“Code Blue” and Blackmail: Prop. 8 jumps multiple sharks!

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Phobius’ inbox this morning shrieked with alarum: The anti-marriage initiative Proposition 8 is in grave danger, “Code Blue” in fact.

(from Frank Schubert himself) “The institution of marriage is in cardiac arrest in California and I am pleading with you to help save it. Please set aside what you are doing for a minute and pay close attention to what is happening with Proposition 8. Marriage as we know it is in a life or death moment. Gay activists held a fundraiser on Tuesday night at billionaire liberal Ron Burkle’s mansion in Beverly Hills where they raised an astonishing $3.9 million. Even as guests were being entertained by Barbra Streisand, Melissa Etheridge and Mary J. Blige, No on 8 operatives were busy launching a sneak attack on the institution of marriage. They began dumping an unbelievable $7 million on air time this week alone! Here is the situation we face: Unless we raise $3 million in the next week, we’re going to lose. If you love the institution of marriage, this is one of those moments that you will remember the rest of your life… We have all worked hard as volunteers and contributors, but this is the moment when traditional marriage as we know it will either live, or it will die. Years from now, when we look back on our lives, this will be a day to remember. The day when marriage went into cardiac arrest, the victim of a ruthless and false assault on the truth. The day when you had a chance to sacrifice greatly to save God’s precious gift to us. This is Code Blue for marriage. What is your response?”

In reality, the polls are all over the map right now; some show us winning, some show the bigots winning.  We can be cautiously optimistic given the Obama surge of cellphone-toting young folks who don’t have a stick up their ass about other people’s sex lives, but we must keep up the good work – each of you should try to convince ten wavering people this week how anti-American this initiative is.

But, again, the polls are close, and what do our rightwing friends stoop to when polls are close?  Well, ten guesses.  If you put blackmail or extortion on your top ten, then Bingo!  Click “read for more” for their latest shenanigans, this is rich.

Threatening Letters Spark New Prop. 8 Controversy

A threatening letter has sparked a new controversy here in San Diego surrounding the gay marriage debate. Donors who gave money to the No on Prop 8 campaign say they received blackmail letters demanding money, and the Yes on 8 campaign now says the letters were sent by their employees.

The letter from Yes on 8 came by certified mail, demanding at least $10,000. Jim Abbot knows exactly why he’s being targeted – his business gave $10,000 to a group called Equality California, which supports No on Prop 8.

Jim says nearly 25 percent of his staff is gay.

“We wanted to support their freedom to marry,” he said.

The letter says if Jim doesn’t give an equal donation to Yes on 8, the name of his company will be published. It reads in part, “It is only fair for Proposition 8 supporters to know which companies and organizations oppose traditional marriage.

“I feel like it’s blackmail, and as you can imagine, real estate business has been tough lately and to have someone come at you like this… it’s very distressing,” he said.

Yes on 8 confirms they sent around 30 companies the letter. A spokeswoman told News 8 they are just trying to hold their ground in a passionate race. She added that No on 8 supporters picketed the Manchester Grand Hyatt after Doug Manchester donated $125,000. The publicity caused at least one very large group to cancel its event at the hotel.

She also pointed to a popular blog that asked readers to dig up dirt on Yes on 8 supporters, see if they’ve contributed to less than honorable causes, or have done something otherwise egregious, with the hope they can force the Yes on 8 campaign to return their contributions, or face a bunch of negative publicity.

But News 8 couldn’t find anything from No on 8 supporters demanding money from Yes on 8 supporters.

As for Jim, he stands behind his donation, and will not be making a similar one to Yes on 8.

“We’re not caving… we’ll support our employees. We’re going to support the freedom to marry, a fundamental right to do what we can to make sure it’s not taken away,” he said.

Click here to see the original extortion letter.

“Money” quote:

“Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. You would leave us no other reasonable assumption. The names of any companies…that choose not to donate…to ProtectMarriage.com…will be published.
…We will contact you shortly to discuss your contribution.”


About Vern Nelson

Greatest pianist/composer in Orange County, and official political troubadour of Anaheim and most other OC towns. Regularly makes solo performances, sometimes with his savage-jazz band The Vern Nelson Problem. Reach at vernpnelson@gmail.com, or 714-235-VERN.