This is a great day for marriage. The people of California stood up for traditional marriage and reclaimed this great institution. We are gratified that voters chose to protect traditional marriage and to enshrine its importance in the state constitution. We trust that this decision will be respected by all Californians.
The Yes on Proposition 8 campaign has been the single largest, most powerful grassroots movement in the history of American ballot initiative campaigns. We raised approximately $40 million from over 70,000 individual contributors. We recruited the active support of over 100,000 volunteers who gave tirelessly of their time and energies to our cause. We could not have won without them! These dedicated volunteers have visited millions of homes, made millions of phone calls, distributed over one million yard signs and displayed one million bumper strips. The silent majority is alive and well in California. Proposition 8 has always been about restoring the traditional definition of marriage. It doesn’t discriminate or take rights away from anyone. Gay and lesbian domestic partnerships will continue to enjoy the same legal rights as married spouses. Our coalition has no plans to seek any changes in that law. While it will take a few weeks to finish counting all the votes, Proposition 8 takes effect at midnight tonight. Just as it was before the Supreme Court’s ruling, only marriage between a man and a woman will be valid or recognized in California, regardless of when or where performed. This has been a hard-fought campaign on both sides. Now that the people of California have decided this issue, we hope there can be a healing among all and a continued respect for the diverse views that have been expressed during this campaign. The outcome of this race is being closely followed in every state in the nation, and in countries throughout the world. California’s vote in favor of traditional marriage should give the silent majority comfort that they do have a voice and can and should stand up for this precious institution in legislatures throughout the world. Marriage is between a man and a woman.
More info from Campaign Manager:
You did it!
You made every sacrifice we asked of you, and more. You gave generously of your financial resources. You waved Yes on 8 signs on street corners. You walked precincts. You telephoned voters. You distributed materials. You talked with your friends, family and colleagues. And you got our supporters to the polls on Election Day.
Because of you, Proposition 8 has been enacted! The final numbers this afternoon from the Secretary of State’s office show that Prop 8 was adopted by a margin of 52.5% Yes to 47.5% No. We racked up a 504,479 vote victory!
This is a great day for marriage. The people of California stood up for traditional marriage and reclaimed this great institution. We are gratified that voters chose to protect traditional marriage and to enshrine its importance in the state constitution.
The Yes on Proposition 8 campaign has been the single largest, most powerful grassroots movement in the history of American ballot initiative campaigns. We raised approximately $40 million from over 70,000 individual contributors. We recruited the active support of over 100,000 volunteers who gave tirelessly of their time and energies to our cause. You, our dedicated volunteers, visited millions of homes, made millions of phone calls, distributed over one million yard signs and displayed one million bumper strips. The silent majority is alive and well in California, and you have spoken!
Proposition 8 has always been about restoring the traditional definition of marriage. It doesn’t discriminate or take rights away from anyone. Gay and lesbian domestic partnerships will continue to enjoy the same legal rights as married spouses. Proposition 8 doesn’t change that.
Unfortunately, our opponents have already shown that they have no intention of respecting the vote of the People. According to media reports, they have filed three lawsuits today seeking to invalidate Proposition 8. Rest assured that our coalition will vigorously defend the People’s decision to enact Prop. 8. We will write more later with an update on legal activity to uphold Prop. 8.
When we look back on the historic victory we have won for traditional marriage, the pivotal day in this campaign was Thursday, October 23rd. That was the day we learned that our opponents were outspending us on television by $7 million over a one week period of time to air a television commercial designed to undercut our warning to voters that gay marriage would be taught to children in public schools unless Proposition 8 was enacted. Our campaign was being swamped with spending from our opponents. Voters were seeing No on 8 ads two to three times more often than they saw our Yes ads.
The situation was so dire I issued an email titled “Code Blue for Marriage,” and pleaded with you to respond to save the institution of marriage. And respond you did! Your generous financial contributions allowed our campaign to pump millions of dollars into additional advertising in the final days of the campaign. That additional advertising, combined with the heroic get-out-the-vote efforts of our volunteer army, is what made the difference. All of us can now look back with pride on that day, October 23rd, when the institution of marriage needed us most and know that we rose to the challenge.
May God bless you for your incredible efforts in passing Proposition 8 and enshrining the magnificent institution of traditional marriage in California’s constitution. Words cannot express our gratitude for the sacrifices you have made.
Sincerely,
Frank Schubert
Campaign Manager
ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8
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