Washington Anti-Gay Ballot Measure Signatures Under Scrutiny

McClatchy:

Washington election workers say they've never seen a ballot measure attract as much scrutiny as this year's Referendum 71, which would strike down a law that broadens the rights of same-sex partners.

Read the whole story: McClatchy

Comments

[NoSandwiches]

It doesn't look like they will get enough signatures to get it on the ballot.

If it DOES get on the ballot, then I think it may pass.

There are people who are passionately for the measure.
The gay community is passionately against the measure.
The problem is that the gay community is a minority, so they need to find a way to get a turnout from those who would be willing to vote against it. If this ballot is the main draw on the ballot, it will pass.

at least most people vote by mail so there are no worries about people taking time off to drive to the polling places...that is their only hope

[igorz]

If civil rights had been left to the states, not only would we still have white only restrooms and classrooms, the South would've likely reverted to slavery by now.

The civil rights of the minority -- of whatever type -- shouldn't be subject to the tyranny of the majority and the only way to ensure that is to take it OUT of the hands of the majority. Bottom-line: You can't vote to enslave someone because of their minority status and you can't vote to take their rights away that others have.

Is that so difficult to understand? For some, it would appear that it is.

[PlaceboStudman]

Of course it is difficult for them to understand. Those who follow tenents of religion claim to believe in moral absolutes, but never believe in moral equality. Religion is nothing but one giant spiritual popularity contest

[bradley7777]

Most of those who follow organized religion do not have much of a spiritual life. Organized religion does not have within its dogma the structures needed to develop your spirituality. Few follow the teachings of Jesus these days within the Christian faith, and if he were to return preaching the same things he preached in the gospels, a majority of Christians would denounce and reject him.

I agree that religion could be viewed as a popularity contest for many that HAVE to be right though. I just don't believe that there is much of a spiritual component to these people.

[hallowellboy]

Why can't these "religious" nutjobs find something else to do? There are so many people in this country needing help, why bash and work so hard against those Americans who just want to share their lives together? Shame on you.

[PlaceboStudman]

Because LGBTS have been relegated to a special class of sinner in their eyes. Never mind that their little book of fairy tales condemns homosexuality in the same light as murderers, theives and liars.

Of course murderers, theives and liars choose their behavior.

We do not choose who our souls inspire us to love.

Yeah, I don't understand it either.....

[1differentdrummer]

Good question. Another is, why is dishonesty acceptable to this movement?

[PlaceboStudman]

Simple. Until and unless someone shows real tangible anthropological or archeaological evidence of the existance of God, Jesus, or any of the disciples mentioned in the bible, there is absolutely no reason we should listen to anyone who uses the fairy tales of 2,000 year old culture and society to define 21st centurt culture and society

[Alarmist]

Actually, this would be a great time for someone to pass some gay-rights laws, considering the uptight masses have their panties in a twist about health care!

[ardethbay]

I don't understand why conservitives are so afraid of gay people. It would be a good idea to have the states only give out licences for civil unions. That way gay and lesbian couples can get benifits legally, and the churches can stay out of state affairs. Let the churches give out marriage certificates. And there will be churches that will be more than willing to preform that cerimony for gays. The only reason they want to keep gay marriage illegal is their religion, and that is not logical.

[PlaceboStudman]

Conservatives arent afraid of gay people per se. They are afraid of anything that will question or threaten their particular belief system.

They are children, perpetually caught in the state of mind of said child being told that Santa and the tooth fairy do not exist. They begin to question their own value and self worth, because it is tied up with the gifts (righteousness and a stairway to heaven--With apologies to Led Zepplin) that they believe have been given to them by said invisible man in the sky, not understanding that it is their fellow man who really is behind the acts and sentiments of those gifts.

The difference, of course, is that kids get over their disappointment. Adults dont

[CommunistUtopia]

Even though I am a Communist, I have some conservative friends that are quite knowlegeable. In fact, sometimes I start to wonder if I should start to listen to them more rather than insist that my Communist ideology makes sense. I hope my Communist views are not built on lies.

[lastmanstanding99]

I'm a liberal conservative and we need to quit fighting over equal rights. Let's stop spending money on this issue, when we all know they will end up getting there rights sooner or later. The religious right needs to just forget about it, it is not going to hurt anyone.

[PlaceboStudman]

LGBTs need to start our own church. Everyone can join, but we only would perform same sex marriage!

According to the constitution, there really is nothing to stop someone from doing that.

And if the invisible man in the sky has a problem with it, let him say so.

No proxy objections

[Golden Ticket]

What's stopping you?

[SelenicMagick]

NOT that it is any of your business but in his specific case... Spina Bifida plus Terminal Illness.

What's YOUR excuse for being rude?

[cliffhammond]

Love the Republican, hate the sin.

[MarkVA71]

The rights of the minority being put up to a vote by the majority again... *just shakes head in disgust*

[cliffhammond]

That is exactly why the founding fathers tacked on a Bill of Rights -- to limit "The Tyranny of the Majority." Too bad the courts haven't snapped out of it.

[jsgaetano]

It's funny how Goopers always whine about "freedumb" and "smaller gubment", yet they are SO dedicated to keeping the government in our bedrooms, obstructing our doctors, in our churches, etc.

America is now clued in to what Conservatives have spent decades fighting for... and it sure isn't freedom.

[PlaceboStudman]

I have a theory, They actually dont want smaller government. They want a government just big enough to dictate their particular ideology over the masses. They'll say and do whatever it takes to push their own little political agenda, so long as it benefits them.

It's funny how many of these people care so much about a person's soul when it is crystal clear that they have no soul themself

[jsgaetano]

Oh, you're completely right, they don't want smaller government- it's just a talking point. What they DO want is exactly what Saudi Arabia has- a theofascist police state run by a monarchy.

[Opti]

*chirp*

[PlaceboStudman]

Maybe the homophobes and bigots are taking the day off in preparation for the Sabbath?

Naaaaahhhh­hhh....Cou­ldn't be!

[Opti]

Well, crickets are supposed to bring luck! I'll take that whatever the reason... ;-)

[GodIs]

Instead of informing sinners that, "God loves you", it would be more accurate to say that, "God wants to love you." The real issue is not the fact that God loves humanity for this is commonly accepted except among the unbelievers.
God takes no delight in the suffering of the wicked. It is the Devil and his demons who will be tormenting the lost.
God is love.

[PlaceboStudman]

Let's see some anthropological or archaelogical evidence that any of this MIGHT be true, then maybe we'll start to think you're not just a delusional child who still believes in fairy tales and monsters

[Opti]

"God is love."
Which god? The one who smites his enemies? Shiva? Zeus was kind of an arsehole. There are several Gods in Tibet who would scare the daylights out of you.
You have a very limited understanding of either the teachings of Christ or the traditional understanding of Christianity.

[PlaceboStudman]

Personally I'm rather fond of Min, The Pre-dynastic Egyptian God of Fertility who is depicted in hyroglyphs with an oversided erection.

I'm not kidding. I've been to Egypt. I've seen it!

[omobob]

The question of Gay Rights will not be and should not be settled by the ballot. Gays are a minority and deserve protection from the rule of the majority. The rights of the minority shall not be impeded by the rule of the majority. It’s a Federal civil rights issue. Can you imagine the South ever desegregating in the 60s without the mandate from the Federal Government?

[mtdem4ever]

Excellent point!

[GodIs]

Christians are advised to offer Jesus to people unconvinced of their sin. It is their duty to judge rightly because they are God's representatives. They must remember to be careful to remain true to God's Word, for they are not judging according to their own personal convictions, but according to the Truth.
If believers do not judge, they are partly responsible for the unbeliever's damnation. It is a Christian's obligation to judge!
God is love.

[PlaceboStudman]

The ONLY thing that is truly "God's Word" is the 10 commandments. Everything else is hearsay and speculation made through a giant game of Telephone that was obviously distorted and contorted through the centuries, from the very time of Jesus's death. There were people, called Gnostics, who questioned the existance of Jesus as soon as 50 years after his so called death. But, of course you don't hear about them because the Gnostic Gospels were intentionally excluded from the bible to suit the political agenda of those who wrote and compiled it

[Joel Redman]

Matthew 7:1 -- Judge not, lest you be judged

[SelenicMagick]

*Grins* give them the rest of the darn quote... after all MOST of them have beams in their own eyes.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

[sjpersonal]

Are you serious, what in h Ell does religion have to do with this issue? The answer should be absolutely nothing. Homosexuality is NOT a choice and cannot be prayed away! It is who they are from the womb to the tomb. They are NOT some sub species, they are entitled to the same rights as every other American!

The ignorance and bigotry...YES BIGOTRY in this country is truly astounding!

[truthartbeauty]

it is ignorance based on fear and ignorance. the church is a fountain of misinformation on this , and just about everything else.....always the problem, never the solution, the church is a menace to decent people everywhere.

[thepoliticalcat]

Pathetic. God's Word says, "Love thy neighbour as thyself," and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," and "Judge not, lest ye be judged." You don't get to pick and choose which parts of God's Word you will implement. Either you obey and judge not, or you judge and defy the word of god. Which will it be? You can't say, "When God said 'Judge not, lest ye be judged,' he was talking about EVERYONE ELSE but me. His rule doesn't apply to me." God isn't gonna like that.

[Opti]

Working backward: "God is love." Which god? The one who smites his enemies? Shiva? Zeus was kind of an arsehole. There are several Gods in Tibet who would scare the daylights out of you.

"It is a Christian's obligation to judge." Just because your preacher says so doesn't mean this is the teaching of Christ. Or most Christian faiths. Or most commentary on Christianity. Or the practice of most Christians.

"they are not judging according to their own personal convictions, but according to the Truth." Belief is nothing more than a personal conviction. Yours happens to fall considerably outside the belief of most Christians. Your sect is off on it's own tangent; come back to the fold!