Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Do not live in denial, my fellow Americans. The First Amendment is under attack, and not by just the government, but by the No on 8 bullies.
Conservatives beware. If you contribute to pro-life political candidates or conservative causes, you are already under attack. Your religion, your freedom of speech, your right to peaceably assemble, your right to petition the government, all of these are being threatened. And while you might not have voted Yes on 8, do not be naïve to think that these bullying tactics will not be applied to your causes, your beliefs, or your passions.
Sacramento, CA –
Scott Eckern, artistic director for the California Musical Theatre, resigned Wednesday as a growing number of artists threatened to boycott the organization because of his $1,000 donation to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California.
Los Angeles, CA –The manager at the El Coyote restaurant Marjorie Chrisoffersen's $100 donation to Yes on 8 leads to
public protests.
Washington, DC – the
Democrats are threatening to shut down conservative talk radio through the readopting of the
Fairness Doctrine.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that
political contributions are protected speech; speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
And now it’s not just enough to attack those who financially contributed to Yes on 8. The bullying tactics have been expanded to include membership in the Mormon Church. Church members are now collectively branded as hate mongers, and therefore deserving of a boycott.
Bill Marriott is having to defend his religion, and his company,
here.
As many of you may know I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some might conclude given my family's membership in the Mormon Church that our company supported the recent ballot initiative to ban same sex marriage in California. This is simply untrue. Marriott International is a public company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and is not controlled by any one individual or family. Neither I, nor the company, contributed to the campaign to pass
Proposition 8.
My dear No on 8 bullies. It is not enough to protest the Mormons and Evangelical Christians (who are primarily Republicans). Be honest and true to your cause and go after those Democrats who voted overwhelmingly in favor of Yes on 8.
70% of African-Americans voted Yes on 8.
53% of Hispanics voted Yes on 8.
I would urge the No on 8 bullies to be equal and fair. Take your march to the African-American communities of South Central Los Angeles, North Long Beach, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
As I write this I am so grateful for my home, my family and my country. I am also horrified at the attacks that took place today in Mumbai, India.
