Florida marriage amendment on rocks (We don't like discrimination shoved into our Constitution.)

[seafan]

Florida marriage amendment on rocks

By Paul Flemming
November 1, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida's marriage amendment continues to fall short of the support necessary for passage, according to a poll out Friday.

Amendment 2's fate will hinge on the one in 10 respondents who say they haven't decided how they'll vote - or are unwilling to tell pollsters. ..... The proposal would constitutionally define marriage as between one man and one woman.

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"With the increase in undecided, our opponents have created an environment of increasing hostility and intimidation," said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council and leader of the marriage-amendment effort.
"Who is voting is the issue. An extremely large number of black Americans voting is going to help the issue of marriage," Stemberger said, adding that Christian conservatives drawn to the polls by GOP vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin will help Amendment 2.

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Voters barely budge on Amendment 2

By Aaron Deslatte
November 1, 2008

Despite campaigns from church pulpits, the airwaves and mailboxes, an Orlando Sentinel poll taken this week found the debate between religious backers and opponents who argue Amendment 2 would hurt unmarried heterosexual couples has not managed to change many minds.

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Friday's survey showed 55 percent support for the measure, which defines marriage as between "one man and one woman," with 35 percent opposed and 10 percent undecided. The poll of 625 registered voters had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
That's little changed from August, when Mason-Dixon Polling & Research found 57 percent support, and its mid-October survey showing 56 percent support.

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Florida law already outlaws gay marriage. But backers of the amendment say a statutory prohibition could fall victim to "activist judges" without the constitutional affirmation. (((:eyes:)))

The amendment also says that "no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."
Critics say that would force years of litigation over whether it would deny same-sex partners -- and unmarried couples -- rights ranging from hospital visitation to joint health insurance for "partners."

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John Stemberger, the leader of the group Florida4Marriage that pushed the amendment, blamed "the environment of intimidation and hostility our opponents have created" for the slight dip in support since mid-October.
"Some people are not willing to say on the phone that they believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman," Stemberger said.

Opponents filed suit this week alleging Florida4Marriage had illegally shielded the identities of donors by funneling $715,000 in contributions through a nonprofit entity called Florida Family Action.

"That explains the drop in our numbers and the increase in undecided voters from previous polls," Stemberger said. "The poll underscores what we have been saying all along, and that is this is going to be an extremely close vote." (((:nopity:)))

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Too bad, John. People don't like being lied to about just WHO is bankrolling your campaign of hate and discrimination.

And we certainly don't like people like you and Sarah Palin followers trying to force this discrimination into our Florida Constitution.



This bill would adversely affect seniors of opposite sex who cohabit to conserve money resources., October 3, 2008



NO on Amendment 2.