New Proposition 8 strategy: Donate, or else
Yes on Proposition 8--the campaign that is going all out to ban same-sex marriage in California--has sent out a slew of missives complaining about the lawn signs that have been ripped from their supporters' lawns. No doubt about it, it has happened, and it's a nasty trick (and something that crops up for various campaigns in just about every campaign season).
Strange to say, though, Prop. 8 directors somehow saw this as justification for sending letters to about three dozen companies that donated to the opposite campaign. OK, we're all for free speech, and complaining about someone else's closely held beliefs is fair game. But in this case, the Yes on 8 people demanded equal contributions to their campaign, or they would "out" the donor:
"Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error," reads the letter. "Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. ... The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published."
The pro-8 campaign continues to confuse support for same-sex marriage with lack of support for traditional marriage. In any case, why make life so difficult for the Yes on 8 campaign? They shouldn't have to go to all the trouble of sending out threatening letters if what they want to do is publicize a list. Anybody out there willing to freely give your name as a No on 8 donor so that the other camp can expand its list without having to pay money for postage? (And leave the Yes on 8 lawn signs alone.)
I'm a No On 8 donor. I've dropped about $2,500 to the No On 8 campaign.
No need to threaten to out me as a No On 8 donor, you blackmail artists in the "Yes On 8" campaign. I'm doing it here, now.
Patrick Meighan
Culver City, CA
Posted by: Patrick Meighan | October 24, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Take the signs!!!!!!
Posted by: Richard Cortijo | October 24, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Oh no!! They're going to expose the names of people who donated to No no 8 and support equality for all Californians? People will know that I am opposed to writing discrimination into our state Constitution?? Oh no!
Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag, so my name is Dave Peck and I live in Oakland and I support ALL marriages and ALL families and I have donated to NO on 8. Please feel free to publicize this however you want, you narrow-minded clueless bigots. I am on the side of fairness and it is YOU who should be ashamed of your position on this issue.
Having religeous beliefs is good. Using them to do good work is wonderful. But using your religeous beliefs to justify harming other families by denying their equal rights is shameful and WRONG !
Posted by: Dave Peck | October 24, 2008 at 10:44 AM
You are adults, try and show some maturity and respect to opposing views.
Theft is theft, let people have there say, it protects your ability to do the same.
Posted by: cyrus | October 24, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I support (and have donated to) the No on 8 campaign.
Just throwing that out there.
Posted by: Melissa Sauceda | October 24, 2008 at 10:59 AM
You have to imagine the type of desperation a campaign must feel to have to resort to extortion. And this letter represents such a hollow threat that it's pretty pathetic to read.
Posted by: Khoa | October 24, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Extortion? That has to be a new political low. I knew that the Yes on 8 Campaign was made up of liars (their claims have been debunked by conservative newspapers, education specialist, law professors, and a judge). But blackmailers? Wow, that's really slimy.
Posted by: Timothy | October 24, 2008 at 11:11 AM
The "Yes on 8" people are making a big fuss over the "stealing of yard signs", ignoring the fact that it is an issue that goes both ways. I have seen "No on 8" signs "disappear" all oer the place, including my own. I somehow doubt that "No on 8" people are taking their own signs, which leads to one conclusion........
Posted by: Mdivani Monroe | October 24, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Yes on Prop 8! I am protesting for it today. Yay
Posted by: Tonyt | October 24, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I hope they publish the list soon so I know which businesses to patronize!!
Posted by: Erik Kaeding | October 24, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I am a NO on 8 donor too. I am an individual and if they want to publish my name on the list of people and businesses who stood against discrimination it would be an honor!
CASEY CAMERON
Posted by: Casey Cameron | October 24, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Um, No on Prop 8 has been stolen as well too. Both sides are getting their signs stolen but that's no justification to demand donations (it's borderline extortion too)! I think the pro-prop8 are getting a little cookie here @_@
Posted by: Van | October 24, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I would just like to second what poster Dave Peck had to say. My name is Valerie Hatcher and I live in the Antelope Valley and I have donated to the No on 8 campaign.
Vote NO on Prop 8! Equality for all!
Posted by: Valerie Hatcher | October 24, 2008 at 11:29 AM
As if this is a new approach. This is what was done early on to the Yes Contributors. There was all kinds of backlash to any supporter of prop 8. They would actively go the the Yes Donor list and publish on a wide scope those who were supporting prop 8 financially. Just as with all opposition, when the shoe is on the other foot they object. Come on, at least be fair to both sides when reporting. Publish truth not lies LA TIMES. Shame on you.
Posted by: Darren | October 24, 2008 at 11:30 AM
It's a good thing that the "No on 8" side has never threatened businesses. Oh wait... yes they have!
True rights do not obligate others without their consent. There is NO right to a state-issued license. Yes on 8!
Posted by: Ken | October 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Extortion? That's their principled strategy?
I'll beat you to it. I have gladly donated to Equality for All.
That does not mean I am AGAINST anybody's marriage.
Does their inaccuracy mean that we can add slander to the extortion charges?
Posted by: Lizk | October 24, 2008 at 11:37 AM
I've donated about $1000 to the No on Prop 8 campaign, in part because I want preserve my 21 year long relationship to my husband Ron. I had a life-threatening illness last year; if I had been in Utah, Ron would not have been able to visit or care for me.
Gay marriage, in fact, helps our community and society as it stabilizes gay couples' lives: they can then focus more on being productive, contributing citizens.
Prop 8 hurts us. Gay marriage hurts no one.
Posted by: Dan Greening | October 24, 2008 at 11:43 AM
A variety of news sources have reported on the contributions made by Mormons in support of Prop. 8. The No on 8 Organization has alleged that something like 70% of donations come from individual Mormons. The following quote has been fairly widely published: “Californians Against Hate came up with the figures by cross-referencing donor information from the California secretary of state with Brigham Young University alumni lists, church memberships, and other personal documentation that could identify Mormon Church members.”
So the No on 8 crowd actually has people digging into the personal histories of each individual who makes a donation to the Yes on 8 camp? Isn’t that a rather disturbing violation of privacy that should be roundly condemned in the press? Where is the outrage there?
Posted by: Blue | October 24, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Add me to the list!!
NO ON 8!!!!
Ryan N. Wachter
Agoura Hills, California
Posted by: Ryan Wachter | October 24, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Someone stole my No on 8 lawn signs and peeled the No on 8 bumper sticker off my car. They can't complain about stolen Yes on 8 materials!
Posted by: Ben | October 24, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I am a proud supporter and donator to the No on Prop 8 campaign and I'll happily out myself.
Guerneville, CA
Posted by: Diane Gleeson | October 24, 2008 at 11:57 AM
You guys are so full of self-righteousness. Obviously you have missed all the "blackmail" list and threats coming from the NO side. Get off your high horses and realize that no matter how hard you fight these in the the courts, all you have is a small majority of corrupt judges on your side...We have the rest of the voting public who will put their faith into action...Oh by the way, please keep pumping more millions into the NO campaign...It won't matter!
Posted by: Buck Flynne | October 24, 2008 at 11:57 AM
I am a New Yorker who donated to No on Prop 8.
-Ray Louie
Posted by: Ray Louie | October 24, 2008 at 11:59 AM
The YES on 8 supporters just came up with a great idea!!
Why does'nt every business that donated large amounts of money finance and make a new commercial for the NO on 8 campaign - standing in a group of people stating each companies name, that they donated and support equality. This will save them the trouble of making their "list".
Posted by: John Razo | October 24, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Blue, I'd submit that there's a difference between analyzing the make-up of donors to a given campaign, and demanding that they give the other side equal money, or else.
Apple just announced a $100,000 donation to the No on 8 campaign. Sounds like they were quite happy to "out" themselves on the matter.
Posted by: Karin Klein | October 24, 2008 at 12:00 PM