Welcome to the Bair Lair!

I know some of you better than others but I wanted to reach out to all of you regarding Prop 8.  In less than a month, all of us in California will vote on what I consider to be the most important issue in this election season.  Please learn more about Prop 8 and make an informed decision.  I don't expect that all of us will agree for all the same reasons -- but on Prop 8, I urge you learn what the consequences are and to not sit this election out.

I have spent a lot of time researching and even meeting directly with strong opponents to Prop 8 -- below is a summary of the important highlights in case that helps save you time.  I preface all of this by pointing out that Prop 8 is not a civil rights issue (even though the No on 8 campaign will try to spin it that way -- "equality of rights").  The State of California already extends all the same rights to gay partners that it does to married couples.

If Prop 8 was taking civil rights away from same-sex couples, then I would not be for it.  If it were about intolerance, then I'd be against it.  But in my mind, it's about four important things.  I am voting Yes on Prop 8 for the following reasons:

1) PROP 8 RESTORES THE PEOPLE'S DECISION IN 2000 -- In 2000, 62% of the people in California (over 4 million votes) voted Yes on Prop 22 to reinforce marriage as between one man and one woman.  By election standards, that is a landslide vote.  But then earlier this year, four activists judges from San Francisco on the California Supreme Court overturned the people and approved same-sex marriage.  Prop 8 seeks to restore marriage as previously defined -- nothing more and nothing less.  It's that simple.

In this two-minute video clip, Newt Gingrich lays out this primary issue behind Prop 8.  It's not just a difference between moral values but a statement on our constitution not being subject to activist judges.  See http://tinyurl.com/69lu3p

3) PROP 8 PROTECTS SCHOOLS FROM BECOMING A PLACE TO TEACH/PROMOTE THE GAY LIFESTYLE -- Since the California Education Code requires that children be instructed about marriage, then children (as young as kindergarten) would be taught stories or read books that talk about two princes marrying or two mommies in the kitchen.

Again, hard to believe but this is already happening in Massachusetts public schools.  See this short video about how devastating it will be for California schools if Prop 8 is defeated -- http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1784521903

4) PROP 8 SAVES TAXPAYER MONEY -- California is already in a budget crunch and there are rumors of a $7B loan from the federal government.  If Prop 8 fails, it opens the door to hundreds of pending lawsuits and thousands more on the way that will squeeze taxpayer dollars further.  Unless Prop 8 passes, it is inevitable for polygamous families and other alternative forms of marriage to surface in the courts and legislature.  It's a slippery slope if we change things once.

We probably all have friends and even relatives who live alternative lifestyles that don't pose any danger.  However, it doesn't mean everyone is as reasonable.  The more extreme gay activists have proven to be highly litigious -- a good example is the lesbian couple in Massachusetts that could have went to 20 other adoption agencies but went to the Catholic church to prove a point.  When you look at the impact that gay marriage has had in Massachusetts, it is scary to see it actually results in the polar opposite of freedom.

It will be a close vote.  As Prop 8 continues to grab headlines, viral videos and TV spots, please look beneath the surface to understand the core issues and what is at stake.  Again, this is not about liberals vs. conservatives.  See a great article in the LA Times written by a liberal Democrat -- http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-blankenhorn19-2008sep19,0,2093869.story

1) Vote Yes on Prop 8 on November 4th

2) Contact others -- forward this email or write your own.

3) Register to vote and encourage others to do the same.

4) Display a Yes on Prop 8 yard sign or bumper sticker.

5) Volunteer to help at www.ProtectMarriage.com/volunteer