By John W. Lillpop
California's Proposition 8, if approved by voters on November 4, will add the following language to the state constitution: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
Passage would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry, said right having been established as a result of a state supreme court ruling on May 22.
Throughout the year, Prop. 8 has lagged in the polls. However, recent polls indicate that Californians are having second thoughts. Passage now seems possible.
What caused the change in sentiment?
Ironically enough, politicians and educators in San Francisco, who ardently support same-sex marriage, have sabotaged their own cause with reckless decisions and irresponsible behavior.
To begin with, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom arrogantly celebrated the May 22 court decision that legalized gay marriage by bombastically declaring, "This door's wide open now." "It's going to happen, whether you like it or not."
Much to the chagrin of the leftist mayor, that unwise stint of in your face gloating was caught on video and is featured prominently in an ad by those who support Prop. 8.
In other words, Mayor Newsom unwittingly became a star performer for those who wish to ban gay marriage!
Clue less San Francisco educators added fuel to the fire started by Newsom with an equally bizarre move.
As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle in a story titled, Class surprises lesbian teacher on wedding day, "A group of San Francisco first-graders took an unusual field trip to City Hall on Friday to toss rose petals on their just-married lesbian teacher - putting the public school children at the center of a fierce election battle over the fate of same-sex marriage."
SFGATE:
Naturally, news of this decision is being used by Prop. 8 supporters as proof that gay activists will ram their lifestyle down the throats of young children if gay marriage is allowed to stand.
With folks like Mayor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco teachers around, proponents of Prop. 8 can simply wait for the next wave of incomprehensible stupidity to surface, and then make sure that the voting public is informed of that stupidity.
Bottom line: Over reaching by San Francisco liberals may turn out to be enough to end the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.
