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Obama, Schwarzenegger, Feinstein, and Bill Clinton Band Together and Urge Californians to Reject Intolerance and Vote No on Prop 8

Unified in countering deceptive and misleading ads by yes on 8 campaign

By Frank D. Russo

Powerful new ads are spreading the truth about Proposition 8 and show a broad range of leaders including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, former President Bill Clinton, and others opposing the elimination of rights posed by this measure in the biggest civil rights battle of the year in ballot propositions nationwide. Take a look at the latest ad:

This ad comes in the wake of the yes on Prop 8 campaign admitting it mailed a flyer to African-American voters that lied about Sen. Barack Obama's position on the initiative, the latest in a series of distractions from the main issues and the simple fact of discrimination embedded in Prop 8. The NO on 8 Campaign is closing strong with a statewide television ad that reminds voters that Sen. Obama, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, as well as the state's leading newspapers, have all called for the defeat of Proposition 8.

Using the words each of these leaders has used to describe the unfair initiative, the new ad makes clear that Sen. Obama has called Prop 8 "divisive and discriminatory," that Gov. Schwarzenegger has said "it should never happen," and Sen. Feinstein closes by telling voters: "No matter how you feel about marriage, vote against discrimination, and Vote NO on 8."

In response to the mailer received by African-American Californians that misrepresented the position of Sen. Obama and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, the Obama campaign released the following statement last night:

"The Obama-Biden ticket opposes Proposition 8 and similar discriminatory constitutional amendments that could roll back the civil rights he and Sen. Biden strongly believe should be afforded to all Americans."

Samuel Jackson, with his unmistakable voice narrates another powerful ad that reminds Californians of the era when discrimination was legal when individuals of difference races wanted to marry in our state:

"This incredible cross-section of support comes at the same time that Prop 8 continues to spin a campaign of lies and distortions," said Patrick Guerriero, NO On Prop 8 Campaign Manager. "Proposition 8 is wrong, and targeting certain communities with lies is wrong. Voters get it, and that´s why Prop 8 will fail on Tuesday."

And former President Bill Clinton has taped a powerful message—“This is Not what America is about." Clinton makes it clear that the decision voters must make Tuesday night is about fairness, not a definition of marriage.

Clinton says, "Proposition 8 would use state law to single out one group of Californians to be treated differently -- discriminating against members of our family, our friends and our co-workers. If I know one thing about California, I know that is not what you're about. That is not what America is about. Please vote NO on 8. It's unfair and it's wrong. Thank you.”

President Clinton, Senator Diane Feinstein and Samuel L. Jackson are some of the most recent influential individuals who are sharing their concerns about the out of state funded Proposition 8 and its implications.
Virtually every major newspaper in California has editorialized against Prop 8, stating that "the state constitution shouldn´t be used to turn some people into second-class citizens. Vote "no" on Proposition 8." (Fresno Bee) For a complete list of NO on 8 endorsements, take a look at this impressive list and read what the state’s newspapers have written.

Posted on November 02, 2008

Comments

Yesterday, November 2, on an interview with Sway on MTV, Obama restated his opposition to Proposition 8.

Obama's position is echoed in one of NO on 8's major points: No matter how you feel about marriage, Proposition 8 is unfair and discriminatory.

Obama does not support same-sex marriage, but he OPPOSES proposition 8. I hope that voters who share his doubts about marriage will also share his understanding of constiitutional rights.

Full text from the interview:

"I was wondering, what is your reaction to Proposition 8, and would you vote yes or no on it?"

Obama: I have stated my opposition to that. I think it is unnecessary.

I believe that marriage is between a man and woman and I am not in favor of gay marriage, but when you're playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that that is not what America is about. Usually constitutions expand liberties, they don't contract them.

What I believe is that if we have strong civil unions out there that provide legal rights to same-sex couples that they can visit each other in the hospital if they get sick, that they can transfer property to each other. If they've got benefits, they can make sure those benefits apply to their partners. I think that is the direction we need to go. I think young people are ahead of the curve on this, for the most part. I think their attitude generally is, "We should be respectful of all people," and that is the kind of politics I want to practice.

Sway: So you would vote ...

Obama: I would vote no on the proposition.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598409/20081102/index.jhtml

Posted by: Rachel Findley at November 3, 2008 06:57 AM

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