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Friday, March 6, 2009

Olympia This Means War!

Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 3:35 PM

The Faith and Freedom Network, a group "committed to preserving traditional Judeo-Christian values," is using its blog to wage a war on the domestic partnership bill. The Family Policy Institute of Washington is also crusading against the measure.

Earlier today, I posted about how conservatives are threatening the bill in the senate—and included links to contact your legislator. But now the FFN is upping the ante in a blog post urging folks to target swing-district senators:

While calls have been being made to Washington State lawmakers, it is time to increase the number of calls to specific senators, urging them to oppose and vote no on SB 5688. They will be voting soon on this matter and it is very important they hear from as many of you as possible.

Here's why.

The citizens of Washington are being misled by the activist homosexual lawmakers and their colleagues who are also either misled or unwilling to support traditional marriage.

The Faith and Freedom Network blog goes on to list the following phone numbers:

They need to hear from you.

Dale Brandland, district 42 — 360-786-7682
Curtis King, district 14 — 360-786-7626
Cheryl Pfluge, district 5 — [(360) 786-7608, corrected from FFN post]

Secondly, these Democrats will be up for election next year. Ones with an asterisk (*) by their names have one or more Republican seat mates.

Claudia Kaufman, district 47 — 360-786-7692
Steve Hobbs, district 44 — 360-786-7686
*Chris Marr, district 6 — 360-7867610
Eric Oemig, district 45 — 360-786-7672
Rodney Tom, district 48 — 360-786-7694
*Derek Kilmer, district 26 — 360-786-7650
*Tracey Eide, district 30 — 360-786-7658

The following two senators are not up for reelection next year, but have Republican seat mates.

Jim Kastama, district 25 — 360-786-7648
Mary Margaret Haugen, district 10 — 360-786-7618

You heard what they said: "They need to hear from you."

"I think the message for legislators is about the reality of the lives of gay and lesbian families," says state senator Ed Murray (D-43), prime sponsor of the DP bill in the senate. "Or it might be about the person who says his or her sister deserves to be treated like they do. That is what changes hearts and minds."

Thanks for the tip, John.

Comments (18) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

What are you prepared to do?

If they bring a knife, you bring a gun.

If they bring a gun, you bring an army.

Posted by Mr. Obvious on March 6, 2009 at 3:42 PM

From the way I hear tell it, the majority of polled "swing dems" and some non-"swing" dems are planning on voting this thing down as being "too much too quickly".

I guess they won! Better luck next year.

Obviously, the phones could start ringing off the hook and turn the tides-- but who has that sort of focus and drive to get such a campaign started?

Posted by Ready for Prop 8, Washington style? on March 6, 2009 at 3:46 PM

The guy from the other comment thread is right, this is a vendetta of bigotry for religious conservatives.

I mean, they were very clear about what they wanted:
1. They don't want the word "marriage" to mean anything but one man and one woman.
2. The don't want their churches and religious organizations to have to perform or recognize a gay "marriage".

So, Domestic Partnership was developed. DP doesn't change the definition of "marriage" and doesn't force religious groups to perform or recognize "gay marriage". Murray and company started this whole process to grant equal rights to every Washingtonian while leaving religion the hell out of it. But no, that's not enough for the conservative religious crowd.

This organized opposition can't and shouldn't be called anything else but organized hatred of gays and lesbians. Disgusting.

Posted by Hernandez on March 6, 2009 at 4:06 PM

Bigoted christians are assholes. Period.

Posted by Daisy on March 6, 2009 at 4:16 PM

Brandland is my state sen. I just called.

Posted by Asparagus on March 6, 2009 at 4:18 PM

So does it help to call if we aren't in there districts?

Posted by Cody Bolt on March 6, 2009 at 4:24 PM

i just called them all:

Ms. pfluge's # seems to be a fax machine.

Senator. Marr's staff member said he was "in support of the bill" (Yay Senator Marr!)!

As does Eric Oenig!

Senator Hobbs called me back to say he supported it, and in fact is a sponsor of it!

Senator Tom: "He does [Support the bill}"

Senator Kilmer "Supports the bill".

Senator Eide's assistant couldn't tell me for certain, but said, "I think she's in support of the domestic partnership bill."

Senator Kastama's office "hasn't talked about it yet." Let's give his staff something to talk about!

Senator Haugen, left her a message.

took less than 10 minutes. and everyone seemed happy to hear from me.

Posted by terry miller on March 6, 2009 at 4:25 PM

Terry@ 7) Thanks! I corrected Pflug's phone number in the post.

Posted by Dominic Holden on March 6, 2009 at 4:32 PM

Maybe they think the Founding Fathers had the guarantees wrong: "Life, Liberty and the Fear of Others Pursuing Happiness." Yeah, that must be it.

Dying is probably bad enough considering Death's reputation, but dying stupid, intolerant and mean-spirited surely represents some sort of Karmic Tri-Fuckta.

Posted by Rhett Oracle on March 6, 2009 at 4:37 PM

All you "we're LIBERAL CHRISTIANS! Don't lump us in with the BIGOTED CHRISTIANS" Christians had better get you're collective asses IN GEAR on this one.

Otherwise, I have a feeling more gross generalizations will be in order...

Posted by Bigoted Is As Bigoted Does (Or Doesn't) on March 6, 2009 at 4:40 PM

@6

yes it seemed to help. they were all happy to share what they knew of their senator's support, and were all happy to talk to someone who sounded rational. and they ALL said they would pass on my message.

Posted by terry miller on March 6, 2009 at 4:43 PM

The Right is on a roll and swing district Democrats see that. After a series of major butt whuppings in California gay marriage will be under assault everywhere.
Go ahead, whine some more.

Posted by whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa on March 6, 2009 at 5:13 PM

I called them all too. If you get voicemail, press # to skip their blah blahing after you learn how to pronounce "Oemig" and "Pfluge."

I talked to Derek Kilmer, who told me he supported the bill. Yay!

Posted by sean on March 6, 2009 at 6:46 PM

Please ask them about which "traditional Judeo-Christian values" they want to protect. Polygamy, like in the Old Testament? Chattel Marriage? Women banned from workout outside the home? Elimination of No-Fault Divorce?

Please ask them to explain which "tradition," and why not the others, especially if God saw fit to put it in His Divinely Inspired Bible?

Posted by Andy Niable on March 6, 2009 at 7:58 PM

Notice they are all in the 360 area code? Thats scary cuz I live in olympia.

Posted by brandon H on March 7, 2009 at 6:05 PM

Um, they're all in 360 because that's where their legislative offices are. The state capitol and all that.

Posted by Geni on March 9, 2009 at 5:06 PM

It's sad no one in here is even trying to comprehend why us 'faith community' is so concerned with these bills coming up! Our 'desire' is to live in peace with those who disagree with us. At the same time, we have the committment of keeping God's basic principles intact. Nothing is more precious than that of marriage, yes, between one man and one women, as HE has set up for us. That is not to say that the gay community is 'lost'--no, in my humble opinion, I am in the belief that many have a faith in our Lord as I do! Many, no, probably ALL are wonderful, giving people. We just happen to disagree on this important issue! Let us live in peace and respect, as we each work towards a goal of compromise on these issues!

Posted by Donna on March 9, 2009 at 11:34 PM

If you christians were made aware of a guaranteed way to get to your precious heaven within the next five minutes, would you please do so? The rest of the adult population WITH critical thinking skills would love to continue humanity's progress without the massive impediment contributed by religion.

Posted by David KCMO on March 17, 2009 at 9:22 PM