Campaign against anti-gay marriage amendment gears up, Dayton lends support

I predict our MN Taliban (or MN Republicans as others call them) will regret ever opening this can of worms. Thank you Mr Dayton for stepping up early to lend your support in defeating this idiocy.

@Kevin

Could you elaborate on why you feel that way? I’m intrigued by those who think this won’t pass. Looking for a devil’s advocate here.

@Disco,

I think this ballot measure on marriage has a strong likelihood of passing based on the churches of this state getting people out of the pews and into the ballot box, to wit the efforts of the Archdiocese.

In my opinion the only hope of defeating this ballot resides with Generation X and younger voters showing up at the polls. The Cleaver family, ala Leave It to Beaver, is a dead paradigm but still lives in the heart of the elderly and boomers. It is a false memory that this was American family life as they knew it.

Personally I see this as a matter for the judicial system, but that differs from the argument of Gottwalt and Limmer who fear the courts. Ergo a retreat to the constitution in mimicry of GOP efforts throughout the country. They have money, they are organized and effectively employ their language. They are in short good at what they do.

Only the young can now act on their future, for the older residents live in Cleaver land.

Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN

1. Unlike other states, Minnesota requires that over 50% of voters actually vote for the amendment. If California had counted their votes in this manner, Proposition 8 would have lost with only 42% voting for the amendment and 58% voting against it as around. 10% of voters didn’t care enough about marriage to even fill out that part of their ballot. Proposition 8 has never reflected the will of a majority of Californians. It reflected the will of a select group of voters. There is a difference.

2.If the amendment is passed in Minnesota, there will be lawsuits. Many of them, and the State will be forced to either litigate them, or refuse to defend the amendment. The cost to defend the federal DOMA is now estimated to be around $20 million dollars over the next 4 years. It is true that this amendment will take this issue away from the overview of the state courts, however it will put it in the hands of the federal courts. The federal circuit overseeing the state of Minnesota is a perfect option for a new lawsuit like the one facing California.

Disco

I have no idea if it will pass or not, but that’s not the point. The MN Taliban is getting huge flack from everywhere for putting this thing up NOW with all the other problems our state is facing. As of today, this is just about the only thing they have accomplished and that’s not going over real well with the vast majority of Minnesotans. As has been said a billion times already: “What about the focus on jobs?”

Just think about the time, energy and media attention devoted to this marriage amendment already. What’s the next year going to bring when things get really ugly?

My husband and I have been married for about forty years. We love each other. We were born as heterosexuals, but we did not choose that path. We just are. Homosexuals also did not make this choice. They just are. And they do not deserve to be relegated to second class citizen status because of their sexuality! All of our citizens are entitled to equal rights under our Constitution, and this includes the right to love each other in a legal union. The anti-gay amendment is just wrong. Discriminatory. Divisive and intrusive. It must fail.

Meanwhile, in my home state of NY, the legislature is poised to legalize gay marriage (or, more accurately, to eliminate marriage inequality). Go New York! Come on, Minnesota, you going to let the Yankees take this one too?

@ Jeff Wilfahrt: You are using an overly broad brush. I’m a boomer and the Cleavers NEVER lived in my heart. It was a television fantasy — part of the Norman Rockwell wet dream of America — and I don’t know anyone my age who bought into that or looks to any of that now for guidance on this issue. This vile amendment is being pushed by a very narrow-minded, bigoted and mercifully small contingent of religious fanatics. Boomers have gay friends and family, too — and all of the boomers I know are a 100 percent behind marriage equality.

The religionists are losing ground now. The more they clamor to impose their religious beliefs on others, the less likely they are to succeed. Americans don’t want religion jammed don’t their throats.

I am gay and support this amendment. I am sick of being patronized by idiot liberals who think that all gay people are on the same leftist bent as they are. Gay people are a diverse group and we all have different values and opinions. Seeing as how this proposed amendment does not affect civil unions or other legal unions and simply defines marriage in the commonsense way that most people see it, I really don’t see the problem.

Keep on blowing this up in your heads as a bigger deal than it really is. Most Minnesotans will not, and they will pass it next November.

@Wilfarht, As a old timer myself I whole heartily second Pickwick’s comment. None of my colleagues support this bone headed effort in discrimination. Don’t blame it on a generation… it’s the religious zealots on the straight and narrow (dead end) path that are to blame for this one.

RAMMA’s mission statement states:

We are Republicans. We believe in individual liberty, limited government, free-market economics, fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense, and enduring moral values taught in families and churches. We differ among ourselves on whether the state of Minnesota should recognize same-sex marriages at this time. But whatever our individual views on same-sex marriage, we oppose the state constitutional amendment limiting marriage to the union of one man and one woman.

>>RAMMA’s mission statement states:<<

** "We are Republicans."**

Does anyone find it ironic that the word, "Public" is in the word "Republican"??

**" We believe in individual liberty"**

Does anyone find it equally ironic that Republikans embrace "Liberty" yet hate "LIBERALISM"

** "Limited Government,"**

Isn't it ironic how "TWO WARS" and the "Patriot Act" increased Government 4 FOLD in the last TEN years???

** "Free-Market Economics,"**

Isn't it ironic how Americans call this a "Free Market System " yet the American TAX PAYER pays through the nose for this system to exist??? ( Amerika's Free Market System is equal to Corporate Socialism ) THE FREE MARKET IS A LIE!!!!

** "Fiscal Responsibility," **

Isn't it ironic that "Deficit Spending and Fiscal Responsibility " is ONLY the fault of Democrats?? Yet the REPUBLIKANS are the ones that got us into this mess!!!! (Thanks BUSH… Thanks T-PAW!!!)

**"A Strong National Defense," **

Isn't it ironic that War Hero's like Eric Cantor, Tim Pawlenty, John Boener, Rush Limbaugh, Michele Bachmann, Dick Cheyney, Tom Hackbarth, Sarah Palin, Amy Koch and Kurt Zellers are "Beating the Drum" for National Defense yet they have NEVER drawn blood for this Country??

**"And Enduring Moral Values Taught in Families and Churches".**

Isn't it ironic that the most pious, dimwitted, perverted and ill informed people on EARTH are "Church People"??? Republikans espouse "Virtue and Moral" yet they are the MOST CORRUPT !!

** " We differ among ourselves on whether the state of Minnesota should recognize same-sex marriages at this time." **

Hey Fascisto !!! Listen to the minorities of your own Party!!! If you don't then your party is DONE for generations to come….

** " But whatever our individual views on same-sex marriage, we oppose the state constitutional amendment limiting marriage to the union of one man and one woman." ***

Please!!

Republikans in Minnesota have reduced our State into some RIDICULOUS Corporate "Mission Statement" for beating up on Gay People….

Republikans YOUR PARTY IS TOAST!!!

[...] MN: Campaign Against Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment Gears Up, Dayton Lends Support. Read more [...]

@Pickwick and Chapter&Verse
It heartens me to hear you negate my statement, but I find myself pretty much alone in the public arena at the Capitol, on line in these forums and in editorials I can get printed. I truly hope you are right and I am wrong in stating this vote is generational now. Speak out wherever you reside, to your friends, to your local media to any who will listen. Join the fight, please.

I hope our son didn’t die a good soldier in foreign soil for a society that can’t embrace an ever widening circle of inclusion.

Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN

Jeff Wilfahrt, I am expressing myself in American Sign Language when I place my right hand in the ILY sign first on my heart, then on your heart and finally on your wife’s heart to remind you both that we are in this together, that we shall honor the memory of your son the good soldier by continuing along with countless others of all ages to win hearts and minds to help realize the American dream of full equality under the law for those who are LGBTI and their children.

I wasn’t able to find a support/social group for parents and friends of LGBTI military. Anyone?

Concern has been expressed for those of our generation who have been hurt and otherwise discouraged by having to deal with the relentless anti-LGBTI animus for decades – including yours truly. The best way to offer hope and encouragement for these is for straight allies in the political, business, religious, educational, entertainment, sports and other fields to become increasingly visible and vocal in their support for full equality and inclusion in society of those who are LGBTI – and do this PDQ!

All of us, continue to talk to family, friends, neighbors, church members, business owners and others as well as local newspapers. Carefully-written letters to the editor can be very effective. *quaaaack* Remember, keep it classy, too!