Friday, October 24, 2008

One more for the road ...

Before I head out for the day, here's a PDF of the "threat letter" the Yes on 8 folks are sending donors to the No on 8 campaign.

You'll want to read it all, but here's a bit of text from the letter, asking for the donor to "withdraw its support for Equality California" and "make a donation of like amount to ProtectMarriage.com."

Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication to us that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. You would leave us no other reasonable assumption. The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage ... will be published. It is only fair for Proposition 8 supporters to know which companies and organization oppose traditional marriage.

Nice, eh? I'm wondering if we ought to launch our OWN letter writing campaign ... emailing and writing the companies and organizations listed as donors on the attached and thanking them for their support for traditional democracy ... the kind that guarantees liberty and justice for all.
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14 comments:

Unknown said...

Makes me wish I'd made my donations in the name of my law office so I could get one of those and write them back telling them where they could stick it!

Unknown said...

I wrote them and told them where they could stick it anyway!

Malcolm+ said...

I would think, John, that the unique combination of libel and threat would allow you to do something far more valuable that merely telling them where to stick it. Surely there's a lawsuit to be had.

Suzer said...

How the spin turns to lies always fascinates me, at least on an academic level. It infuriates me on a personal level.

How is it that supporting marriage equality is apparently equal to "opposing traditional marriage"? So the fact that, for instance, my parents might support my partner and me getting married would mean they oppose traditional marriage? Heck, they've been in a "traditional" marriage for over 40 years!

I don't oppose traditional marriage, and neither does anyone who supports marriage equality. We just want the same rights. What is so difficult about that? It's the same rights and responsibilities provided to hetero Americans.

The depths to which anti-equality forces will sink knows no bounds.

Bruce said...

It reads more like an offer of "protection" from the Mob. I can even see Joe Pesci, in his Goodfellas role, explaining it: "Were you to elect not to contribute ... well, sometimes accidents happen."

I guess we can add threats and intimidation to bearing false witness as accepted tactics when doing the Lord's work.

Fran said...

This infuriates me. I read about it in an email this morning.

I am sure my little donations will not merit their attention, but if I heard from them I would have a few choice words.

This is bullying of the worst sort and a twist of rhetoric.

So - if I support marriage equality, then I somehow do not support "traditional" marriage?

How about I support the right of all adults partners of any gender who wish to be married... THAT is what I support.

Fran said...

I just found this about Apple on Culture Choc.

Good on Apple!!

PseudoPiskie said...

Just another reason for that irritating smugness Mac owners are accused of. Yea, Steve!

JimB said...

Doesn't California have laws against blackmail and assault. Someone should be arrested and charged for this!

FWIW
jimB

Brother David said...

Silly me, the first time I read this I thought that it said;

The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage ... will be punished.

English is my second language.

Will J said...

Bullying, intimidation, compromising the civil rights of others and no respect for the constitutional right to frre speech.

Thugs. It has all the stench of the lynch mob.

Jim of L-Town said...

Dear Rev. Russell:

Boycotts and financial intimidation have a long history in this country, most lately in the Civil Rights and Anti-War movements.

Disagree with target of this one if you will, but boycotts and financial pressure is as old as the country.

People, in a free country, have a right to express themselves in any way they want. Others also have the right to do the same.

It's only wrong when it's against whichever side you're on.

Peace.

A sinner saved by God's Grace

Jim of Michigan

JCF said...

People, in a free country, have a right to express themselves in any way they want.

In ANY way? Remind me to drive an hour north to Lansing and burn your homophobic, schismatic church down!

[I kid, of course. I believe that, come Judgment Day, there's an angel w/ that assignment already. ;-/]

Seriously, Jim: it never ceases to amaze me that you can show up on Episcopal websites, blithely disguising your hatred w/ your La-Dee-Da "saved by God's Grace" (w/ the certainty of the past tense), as if you will NEVER be called to account for it. What WILL you say, on the aforementioned Day of Judgment, when you find out the Lord Jesus Christ is QUEERER than I am? Oh, the gnashing of 'phobic teeth!

I pray for your repentance---and for mine (all of ours). Lord have mercy!

Jim of L-Town said...

Dear Rev. Russell:

Someone needs a nap. Gees, jcf, I haven't posted on a glbt issue in a very, very long time. My only point in posting on this one was to make the point that boycotts are weapons used by all sides.

Maybe you have me mixed up with someone else, but I occassionally (like twice a month) post on T19, usually about non-church items and maybe two or three times weekly here. That's it.

If I have yanked your chain in some way, I apologize. I hate no one, have left the whole California gay marriage issue alone, because, frankly, I don't live in California.

If you'd like to reference some of those "Hate" posts you refer to, I'd like to see them

Chill, brother.

A sinner saved by God's Grace

Jim of Michigan