Yes on 8, Protect Marriage - Restoring Marriage and Protecting California Children

Yesterday wrapped up the very successful “Stand Up for Traditional Marriage” bus tour. After launching the tour last Monday in Sacramento to an enthusiastic crowd at Riverside Wesleyan church, we ended our statewide journey at Skyline Church in San Diego with a strong crowd of over 1,000 supporters. Nearly every single television station in San Diego covered our rally and witnessed hundreds of people expressing their commitment to restore the traditional definition of marriage on Election Day.
 
Rally stops during our bus tour included Chico, Oakland, Salinas, Fresno, Modesto, Bakersfield, Lancaster, Los Angeles, Montclair, Indio, El Centro, Camarillo and Fullerton. Thousands and thousands of supporters attended these rallies wearing Yes on Prop 8 t-shirts, waving Yes on Prop 8 signs and chanting, “Yes on 8″ for all to hear. At each rally we demonstrated the true spirit of the Protectmarriage.com - Yes on 8 coalition with church choirs and ensembles performing, local area spokespeople participating and diverse crowds from each of your communities erupting into thunderous cheers when asked to take the Marriage Pledge. Countless television, radio and print newspaper stories were generated as a result of the rallies all delivering a similar message - Yes on 8 supporters were out in force to show their support for Prop. 8!
 
It is because of your time, hard work and commitment to traditional marriage these rallies were such a huge success.  Don’t forget to visit our photo gallery on the Web site to see photos of all of these great events!

We’re still rollin…

Lancaster
Over 550 people showed up to participate in the Lancaster stop of our Prop 8 bus tour. Families, college students, and local residents turned out to show their support.  Channel 3 and Channel 4 NBC showed up to cover the event along with the Valley Press newspaper. Campaign spokesperson Andy Pugno got the crowd warmed up while beloved local community member Gail Knight led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance and her son Steve reminded the crowd of his late father’s dedication to Prop 22. Dr. John Goetsch spoke to the crowd on behalf of West Coast Baptist College. The rally closed on a high note with everyone signing their name to our marriage pledge.

Bakersfield
There were about 300 people at the Bakersfield stop. While the crowd was gathering people got so excited that they began to line the streets waving their signs and getting cars to honk…it was something else. We had radio and TV reporters on hand to cover the event.

It’s been great to see that no matter what part of the state we’re in there are plenty of Yes on 8 supporters! I’m sure we’ll see the same in Southern California.

Another succesful tour day…

Fresno
The fifth stop took place at Cornerstone Church in Fresno where more than 200 people came to share their enthusiasm for passing Prop. 8. One group of ten supporters arrived in matching t-shirts with Prop. 8 signs, showing their dedication to the campaign. Three television stations attended, one an NBC local affiliate. The event ran smoothly and got Fresno voters ready for Nov. 4.

Modesto
The sixth stop took the campaign to Modesto where more than 300 people came bearing Prop. 8 signs, buttons and t-shirts. The rally was held at the First Baptist Church. People poured into the church parking lot to hear about the campaign’s success stories as well as the grassroots help still needed. ‘Yes on 8′ chants could be heard far and wide as people signed the marriage pledge and paraded with their signs around the building.

Thank you Fresno and Modesto!

Day two of our Yes on 8 Media Bus Tour is complete, and much like Day 1, it was a huge success!

Oakland
Today’s first stop was Oakland, where more than 300 supporters came equipped with yard signs, homemade signs and t-shirts, all to help generate enthusiasm and support for the campaign.

The Bay Area media made sure to attend, there were at least four TV reporters and six newspaper reporters. The local Tongan community filled the venue with their beautiful songs and dances and formed a parade in front of the stage with their signs waving high in the air! Many supporters stayed long after the event lining the surrounding streets with their signs, waving at cars as they honked their support back.

Salinas
Next stop was Salinas. Here more than 80 supporters stood in front of the church clapping in unison as the campaign urged everyone to Vote Yes on 8! People crowded our Marriage Pledge booth wanting to be first to pledge their support for traditional marriage. Parents beamed with pride as many of their children came out to the rally to hold signs and clap with the crowd. One young supporter explained how important Prop. 8 is to her. She explained that she only wished she was old enough to vote because she would surely cast a Yes vote. The next best thing, she said, is showing those who can vote her support for the proposition!

We’re confident the tour will continue to be a hit as we make our way down into the Central Valley tomorrow, with stops in Fresno and Modesto. Urge your friends, family and co-workers to come out  to voice their support for Proposition 8!

Yes on 8!

Day one of our Yes on 8 Statewide Media Bus Tour went off without a hitch, in fact it was a great success. Here’s a brief recap of the two stops that we had today:

Sacramento
We had 300-400 people in attendance – a great crowd! People were pumped up and excited. Six TV cameras were there to get footage and cover the press conference with the Wirthlins. In addition to TV cameras, we had several print and radio reporters, including NPR. Robb and Robin Wirthlin spoke and gave people a first hand account of the effects of legalized same-sex marriage. Supporters were very sympathetic. It was a great kick off event!

Chico
The crowds in Chico were amazing – easily double what Sacramento produced. Churches bused in supporters from surrounding towns and communities. Cars were lined up trying to get into the parking lot. The speakers were great and the crowd enthusiastic. Two local network TV affiliates covered the rally, as well as other local media.

We are off to an awesome start! Look for us in Oakland and Salinas tomorrow.

Our highly anticipated Yes on 8 Statewide Media Bus Tour kicked off today. Hundres of supporters arrived with homemade signs, yard signs and t-shirts to show their enthusiasm for the passage of Prop. 8. The event began with a press conference and was followed by a Yes on 8 Rally.

Special guests, the Wirthlin family from Massachusetts, spoke during the rally. The Wirthlin’s are the same family that bravely stood up to the Mass. Lexington School District’s attempts to teach their son about same-sex marriage after the state made same-sex marriage legal. Their participation created a lot of buzz and excitement.

The next stop is Chico, which will begin at 4 p.m. today. We hope to see you there!

Honestly, the news media is at a bit of a loss.  It’s hard to write bad news about something that is so clearly a big success.  Several reporters were so skeptical that a “million lawn sign grassroots effort” would really materialize.  We could easily have used two million!  So many supporters are calling in trying to get more signs, more bumper stickers, more wave signs, that the campaign is hustling to meet demand.

In the Latino community, ad campaigns are sweeping through on the big networks and throughout television stations statewide.  Radio campaigns will also be heard, with well-respected Latino figures standing up for the sacred tradition of marriage.  Religious leaders will be heard from as well. 

In the African American community, there are scores of pastors who are deeply committed to this cause.  Their sermons are devoted to igniting their members.  They are proud to stand with religious people from all corners of the state to protect marriage.  You will be seeing many of them soon, making public their deeply-held convictions.

In the Asian community as well, there are great members of your community who are placing their own ads and reaching out to many cultures to alert them to vote.  

I have enjoyed doing interviews with college editors from California universities across the state.  A lot of younger adults aren’t in tune with the “price” of gay marriage….just the love angle.   Once they realize the real consequences of Prop 8…..they seem to give it real thought. 

The big city media outlets, for the most part, are opposing Prop 8.  Often it seems their decisions are made even before reviewing the facts.  This past week’s “photograph of the month,” in the San Francisco Chronicle, featuring 18 little 1st graders perplexed and dropped on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall…was one for the ages.  Mayor Gavin Newsome made it perfectly clear for parents throughout the state that the target is not just marriage for gay activists, they have also set their sites on our schools. 

This brings me to recount something that happened a day or so after that no infamous 1st grade field trip.  After spending the day answering media inquiries (about every 3 minutes), I took a stray call from a father, a fireman, of a beloved gay son in Greater Los Angeles.  He just wanted to talk to ANYone who would listen on the campaign.  He disliked our ads, but also disliked the extremists on the NO side of Prop 8.  He just wished people would understand that there are many good people in California who don’t have all the answers, but are trying to love and accept their children and have Thanksgivings that are a little different than they ever expected.  

As we defend the traditions of marriage, and especially the critical rights of our children, it helps to remember that there are families and good people on both sides of this passionate debate. 

Those of us involved in the backrooms of the campaign feel your support, we see the work of your bare hands as we drive to and from interviews and press conferences.  We are inspired by the great Latino community where so many are beginning to make their OWN signs because they can’t wait to take to the street corners and wave.  We say thank you to the good people from Carson, from Los Angeles, from SAN CLEMENTE even, who drove all the way to downtown Los Angeles just to take an important seat at a hearing on Prop 8.  

This is a campaign of the people, by the people, and of the people.  We don’t call the media when we need help….we call our good neighbors.  Because we know they will show up.   And a dozen years from now when our kids or our grandkids ask us where we were when marriage was on the ballot in California……all of us,  all the millions of you, will be able to say,  “I was there.  And I did it for you.”

There’s nothing quite like being on the front lines for Prop. 8, interacting with the media, trying to carry our message to reporters, answering questions with three lines ringing and a TV crew on the way.  Proposition 8 is the 2nd biggest race in the country this November, it will be everywhere.  I want you all to know that I will do my very best to represent the cause.  There isn’t a lot of sympathy for traditional marriage in general in newsrooms across the country, and you might occasionally wonder if my comments are being treated fairly.  That’s the nature of politics, that’s the nature of news.  I just keep moving.

This past week we sat down with the Los Angeles Daily NewsEditorial Board.  ProtectMarriage made its case, and tried to answer the questions of the Board.   Generally, big city newspapers are opposing Proposition 8, but we don’t mind.  We have the people behind us.   The community papers in your area, which you probably do read, seem a bit more in touch with their readers and do support traditional marriage.   As a media representative for the campaign I meet reporters, government and interfaith leaders, supporters, opponents and the studying public almost every day.   Our message is getting through.  The campaign’s first commercial “Whether You Like It Or Not” is on the tips of tongues.  We will continue to build on that, and inform the public about the serious consequences that await if the personal agenda of San Francisco Mayor Newsome succeeds. 

You can really help.  I keep telling the media that you’re out there.  SHOW THEM.  Plant your values on your front lawns.  As a supporter of Prop. 8 you are about to be part of the largest grassroots campaign ever assembled in the U.S. 

This is your opportunity to remind the California Supreme Court that the constitution still begins with “We The People…..”

By now you’ve hopefully seen our first Yes on 8 ad. The feedback that we’ve received thus far has been awesome! Supporters are happy that the real story about Prop 8 is starting to hit the airwaves.

If you haven’t yet seen the ad, take a moment to do so now. It’s easily accessible all over the Internet — on this Web site, YouTube, Facebook and MySpace.

Once you’ve seen it, be sure to forward it to your friends and family. Urge them to donate to the campaign, to help us continue airing this ad and others (in development) until Election Day. You can use the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kKn5LNhNto.

Thanks for your continued support!