• Reaction: Supreme Court DOMA & Prop 8 Rulings

REACTION FROM THE PROPOSITION 8 LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

*6/17/13 UPDATE BELOW* Just moments ago, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in the Proposition 8 case.

It is widely being mis-reported that the Court ruled against Prop 8. IT DID NOT!

Rather, the Court said it could not reach a decision because California government officials refused to defend the law. So it did not rule on Prop 8's validity.

In doing so, the Court also nullified the Ninth Circuit's ruling against Prop 8, which is a great victory in itself!

So, the voter-passed Constitutional Amendment to protect man-woman marriage remains the law of the land in California, because only an appellate court can strike down a voter proposition statewide.

But it remains to be seen what California officials will do now.

Right now we are heading down the steps of the Supreme Court building to a long bank of TV cameras and reporters, to deliver this statement:

“We are pleased that the Supreme Court has reversed the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ misguided decision that sought to invalidate Proposition 8. For the more than seven million Californians who have seen their vote stripped away from them, little by little, over the course of five years, that decision is gratifying.

“While it is unfortunate that the Court’s ruling does not directly resolve questions about the scope of the trial court’s order against Prop 8, we will continue to defend Prop 8 and seek its enforcement until such time as there is a binding statewide order that renders Prop 8 unenforceable.

“We are also especially grateful and humbled by the consistent prayers and support of traditional marriage supporters everywhere throughout this long and difficult case.”

Please stay tuned for a detailed analysis of the Court's decision from our official Prop 8 Legal Defense Team. See also coverage by our dedicated co-counsel in the case, Alliance Defending Freedom.

But for now, let's be thankful that the Court refused to strike down Prop 8!

Very truly yours, Andy Pugno, Prop 8 General Counsel

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REACTION FROM CATHOLICVOTE.ORG

What a morning. Time to exhale.

What you are reading in the news is not the whole story.

Moments ago the Supreme Court handed down two very narrow decisions. Both of them were wrong. But the marriage fight is far from over.

Let me explain.

In essence, the Court invalidated a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and rejected the right of the people to defend a law passed by millions of citizens in California. The Court ducked the question of whether Proposition 8 in California is constitutional – and most importantly, did NOT create a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

States that have protected marriage and those that seek to do so in the future cannot be stopped.

The Court did disenfranchise millions of voters with its decision on Proposition 8. Five Supreme Court justices effectively dismissed the votes of millions of citizens who twice voted to protect marriage. Nevertheless, the record in California is now plain: the people voted to protect marriage, but reckless politicians refused to respect the right of the people and enforce the law.

What is left is a single decision by a district court judge that applies to two couples. The legal fight to clarify what happens next will be critical and will be heavily contested by defenders of marriage in the courts. Same-sex marriage advocates touting immediate statewide gay marriage in California are misleading the public.

But wait. There’s more.

Today’s decision striking down portions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was limited to only those same-sex "marriages" already recognized in the states that allow same-sex marriage.

Also, remember that other parts of DOMA protect states from being forced to recognize same-sex marriage in other states. That portion of the law was not challenged and remains in force – and in some ways was strengthened by today’s decision.

Thus, while today’s decisions were very disappointing, they do not represent a watershed moment for marriage as many are suggesting. Same-sex marriage advocates did not get what they wanted, namely a “Roe v. Wade” for same-sex marriage.

We have a clear path forward to protect marriage and respond to these rulings, in Congress and in the states, and in the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens. The future of marriage remains a dispute open to ‘We the People.’

The debate on marriage lives on and is up to us.

And you can count on CV to keep up the fight.

Catholic Vote

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MORE FROM THE PROP 8 LEGAL TEAM (6/27/13)

If you're like most people, you're probably totally confused by the conflicting news reports about today's Supreme Court rulings.

I believe that has happened because our opposition was ready to declare total victory no matter what happened. Despite getting almost none of what they sued for, they nevertheless claimed a sweeping victory... and the media has largely repeated their version of the outcome without question.

Here are some key facts about today's two rulings in the Prop 8 and Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) cases:

1. By a 5-4 decision, the Court struck down a narrow portion of DOMA that deals only with federal recognition of marriages in those states that have adopted gender-neutral marriage. The majority opinion specifically said it was NOT requiring states to adopt same-sex "marriage."

2. Also by a narrow, 5-4 decision, the Court chose to AVOID ruling on Proposition 8's validity. You can read the Court's opinion (deciding NOT to decide) here. They held that, since California's government officials refused to defend Prop 8, there was no "case" for the Court to decide. The minority opinion (by four judges) dissented, agreeing with our California Supreme Court that we--as the official proponents--should be allowed to give Prop 8 a defense.

3. The Supreme Court did NOT accept our opponent's pleas to change the definition of marriage, nor did it declare a constitutional right to same-sex "marriage."

4. The Supreme Court "vacated" (erased) the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal's previous ruling against Prop 8, which means that terrible decision provides NO legal precedent for same-sex "marriage."

5. California's Constitution says that only an appellate court, not a single trial court judge, can stop a proposition's enforcement statewide. As of today, there is no such ruling. Nevertheless, the Governor and Attorney General today rushed forward with plans to make same-sex "marriage" licenses available throughout California in the next three or four weeks.

And that is where it sits this evening. Our Legal Team is closely examining today's court rulings, and assessing what, if any, options are available to us to keep Proposition 8 in force. This is a time for careful consideration and discernment, and we thank you in advance for your patience and continued support.

Very truly yours, Andy Pugno

• Hannity Throws The Race Card Again:

The Second Black Conservatives Special

I couldn't be more disappointed by the ongoing race segregation among conservatives, promoted by Sean Hannity in this case on his Friday show tonight featuring "black conservatives" for a second time.

I am not sure how we got to this point, but I have been aware for a few years now that conservatives seem to like this idea of putting its black proponents on display.

This is nothing short of the right wing throwing the race card back at the left. And every time I see it I am disgusted by it.

I want to make clear, I have nothing against most of these folks who are black and conservative. We might have disagreements here and there, but by and large these are good people with conservative values and positions.

But so are brown conservatives. And Asian conservatives. And Native American conservatives. And Indian and African and - yes - White conservatives.

This idea that Hannity and other shows and websites would focus on presenting black conservatives is a direct response to the hysteria over first black president of the United States. And it's misguided at best, racist at worst.

It almost reminds me of black minstrel shows back in the day, the way conservative blacks are paraded on television. I know what I'm saying may be offensive to some, but this is a very important point. Mr. Hannity seems to be saying, "hey look! We have blacks on our side too!"

Doesn't it seem as though we are separating conservatives into groups by race, so that we can try and compete with liberals on the same race-based playing field the left has created? And honestly: Why in the world would we want to do that?

I have run into so many smart, thoughtful conservatives online - on internet radio, blogs and websites, but not all of these conservative activists are black, so of course none of them are considered for the Hannity specials that introduce America to new conservative thinkers.

I think of two smart kids I know online - Caiden Cowger, who at the age of 14 made a mark online with his criticism of homosexual marriage, and Jayson Veley, who has finished his first year of college. Both are extremely talented, well spoken conservatives and both are, unfortunately for them, white. Neither therefore has a chance to be on the Hannity black conservatives special.

I'd be dishonest if I didn't include myself. I've had my top-notch internet radio show online now for 4½ years. I've just celebrated my 1000th show just a week ago. I don't think there is any question that I would not have a better chance of getting on the Hannity show if I were black.

I'm not complaining - I'm pointing out a simple fact. Mr. Hannity might be skipping over some of our best and brightest thinkers because they're not black conservatives.  What a shame.

Racism shows up in many different ways, and if you ask me, Sean Hannity touting the latest "black conservatives special" is as racist as the black awards shows, the black congressional caucus, and the black college fund.

-Jz

• Obama Corruption: 6 Scandals Exposed In About 5 Weeks

We have been pelted with one right after the other. I do not believe this is the result of a tenacious media nor politicians doing the right thing. No, I believe that God is shaking Obama's tree and bringing these things into the light. Luke 8:17 tells us, most definitely, that "there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." This is the word of God, mind you; not some half baked conservative writer at The Blasé.

So what do we have so far? Two we knew of already: The Fast & Furious gun running scandal that the ATF and DOJ were involved in. Atty. General Eric Holder should have been forced to resign on that issue alone. US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry lost his life, along with untold dozens of innocent Mexicans at the hands of drug cartels armed with guns from Mr. Holder.

We also knew of Benghazi, where four Americans died at our consulate there. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lied for weeks, and the National Security Adviser Susan Rice went on five - count 'em five! - Sunday morning news talk shows and lied to the American people each time.

But now we have: (3) IRS targeting of conservative groups, denying or delaying 501c (4) status and affecting the 2012 election; (4) The AP news reporters and editors phone records seized by the Dept of Justice (Holder again); (5) Fox reporter James Rosen investigated as a criminal (DOJ again); (6) Verizon et al: Top Secret court order for ALL customers calling records; (7) HHS employees insider-trading probe of Medicare: Employees were given secret information; and (8) State Dept cover-ups: Prostitution charges and drug rings and who knows what else.

So there you have it. And by Friday, probably a couple of more. Any ONE of these scandals would have sent Bush to the showers. It's time Obama be forced out of office by any and all Americans with a sense of Constitutional liberty.

Jimmy Z

• Boston Red Sox 'Gay Pride Day' at Fenway

(From MassResistance.org)

Boston Red Sox having "Gay Pride Day" at Fenway Park this Thursday, June 6! "Gay" basketball player Jason Collins throwing out first pitch. Take action.

Yet another place to keep your children away from.

This Thursday evening, June 6, in an outrageous show of anti-family radicalism, the Boston Red Sox are celebrating Gay "Pride Night" at Fenway Park at their home game with the Texas Rangers. This is an official celebration of "Gay Pride Week" (going on now) and the Red Sox will be donating money to support the week's "gay" events.

According to the official "Pride Week" website, the Red Sox are partnering with the Boston Pride Committee, and this is an "official 2013 Pride Event."  Furthermore, during the game, Boston's "LGBT community will be recognized." The Boston Red Sox will have a special "gay" section in the grandstand and will  donate a percentage of the proceeds that night to Boston Pride. In an effort to involve more young people. the Red Sox flyer on this was handed out at the LGBT Youth Pride event on May 18.

According to a Red Sox staffer we spoke to, "gay" basketball player Jason Collins will be throwing out the first pitch that night.

It made the front page of the local homosexual newspaper Bay Windows.

Celebrating a week of obscene perversion

The Red Sox have been around long enough to know that "Pride Week" in Boston is a hideous, obscene, and outright disgusting display of perverse activities. (Plus, in recent years, more young people have been drawn in through Boston Pride's management of Massachusetts Youth Pride every May.)

And the Boston Red Sox organization are not only going to celebrate it at their ballpark, but will be financially supporting it from their ticket sales.

Here are just a few PUBLIC examples from past  Boston "Gay Pride Week" activities that the Red Sox are supporting (Note: This does not include things we simply can't publish in an email). [Photos by MassResistance]

 

Not the first time the Red Sox have supported homosexual activism

This not the first time that the Red Sox have supported the homosexual movement, although it's the most blatant and outrageous to date.

In 2009, the Red Sox created a video -- featuring the manager and some players -- supporting the "It Gets Better" homosexual program enticing troubled kids, founded by a lewd anti-Christian bigot named Dan Savage, which among other things leads kids to pornographic "gay" books.

After a flood of calls from angry people, the Red Sox eventually removed the video from their website. They need even MORE calls this time.

CONTACT the Red Sox and LET THEM KNOW how you feel:

     CALL the Red Sox office:    877-733-7699 ext 4 (Fan Services)

     CONTACT the Red Sox through their website
 

How serious are you? Are you willing to help organize or be part of a protest or literature pass-out the day of the game? Or do you have other ideas? Let us know!

• Barack Obama Email: Hope Institute

THE CAMPAIGNING CONTINUES:

Across the country there are young people with great big, new ideas for our country's future who are not very likely to find their way into politics.

A store clerk in Toledo who has terrific, fresh ideas for clean energy policy, but can't afford an unpaid internship to work for his senator. A student body president in Las Vegas who watches C-SPAN religiously, but doesn't see anyone who looks like her on the House floor.

Young people like these being handed an instruction manual and shown how to succeed in shaping their country? That's not a very likely story.

But then, a skinny guy with a name that was hard for most people to pronounce getting elected president of the United States was also an unlikely story -- until you decided to make it happen.

Democrats are looking to make some exciting things happen. This summer, 40 young people from underrepresented communities across the country will be flown to Washington, D.C. for the Hope Institute -- a crash course in political organizing, where they'll get to hear from seasoned campaign veterans and public servants, and gain the tools to help write the next great chapter in our nation's history.

And Democrats are picking up the tab, because we believe that helping to cultivate the next generation of Democratic leaders is worth investing in -- and because sometimes the same old story won't do. This is something that means a lot. I hope you'll support this important work:

Thanks, Barack

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The problem here is that conservatives and Republicans are NOT doing anything like this! Isn't it time?? -Jz

• Tim Tebow Comes Out of The Closet

49ers & Packers In Bidding War

Betcha no one saw this coming: Tim Tebow, whose camp just yesterday said his NFL career might be over, has announced that he is gay. The result? The San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers have begun a bidding war to acquire the nation's first gay NFL player.

"We can't think of anything more 'super' than putting together a Superbowl team with a gay Quarterback," said Mark Murphy, Packers CEO. "If we'd known Tim was gay we'd have jumped on him before he went to Denver."

Jim Harbaugh, 49ers head coach, was ecstatic. "Nothing says gay better than San Francisco, and nothing says gay football better than the 49ers. What could be better than having a gay quarterback on a gay team in a gay city? We want Tebow. The Kaepernick era is over, he's up for grabs."

For his part, Mr. Tebow has been fairly quiet since the announcement. But in an interview with ESPN Radio's Freddie Coleman, Tim said that he was simply tired of being overlooked.

"I really wanted to be successful because I played hard and got the job done. But once that became impossible, I figured I might as well come out of the closet and use that to my advantage," he said.

Some LGBT Activists are unconvinced. "This could be a gay fake," said Troy Vincent, NFL senior vice president of player engagement. "We have a good relationship with Athlete Ally and GLAAD. If it turns out that Tebow really does like girls instead, the NFL could make gay people upset."

Right now though, Tebow is sitting pretty, with his legs crossed effeminately. "I can't tell you in real numbers, but let's just say that being gay is worth big money," he said. "The 49ers offered me 8 figures to play for two years, and the Fudge Packers responded with even more."

Tim's prospects are very much improved now that he's gay. Where just a few hours ago he was preparing to leave the NFL for good, he's now being pursued by two very gay NFL teams. "I can't wait for Breast Cancer Awareness Month," Tim said. "We get to wear all that great pink stuff!"

• Latest Democrat Email: Republicans 'doctored' emails

Jimmy Z: Getting in President Obama's way has been the top priority for Republicans in Congress since day one. But now they've gone too far.

They've been caught red-handed making up so-called 'scandals' out of thin air to stir up false rumors of vast 'cover-ups' happening in the White House.

Did they find a single shred of evidence to back up their outrageous claims? No.

But rather than let the truth stand in their way, Republicans actually doctored emails between administration officials about Benghazi. Then, they released them to the press, trying to pass them off as real in order to create their scandal. Fortunately, they got caught in the act when the White House released all of the actual emails.

While Republican leaders were focused on stirring up controversy, Michele Bachmann was talking about impeaching President Obama for absolutely no reason, and Republicans in the House voted to repeal Obamacare -- for the 37th time.

That's how they think they should be spending their time and your money.

Make sure the President knows that you stand behind him and his agenda right now -- and that you won't let Republican games distract you from advocating for real change that will benefit all Americans.

Stand with President Obama today -- and send the message to Republicans that it's time to stop playing political games and get back to work for the American people:

Its time for them to do their damn jobs.

Thanks,

Brad

Brad Woodhouse
Communications Director
Democratic National Committee

• Homosexual Marriage Bridge In Minneapolis

How proud Minnesotans must be:

• Mayor Rybak of Minneapolis Hails Homosexual Sin

Love won in Minnesota yesterday.

I will never forget what it was like to stand in the Minnesota state house and watch as so many men and women who have fought so long and hard for equality saw their home state take a giant step forward.

It's something that should be happening in every state -- not just my own.

Chip in $5 or more today and help elect Democrats who will stand up for marriage equality across the country, just like the ones in Minnesota did yesterday.

Equality shouldn't be a political issue, but unfortunately, the Republican Party has made it one. They keep affirming their opposition to marriage equality, even as an increasingly large majority of Americans are moving forward on this issue.

I'm proud to be a Democrat because our party and our President support the right of same-sex couples to get married. Make no mistake: Marriage equality will be the law here in Minnesota because of the hard work of activists and because it was passed by our Democratic legislature and will be signed by our Democratic governor.

Stand with the Democrats fighting to make sure that everyone has the right to get married, no matter who they are or who they love. Chip in today:

12 down, 38 to go,
R.T.
Mayor R.T. Rybak
Minneapolis

• The JIMMY Z & DEBRA Show (Debut)

SHOW NOTES:
Abortion-not.org :: Irene Van Der Wende Netherlands
Immigrant driver's licenses in D.C. panned; advocates say different look is akin to 'scarlet letter' - Washington Times
FDA: Plan B will be over the counter for women 15 and over
MSNBC's Martin Bashir alters the Lord's Prayer to mock the NRA - Washington Times
Cameron Lyle: Athlete who retired so he can donate his bone marrow has two liters removed | Mail Online
Obama losing power - The Hill - covering Congress, Politics, Political Campaigns and Capitol Hill | TheHill.com