By Jonquil Frankham
CALIFORNIA, October 22, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Recent donations to the “No on 8” campaign have endangered the passage of Proposition 8, a measure to protect true marriage in California. The two opposing campaigns are in a fundraising race that could decide the legal definition of marriage in California, as well as the future of Californians’ freedom of speech and conscience.
If passed, Proposition 8 would amend California’s constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Whether or not the proposition passes, say commentators, depends largely on public television advertising.
A poll conducted at the beginning of October showed a growing public enthusiasm for Proposition 8, but in a recent press conference the “No on 8” faction made a desperate plea for funds. Since then, millions of dollars’ worth of donations to “No on 8” have been pouring in from public figures such as Ellen DeGeneres and George Lucas.
In the month of October, opponents of the measure raised $8.3 million, Baptist Press reports. True marriage advocates however, raised a mere $1.5 million. Much of the money opposing the measure has poured in from Hollywood, while the California Teachers Association also donated $1 million.”
ProtectMarriage.com writes: “Our media buyers have determined that the No on 8 campaign will be able to spend $1.4 million more on television ads this week than our campaign can afford to spend.
“That means that our powerful new ad … may get drowned out by No on 8 ads claiming we are lying when we warn voters that gay marriage will be taught in public schools unless Proposition 8 is passed.”
The new ad features the testimony of Robb and Robin Wirthlin of Massachusetts, where homosexual “marriage” has been legal since 2003. The Wirthlins tell Californians how they discovered their 7-year-old son was being read pro-homosexual-marriage stories in school in 2006. They took their concerns before the Massachusetts First District Court, where the court decided against them. “The court said we had no right to object or to pull him out of class,” says Robb Wirthlin in the ad.
Chip White, spokesperson for the “Yes on 8” campaign, was unavailable for comment.
To donate to “Yes on 8” go to www.protectmarriage.com