Schwarzenegger Won’t Waver on Prop. 8, Aide Says

With California’s antigay Proposition 8 gaining support thanks to a distorted but effective ad campaign, LGBT voters find ourselves worrying: Will politicians continue to stand with us against the proposed amendment?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, for instance. After all, before California’s supreme court cleared the way, the Republican governor twice vetoed marriage equality against the will of the state legislature. Yes, he stated at the Log Cabin Republicans convention on April 11 that he’s against Prop. 8, a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to rescind same-sex marriage rights. But is he still feeling the love?

No worries, says Schwarzenegger political spokeswoman Julie Soderlund. Asked several times about any changes in the governor’s position, Soderlund genially repeated the same sentence: “The governor does not support Proposition 8.” By way of illustration she re-sent the transcript of Schwarzenegger’s statement to Log Cabin.

In his Q&A with Log Cabin president Patrick Sammon at the convention, here’s what the governor said.

Sammon: [In November] there very well could be a ballot initiative that's meant to forever ban same-sex couples from having the same responsibilities, a true marriage, that other couples do. Can we count on your opposition to this effort to ban gay people from having marriages always?

Schwarzenegger: Well, first of all, I think that it will never happen in California, because I think that California people are much further along with that issue. And number 2, I will always be there to fight against that, because it should never happen. [Applause]

But if Proposition 8 should pass, what then? Will Schwarzenegger support legal appeals to overturn it? Will he uphold the validity of same-sex marriages already performed in California?

In an e-mail, Soderlund responded, “The questions are hypothetical at this point since we do not yet know the outcome of the election.”

We hope Schwarzenegger will note the example of Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who’s not waiting to test the hypotheses. Over the weekend the mayor contributed $25,000 to the No on Prop. 8 campaign. (The Advocate)

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Name: Ken Pflueger
Date posted: 10/23/2008 5:28:00 PM
Hometown: Simi Valley, CA

Comment:
If our Governator is truly opposed to Prop why is he so totally silent on the matter. He made one statement, essentially behind closed doors to a gay Republican group. What kind of support is that. He claims to be a leader, but I believe this is yet on more example of a huge failure on his part. I don't care if he donates money, I want him to make a public statement on television.
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Name: anthony newsome
Date posted: 10/22/2008 8:33:00 AM
Hometown: dublin

Comment:
If people encourage their friends/family to vote against Prop 8 that would be an amazing help, lobby your local politicans and representitives for their support also, and you can also let your very homophobic Govener know you will be voting against him in the next election, please do not get lost in the idea that the Republican Party is somehow ok to support, it is not, the Republican Party base their agenda on confusing people with very direct fear mongering to confuse the electrot, smear campaigns, racism and homophobia are indemic to the central core of Republican politics, a
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Name: James
Date posted: 10/15/2008 8:54:00 PM
Hometown: Spokane, WA

Comment:
I have been following Prop 8 for a while now and am adamantly against it. I was very hopeful at one point that it would be voted down, but now it doesn't look so promising. Now is the time to fight. EVERYONE in the GLBT community, friends, and family members have to stand up and say enough is enough! I do not live in CA, but felt it is EXTREMELY important to show support. I have contributed what I can at this time...the other 970,000 GLBT people in CA need to pitch in...anything will help....This is to important to just sit back, watch and do nothing!!! STAND UP AND FIGHT, WE DESERVE IT!
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Name: Michael
Date posted: 10/15/2008 7:06:00 PM
Hometown: San Jose

Comment:
My partner and I wed two weeks ago this Friday, our 28th anniversary. Several weeks ago, we gave $150, just to show our support when the polls looked good. After these despicably lying ads started running and the poll numbers essentially swapped, we decided we needed to do more, so we sent off another $1000 yesterday. I know not everybody has the resources to do this, but if everybody gave just a little, then we could effectively counter-balance the lies. For those out of state, you would not believe the distortions and simple untruths that the opposition is hammering again and again until it becomes truth to a critical number of "minds". We need to find back hard!
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Name: LeoOnttheEdge
Date posted: 10/15/2008 5:45:00 PM
Hometown: Edgewater, New Jersey

Comment:
I will be sending off my check this week. Though I am not a citizen of California and live on the East Coast, I understand how profoundly important the outcome of this vote is and recognize how it will affect all of us inside and outside of the Golden State. Though not a big fan of Arnold, I applaud his unwavering support of the "No on 8" cause. I strongly urge everyone who believes in marriage equality, whether you live in California or not, to donate what you can to help assure the defeat of this mean-spirited effort.
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Name: Darrel R.
Date posted: 10/15/2008 3:21:00 PM
Hometown: Walker Minnesota

Comment:
Retired USAF fighter pilot here in northern MN..single gay...I have already given $200 to this through ActBlue on John Aravosis's blog site and also with SDLN...time for others to step to the plate, especially those who live in California..come on guys..give a little extra these days.
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Name: Sarah H.
Date posted: 10/15/2008 2:05:00 PM
Hometown: San Mateo, CA

Comment:
Jeff Chang asks "Where are the public service announcement[s] against prop 8 by these politicians?" Not only that, but why aren't we putting pressure on those Media Outlets who are running YES on 8 ads? They don't HAVE to take those hate-monger's money. KPIX here in San Francisco - THEY ARE IN SF - and they have the nerve to take homophobes' money? They should be boycotted and all the rest of their advertisers should be notified we won't support those who support homophobia.
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Name: Cindy
Date posted: 10/15/2008 1:44:00 PM
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga

Comment:
My wife and I have been making donations since August. We will be making another one in the next week or so. I just saddens me that only 300,000 people have donated so far. I just wish people would realize that if the religious right takes this freedom away from us, there is no telling what they will do next. Probably lock us up somewhere to teach us how to be straight.
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Name: Jeffrey1234
Date posted: 10/15/2008 11:39:00 AM
Hometown: Long Beach, CA

Comment:
Please, no matter where you are in the country, please donate $25.00 to the No on 8 campaign. If we can get 1 million people to donate $25.00 each the campaign will have $25.00 million dollars. The Yes on 8 campaign is now running ads with 4 year old children saying that we are teaching them to marry someome of the same gender. Unbelievable. I can't believe what I am seeing on TV and hearing on the radio stations in the Los Angeles area where I live. Please donate so we can defeat this measure.
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Name: Matt Munson
Date posted: 10/15/2008 12:15:00 AM
Hometown: Ontario, California

Comment:
If Arnold does not want to donate to the official organization, even donating to Republicans against 8 would be appreciated.

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