days. I've been wondering why we call the sky blue or the grass green. After all, it's all a matter of opinion, isn't it?

One Man Stood For Us

2009-03-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

Just read this moving story about the UN hearings on abortion over on Beetle's blog. My favorite quote from the man who stood for the unborn child and family:

One delegate from a small country told us that he finally yelled at the other delegates, “I cannot join you! It would go against the instructions from my capital! It would go against ideals of the people in my country! And, it would go against my own personal beliefs! I will not change my vote!”

Read the article.

What New England Can Learn from Proposition 8 and California

2009-03-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

As things are heating up in the North East, I wanted to take a few minutes to write down some of my thoughts on what went well defending Proposition 8 here in California and what we could have done better.

What went well:

Donations: As everyone knows, individual contributions to the campaign sent the totals soaring far above predictions. While the media has made a big fuss of large religious groups' contributions, individuals made up the vast majority of the funds. Without individual sacrifice and commitment, Prop 8 would have been severely underfunded.
Closet Voting: In California, it often seemed the pro-traditional marriage supporters were going to be overrun by the loud same-sex marriage supporters. However, the reality was that we had many supporters who were simply quiet until election day. Don't let your people get discouraged by the vocal minority. Remember that the quiet citizens get the chance to vote too and shouldn't be intimidated by the likes of Frank Karger and his hate militia.
In it for love, not hate: I know this was chanted quite heavily by the opposition, but the truth is, we all need to remember this. We aren't supporting marriage because we hate homosexuals. We love our brethren and sisters, even if we disagree with their choices. Keeping that in mind while having your property vandalized or being screamed at is difficult, but necessary. Spend time talking to the youth in your church about this. It will be very hard for them at school. The young men in my ward were spit on, pushed, even attacked simply because they were Mormons. Help them understand how important it is to stick together and to find people who share their beliefs in the crowd. You'll both be surprised at the galvanizing result. So many of the boys who were on the fence before Prop 8 saw the world for what it really is and came away that much stronger in the Gospel of Christ.
Support each other: I mentioned this for the youth, but it was critical for the adults as well. Some of your friends will be apathetic at first and need encouragement. Remind each other that tolerance does not mean acceptance of sin nor does it mean your rights are less valuable. Find ways to meet and discuss the core issues at stake.
Be more informed! People started doing this more towards the end of the Prop 8 push. I wish it had been an earlier step. Every citizen needs to ask themselves: Why is marriage important to society? What are the consequences of same-sex marriage on our own marriages? Is marriage a civil right? Bring up these questions early and touch on the points frequently. The opposition will do everything it can to ignore the facts and spin their own version of a possible reality. However, their reality has been proven time and time again to fail. Every government that has embraced same-sex marriage has seen an erosion of civil, personal, and religious rights. Comment if you need further proof of this - Beetle Blogger's Blog is a great place to start.
Cool heads: Stay calm. Those that were able to stick to this had more success in just talking with their friends and neighbors about defending marriage. Some people's minds are so closed that they can't be convinced to even consider an alternative solution to what they see as a great injustice. There are compromises that allow everyone to have rights and privileges without tearing down the institution of marriage. When people are unwilling to listen to these, move on and hope they listen at some future point in time. Getting upset with them just builds a higher wall between you and won't accomplish anything in the long run.
Community Organization: The Prop 8 campaign did a great job of leveraging grass roots efforts and connections to build a successful body of mobilized supporters. Making sure everyone has a part to play, whatever that is, is essential. We may not all be sign wavers or phone bank callers, but we can all do something and that little bit helps a lot when everyone pitches in.

What could have been better:

Community Organization: I mentioned the grass-roots effort and I think it was very effective. However, since Prop 8, the opposition has gone truly digital and if Prop 8 were up again right now, I believe they would beat us in organization. Leveraging social networks, online connections, and other forms of media is vital going forward. One example is that within a community, you might have 2-3 people willing to walk streets knocking doors. However, if you were to take those 2-3 people and add them with the 40-50 others in surrounding areas, suddenly you could have a very focused, talented group of people who could do a lot more good on an under-covered area. If we want to win in the NE, we need to be better about forming virtual communities of people.
Word of Mouth: Too many people kept their mouths shut during Prop 8. There are so many people just wondering where to turn to for information. Often, the only people they trust are the ones they've known the longest. If you, as a friend, keep your mouth shut, they'll continue wondering and likely make the "popular" choice as portrayed by the heavily biased media.
Use of Internet: I put this here again for emphasis. All intelligence and knowledge flows from God. Nothing has been created by man that was not given to him through the inspiration of God. We under utilize the greatest communications gift God has ever given this earth. Too often, we see or hear of the sleaze and filth that is transported on it and forget that it was given to us for a greater purpose. If we fail to learn how to use it as the tool it was intended to be, we waste a precious gift and effectively hand this gift over to Satan and his followers for their use.

Cover for Obama's anti-DOMA push?

2009-03-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

From NOM:

Why are the gay marriage folks pushing so hard at this time--risking alerting the vast bulk of Americans that the politicians are pursuing their own priorities and not the people's? Make no mistake: The hard push by the hard left for gay marriage in New England is part of a larger strategy. They want to provide cover, an excuse, for Pres. Obama to fulfill his campaign pledge to overturn DOMA--the one federal law that protects marriage as the union of husband and wife, and protects your state from having to recognize same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

They are counting on us to remain apathetic, divided, to stay in our own little shell where we feel helpless, instead of joining together into an effective and influential national movement.

NOM's vision has been to create an army of marriage supporters--friends who help friends fight for marriage. Go here and listen to NOM's radio ad. Then ask yourself: Can you spare $5, $10, or $500 this week to help us make sure truth and love prevail?

Because I will tell you what I believe with all my heart: Some things are too important to be left up to politicians and judges. Some truths are so core they must be defended. "Truth and love will prevail over lies and hate."

Economy: Removed Clauses and Fingerprints - Whodunit?

2009-03-19T12:47:00.001-07:00

The mystery over who killed a provision in the stimulus package that would have curtailed bonuses at bailed out companies is a disturbing D.C. whodunit. But even more disturbing is what it reveals about how our government is run. "It is the ultimate indictment of what Washington has become," Sen. Ron Wyden, co-sponsor of the eliminated provision told me. "It's a place where, again and again, the public interest is deep-sixed without any fingerprints." Wyden has no idea who killed the provision. And, so far, no one in the administration of a president who promised that transparency would be a "touchstone" of his presidency has demanded that whoever is responsible own up to it. We deserve better.

Click here to read more.

Obama Seeks to Repeal Conscience Clause

2009-03-18T13:25:00.001-07:00

As of March 9th, President Obama has indicated his intent to repeal the conscience clause. This clause was put in place by former President Bush to protect health providers from having to act against their moral conscience in areas such as abortion. This repeal would have a direct impact on Catholic hospitals, doctors and nurses. It would make it illegal for hospitals and physicians to refuse to perform abortions. The public has 30 days to respond to the proposal. Please help me get the word out to all who are concerned.

Below is the link to a petition sponsored by the American Center for Law and Justice. Please read the petition and sign it, then forward it as appropriate.

http://www.beheardproject.com/

Same-Sex Marriage Battleground Shifts to North East

2009-03-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

From NOM:

While California was the focus throughout 2008, the Northeast promises to be ground zero in the marriage debate throughout 2009 and 2010, as state legislatures in not only Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, but also in Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York, consider bills to legislative create same-sex marriage in those states.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

If you live in one of the Northeast states, and haven't yet contacted your legislators, please do so today! Visit www.nationformarriage.org to get started. In five minutes or less you can make your voice heard with an email to your own legislators, as well as the committee members considering the marriage bills.

But there's work for all of us to do! Even if you don't live in the Northeast, we need your help to stop one of these states from becoming the first state to legislatively adopt same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage affects all of us -- already gay marriage advocates are using same-sex marriages from Massachusetts to challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

We know that the American people don't want gay marriage -- they've rejected it now in 30 out of 30 states where they've had a chance to vote. But many elected officials, especially in New England, think that people just don't care enough about same-sex marriage, and that they can vote for same-sex marriage to please a vocal minority without any real opposition from the majority that oppose it.

So tell your friends in New England to visit www.nationformarriage.org to send a letter to their elected officials.

Personally, I'm not surprised. As a member of the LDS church, I've been told for decades that marriage and the family would come under direct attack. The prophets and apostles have been declaring this since before my time. I've quoted one of the more prominent examples here on my blog:

'Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat.'

--- Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Oct 1978

My goal is to ensure MY record stands. I'm not perfect, but I can do what I can. Please do what you can.

Hollywood: Tax Me If You Can

2009-03-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

Picked this up on Digg.com. Normally, Digg just frustrates me. Too many selfish people with too much time on their hands and too many liberal causes to justify. Every once in a while though, some sane bit of news miraculously manages to bubble its way to the front page and upset the "community". It probably hasn't had enough attention yet, but I'm sure it'll ruffle a few feathers eventually.

Anyway, on to the story.

I've always thought of Hollywood as the biggest front in the US. On the one hand, actors, directors, producers, etc. spout off all manner of holier-than-thou socialist views while netting more individual wealth than many poor countries. It's a nice little scam they've got running down there in Hollywood, isn't it?

Well, to prove the point and give everyone a nice, glaring example of the hypocrisy, Hollywood would like to thank you for your increased taxes going towards all of their pet projects and agendas but gracefully declines the "opportunity" to bear that same burden. How so? Hollywood has been telling us for years that businesses and investors can handle a higher tax burden. After all, those are the guys with all the money, right? Why can't they share (oh man, that reeks of hypocrisy already, doesn't it)? So when the NY government approached the film industry doing business in NY and asked them to cancel a 35% tax credit (effectively asking them to put their money where their mouth is), Alec Baldwin, "noted supply-side economist", cried foul.

From the article:

"I'm telling you right now," Mr. Baldwin declared, "if these tax breaks are not reinstated into the budget, film production in this town is going to collapse, and television is going to collapse and it's all going to go to California." Well, well. Apparently taxes do matter, at least when it comes to filming "30 Rock" in Manhattan.

And it's not just Alec. His views are shared across the industry. Threats are running rampant across the US as Hollywood seeks the greenest pastures for tax incentives. Studios and actors are behaving exactly like those "evil big business execs" they've been pointing fingers at for years. The funny thing is that at the same time, they're calling for more and more government spending and taxing to help "level the playing field" in the US. Snakes have stiffer moral fiber.

One of my favorite snippets from the article:

Of course, this is the same Hollywood film industry whose members fund causes and candidates that favor raising taxes on everyone else. The Motion Picture Production and Distribution industry last year gave $14 million in political contributions: 89% went to pro-tax Democrats. A few years ago, director Rob Reiner funded a successful California initiative to raise the state income tax rate to more than 10%. Unlike a film shoot, which can relocate on a moment's notice, your average small businessman in Encino is stuck paying the highest tax rate in the country -- at least until he gives up and moves to Reno.

We've got nothing against industries trying to reduce their tax liability. Shareholders expect nothing less. When we asked the Motion Picture Association to justify these tax breaks, a spokesman gladly pointed to studies showing that the industry is creating thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of new investment in the likes of Michigan and New York. Fair enough. This is called "dynamic analysis." The movie industry's tax machinations are irrefutable evidence that low tax rates do affect business decisions.