Marriage Moves Voters

By William C. Duncan
Published at NationalReview.com.

Extending constitutional protection to traditional marriage is hardly a narrow partisan affair.

Beyond their practical effects, the very fact that 30 states have amended their constitutions to protect the definition of marriage in just over a decade is remarkable.

This week, Arizona, California, and Florida joined the 27 states with existing marriage amendments. The most interesting campaign was in California where voter approval of Proposition 8 reversed a May decision of the California Supreme Court. That decision had purported to discover a previously unknown mandate to redefine marriage as the union of any two people in that state’s constitution.

The Florida amendment had faced a difficult hurdle because it needed the support of 60 percent of voters for approval. Despite a much lower-profile campaign than California’s Prop 8, Florida’s Amendment 2 managed to garner 62 percent of the popular vote.

Voters in Arizona had narrowly defeated a proposed marriage amendment in 2006. That amendment had included a prohibition on marriage-equivalent statuses and the campaign against it seemed to have convinced voters that existing benefits for cohabiting couples were at risk. This time, the amendment (Proposition 102) merely defined marriage and was soundly approved.

Two practical benefits of the amendments are obvious. First, they will prevent (or, as in California, reverse) judicial decisions redefining marriage. Second, they make absolutely clear that the enacting state will not recognize a same-sex marriage from another state.

This second effect is becoming increasingly important. The recent repeal of Massachusetts’ residence requirement for same-sex marriage and the impending issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in Connecticut mean that couples from other states can go to either of these to marry before returning home to seek recognition.

Typically, a state will recognize a marriage valid in another state even if it could not have been contracted in the recognizing state. There is an important historical exception, however, for marriages that violate that state’s laws — against incest and polygamy, for example. The marriage amendments certainly preclude any question as to what a state’s public policy on same-sex marriages is.

Read the rest of this article here.

Another good video

http://www.marriagematterstokids.com/

More News on the Marriage Front in Florida

On the very eve of the election, a front group for the radical homosexual agenda called "Florida Red and Blue" has filed a frivolous lawsuit against leaders of the pro-marriage movement.
The attorney representing Florida Red and Blue is Benedict P.Kuehne, who was indicted in February for conspiracy, money laundering and obstruction of justice relating to money from the Medellin drug cartel in Colombia.

Liberty Counsel is representing the defendants and will be in court today in Miami seeking sanctions against Florida Red and Blue.

With polls showing support for the state marriage amendments gaining, this is a blatant attempt to taint voters against marriage in a last-minute "election surprise."

But the key will be voter turnout -- not just in Florida but also in California and Arizona!

+ + Alert your friends and vote!

This is just the latest in a long line of underhanded efforts to defeat marriage in these three key states.

Your vote for marriage on Tuesday will have national ramifications. If marriage loses it could mark the end of marriage as we know it.

Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman Liberty Counsel

Pro-Marriage Efforts Attacked in Florida

From the Liberty Counsel:

In Florida, the Yes2Marriage.org web site reported that in the last week its computer system has been hacked and infected with viruses. The attacks are obviously designed to shut down their efforts in these final days before the vote.

The good news is that an Orlando Sentinel poll shows the amendment gaining support - up 5% in just a few days to 57% supporting. Florida law stipulates that 60% of citizens must support a constitutional amendment for it to pass.

+ + Voter turnout will decide the fate of marriage!

It is now clear that voter turnout will decide whether marriage survives in Florida. Alert your friends across Florida right now and urge them to join in signing the CitizenPledge to save marriage.

Go here to sign the Pledge: http://www.libertyaction.org/r.asp?u=12619&PID=18396902

Liberty Counsel has already identified more than 100,000 Florida pro-family citizens as part of our online get-out-the-vote effort. But we need to reach tens of thousands more.

Thank you in advance for your help, and for taking a stand for marriage.

Before you vote, watch this!

From AFA (American Family Association):

What are the key issues regarding the definition of marriage in the Nov 4th vote in California (Prop 8), Arizona (Prop 102) and Florida (Amendment 2)? (Although taped before a California audience, this program applies to all three states.) Using the alphabet, the key issues are identified in this program.

Hear from Ake Green (Sweden), David & Tonia Parker (Massachusetts), Jonathan & Elaine Huguenin (New Mexico), Melissa Fryrear (Colorado), Scott Hoffman (New Jersey), Maggie Gallagher (New York) along with several attorneys and many others. Those for homosexual “marriage” do not want these stories told. The truth is damaging to their cause.

Watch this video, then email it to your friends and family.

This program, entitled “The A, B, C’s of Protecting Marriage,” originated from Skyline Church in the San Diego area and was downlinked to approximately 170 church auditoriums on Sunday night Oct 19, 2008.