Harsh attacks characterize the Prop. 8 debate

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 10/31/8 | John Wildermuth

[SmithL]

SAN FRANCISCO -- "Extremists." "Indoctrination." "Liars." "Destroy America." "Blackmail."

Fiery words and harsh attacks are punctuating the campaigns surrounding Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage in California.

In Bakersfield, supporters and opponents of Prop. 8 scuffle on a street corner. In the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, a 23-year-old is charged with a felony hate crime for attacking a gay man with a "Yes on Prop. 8" lawn sign. On the Internet, terms like "homophobe" and "religious zealot" are fired back and forth on blogs and Web sites.

"I've been doing campaigns for years, but I wasn't prepared for the level of vitriol and hatred I've seen," said Frank Schubert, political consultant for the "Yes on Prop. 8" campaign. "In general, 'No on 8' supporters have just been vicious toward people who, with a good heart, disagree with them."

Harsh characterizations show up everywhere. In a fund-raising message sent out last week, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom fired up supporters by suggesting that donors to Prop. 8 were "right-wing extremists" who were pouring millions into California to ban same-sex marriage.

[Inyo-Mono]

In a fund-raising message sent out last week, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom fired up supporters by suggesting that donors to Prop. 8 were "right-wing extremists" who were pouring millions into California to ban same-sex marriage.

Guess I'm a "right-wing extrememist" acording to SF Mayor Gavin.

[darkangel82]

Anything right of Obama is “right-wing extremism” in SF.

[LegalEagle61]

Well GOD invented marriage and in the Bible HE destroyed cities that were practicing homesexuality, so the gays can find something else to call their SINS because marriage is between a man and a woman ONLY so they can stuff it!

[Andy from Chapel Hill]

Is McCain, or the 527’s, spending money in California to try and grab the coattails of Proposition 8?

Any left-coasters care to comment?

[Andy from Chapel Hill]

BTTT

[norton]

"Our latest ads feature (state Superintendent of Public Instruction) Jack O'Connell and (Sen.) Dianne Feinstein," said Smith, head of the "No on Prop. 8" effort. "They're not real fire breathers."

Like a school assembly, watching the principal and spinster history teacher look all pious while lying to you through their teeth.

[filospinato]

Tomorrow I’ll be distributing the last of the yard signs to committed Yes on 8 supporters, its the last big push before the election. We need to hold the line on this.

[RichInOC]

We’re quoting our opponents and their policy documents! God damn America!

[goldstategop]

Good Lord! To the gaystapo thugs, people of faith who want nothing more than to be left alone are "right wing extremists." There's been vitriol and hatred surrounding Proposition 8. It has come from the Left.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Dilbert San Diego]

Dianne Feinstein voted no on the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. Even in those Neanderthal times, as the gay activists would define the times, she was only one of 14 senators who voted against defining marriage as one man and one woman, for purposes of federal law.

[calcowgirl]

I saw an ad on CNN earlier today featuring Arnold, Obama, and Feinstein all urging a NO vote.