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US Senator Kay Hagan from North Carolina speaks out against anti-gay Amendment 1
April 25, 2012
By Scottie Thomaston
Senator Kay Hagan, United States Senator of North Carolina, has released a video statement coming out forcefully against Amendment 1. Hagan talked about the harms to North Carolina’s families, saying, “I do not believe we should amend our state’s constitution to take away people’s rights… Amendment One harms our resolve to make all people and all families great.” Noting that the focus needs to be on jobs and the economy, she talked about how voters resent seeing their jobs and livelihoods fall victim to these kinds of partisan distractions. And she says the amendment will harm business and job prospects in North Carolina, “We have seen and heard from business leaders from across North Carolina who are worried about our ability to compete with states that are not passing such divisive amendments… In this competitive environment we simply cannot afford to pass Amendment One.”
The news this week for the opposition to the anti-gay Amendment 1 in North Carolina which would make opposite-sex marriage the “only domestic legal union” in the state has been incredibly encouraging. The campaign released its two ads Monday morning, pointing out the unintended consequences the amendment would have on North Carolinians, gay and straight alike. The ads focused on the fact that the amendment could cause families with unmarried parents to lose health insurance for their children, and it could affect domestic violence protections in the state.
Yesterday morning, a new poll showed a six point shift toward opposition of the amendment. It showed that the number of undecided voters is growing, and all the major constituencies are turning toward the opposition. Democrats were evenly split last month, and now they are opposed. African American voters have shifted about ten points from a month ago. Even the youth vote, already strongly opposed to the amendment, is even more opposed. The poll was picked up by media and bloggers and reported on extensively.
Then, yesterday afternoon, the pro-Amendment 1 campaign released its ad. If you like misrepresentations of the Bible as well as the history of North Carolina and marriage and the amendment itself, the ad is perfect. The ad touched on all the well-worn themes the religious right has used against gays for many decades. It’s hard to see how it will excite anyone.
And now today a sitting United States Senator has made a strong statement against this odious and regressive amendment. Early voting is going on now and the election is two weeks away on May 8. The momentum appears to be going one way at this point. Support and enthusiasm for the amendment appears to be starting to collapse. Yesterday’s poll said that while it isn’t a sure thing at this point, “There is some reason to think a huge upset in two weeks is within the realm of possibility.”
What you can do to help on Amendment One:
1. Contribute to the campaign on ActBlue so they have the resources they need to get our message out.
2. Sign up for a Courageous Conversation about Amendment One with someone you know in NC.
3. Follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
4. Download social media tools and yard signs to show your opposition to Amendment 1.
5. Volunteer to Call for Equality – a GOTV phone banking effort against Amendment 1.
Having technical problems? E-mail equalityontrial AT couragecampaign DOT org for assistance!
16 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Sagesse | April 25, 2012 at 9:33 am
@
2.
Reformed | April 25, 2012 at 9:53 am
The are only so many syllables in NOM's main talking point
(you know the one, "those worthy of death, praise be to god, have the right to live as they choose, but they don't have the right to define marriage for the rest of us".)
Its painful to hear each new attempt to say it with a different inflection trying to make the speaker come off sounding authentic. It just isn't possible folks, give up.
3.
Seth from Maryland | April 25, 2012 at 10:54 am
WOW ,check out this new video coming out today against amen 1.
http://youtu.be/QuG8xvFaGwU
4.
Reformed | April 25, 2012 at 11:00 am
"In this competitive environment we simply cannot afford to pass Amendment One.” – Thanks for that. But when things get less competitive will be able to again "afford" this (luxury? (to be discriminatory))? Isn't that like saying rope is a little too expensive this year, and the guilliotine is on the fritz, so we'll just have to let Marie be queen for the rest of the fiscal year? Ok, maybe a little cynical.
5.
Mackenzie | April 25, 2012 at 11:08 am
I see the Newt Gingrich plans on dropping out of the Republican Primary early next week. Good news in that there will be less of a draw for conservatives to come vote in the Primary now.
6.
Rich | April 25, 2012 at 11:30 am
Absolutely powerful!!
7.
Jamie | April 25, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Never underestimate the fact that a significant majority of conservatives have nothing better to do than to go to the polls. It's either that or watch re-runs of judge judy.
8.
Jamie | April 25, 2012 at 12:58 pm
This is what the other ads tried to be – and failed. I give Chad Griffin credit for his work with AFER, but these campaigns really need to look beyond him for advertising.
9.
Rick Jacobs | April 25, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Yes, but never underestimate the fact that together we are very, very strong. Thanks to each and everyone of you, we are changing this fight. Oh and we're gonna win, whether it's this time in NC or the next time in court or both.
BTW, do we love Scottie or love Scottie?
10.
Rich | April 25, 2012 at 3:29 pm
We love Scottie!
11.
Mackenzie | April 25, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Oh I know. But such an event will like lower turnout. By how much is a fair argument to make.
12.
Matt | April 28, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Sure Senator Hagen, the jobs have just been rolling in like crazy here in NC and this Amendment will put a halt on that! Really? We're in a recession and you're calling this the one of the cures? I think there is 20+ years of data on why companies come to NC. Tax incentives, labor force, etc. We have both. Gay or straight, we have plenty of skilled labor here. Talk to a CEO someday, he/she is certain they can find labor. Look at RedHat, they've threatened for years to leave Raleigh and it was not for labor. It's tax incentives!!! Kay is really reaching for a straw here.
13.
matt | April 28, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Oh, one other thing. When I read other blogs on this topic, and I've seen a handful, it would help if those in favor of the ban do not call us names. Terms such as bigot, hateful, homophobic are not helping in the dialog and certainly don't present the other side as rational. You may want discuss that first!
When one party disagrees with your view, name calling only sets you back farther. In the media, one person disagrees with gay marriage and everyone demands an apology. I thought we were afforded a civil dialog and an opinion in this debate?
14.
Bob | April 28, 2012 at 6:27 pm
bigots, and hateful homophobes are not rational to begin with,,,,
remember equal right's for minorities are not up for debate,,,, it is the present form the battle is taking ,,, but EQUALITY will come,,,, what kind of a world would it be if bigots and hateful people ruled by voting
take this as an opportunity to learn,,,
15.
Bob | April 28, 2012 at 6:29 pm
absolutely LOVE Scottie!!!!!!!!!
16.
Matt | April 29, 2012 at 11:31 am
Bob.. no need for calling when someone does not agree with you. Civil discourse please as I'm sure we want to set an example for kids who also read these comments online. Again, sad you have to throw the 'bigot' word to insult others that don't share your point of view. I feel like I'm back in the school yard and bully is telling me hand over the lunch money.
Thank goodness we get to vote and all votes are equal. Really, when the NC vote Amend 1 is over and Marriage Amendment passes, are you going to run around and call each majority voter a 'bigot'. That's what I'm reading into your note. You have to wonder, if the majority votes FOR the NC amendment, who's the more rational? I think there are intelligent people on both sides of this debate.
Some in the 'minority' demand Sharia law in the USA for Muslims. I guess we should add that to the US Constitution because it's an equal right? How about guns in schools? The 'minority' demands that as well as part of 'right to bear arms'. I think you get my point. Laws are for ALL citizens, not for minority groups. I'll let you look this one up, "It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong."
Let me offer a different perspective on why I think you're turning off voters.. Think of like Roe v. Wade for moment. There are those in the 'minority' who did not agree there either. They now condone and promote violence when we don't agree with a woman's right to choose. I think they started out with words like 'Baby Killer' and then moved to intimidation and pipe-bombs at clinics. Radicalism usually start with nasty language, some form of public intimidation. When you still don't get your way…you move to violence.
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