Election 2008: New Laws in Your State

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

This is the part of that proposal that would have really creeped me out. I probably wouldn't have voted for it anyway (I have a smidgen more regard for Catholic teaching that that*), but it's the attempt to legislate in the future that I would have expected to trip people up rather than the actual permission granted in this case. I think you commented on this aspect before. But honestly, all you'd have to do would be repeal that law if you wanted to change legislation in the future, right?

ETA: I'm not trying to call out any Catholics who voted for it. I just mean that current Roman Catholic teaching about embryonic stem cell research would affect my own vote just enough to prevent me from personally voting for it. I don't think I'd be super troubled that it passed though. I think most people are pretty accepting of what's described. EATA: Isn't it weird though the stipulations they add on. Why would it be wrong to pay people for the embryos? Why would it be wrong to create embryos especially for this purpose if there isn't anything wrong with doing the research itself?

I had to think long and hard about the "no more restrictive laws" part of it. I decided that you can't really get more restrictive than what was already there, so I was ok with it.

The "scare tactic" ads were horrendous against this proposal. They showed futuristic buildings with fake names implying that they were embryo factories. I think they included that clause about not making money off of the embryos to emphasize that this was only going to be done with embryos that already existed for other reasons but would be thrown away, so why not use them for research instead? You could save lives with these embryos that exist anyway or you can throw them away. That seems like an easier choice for even pro-lifers to make. But, like I said, the ads against it were horrendous. One showed a half cow/half human sitting in a classroom. One compared it to the Tuskegee Experiment.

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by OtterXO

I'm SO anti-Prop 8 that I probably shouldn't even discuss it on here in detail for risk of starting a war. Let's just say that I'm disgusted with 52.5% of my fellow Californians. It's a sad day for civil rights in California.

Yeah, that! Girl, I was too thru! Legal bigotry at its best (or worst)

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by epchick

I agree. I was watching Headline News and they had 'statistics' on how people would vote/voted on Prop 8. I guess they polled people, and all but one of the different groups they polled (whites, blacks, college students, asians, etc) voted against Prop 8. The only group that voted in favor of Prop 8 was African-Americans (with 69% wanting yes on prop 8).

Then they made the wild claim that it was because of Obama that "yes on prop 8" succeeded. That because so many African-Americans were going out to vote that it pushed the "yes on prop 8" vote higher. I was just kinda like

Not an outrageous claim at all. Black people saw an 8% increase in turnout this year while young people increased only 1%.

[Scandia]

Proposition 2 in my state was voted for as YES by a rather narrow margin. What did Proposition 2 state? Something very similar to Proposition 8 in California- limiting marriage to "one man, one woman".

I am NOT happy that such propositions were passed. Forbidding same-sex marriage is not going to make homosexuality or homosexuals go away.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Scandia

Proposition 2 in my state was voted for as YES by a rather narrow margin. What did Proposition 2 state? Something very similar to Proposition 8 in California- limiting marriage to "one man, one woman".

Unfortunately, Amendment 2 did not pass with that narrow of a margin. I believe it received 62% of the vote, while it needed 60% to pass.

Although I'm sickened that Florida passed that stupid amendment, I am more frustrated that Proposition 8 in California passed with only 52% of the vote! If they needed a 60% majority, it wouldn't have made it.

[Senusret I]

Eureka!
by Matthew Shaw
UNC '02
Columbia '05




Yesterday morning, a young Black boy woke up and believed that he could be absolutely anything in the world he wanted to be – even President of the United States of America. And for the first time, no one had to tell him. He could see it for himself. He could see it because the American people chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to realize Martin's dream. He could see it because we voted for Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. as our 44th President.

Overnight a change swept our nation. Perfect strangers stopped to say congratulations. People who had forgotten how to smile proudly wore Cheshire-cat grins. Americans went to work early and stayed late, even though they had promised to stay home on Obama Day because there was work to do. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘what can I do on the ground to help,’ ‘I want to do something more meaningful,’ ‘how can I be the change I voted to see.’ Grandparents openly wept, not at the opportunities unjustly denied them, but at the great promise afforded us. Because of one vote, it was truly "morning in America."

Because of a second vote in California, morning seems like it will never come. Families openly wept, not for the great promise afforded the nation, but at the fundamental rights their fellow voters snatched away from them. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘can we afford to lose your spousal benefits,’ ‘will we ever be able to adopt our foster son,' 'will we ever be able to marry.’ After working late, Americans took to protest in gatherings large and small. Those who had just started smiling again, proudly steeled their resolve to fight on another day. Perfect strangers stopped saying congratulations. Sadly, another change swept our nation.

A change against seeking equality and fair treatment for all, and for second-class citizenship for "others" -- so long as we aren’t the “others”. A change against separate being inherently unequal, and for 'it's the same thing under a different name.' A change against the Church being the beacon of hope and renewal, and for being a herald of hate and intolerance. A change against believing that we are all in this together, and for this is not my problem, but yours. A change we cannot believe in.

Yesterday night, our hero went to sleep and no longer believed that he can be anything in the world he wants to be – certainly not President of the United States of America. And sadly, because he is gay, no one had to tell him. He can see it for himself. He can see it because the people of California chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to crush Martin's dream. He could see it because California voted to selectively revoke the fundamental right to marriage from a minority of its citizens simply because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

But it wasn't just Martin's dream that was crushed. It is Bayard's, César's, Coretta's, Del's, Harvey's, Huey's, Mildred's, Ruth's, and Thurgood's. It is my dream and if you ever truly believed in civil rights it should be yours, too. If you want to do something more meaningful, if you want to be the change you voted to see, embrace the fight against second-class citizenry despite your misgivings and even some discomfort because you know in your heart that the struggle for racial, gender, ethnic, sexual orientation, class, and disability equality is the same, inseparable struggle. For as one of us loses, we all lose.

[TrojanWoman]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Eureka!
by Matthew Shaw
UNC '02
Columbia '05


Because of a second vote in California, morning seems like it will never come. Families openly wept, not for the great promise afforded the nation, but at the fundamental rights their fellow voters snatched away from them. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘can we afford to lose your spousal benefits,’ ‘will we ever be able to adopt our foster son,' 'will we ever be able to marry.’ After working late, Americans took to protest in gatherings large and small. Those who had just started smiling again, proudly steeled their resolve to fight on another day. Perfect strangers stopped saying congratulations. Sadly, another change swept our nation.

This whole article moved me but this specific paragraph hit home. I can't believe that we as Californians were able to see why Prop 4 should not be passed but then voted yes on Prop 8. My heart hurts for my friends in the gay community and I proudly joined them on Wednesday to voice my displeasure. I can only hope that the multiple law suits that have been brought forward will bring down Prop 8. Tuesday was a day of huge emotional swings, from finding great hope in Obama to being blindsided by California. I think that I often take for granted living in Los Angeles and the community of people I surround myself in, so I was completely shocked to wake up on Wednesday morning to this result. I have to have faith that this will not stand up.

[RU OX Alum]

what was prop 4?

[OtterXO]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

what was prop 4?

If it passed it would have prohibited abortions for minors until 48 hours after parental/legal guardian notification. Basically a waiting period for abortions for minors.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Eureka!
by Matthew Shaw
UNC '02
Columbia '05




Yesterday morning, a young Black boy woke up and believed that he could be absolutely anything in the world he wanted to be – even President of the United States of America. And for the first time, no one had to tell him. He could see it for himself. He could see it because the American people chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to realize Martin's dream. He could see it because we voted for Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. as our 44th President.

Overnight a change swept our nation. Perfect strangers stopped to say congratulations. People who had forgotten how to smile proudly wore Cheshire-cat grins. Americans went to work early and stayed late, even though they had promised to stay home on Obama Day because there was work to do. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘what can I do on the ground to help,’ ‘I want to do something more meaningful,’ ‘how can I be the change I voted to see.’ Grandparents openly wept, not at the opportunities unjustly denied them, but at the great promise afforded us. Because of one vote, it was truly "morning in America."

Because of a second vote in California, morning seems like it will never come. Families openly wept, not for the great promise afforded the nation, but at the fundamental rights their fellow voters snatched away from them. Life plans were re-evaluated – ‘can we afford to lose your spousal benefits,’ ‘will we ever be able to adopt our foster son,' 'will we ever be able to marry.’ After working late, Americans took to protest in gatherings large and small. Those who had just started smiling again, proudly steeled their resolve to fight on another day. Perfect strangers stopped saying congratulations. Sadly, another change swept our nation.

A change against seeking equality and fair treatment for all, and for second-class citizenship for "others" -- so long as we aren’t the “others”. A change against separate being inherently unequal, and for 'it's the same thing under a different name.' A change against the Church being the beacon of hope and renewal, and for being a herald of hate and intolerance. A change against believing that we are all in this together, and for this is not my problem, but yours. A change we cannot believe in.

Yesterday night, our hero went to sleep and no longer believed that he can be anything in the world he wants to be – certainly not President of the United States of America. And sadly, because he is gay, no one had to tell him. He can see it for himself. He can see it because the people of California chose in awesome number, fifty-two percent (52%) in fact, to crush Martin's dream. He could see it because California voted to selectively revoke the fundamental right to marriage from a minority of its citizens simply because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

But it wasn't just Martin's dream that was crushed. It is Bayard's, César's, Coretta's, Del's, Harvey's, Huey's, Mildred's, Ruth's, and Thurgood's. It is my dream and if you ever truly believed in civil rights it should be yours, too. If you want to do something more meaningful, if you want to be the change you voted to see, embrace the fight against second-class citizenry despite your misgivings and even some discomfort because you know in your heart that the struggle for racial, gender, ethnic, sexual orientation, class, and disability equality is the same, inseparable struggle. For as one of us loses, we all lose.

Very moving article. It makes a good point. African Americans in Calif. voted in large numbers for Obama, then turned around and voted in large numbers to take away the rights of another minority.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

Not an outrageous claim at all. Black people saw an 8% increase in turnout this year while young people increased only 1%.

It is an outrageous claim if you are going to solely put the blame on either the African American vote or on Obama himself (which is what the newscasters were doing). Plenty of non-African Americans voted "yes" on Prop 8, and plenty of African Americans voted "no" on prop 8.

Of course, Obama clearly has nothing to do with the vote at all.

[BetteDavisEyes]

So a bunch of friends are telling me to get over the fact that Prop 8 passed and laughing about it but then got pissed when I told them to get over the fact that Obama won the election and said it wasn't the same thing. What a bunch of tools.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by OtterXO

If it passed it would have prohibited abortions for minors until 48 hours after parental/legal guardian notification. Basically a waiting period for abortions for minors.

wow,

thank you for clairifying.

[LightBulb]

Originally Posted by epchick

But I will say that i'm pretty disappointed in California. I kinda wish that I was still registered to vote there, but I don't know if it would have made a difference. California voted Yes on Prop 8.

ETA: In case there is someone that doesn't know, Prop 8 is initiative to amend the California constitution to eliminate gay marriage & to add that marriage is between a man & a woman.

I know it's a little late, but I'd still like to share this anti-Prop 8 PSA.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by LightBulb

I know it's a little late, but I'd still like to share this anti-Prop 8 PSA.

I feel stupider for having watched that.