By Hereford

Oh wow. That’s all I have to say about the latest post-election ad against Proposition 8. Beyond tasteless. And beyond misleading.

See it here:
“Home Invasion”

And here’s an excellent response I received from a friend through email:
In the aftermath of the recent election, we may find ourselves oddly on the defensive regarding our support for the Yes on Proposition 8 cause.  Our young people have been especially subject to mean spirited comments by high school friends and teachers.  We have nothing to be ashamed of.  We did nothing wrong.  In fact, we did everything that a civic minded American can and should do.  I have put together a few facts that help me to appreciate our position better.  For example:

1. Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California.  There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.
2. Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote.  If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6% of the Yes vote and 2.4% of the total Proposition 8 vote.
3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign.   Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.
4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign.  Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.
5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations.  The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.
6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8.  Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8.  Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.
7. African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8.  Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8.  This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama.  No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.
8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8.  Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).
9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations.   Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims all supported Yes on 8.  It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California.  Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.
10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8.  Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or herself.  Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with “civility, respect and love,” despite their differing views.