PEOPLE'S VETO NEARS FINISH LINE

I guess whatever argument fits the moment for Charlotte....I still want to know how much the pushpoll people are receiving from the homosexual activists. Keep'em on the phonelines! I had alot of fun with the ones that called me a several years ago over 2nd Amendment issues. Told them that having a gun in my house saved my family, the pollpusher was incredulous. Nothing like playing with the ideologues.

Date: July 28, 2009 3:32:10 PM EDT
Subject: Stand for Marriage Maine, FYI to Political Reporters/Editors

Note to Maine's Political Reporters/Editors
From: Stand for Marriage Maine

Contact: Scott K Fish
Communications Director

Not telling the whole story seems a favorite tactic of those who neither want Mainers to fully understand the so-called "same-sex marriage" law (LD 1020) nor have a vote on the matter. In the last Legislative Session alone our opponents said no to several amendments to have this issue discussed and then decided by Maine voters on Election Day 2009.

This month we've seen three fundraising emails [See below] from our opponents based on the illusion they are getting no campaign help from outside sources. One fundraiser actually tied Stand for Marriage Maine to an out-of-state group with whom we have no affiliation.

If support from out of state groups is a campaign issue, then our opponents should heed concerns about stones and glass houses. In truth, out-of-state sources are funneling significant money and manpower to our opponents' campaign. Out-of-state special interests were working with our opponents before and during the last Legislative Session to manipulate public opinion, to lobby Maine legislators to enact LD 1020, and they’re working with them still.

So after you’ve read our opponents’ spin, here are some of the facts you need to know. And it’s all right there in our opponents' July campaign finance report, and also covered in Bay Windows, New England's Largest GLBT Newspaper (7/23/09) [See attached.]:

Washington, D.C.'s Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which calls itself the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, cut our opponents a $25,000 check - the second largest donation on their campaign finance report. HRC also provides our opponents staffing, consulting, phone bank volunteers, and promises of $100,000 more.

Massachusetts based MassEquality, another LGBT group, is bringing to Maine, on behalf of our opponents, campaign volunteers to knock on Maine doors and ring Maine phones.

Finally, there is this admission by our opponents' campaign manager, Jesse Connolly: "We're talking to the national groups about strategy and help with financial commitments, and we're very pleased with our effort, so we're going to continue to have those conversations with them." It leaves one wondering if Connolly is in fact managing their campaign, or merely serving as a local front for the national campaign that has descended on Maine to throw traditional marriage out the window.

Stand for Marriage Maine has no qualm with our opponents using outside help. We just think they should be a little more honest with their own supporters. They should stop the façade of asking Mainers for money by pretending they're not getting manpower and money from out-of-state groups.

####

* The three fundraising emails

Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:10:23 GMT
From: "Jesse Connolly, Maine Freedom to Marry"
Subject: Protect Marriage Equality In Maine
http://mainefreedomtomarry.com

Greetings,

We have launched our campaign to protect marriage equality in Maine, and we're off to a great start already.

Our goal is to reach $55,087 online during the first two weeks of the campaign, and we are already at almost $20,000.

Right now, the opposition is working to collect 55,087 signatures to take away the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry and force the measure to the ballot in November. We are presenting a different option - the opportunity to pledge to protect marriage equality in Maine.

As you may know, we have the opportunity for Maine to be the first state in history to protect marriage equality at the ballot box. The opposition knows this too, and they are throwing everything they have into making sure that marriage equality in Maine is taken away.

With our opposition already receiving funding from national groups that want to turn back the clock in Maine, it is important that we kick this campaign off right. Our goal is to raise $55,087 online during the first two weeks of the campaign.

Your contribution of $25, $50, $100 or anything you can afford will help us reach the goal of $55,087.

Together, we can protect marriage for all Maine families.

Sincerely,

Jesse Connolly
Campaign Manager
Maine Freedom to Marry

===

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009
From: "Betsy Smith, EqualityMaine"
Subject: To Secret
http://mainefreedomtomarry.com

Greetings,

In a recent Portland Press Herald story, we learned that the offices of Stand for Marriage Maine are being hidden from the public. A*secret memo* that was sent around amongst the* anti-equality staff* said, "For security reasons, please do not give the physical location of the office to anyone. It's imperative that no one else know the location."

So I wondered, if the office location is secret then how did* large out of state anti-equality groups* know where to mail the*$242,000 they are funneling into Maine* to try to take away the rights of same-sex couples?

Here's where some of the anti-equality money came from:

National Organization for Marriage, Princeton, NJ - $160,000
Knights of Columbus, Washington, DC - $50,000
Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO - $31,000

*Instead of practicing backroom politics, we are a people-powered campaign*, where the majority of our donors have come from here in Maine. We are asking you to join in this effort and help us compete against the influence out-of-state anti-equality groups.

As I write this, we have 501 individuals who have already contributed to our campaign to keep Maine's marriage equality law on the books.* Can you pitch in $100, $50, or even just $35 so we can fight against backroom politics?*

With your support today, we can make it happen!

Betsy Smith
Executive Director
EqualityMaine

===

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:08:57 GMT
From: "Jesse Connolly, Maine Freedom to Marry"
Subject: What we're up against - Watch the video
http://mainefreedomtomarry.com

Greetings,

Last week, we learned that our opposition has funneled more than $240,000 into Maine from out-of-state anti-equality groups.
Now, we're learning that a Pennsylvania group has come to Maine to spread their anti-equality message in public.

Local NBC affiliate WCSH6 is reporting that a Pennsylvania organization called the "American Society for the Defense of Family, Tradition, and Property" is touring around the state trying to gain public support for taking away marriage equality.

So I'm wondering why the anti-equality groups in Maine have to rely out-of-state organizations not only to fund their efforts, but now to stand on street corners with signs?

The out-of-state anti-equality groups are descending upon Maine, just like they did upon California during Prop 8. But the people of Maine are heading in a different direction.

Can you spare $100, $50, or even just $35 to help us fight these out-of-state anti-equality groups?

Sincerely,
Jesse Connolly
Protect Maine Equality

###

Bob, Scott...are you saying that there are not out of state staff/consultants working to help the opposition? Yes, or no.

Also, comparing both campaigns...is it not correct that the opposition, by far, have more out of state funding then the proponents?

"Bob, Scott...are you saying that there are not out of state staff/consultants working to help the opposition? Yes, or no.

Also, comparing both campaigns...is it not correct that the opposition, by far, have more out of state funding then the proponents?"

Is it not true, that in a remarkably short period of time, more than 55,000 Maine residents signed a People's Veto petition to overturn the granting of a previously nonexistant "right"?

As for funding, let's see what the final tally is when the dust settles--I would be AMAZED if the pro-gay marriage proponents didn't have much more funding, ultimately, than Stand for Marriage.

Charlotte, your dragging of red herrings with complaints about 'out of state funding' (but only one side is criticized--why is that, again?) cannot disguise the truth that Maine voters willingly signed a petition to overturn same-sex marriage, and in a short time, too. Whining about "out of state money" will not hide this fact.

Who is paying Jesse Connolly? I did not see him on the list of expenditures in the report submitted by EQME. Rumor has it that he is earning collecting $30K/mo. Where is that grassroots money originating?

Maybe I'm dense, but I don't see money as the issue at all.

I believe it's an issue of right and wrong, and of what the people in the state of Maine have to say about it.

Charlotte, when faced with the sheer momentum of the petition drive, you choose to ignore the numbers of people lining up to sign. Instead, you turn your discussion to how much money was spent and where.

First off, it's a losing game for you, as we all know that before they incite the riots and looting after they lose the election, your out-of-state buddies will be far outspending what they did in California.

Secondly, even you have to see that it's a tad cynical to pretend that this is about anything other than the people's will which is being measured.

Fortunately, you have not had credibility in this matter in quite some time, so you had none to lose.

Carry on.

In a recent Portland Press Herald story, we learned that the offices of Stand for Marriage Maine are being hidden from the public. A*secret memo* that was sent around amongst the* anti-equality staff* said, "For security reasons, please do not give the physical location of the office to anyone. It's imperative that no one else know the location."

I didn't read the Press Herald story. Is the reason that the location is secret in order to reduce incidents of violence and vandalism?

Why on earth would you think that?

Is the reason that the location is secret in order to reduce incidents of violence and vandalism?

Precisely what I surmised. I also reckon that as soon as the names of the petition signers becomes a matter of public record we will begin to see threats, intimidation, firings and other methods of understanding and tolerance that are patented trademarks of the Diversity crowd.

Charlotte,
I answered your silly question in the other thread.
Don't pretend like your side is not using consultants and staff from out of state. Compare the dollars all you want. It is irrelevant.
But if you are concerned about honesty, how about telling your out of state volunteers who are knocking on doors to stop pretending to be from Maine?

You can be sure that I will do everything I can to raise every dollar I can from every state in the union if that is what it takes to protect marriage in Maine. I see that your side wants hard working Mainers to pay the whole bill for fixing the mess that Damon, Bliss and Baldacci made. But if I can find friends from away who are willing to help, I will do so. Mainers are trying to make a living and the less this costs them, the better.

The Human Rights Council is not sending staff to Maine to help me as they are for your side. Nor is the American Civil Liberties Union, or the Boston-based GLAD.

Viking...like I have said..both side are getting out of state funds...The difference is that the opponents like to use the term "grassroots" to describe their campaign....it is not. That is all I disagree with.

Michelle...you talking about credibility again? If you are not slamming someone on amg...you must be away from the site...

Bob, I have never denied that out of staters are helping the proponents. So you agree your group is doing the same? Honestly, I don't understand why you need to protect marriage...You've got gay families that are willing to stay together and help this world...How that equates to attacking marriage...I just don't know.

Damon, Bliss and Baldacci did a just and brave deed. They protected ALL families..not just the ones you deem holy.

By the way...didn't the ACLU fight so that petitions could be circulated in Farmington? Is that not help? Both sides will get out of state help....however, in comparison...volunteers (not paid signature gatherers) collected signatures in support of marriage equality the last vote. Thousands collected...by folks right her in Maine...not the HRC.

No, the ACLU did not help us at all.

You are really trying hard to make an issue out of a non-issue.
The majority of our signatures were gathered by volunteers. Tomorrow, we will explain some startling things about signatures. :)
You may have used all volunteers to gather signatures at polling places, but you neglect to tell everyone that those volunteers were not all Mainers.

Don't you think the important thing is who signed petitions?

Bob...the facts are that the opponents paid over 250,000 to a company in Illnois to collect for this veto. That is not chump change. Also, I know of no out of stater who collected signatures on voting day for the proponents. Could a couple have done so...sure (I don't know everything about that day)...that said...No one was paid per signature to collect. That is a fact.

Why are you only telling some of the facts?
Do you know what the company was paid for? Were they only paid to gather signatures? If you are going to play reporter, you should do all the research and give us the whole story.
Here is the headline for your story.... ....[insert number here]............Mainers signed the petitions for a People's Veto

delete

Wow, a lib being asked to pony up real verifiable facts.......making some popcorn.

Editor’s Note: These posts were moved here from another thread.

0.1% of contributions to people's veto come from...individual people

Posted by Gerald Weinand
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 12:34am

Cross posted at Dirigo Blue

As of Monday morning (28 July), Stand for Marriage Maine, the lead group opposing LD 1020, the law that allows same-sex couples in Maine to marry, has received $343,689.50 in contributions (link - pdf warning).

Of that total, $400 has come from individuals. That's right, four people have each ponied up one hundred bucks in support of a people's veto, while groups like James Dobson's Focus on the Family, the Knights of Columbus, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, and the National Organization for Marriage have contributed the rest.

99.9% of the rest.

And this is a "people's" veto?

There is a group of people that are working to defeat groups like those mentioned above, and you can find them at Maine Freedom to Marry, and in the Midcoast area, Midcaost for Marriage Equality.

===

Posted by Vikingstar
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 3:20am

Something over 55,000 INDIVIDUAL Mainers have signed the petition. Yes, Gerald, it's a "people's veto".

===

Posted by Vikingstar
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 3:23am

"There is a group of people that are working to defeat groups like those mentioned above, and you can find them at Maine Freedom to Marry, and in the Midcoast area, Midcaost for Marriage Equality."

The groups you mention (and all the out of state groups that you don't mention) are attempting to use the force of government to impose their mortal view on the rest of us. The PEOPLE who have signed the People's Veto petition are attempting to stop this impostion.

===

Posted by IAC
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 5:57am

I'm longing for the day when Maine's liberals have to resort to a people's veto to try to overturn something created by a conservative administration and legislature. When that day comes, I'm sure we can count on Gerald to lobby against accepting contributions from special interest groups.

===

Posted by Doug Thomas
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 6:02am

Thank you for reminding me Gerald my check will go out today.

===

Posted by charlotte
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 7:43am

Gerald...thanks for the thread...Good info!

===

Posted by Average Joe
Thu, 07/30/2009 - 7:58am

So is it 55,000 people who won't put their money where their mouth is or could it be nobody asked them? Either way doesn't speak well for the vetoheads.

CONNECTICUT, MAINE, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders
Within the framework of GLAD’s mission to end discrimination based on sexual orientation in all forms, this grant supports GLAD’s marriage equality work in partnership with state equality organizations in Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont. Working in coalition with MassEquality Education Fund, GLAD will support the leading marriage equality organizations in each of these four states with targeted technical assistance in the areas of communications, legal expertise and strategic partnerships under the umbrella of the campaign “Winning New England, Leading the Nation.” $120,000
MassEquality Education Fund
To support MassEquality’s new expanded mission to advance marriage equality throughout New England. MassEquality will work in partnership with state equality organizations in Connecticut, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont. Working in coalition with GLAD, MassEquality will support the leading marriage equality organizations in each of these four states with targeted technical assistance in the areas of organizing, message and campaign strategy development, and coalition building under the umbrella of the campaign “Winning New England, Leading the Nation.” $120,000
MAINE
Equality Maine Foundation
To support coalitional work and a comprehensive organizing, research, public education and communications campaign to build public support for marriage equality through the Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition, co-chaired by Equality Maine Foundation and GLAD. Equality Maine Foundation is also working with MassEquality Education Fund and GLAD under the umbrella of the campaign “Winning New England, Leading the Nation.” $75,000
MAINE
Equality Maine Foundation
To support EqualityMaine Foundation's work in coalition with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and allies in a comprehensive organizing and public education campaign to build support to win marriage equality.
$35,000

MAINE
Equality Maine Foundation
To support grantee's work to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Maine through community organizing, education, and collaboration. Specifically, this grant will support grantees work to conduct a broad and effective public education campaign for marriage equality in Maine.$40,000
http://www.proteusfund.org/programs/civil-marriage-collaborative/grantees

EqualityMaine Foundation: $10,000

EqualityMaine is carrying out the most ambitious organizing effort on Maine’s landscape today, the campaign for marriage equality. We’ve funded EqualityMaine in the other years, and this year, we’re proud to be counted among the marriage campaign’s committed supporters.
2004

EqualityMaine Foundation - $40,000 over three years.

Civil rights are a cornerstone of a just society. To achieve it in Maine, Maine Lesbian Gay Political Alliance undertook a strategic planning process that resulted in a new name and a new approach. The group’s volunteer door-to-door and phone outreach to thousands of Mainers provided what was probably the winning margin in Maine’s gay rights referendum. Today, the group is working to secure equal rights to all domestic partners in insurance, wills, probate and other partnerships.
http://www.maineinitiatives.org/?page_id=56

big money for a grass roots campaign.. and I could list source after source after source...but for Charlotte to be upset over any amount of money that Mr Emrichs group has raised is very hypocritical considering. I didnt even list all the money that HCR has dumped and funneled into this state.

"Viking...like I have said..both side are getting out of state funds...The difference is that the opponents like to use the term "grassroots" to describe their campaign....it is not. That is all I disagree with."

It is painfully obvious that this statement is simply not true, that this is not a "grassroots" campaign. Without tens of thousands of Mainers willingly signing this petition, it doesn't matter how much money is spent--it goes nowhere.
If voters who support the status quo don't show up in November (the 'status quo' as opposed to creating a previously nonesistant 'right' and imposing it by force on the rest of us), it goes nowhere.

.
Bob..I only know the public information. Your opposition has paid over 250k to a firm that specializes in gathering signatures for these type of issues. If you would like to detail what else they are helping with...please do.

grassroots - of or involving the common people as constituting a fundamental political and economic group; "a grassroots movement for nuclear disarmament"
common - having no special distinction or quality; widely known or commonly encountered; average or ordinary or usual; "the common man"; "a common sailor"; "the common cold"; "a common nuisance"; "followed common procedure"; "it is common knowledge that she lives alone"; "the common housefly"; "a common brand of soap"

This is far from the "common people". It is about national conservative religious groups funding this opposition.

Charlotte, are you saying that you have public information that out-of-staters were gathering signatures? I find that interesting, since everyone who circulated a petition had to, by law, have certification that we were registered to vote in the State of Maine.

So which "public information" outlet did you get your information from?

It is about national conservative religious groups funding this opposition.

Where I come from it is about common, ordinary, everyday Maine people who are sick and tired of the vacuous twaddle that is being paraded as "rights" - We have no more right to call two men "married" than we have a right to call two sticks of butter a loaf of bread.

Mutty noted that the professional signature-gathering firm, National Petition Management Inc. of Michigan, was expensive but necessary in order to get enough signatures collected by mid-August so the veto question would appear on the ballot this fall.

According to the filings, the Stand for Marriage PAC has paid National Petition $193,629 and still owes the firm $52,000. Overall, the PAC has spent $293,231 to date.

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/6611954.html

$400,000 dollars in PAC money and special interest money with source links above. And that was only a partial listing, not including money from HRC and other sources easily found on the web Charlotte.

Sounds like sour grapes to me, charlotte.

But are you muddying the waters by furthering the falsehood that those who stand for the traditional marriage have broken the law by paying out-of-state people to circulate petitions?

The fallback of the liberal argument - argue a non issue as if it's THE issue.

Michelle I never said the campaign did anything illegal, so please stop lying about what I have said. I've said they paid a professional signature gathering company from Michigan...That is valid.

Date: July 31, 2009 12:36:20 PM
Stand for Marriage Maine Turns in 100,373 Petition Signatures for Peoples Veto of Same-Sex Marriage Law

Stand for Marriage Maine
P.O. Box 15322
Portland, Maine 04112

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2009
For more information:
Scott K Fish, Communications Director
207-458-7185 (cell) or 207-846-9052 (office)

AUGUSTA - The Stand for Marriage Maine Coalition (S4MM) today announced that 100,373 Mainers had signed the Peoples' Veto petition to overturn Maine's "same sex marriage" law. The coalition submitted their signatures today to the Secretary of State's office, in an amount nearly twice the number required by law.

"Instead of adopting policies to nurture and promote marriage, the Legislature and the Governor chose to redefine it. But 100,000 registered Maine voters have put their names on these petitions to say the Legislature and the Governor were wrong," said Bob Emrich, a leader in the S4MM committee.

The S4MM campaign noted that no previous People's Veto effort in Maine had ever collected over 100,000 signatures, and that most of these signatures were collected during one of the wettest Maine weather periods in recent history, with rain nearly every day.

S4MM chairman, Marc Mutty, said with such an overwhelming number of signatures, there is no doubt the People's Veto will be before the voters this November.

"The people know how important marriage is to human society, and they want to make such an important decision for themselves rather than leave it to the politicians," said Mutty. "Legalizing homosexual marriage has profound consequences for Maine, and we have no doubt that the more Mainers think about these implications, the more they will vote to restore traditional marriage to our state."

Mr. & Mrs. Kim and Brian Souchet spoke in support of the Peoples Veto at today's event. "As a mother and wife, I am very aware of the importance of both a father and a mother to the development of children. Marriage between one man and one woman is in the best interest of children. This new law has removed all references to gender (mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, etc.) as they relate to family. What are our legislators telling us, that a mother doesn't matter or a father doesn't matter?" said Mrs. Kim Souchet.

The signature petitions arrived in boxes by truck near the Burton M. Cross Building behind the State House at approximately 10:15 a.m. Each box was decorated in ribbon and handled with care from the back of the delivery truck, into the Cross Building, up a few floors to the Sec. of State's office.

"These boxes and the petitions in them represent the dedication, concern, and hard work of each petition circulator, and of every one of the over 100,000 Mainers who signed a petition. There was no question the petition boxes deserved to be treated with respect," said How about using the couple that is also speaking?

Maine's Secretary of State now has up to 30 days to examine the petitions and certify the petition signatures. Stand for Marriage Maine needs only 55,087 certified signatures to place the Peoples Veto on the November 2009 Election Day ballot.

-end-

Bob Emrich Prepared Remarks
Stand for Marriage Maine, July 31, 2009

For generations, the legislative chambers behind me have been used to uphold and protect and preserve the traditions and values of Maine people. This used to be a place where bridges were built to bring together the various religious traditions and the secular concerns of citizens. Elected officials understood that duty and common sense required those long standing values and traditions to be respected and indeed honored.

On April 30 of this year, I sat in the Senate Chamber listening to State Senators mocking and disparaging the deeply held faith of Maine people. It was heartbreaking to listen to the ease with which they dismissed thousands of years of human history as if it were irrelevant.

I sat there with a copy of Maine law in my hands which reads:

The people of the State of Maine find that the union of one man and one woman joined in traditional monogamous marriage is of inestimable value to society; the State has a compelling interest to nurture and promote the unique institution of traditional monogamous marriage in the support of harmonious families and the physical and mental health of children; and that the State has the compelling interest in promoting the moral values inherent in traditional monogamous marriage.

I listened carefully for someone to explain how those agreed upon findings were somehow no longer relevant. But it appears that the majority were too concerned about the immense pressure from lobbyists to care about reason and explanation.

It was not, as some have claimed a proud day for Maine. As the House and then the Governor followed the lead of those same lobbyists, Maine has come dangerously close to trading time honored tradition and social practice for the fad of a minority. National organizations who have failed in state after state to make their case for redefining marriage, brought the battle to Maine. The majority in the Senate and the House, with hearty agreement of our Governor, did their bidding and chose to endorse a genderless marriage.

Instead of adopting policies to nurture and promote marriage, as called for by Maine law, they chose to redefine it.

But over 100,000 Mainers have already said NO.

They believe there is still a duty and a benefit to nurture and promote the unique institution of traditional marriage. They believe that the State still has a compelling interest in support of harmonious families, physical and mental health of children and the moral values inherent in traditional monogamous marriage.

100,000 registered Maine voters have put their names on these petitions to say the legislature and the Governor were wrong.

They believe in preserving, improving and promoting Marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Those who because of the shortness of time, did not have opportunity to sign a petition will now have the opportunity to help protect marriage in November.

-end-

Prepared Remarks Kim & Brian Souchet
Stand for Marriage Maine, July 31, 2009

Mr. Brian Souchet: Thank you all for showing up in defense of marriage. As a husband and father, I am gravely concerned over the Legislature's recent attempt at redefining what has been the very foundation of our civil society for centuries, if not millennium: the union of a man and a women, in a dedicated, life-long relationship geared toward the rearing of children. That unique institution known as "marriage."

Given the importance of the family to the well-being of society, one would think that the Legislature would do everything in it's power to protect the sanctity of this timeless institution; an institution that predates the state, is not a product of the state, does not even require the state's involvement in order to perpetuate itself. The Legislature did not create the institution of marriage, it only chose to recognize what was. So the question remains, "under whose authority does the Legislature now change this foundational element of society, and even more importantly, to what end?"

In 1997, the State Legislature wrote in to Maine law the following:

"The people of the state of Maine find that...."

How things have changed over the past 12 years. We now have a Legislature that is hell-bent on tearing down the very institution that not too long ago was hailed as the " basic building block of our society" and the "foundation of harmonious and enriching family life." 

Mrs. Kim Souchet: As a mother, my two concerns are parental rights and the intentional denial of either a father or mother to a child. We, as parents, face losing our parental rights in the teaching of moral issues to our children. If the People's Veto does not succeed, you can be assured that your children will be taught, as early as kindergarten, about relationships involving two men or two women and you will have no say in the matter. This has already happened in Massachusetts where a father was thrown into jail for insisting that he be able to opt out his children from being taught the homosexual lifestyle. Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and parents have lost their rights on what moral issues are taught to their children. We do not want this to happen here in Maine!

Also as a mother and wife, I am very aware of the importance of both a father and a mother to the development of children. Marriage between one man and one woman is in the best interest of children. This new law has removed all references to gender (mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, etc.) as they relate to family. What are our legislators telling us, that a mother doesn't matter or a father doesn't matter? That a child does not need both a father and a mother? If we allow this law to stand, we as a society are purposefully promoting as "marriage" a relationship, that by its very nature, deprives a child of either a mother or a father. We cannot intentionally tell our children that a mother or a father is not important in their lives. We cannot tell our children, either at school or at home, that it is okay if they do not have a mommy because they have two daddies or vise versa. This is not good for children. I have to protect my children and we all need to put the best interests of children first in Maine.

Mr. Brian Souchet: For those who do not believe that continued passage of this bill will affect them personally, I would ask that you stop for a moment and think about your own families, what you would want for them. Ask yourself in what ways will the power of the state now be used to ensure compliance regardless of your own personal religious or moral beliefs.

Marriage matters. If it didn't, we would not be here, one side attempting to legislate change, the other trying to protect what has been the gold standard for centuries. Healthy marriages, where children have both the benefit of a mother and a father, lead to strong families. This is an undeniable fact. Strong families lead to strong societies. Never forget, where goes the family, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.

Thank you, and God bless.

-end-

Then exactly what IS your accusation, charlotte? You've not made it clear. In fact, it appears you are trying to say that it is ot a grassroots effort because out-of-staters are either signing or gathering signatures, depending on the day of your specific statements.

If you are NOT making those accusations, could you please explain what accusation you ARE making?

Note: This is the problem which crops up when people speak using talking points and don't elucidate. Now, I'm sure you are not guilty of simply spewing the points the definition-changers have supplied you with, so I would ask that you elaborate a bit when you make wild accusations. Thanks.

Impressive!

I know that in my travels, in almost 1/2 of the cases, when I asked someone to sign, that person asked if they could gather signatures, so while I was expecting a LOT of signatures, that really outstripped my imagination!

Kudos to the Jeremiah Project, Stand for Marriage, and the Catholic Church as well as the many signature-gatherers who worked to get this on the ballot despite the strange and dishonest tactics used by the "re-definitioners" and their push-pollers!! Bravo!