Awesome.
I don't care that this is probably some ego-driven attempt to feel loved again or a way for him to feel better about himself after Don't Ask Don't Tell and DOMA. I think it's wonderful that, finally, a very high profile Dem has come out and knocked this moronic ballot initiative.
I'm as surprised as I am impressed:
"This is Bill Clinton calling to ask you to vote NO on Proposition 8 on Tuesday, November 4th. 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."
Clinton's recorded message went to millions of Californians overnight. If he makes the difference, we can finally forgive him for DOMA. But seriously: a great thing. He came through. I won't forget. None of us will.
Re: Bill Clinton comes out against Prop 8
Is he the only national Dem figure that has come out against it??
That is awesome. Old Bill will always have a place in my heart, but in the last week, I've been really proud of him again.
As far as national figures, I know Feinstein made a commercial against Prop 8. Sullivan has been angry at Obama for not speaking out, but I think he knows a ticking bomb when he sees it, fortunately or unfortunately.
The thing I'm confused about is TPM runs a banner ad on their posts on Google Reader saying that Obama is against 8, so I dunno.
The Governator has also come out against it. And I think Obama said he was against it. Dianne Feinstien is on heavy rotation on commercials right now against it.
And, if anyone saw Ugly Betty last night, the actors did a great ad aimed at Latino voters during the show.
There's an article on prop 8 on sfgate.com today. One of the comments said that Obama said Californians should vote against it, but not for gay marriage reasons, it was a more lawyer-y reason. I couldn't find anything to support that, though.
Hmmm. I could have sworn I saw Obama say something about opposing it, but I could be mistaken.
Off to research.
Dear Bill,
I'm sorry for everything I ever said about you.
All my love forever and always,
Pescalita
Actually Joe Biden said that he would vote No on 8 if he lived in CA. (said it when we was on the Ellen show)
I was surprised he made that stand, but was happy he did.
Obama rejects proposed California gay marriage ban
arojas@sacbee.com
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who previously said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to each state, has announced his opposition to a California ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriages.
In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club read Sunday at the group's annual Pride Breakfast in San Francisco, the Illinois senator said he supports extending "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law."
"And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states," Obama wrote.
Obama had previously said he opposes same-sex marriage but that each state should make its own decision.
A spokesman for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who last week endorsed Proposition 8 on the Nov. 4 California ballot, accused Obama of continuing a pattern of changing his position on issues.
"It just depends on where you catch him and what time of day ? whether it's public financing, town hall debates and now gay marriage," said Rick Gorka, a spokesman for the Arizona senator.
Ben LaBolt, an Obama campaign spokesman, declined to comment on the McCain campaign's allegations. But LaBolt noted that the Illinois senator opposed a proposed federal ban on gay marriage. Campaigning in Pennsylvania in April, Obama said he would oppose a similar constitutional ban under consideration by the Legislature there.
"Senator Obama opposes all divisive and discriminatory constitutional amendments such as the one in California," LaBolt said.
McCain endorsed a 2006 Arizona initiative defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, which was defeated. But he voted against a federal constitutional amendment against gay marriage.
Randy Thomasson of the Campaign for Children and Families ? which backs the California ballot measure ? called Obama a hypocrite.
"He says he believes marriage is for a man and woman, yet he's promising he would undo federal marriage protection and oppose California marriage," Thomasson said.
Thomasson predicted Obama "will lose votes in California due to his pandering to San Francisco extremists."
Yet he is still projected to win by the largest margine in history. Interesting.
I love how anyone that supports gay marriage is a "San Francisco Extremist"
I have no problem being called one, but to think my Mom is an extremist is actually hilarious. She is firmly in the middle ground of most issues and actually usually votes republican. Extremist she is not.
Interesting. That's so weird because it totally doesn't square with anything either of them have been saying lately - in the debates or responding to questions.