Burnt Orange Report

Student Prop 2 Results

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I realized that I never posted this information when I was running through Prop 2 results. Here are the results for the heavily student populated precints here in Austin. These add up to about 7,000 student voters when you account for a couple of variables, which is quite a boost from the maybe 1,000 student votes cast in the 2003 Constitutional Amendement election. You can see these (most all purple) on the precinct map of Travis County available to download in .pdf format here.

Student Precincts by region are as follows...

Precinct # // % Vote Against Prop 2 // % Turnout

On Campus
147 // 84% // 24%
148 // 80% // 23%

West Campus
261 // 89% // 18%
265 // 86% // 18%
266 // 91% // 21%
277 // 88% // 14%

North Campus / Hyde Park
145 // 91% // 30%
274 // 91% // 33%
275 // 90% // 36%
276 // 89% // 32%

Riverside
420 // 75% // 14%
429 // 83% // 14%
431 // 81% // 14%
435 // 87% // 13%

St. Edward's
433 // 80% // 22%

Far West
221 // 73% // 31%
247 // 59% // 34%

Prop 2 Galveston Map

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Thanks to a comment in a Daily Kos entry I just made, comes this wonderful map of how Prop 2 faired in Galveston County, which was below the state average, but actually defeated the amendment on the East end of the island, where support was generally lower than on the mainland.

Click for a larger pop-up image.

Can we get a do-over?

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The Galveston Daily News asks...

Question: What kind of constitution requires a constitutional amendment, rather than a vote of the Legislature, to decide maximum interest rates for commercial loans?

Answer: One that needs changing.

Time to redraft the Texas Constitution? Yes, let's start thinking about that in the next few sessions. After we throw a few more Republicans out of office of course.

Travis County Prop 2 Map

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Sent to me by two readers already, here is a downloadable precinct by precinct map of the Travis County vote on Proposition 2 done by city
demographer Ryan Robinson. The Austin Chronicle will have an expanded precinct map in this Thursday's issue which will have results broken down by state house district.

Download file (pdf)

Anyone know if they've seen other urban counties with maps produced like this? If so, send them my way.

Mapping the Results: Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

In the first of a series that I'll be working on, because I haven’t seen any in state publications as of yet, here is a map of Prop 2 results by County. Be aware this one is colored differently than future ones will be. Because Travis County was the only county to vote against the Amendment, the blue v. red coloring is based off of the degree below or above the statewide "YES" vote of 76%.

As can be seen here, support for the amendment increases the farther away one gets from an urban area. (Lubbock, Abilene, Midland/Odessa, and Laredo all have an impact, even in heavily Pro-Prop 2 areas. A secondary effect at play would be density of Hispanic population (i.e. border) having a moderating effect on support for the Amendment. In fact, other blogs have reported on pockets of outright opposition to Prop 2 in certain Hispanic areas. Here in Austin, African-American and Hispanic precincts went against Prop 2, counter to what many thought would happen. I'm working on a Travis map as well, but until then...

Click the image for a larger version in a new window. Reprinting permission for this and future images granted only if BurntOrangeReport.com or myself is credited. Please comment or e-mail me if you'd like to make use of these images in a non-blog or offline format.

Maxey: There is Hope.

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I still have the post-it notes. And now that I have another version of Travis County Precint returns, I'll post more analysis in the coming days. But for now, one last post from the Statesman, and then to class I go. -kt

Maxey: On a bleak November night, I still found reason for hope

As the polls closed Tuesday night, reporters began clamoring for me to comment on the impending announcement of the vote totals.

Something in my grey head and aging, activist gut said that I needed to spend time somewhere else first.

So at what I expected to be a tough moment in my life, I headed to the election night party of the University of Texas Campus Alliance Against Inequality to be in the company of some amazing young people. I needed their energy and excitement. Most of all, I wanted to experience their clear vision of full civil rights for gay and lesbian people, uncluttered by my generation's nonsense.

As director of No Nonsense in November, the statewide campaign to defeat Proposition 2, the "gay marriage" amendment, I had watched these young leaders with awe. Through thousands of hours of grueling work — educating people one-by-one, registering the un-registered to vote, ignoring the barriers of my generation (political parties, gender, ethnicity, race and religion) — they opened the hearts and minds of one another.

And now, standing in Gregory Plaza on a warm, clear November night, I saw the future of the gay and lesbian fight for civil rights.

Karl-Thomas Musselman, a native of Fredericksburg, passed me a Post-It note scribbled with campus-area precinct results. Results from the dorms showed 80 percent and 84 percent voting against the ban on gay marriage. (That's with a turnout of more than 1,100 students compared to about 100 in 2003). West campus precincts voted against Proposition 2 in the high 80 percent range, with one busting 91 percent. Student areas on Riverside Drive and Far West Boulevard showed similar results.

I knew before I arrived that these young people were passionate about this issue and their futures. Marti Bier, head of the alliance, led an effort that resulted in 5,228 early votes being cast on campus, where only 200 had been in the 2003 election.

I was filled with hope as I headed across town to the lights of the TV cameras to comment on the extremely disappointing election returns from across Texas. The reporters had questions and wanted 30-second sound bites, but the answers are rarely easy.

Why the lopsided margin in favor of Proposition 2? Obviously, marriage is the toughest issue for the gay and lesbian political movement. We knew that when we started.

As an example, our polling of Houston African Americans showed that 65 percent supported non-discrimination against gays and lesbians in employment. But with gay marriage, 65 percent were against it.

On every topic, voters support gay rights overwhelmingly — until you say that religiously charged word, "marriage."

I'm certain that a majority of Texans believe that gay couples should be able to use civil documents to protect their relationships, property and medical decisions. It's a conservative idea, really — people taking charge of their affairs and being responsible for their actions and those of the ones they love.

Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature wasn't willing to just define marriage as between a man and a woman in this ballot proposition. Instead, lawmakers added a poorly worded, overreaching second sentence that voters really never understood or considered the consequences of. ("This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.")

So on Tuesday, most Texas voters went to bed believing they have "protected" marriage according to its religious and historical definition. I pray they slept well with their victory. I didn't. I and many gay and lesbian families were emotionally run over.

We woke up Wednesday and did what we usually do. We fed the children and sent them to school, sat in traffic going to work, wrote our checks to our favorite charities and churches, did our community and political volunteer work, and worried about taxes, the war and the quality of our loved one's lives.

And after all that, we now have to go to even more extraordinary lengths to do what everyone else still takes for granted — protect our families.

Texas voters left gay and lesbian Texans with an awful legal morass and lots of uncertainty. Gays and lesbians will have to spend thousands of dollars resolving legal issues, money that could have been used for caring for each other and our communities.

Lots of real people were hurt Tuesday. I mourn that fact. But my heart is uplifted because of leaders such as Karl-Thomas Musselman, Marti Bier, Jason Orne, Jake Holbrook, Trampes Crow and all members of this next generation — young men and women who are unfettered in their total belief in full equality for all families.

There is hope. It's only a matter of time.

Maxey, an Austin Democrat, is a former member of the Texas House.

Top 10s

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Byron sent me a great file tonight that has the Prop 2 vote broken down by county with turnout percentages. If you'd like to download it and play around with things to see where your county falls, click here. It's in excel format.

I've pulled out some Top 10 lists already. One note, 23 counties voted below the state average on Prop 2, so the first list is a Top 23 list.

TOP 23 BY % AGAINST VOTE

1 TRAVIS 59.95%
2 HAYS 41.87%
3 BREWSTER 35.55%
4 DALLAS 33.54%
5 PRESIDIO 32.76%
6 EL PASO 31.92%
7 BEXAR 30.77%
8 WILLIAMSON 30.11%
9 BASTROP 28.94%
10 LOVING 28.57%
11 CAMERON 27.55%
12 HARRIS 27.52%
13 BRAZOS 26.61%
14 COLLIN 25.55%
15 GALVESTON 25.40%
16 NUECES 25.31%
17 DENTON 24.93%
18 BLANCO 24.82%
19 KENEDY 24.59%
20 CALDWELL 24.36%
21 JEFF DAVIS 24.23%
22 WEBB 24.05%
23 ARANSAS 23.99%

TOP 10 COUNTIES BY % FOR VOTE

1 MARTIN 95.41%
2 FLOYD 95.37%
3 PARMER 95.09%
4 OCHILTREE 95.08%
5 HANSFORD 95.05%
6 GARZA 94.85%
7 CHILDRESS 94.65%
8 MOTLEY 94.51%
9 DALLAM 94.33%
10 HARTLEY 94.30%

TOP 10 COUNTIES BY TURNOUT

1 KING 54.16%
2 DICKENS 51.56%
3 WILBARGER 43.59%
4 BRISCOE 39.93%
5 THROCKMORTON 39.70%
6 BORDEN 39.51%
7 MOTLEY 38.06%
8 ROBERTS 36.63%
9 GLASSCOCK 34.95%
10 SHERMAN 34.28%

BOTTOM 10 COUNTIES BY TURNOUT

1 MAVERICK 2.75%
2 STARR 3.05%
3 PRESIDIO 5.30%
4 JIM HOGG 5.36%
5 WEBB 6.30%
6 ZAVALA 6.58%
7 DIMMIT 7.20%
8 BROOKS 7.21%
9 JIM WELLS 7.31%
10 WILLACY 7.38%

Looks like Travis County wins one of the Champions of the Republic plaques from the Secretary of State for having the highest turnout among counties over 250,000. King County wins the under 250,000 award. Travis County, Champion of the Republic... how much you want to bet the Secretary of State forgets to send us our plaque.

Capitol Extensions

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Ask yourself this, does your marriage feel safer now?

From a staffer for a Republican at the Capitol who e-mailed me some very nice words, I wanted to share some of them with you below (with their permission).

I would suggest that real change has to come less from the ballot box than from the churches themselves. We cannot keep competing with God and threatened eternal damnation on this. We need another Reformation that will restore humility above all us to persons of faith. How did common men and woman start believing they could talk for God? How did they become Pharisees who hold up the law over love and anything God is trying to teach us? Why have they all but eliminated the mystery and wonder of a God who never meant things to be simple? We are so far off track right now and nothing will change until everything changes. That's the hardest path but it is the only way I see.

And so we can remember, these are the 101 House Representatives who enabled Amending our Constitution.

Yeas — Allen, Ray(R); Anderson(R); Baxter(R); Berman(R); Blake(R); Bohac(R); Bonnen(R); Branch(R); Brown, Betty(R); Brown, Fred(R); Callegari(R); Campbell(R); Casteel(R); Chisum(R); Cook, Byron(R); Cook, Robby(R); Corte(R); Crabb(R); Craddick(R); Crownover(R); Davis, John(R); Dawson(R); Delisi(R); Denny(R); Driver(R); Edwards(D); Eissler(R); Elkins(R); Escobar(D); Farabee(D); Flynn(R); Frost(D); Gattis(R); Geren(R); Gonzalez Toureilles(D); Goodman(R); Goolsby(R); Griggs(R); Grusendorf(R); Guillen(D); Haggerty(R); Hamilton(R); Hamric(R); Hardcastle(R); Harper-Brown(R); Hartnett(R); Hegar(R); Hilderbran(R); Hill(R); Homer(D); Hope(R); Hopson(D); Howard(R); Hughes(R); Hunter(R); Hupp(R); Isett(R); Jackson, Jim(R); Jones, Delwin(R); Keel(R); Keffer, Bill(R); Keffer, Jim(R); King, Phil(R); King, Tracy(D); Kolkhorst(R); Krusee(R); Kuempel(R); Laney(D); Laubenberg(R); Madden(R); McCall(R); McReynolds(D); Merritt(R); Miller(R); Morrison(R); Mowery(R); Olivo(D); Orr(R); Otto(R); Paxton(R); Phillips(R); Pickett(D); Quintanilla(D); Raymond(D); Reyna(R); Riddle(R); Ritter(D); Rose(D); Seaman(R); Smith, Todd(R); Smith, Wayne(R); Solomons(R); Straus(R); Swinford(R); Talton(R); Taylor(R); Truitt(R); Van Arsdale(R); West, Buddy(R); Woolley(R); Zedler(R).

And the 17 Democrats in particular, recognizing that 2 votes of "present, not voting" or no vote at all, could have kept the "Rick Perry Re-Election Amendment" off the ballot.

Edwards(D-146)
Escobar(D-43)
Farabee(D-69)
Frost(D-1)
Gonzalez Toureilles(D-35)
Guillen(D-31)
Homer(D-3)
Hopson(D-11)
King, Tracy(D-80)
Laney(D-85)
McReynolds(D-12)
Olivo(D-27)
Pickett(D-79)
Quintanilla(D-75)
Raymond(D-42)
Ritter(D-21)
Rose(D-45)

Mr. Raymond, now running for Congress, you represent at 50-50 district, in a county that voted below the state average. Your vote seems to be one of opportunity, so let me take this opportunity to say I will not aid or support your campaign for Congress against Henry Cuellar and Ciro Rodriguez.

Mr. Rose, it is with you I am most disappointed. While I know you have worked with the No Nonsense campaign in the past few months in working to defeat the amendment (either because you saw the light, or at least a political one), there is no amount of money or time that can counterbalance the fact that you voted to enable Prop 2 in the first place.

In fact, the three counties you represent, all voted below the state average on Prop 2 and were in the Top 20 counties in terms of their % NO vote on the Amendment. In fact, your home county, Hays, of 254 counties in Texas, was number 2 in the state behind Travis County in its percentage vote against Prop 2, with almost 42% casting a NO vote. I have donated to your campaign in each of your past 2 elections. Never again will your coffers be graced by a contribution from me.

Some Democrats 'had' to vote for it. I understand this. But of those 101 votes, only 2 had to cast a vote other than yes, even it if meant not casting a vote at all. The same goes for Senators Armbristor, Lucio, and Madla.

Midnight at the Capitol

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Tonight, I stand on the first step of the Texas Capitol.

The doors are shut. The lights are off, save those brightening the dome atop of which Lady Liberty stands, star raised above her head. Looking south, the city before me, I feel as if I sit in an island, inside of an island, inside of a state which has just voted to amend its Bill of Rights, ironically to limit them against me.

My communities are with me. Students. My GLBT Family. My adopted city.

My state is not. Nor is the building which towers behind me.

And as I sit here, I sadly realize that we didn’t lose this fight by over one and half million votes. We lost it by two votes. Once in the Senate. Once in the House. And in each of those cases, we lost it by one vote and then by two…

But I can’t think about that right now. There’s nothing I can do. I thought I could expect more of my state, some degree of fairness, some degree of respect. But those ideas sputtered out tonight about twenty miles in any direction from where I now sit.

Lady Liberty, where are you?

I know you are in the people I have met along the way. You are in the stories scattered across this state, from gas stations in West Texas, to traveling moms, to the unification of the most passionate organizers I have had the pleasure of working with.

But maybe more importantly, Lady Liberty, you are in my parents. And most of all, you were in my father. I didn’t think that my greatest supporter in this would be the man from whom I hid this part of me the longest.

You gave him understanding. And you gave me acceptance of that understanding.

I fear this is not the last time I may be found standing in front of my Capitol. My only hope is that one day, I will stand here, look out across Texas, and know that Lady Liberty has not turned her back on us, but has waited for us to lift ourselves out of the darkness, and bask in the light of Liberty.

I'll be back and posting with results, data, and more in due time. Right now, I have plenty of classwork which needs attention. -kt

Prop 2 Turnout Data

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I've managed to get ahold of some expanded information on Early Voting numbers beyond the top 15 counties.

Expanded Early Returns (excel)

Trend Chart (excel)

The latter shows something that I wasn't really expecting, which is how much Houston turnout may actually affect the statewide vote. On the last day of early voting, Harris County made a huge bounce and cast over 25,000 votes alone as evident on the "Trend" tab chart. In fact, the top 5 counties (including Dallas and Travis county where Prop 2 is expected to fail) are clearly separated from the rest of the Top 15 pack in that last day turnout bounce.

Final UT Prop 2 Polling Data

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I'll be busy all day and through the night with election activities on campus. Returns will be available from the Secretary of State site tonight here. Polls will be open from 7am - 7pm today so be sure to go cast your votes against Amendment #2.

I know I havn't listed how I voted on all these issues, but honestly, you are safe voting against all the amendments, but for all the bond issues (if you live in Travis County that is). Below the fold is the final UT polling data, which is very encouraging.

"These statistics were one component of the Student Government Survey Research Agency's fall student survey. 2,465 students were polled and the margin of error is ± 2.0%. Full results are available on the Student Government website, www.utsg.org."

1. Overall support
* 26.9% FOR
* 73.1% AGAINST

2. Among registered (71.9%)
* 26.3% FOR
* 73.7% AGAINST

3. Among intended voters (46.3%)
* 21.5% FOR
* 78.5% AGAINST

4. By political affiliation
a. Very Liberal (9.5%)
* 2.1% FOR
* 97.9% AGAINST
b. Liberal (32.7%)
* 6.5% FOR
* 93.5% AGAINST
c. Moderate (32.1%)
* 25.0% FOR
* 75.0% AGAINST
d. Conservative (18.1%)
* 68.3% FOR
* 31.7% AGAINST
e. Very Conservative (4%)
* 95% FOR
* 5% AGAINST
f. Other (3.6%)
* 11.0% FOR
* 89.0% AGAINST

5. By gender
a. Female (55%)
* 22.6% FOR
* 77.4% AGAINST
b. Male (45%)
* 32.3% FOR
* 67.7% AGAINST

6. By ethnicity
a. White / Caucasian (64.7%)
* 27.2% FOR
* 72.8% AGAINST
b. Hispanic or Latino (13.4%)
* 24.4% FOR
* 75.6% AGAINST
c. African American / Black (2.9%)
* 34.4% FOR
* 65.6% AGAINST
d. Asian / Asian American (14.9%)
* 27.9% FOR
* 72.1% AGAINST
e. Native American (.5%)
* 63.6% FOR
* 36.4% AGAINST
f. Other (3.6%)
* 16.0% FOR
* 84.0% AGAINST

7. By college
a. Architecture (1.2%)
* 16.0% FOR
* 84.0% AGAINST
b. Business (12.9%)
* 35.7% FOR
* 64.3% AGAINST
c. Communications (10.0%)
* 21.9% FOR
* 78.1% AGAINST
d. Education (5.7%)
* 32.2% FOR
* 67.8% AGAINST
e. Engineering (13.6%)
* 33.8% FOR
* 66.2% AGAINST
f. Fine Arts (4.6%)
* 17.5% FOR
* 82.5% AGAINST
g. Geosciences (.9%)
* 20.0% FOR
* 80.0% AGAINST
h. Information (.8%)
* 17.6% FOR
* 82.4% AGAINST
i. Law (2.2%)
* 21.7% FOR
* 78.3% AGAINST
j. Liberal Arts (30.2%)
* 22.0% FOR
* 78.0% AGAINST
k. Natural Sciences (19.4%)
* 28.3% FOR
* 71.7% AGAINST
l. Nursing (1.7%)
* 38.9% FOR
* 61.1% AGAINST
m. Pharmacy (.8%)
* 31.3% FOR
* 68.8% AGAINST
n. Public Affairs (1%)
* 4.8% FOR
* 95.2% AGAINST
o. Social Work (1.4%)
* 6.7% FOR
* 93.3% AGAINST

State Numbers

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The final Top 15 County Early vote numbers are now up on the Secretary of State's site.

405,718 total cast in the top 15 Counties with Liberal Travis County casting 10.5% of it's registered voters on the high end, and Jefferson County on the low end with 1.5%. Jefferson is home to many black voters who seem to be even more uninterested than the Hispanic border counties which are voting below the state average. In any other election, I'd be worried about that, but in this election, as has been stated by other conservative bloggers, many minorities are in favor of the amendment.

This election is less about party though. It's not a Democrat v. Republican issue. It's somewhat a liberal v. conservative one. But voting patterns are going to break much more along education and income lines than anything else. Which is why I'm not as worried about the upper end Republican areas casting more votes down in Houston as Greg noted today. It's partly because of them, as well as GLBT Montrose voters, that Prop 2 when polled, was failing by over 65% in Martha Wong's district the other week.

Note: We should see Harris County bump up its vote tomorrow, as it tend to prefer E-Day more so than the other most populous counties.

Hate Mail

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Traditional Christian Values?

Yeah, I'll get right on defending those.

Lufkin Daily News: In this country, we need to move away from the morality issue of homosexuality, the "rightness" or "wrongness," of this issue. It is the "hate the sin, but love the sinner approach," except that the hate always precedes the love. It is the unpardonable sin of homosexuality, not blasphemy, according to social conservatives, but curiously ironic, not the "judge not, lest you be judged" mentality. The speck in your eye is always bigger than the plank in mine, so forgo the Bible verses on the sin of homosexuality.

Dustin of Odessa, TX
in supporting the amendment had this to say:

"I HATE FAG's...kiss my ass you fucking homo's!" Interesting apostrophe use there...

Barbara of Keller, TX
in supporting the amendment had this to say:

"Stop spreading AIDS you idiots! You willing aggressively spread AIDS...Drop dead NOW and spare a few!"

Alvin L. of Amarillo, TX
in supporting the amendment had this to say:

"Please do NOT send me any more of your junk-please no more gay stuff I pray that same-sex marriage will never be-Praise God and I pray you will fine Jesus and he will save you from your gay sins."

Voter Turnout

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Turnout appears that it will tick up this election cycle, with the Secretary of State projecting 16% statewide. The big question I have is if the boost in early returns that we've seen is going to mean a boost in Election Day turnout as well, or if it's part of a continuing shift of voters voting early rather than on E-Day.

Longview News Journal: – Gregg County – 5,719 residents cast a ballot during the early voting. That's 2,144 more than in the 2003 election during the early voting period. Two years ago at the end of early voting, 3,575 people had cast a vote. The total count for that election was 9,551 votes.

– Harrison County – 2,370 people cast a vote from Oct. 24 to Friday and 80 more people are expected to mail in ballots, increasing the number to 2,450. In 2003, the county had 1,615 residents cast a ballot during early voting, and a total of 4,539 people voted in that amendment election.

– Rusk County – 1,778 residents cast a ballot during early voting, and the county expects to receive about 50 more mail-in ballots, bringing this year's early voting total to about 1,828. This year's early voting total is twice as high as it was two years ago, when 958 residents cast a ballot. The final total for the 2003 election was 3,750.

Wichita: As opposed to previous constitutional amendment elections, this particular one is seeing good turnout, according to Lori Bohannon, county clerk. She said, as of Thursday, 4,508 registered voters cast an early ballot by mail or at various countywide polling places.

Compared to the voter turnout for the 2003 constitutional election that total looks rather optimistic. Only 9,427 voters cast ballots out of approximately 60,000 registered voters in that election, Bohannon said in a previous election.

Actually, all this turnout isn't for Prop 2 at all. It's for the "Champions of the Republic" plaque that Secretary of State Roger Williams is giving as a prize to high turnout counties. But this quote about Waco turnout is the one that I think speaks truth to all of the talk about turnout. The question is who is turning out, and when? Is it a boost in voters (for sure in many areas) or a shift in voters casting early votes?

Waco: The higher turnout – 4,094 to 3,300 – comes as residents consider a proposed ban on gay marriage and eight lower profile changes to the Texas constitution.

The heavier traffic, based in part on extra days of early voting, is not a clear indication that more people will cast ballots by the end of election day on Tuesday, McLennan County elections administrator Kathy Van Wolfe said.

Based on the 2004 presidential election and other recent elections, Van Wolfe said, "We're seeing the same amount of people show up, but it's a trend to get started earlier."

More turnout numbers in the extended entry.

Tyler: Gauging from the turnout so far, early voting numbers could break previous records, she said.

"So far, the vote totals are well above the constitutional election in 2003," she said. "It will probably at least come close to an early voting record for this kind of election."

In 2003, 2,976 early votes were cast. With two of the heaviest days remaining in this early voting cycle, Mrs. Patterson reports that 2,957 have been cast.

Also, the number of requests for ballots by mail was up; in 2003, 85 ballots were sent out. This year, that number rose to 212.

Denton County: Based on early voter turnout, officials estimate 50,000 Denton County residents will show up to cast their ballots through election day, said Denton County Elections Administrator Don Alexander...

By comparison, only 21,959 votes were recorded during the 2003 election, which included 22 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. In 2001, only 8,489 votes on 19 proposed amendments were recorded.

Austin Area: In Travis County, 8.3 percent of registered voters had cast a ballot by the end of the day Thursday, compared with 4 percent in all of the state's 15 most populous counties, according to the most recent data available from the secretary of state's office. That figure is indicative of statewide trends because 60 percent of the state's residents live in those counties, officials said.

In Williamson County, 7.4 percent of registered voters had cast a ballot by the end of the day Thursday, and in Hays County, 5.1 percent of registered voters had done so.

Fredericksburg: As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Tuesday, 1,272 in-person and mail ballots had been tabulated by County Clerk Mary Lynn Rusche’s staff since early voting got underway Oct. 24... By the time early balloting wraps up at 4 p.m. Friday, the 2005 vote count is expected to easily exceed the total 1,339 early ballots cast in the 2003 state constitutional amendment election.

Step Back, Step Forward

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

If passed, Proposition 2 would be the 434th Amendment to the Texas Constitution. If passed, Texas would become the 19th state to amend it's constitution to ban gay marriages.

That, says The Economist, is a step backward, to the time when the constitution banned idiots and lunatics.

Banning idiots and lunatics...might make the Texas Legislature a lonely place.

“Your kind and the trash should both burn in hell”

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

No, it's not an angry letter or the KKK, it was a note attached to a bag of trash left on the doorstep of Associated Student Government Senator Jeff Moody down at Texas State. Their Student Government has recently passed a resolution against Proposition 2 and Moody was one of 16 who voted in favor of passage (10 opposed the resolution).

Quoted in the article was also a comment that turnout in San Marcos among students had been outstanding (as it has here at UT, we should pass 5000 total early votes today).

San Marcos Daily Record: "It is the perfect platform. We as ASG senators are there as student leaders to represent and protect every student, not just the minority. If we only allow ourselves to debate items that are not controversial and that every single person agrees with whatever the outcome may be, then we might as well disband and not even have a meeting."

Moody said he joined 16 other student senators voting to approve the resolution opposing the amendment. Ten student senators voted against the resolution and one abstained.

As for the bag of trash on his doorstep, Moody didn't report it, and brushes the incident off as childish behavior.

"I have had an extraordinary amount of positive feedback from students, faculty and even community members," he said. "People who play such childish games are not worth my time."

We are now less than 20 hours away from the Ku Klux Klan here in Austin. I will be joining the No Nonsense campaign at 1 pm on the 1st Street Bridge, which will be blocked off for the purpose of their counter demonstration.

Catholics Speak Out on Prop 2

By Phillip Martin

An extremely well-written, well-reasoned column in the San Antonio Express News appeared in today's paper, written by Catholics concerned with the human and civil rights implications of Prop 2. Here is a sample:

We acknowledge that in Catholic doctrine marriage is between a man and a woman. But the proposition goes far beyond that in a way that deeply troubles us.

We are gravely concerned that this proposition, by making it constitutional law that civil authorities may not recognize any legal status similar to marriage, will make it possible to deny certain civil and/or human rights to people with strong and lasting personal bonds who are not a man and a woman united in marriage.

For this reason, we are compelled by our sense of integrity, our nation's tradition of equitable laws and our Catholic faith to ask voters to seriously ponder that this amendment potentially threatens the civil rights of all unmarried people in significant domestic relationships and is unjust and discriminatory.

Further, this amendment apparently does nothing to protect the existing institution of marriage.

Our bishops have asserted that "the Church's teaching about the human dignity of every person, including homosexuals, is also clear and strong. Homosexual persons are to be treated with respect and compassion. Our respect for them means we condemn all forms of unjust discrimination, harassment or abuse," in "Catholic Bishops of Texas on Proposition 2."

As a Catholic, I found this column very real to my own personal concerns. Balancing my personal and political convictions can be an extremely difficult task, and the decisions I make on some of the tougher political issues in this state and this country can be strenuous. However, I'm grateful that I'm afforded the struggle of my decision, since my own faith does not demand absoulte conformity. The issue of human and civil rights is just as important, to me, as the issue of holy matrimony, and I rejoice that my faith enourages me to pray and discover my own voice and my own choice with the assistance of God's wisdom.

This article does a remarkable job articulating the very real, very serious human and civil rights implications of Prop 2. I appreciates its honesty, and commend those who worked, thought, and prayed as they wrote it.

2 Letters Against Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Following are two letters, one of them mine, the other Glen Maxey's, that we have sent to friends, family, teachers, and those that we hardly ever send things to. Think about writing a letter and e-mail yourself, the responses you get back are some of the most fulfilling things to read, and remember, a personal plea to vote is one of the most effective ways to get people to the polls.

If you can't do that, donate to the last round of campaign calls that will go out before the election. They cost a nickel a call. Spare your brothers a dime.

Dear Friends,

It is not often that I contact you all together about the issues or projects that I am working on, unless of course you are on some listserv that I webmaster, in which case you get contacted far too much. But today I am asking you to do something so basic, so easy, but so critical I cannot express how important it is.

I'm asking you to Vote and to Vote Against Constitutional Amendment #2, the Marriage Amendment.
If you live in Austin, Vote Early on campus at the FAC/UGL, 7a-7p until this Friday the 4th.
Election Day is then on Nov 8th.

And then I'm asking you to take 5 minutes of your time to pass this message on, either in my words or preferably your own.

I know it's wrong to expect others to make my issue their issue. But this isn't my issue. This is our issue. It's an issue for each and every one of you who reads this and this is the only time when we are going to be able to do anything about it. There is no second chance. If it passes, it stays for a century. It won't be repealed in my lifetime. And I keep thinking about that and realize that is what makes this different. You have got to care this once, because this once is all we get.

It makes me cry sometimes. The dedication and love and energy of our straight allies in this… I know why I'm fighting. I think I know why they are fighting, too.

There are 10 days left… 10 short days until I find out if my state will choose to constitutionally define me as a second-class person.

I must fight. I hope you will too.

Vote and remind your friends,
Karl-Thomas Musselman

A Personal Plea from Glen Maxey.

You’ve known me for a long while. I’ve been a State Representative, a Democratic Party activist and a Party consultant. I hope you know me as a vocal spokesperson for the ideals of the Democratic Party, for social justice, for the underdog and the little guy.

I also happen to be a gay man who cares deeply about my relationship.

Today, I’m sending you this note and this request on a very personal matter. I need you to be a spokesperson for me. I need you to speak out for me and the thousands of your neighbors across Texas who will be permanently made second class citizens if Proposition 2 passes and is placed in the Bill of Rights.

It’s a daily experience for many of us dealing with the “little things” that everyone else takes for granted in their heterosexual relationships. Sometimes, for us, it turns tragic. It affects everything about our lives.

I’ve stood in the emergency room, partner unconscious, me in tears, trying to convince an uncaring desk clerk that I had a right to be there. I’ve gone into hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt paying for health care of a partner who I cannot put on my insurance policy. And I even have to go through the hassle and cost of doing a legal document just so that a partner can bury my body when I die.

You might take for granted the 1,130 rights and responsibilities heterosexual folks get when they pay for that marriage license. I have lived through the horror of not having those same rights.

So I have two simple requests: Please vote. People’s lives depend on it.

Help me send messages to Democrats across Texas on Monday telling them to vote. Send Rick Perry, the Republicans in the Legislature, and the hate mongers and religious zealots a message by helping us have a huge turnout of Democrats on Tuesday.

Donate here: Donate

An automated call costs a nickel. Donate $100 and tell 2500 Democrats to vote. Donate $10 and tell 250. Please help.

Call my office at 512-443-2004 if I can pick up a check or have a local campaign person do so. You can mail a check to: No Nonsense, 512 E Riverside Dr Ste 203, Austin Tx 78704.

Thank you,
Glen

Limited Ballot

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I was just alerted to a fantastic opportunity for those of you who are not yet registered to vote in Travis County:

LIMITED BALLOT

If you were previously registered in a Texas County and have not registered to vote in Travis County, you may be eligible to vote a Limited Ballot. Limited ballots are available only during the Early Voting period, Monday, October 24 – Friday November 4, 2005, at the main Early Voting location at 5501 Airport Boulevard. For the November 8, 2005, Joint Special Elections, a person voting a limited ballot is entitled to vote only on statewide propositions.

To vote a limited ballot, a voter:

§ Has moved to Travis County from another Texas county

§ Was a registered voter in the county of former residence when the voter moved to Travis County

§ Has completed an Application for Limited Ballot and submitted the Application to the Travis County Elections Division.

Constitutional Amendments are statewide elections so you can vote AGAINST Constitutional Amendment #2 at the Travis County Elections Division Office (also the Tax Office on Airport Blvd...on the way to Highland Mall from campus) even if you are not a Travis County voter! They request that you call ahead at 512.854.4996 to let them know you are coming. Remember, you can only take advantage of this opportunity until Early Voting ends on Friday.

Please remember just how important this election is in the fight for equality.

How to Oppose the Klan

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The worst thing that those of us here in Austin could do is make a big violent mess out of the Ku Klux Klan's arrival at City Hall this Saturday. While some plan a second mooning of the Klan, if you really want to be useful, I'd suggest joining the No Nonsense in November campaign starting at 1pm this Saturday at Auditorium Shores (South 1st and Riverside Drive map) and then walk peacefully out to the middle of the 1st Street Bridge where the march will halt in silent, watchful protest, within auditory and visual contact of City Hall. Join us there between 1-3 PM.

This will be yet another turning point for the campaign, and the Klan's arrival almost guarantees state and national media interest. We gain little in rioting. We gain so much more in non-violent protest, standing strong, sending our message, and proving that the true repository of hate lies with the KKK and the supporters of this Amendment.

The campaign's official remarks are below the fold.

1. Fair-minded Texans are encouraged to gather at Auditorium shores and the southern entrance to the First Street Bridge for brief introductory remarks by rally leaders.

2. All those in attendance will be given posters, signs and other messages designed by our staff with nonviolent language consistent with our campaign message, balloons, etc. There is no need to bring anything with you. (If you bring hand made signs, please remember we are doing this for statewide TV coverage IN OPPOSITION to Amendment #2. Please DO NOT exhibit hate or anger messages toward the Klan. Let the Klan speak for themselves.)

3. When instructed by our leaders, we will walk in unity to the middle of the bridge over the river. This will be a silent walk and protest. We will not yell, call out, or otherwise respond vocally to any of the speaker's antigay comments. In keeping with the Soulforce principles taught by Gandhi & Martin Luther King, Jr., we will instead "absorb the suffering" without responding in any manner that could be perceived as violent or aggressive. Your presence, the truth of your life, and the beautiful photo images, we believe, will challenge the speaker's antigay statements in a way more powerful than any words.

Please note: If you do not feel emotionally ready to be involved in such an action without reacting in anger, we respectfully ask that you decline participating in this peaceful response. Any action that could be perceived as aggressive or violent by the media would actually work in favor of the Ku Klux Klan.

In fact, a representative for the American White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan wrote: ". . . we expect anti-Klan demonstrators to be there who may become violent. We certainly don't want any of our people hurt nor any city officials. We just want to come and encourage people to vote for Christian Family Values and against legalized homosexual marriage in the state of Texas."

Again, this will be a peaceful counter-protest and we will refrain from any actions, words, or signage that could be misperceived as violent or hateful. Glen Maxey and/or his designee will answer questions by the media.

The Voices of Fear

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

In today's Texan, we can see that the supporters of Amendment 2, who rallied in North Austin Sunday, really are not for protecting marriage as much as they are for being homophobic.

Some of the proposition's supporters, such as Texas House District 50 Republican candidate Don Zimmerman, believe the issue is quite clear.

Zimmerman also disagreed with opponents who claim the amendment discriminates against same-sex couples by excluding them from the institution of marriage.

"Every same-sex couple that adopts children discriminates against mothers or fathers by definition," he said.

Every one parent household discriminates against mothers or fathers by definition. But let's fear the homosexuals.

He criticized opponents of the proposal for conflating his efforts with those of the Ku Klux Klan, who will be holding a rally of their own at City Hall on Saturday. The Klan claims to support family values.

Brian McAuliffe, chairman of the Austin Town Hall Conservatives, fears that gay marriage would lead to wider acceptance of the gay community.

"We believe gay marriage is dangerous," he said. "If marriage is legitimized for gays, then we would have to recognize them in every aspect of life. They pretty much try to recruit people."

God forbid, not just the Constitution, that we have to recognize them in every aspect of life. It's bad enough that we have to recognize those black and brown people. Let's fear the homosexuals.

Robert Morrow, a self-proclaimed grass-roots conservative activist, said that the issue has an important economic aspect.

"Homosexuals do nothing to create and raise our next generation, yet they demand special rights, benefits and privileges of marriage," he said. "This is extremely greedy. It's a huge economic power grab."

Celibate and infertile couples and those that choose not to have children due to age or economic capacity do nothing to create and raise our next generation. And they don't demand rights, benefits, or the privileges of marriage. They get them anyways. But let's fear the homosexuals instead.

How are those planks in your eyes feeling guys?

Polling on Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

BlogHouston thinks that if students vote their beliefs on Prop 2 they will vote for it. Considering my generation is one of the demographics that outright favors same-sex marriage, I find that hard to believe. I find it even harder in light of recent UT polling data. Here are some of the early numbers from the UT Student Government Survey on Prop 2. Sample so far, 1,236 students have responded.

Below it is the FOR/AGAINST numbers for Prop 2 when you start looking at responses from just registered voters and then registered voters who plan to actually vote. They get better in each step and I've pulled this info specifically here:

All Students: FOR-22% / AGAINST-65%
Registered: FOR-22% / AGAINST-68%
Registered & Plan to vote (Likely Voters): FOR-20% / AGAINST-75%

If this poll holds true (it is a poll) we could see around 60% student turnout overall, though some of those votes will show up in other counties back home. And may I point out that UT-Austin has cast more votes than all of El Paso.

These 3 questions contain the raw data, below that are sub-samples. Margin of Error is ± 2.7%.

1) Are you currently registered to vote in Texas?

No answer 20 1.62%
Yes (Y) 903 73.06%
No (N) 313 25.32%

2) Do you plan to vote in the Texas Constitutional Amendment Election to be held on November 8th?

No answer 131 10.60%
Yes (Y) 589 47.65%
No (N) 516 41.75%

3) If passed in the November referendum, Texas Constitutional Amendment 2 would restrict the definition of marriage to that of one man and one woman, banning the state's recognition or establishment of same-sex domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriage. If the election were held today, would you vote FOR or AGAINST Constitutional Amendment 2?

No answer 159 12.86%
For (1) 277 22.41%
Against (2) 800 64.72%

----------------

Responses from those saying they are Registered in Texas (73% of students)
1. Plan to vote
* 64% plan to vote
* 26% do not plan to vote
* 10% no response
2. Prop 2
* 22% for
* 68% against
* 10% no response

Responses from those saying they are Registered & plan to vote (46.4% of students)
1. Prop 2
* 20% for
* 75% against
* 5% no response

-From Regina Dombkowski and Chris Kennedy of the SG Survey Research Agency

Rep. Chisum Violating Election Law?

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Yesterday's post by Phillip brought to light yet another offense that seems to have been committed by Rep. Warren Chisum, making this pattern egregious enough that as of 3 pm this afternoon, I have filed an official complaint and "request to investigate" these actions with a special prosecutor in the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney's office.

You can download my official filing: page 1, page 2, page 3.

So what did he do?

The following files outline what I see as a breach of state limitations on use of public funds and offices for the purpose of the promotion of the passage of Proposition 2. Below is the text of my filed criminal complaint.

"On a letter to Texas Pastors dates Sept 16, 2005, printed on Rep. Warren Chisum's official House of Representatives letterhead and signed by Rep. Warren Chisum (HD-88), Rep. John T Smithee (HD-86), and Rep. David Swinford (HD-87), statements were made encouraging involvement in the Nov. 8th Constitutional Amendment Election. Included in the letter were documents labeled "VOTE FOR PROP 2" and promoting the www.texansformarriage.org website. Staffer for Rep. Chisum Annette Glass is listed as a contact in the letter, listing her official House e-mail and the office number for Rep. Chisum.

Additionally, Rep. Chisum's office on October 25, 2005 distributed a Press Release through the Capitol e-mail system entitled "False Campaign Meant to Destroy Prop 2" in which Annette Glass is again listed as the contact with Re. Chisum's primary office phone number."

The following are .tif image files of the September 16th Letter sent to pastors, forwarded to me by e-mail.

Sept. 16th Mailer (The Letter .tif format)
Included Letter Document (Page 1 | Page 2)

Key things to mention here. The included documents with the letter are clearly promoting the election or defeat of the amendment as they are titled with a bold VOTE FOR PROP 2 title. Included on the Chisum letterhead are key phrases such as, "To save marriage as we know it, and prevent activist judges from ruling in favor of same-sex marriages, the churches of this state must actively work to get out the vote. ... It is clear the churches can stand in the gap and make the difference in this election." The letter closes urging pastors to "contact my office at 800/692-1389 or e-mail annette.glass@house.state.tx.ud" which seems to be an addition clear violation of the use of his public office for the campaigning for this amendment.

The full text response of Rev. William D. Nix, Jr. of Canadian, TX to Rep. Chisum is included in the extended entry. He was by no means pleased, as a faith leader, receiving this letter from Rep. Chisum and Company. It is from him indirectly that I received this information.

I was shocked to receive your letter of September 16 addressed to “Senior Pastor” which I assume was sent to all churches in your district and to those of Messrs. Smithee and Swinford, who also signed the letter. Regardless of one’s views on Proposition 2 or the issues it raises, the letter and its enclosures are offensive to all mainstream Christians and Texans of other religious preference for whom freedom of religion is among our most cherished rights. For elected officials to attempt to influence elections by exerting pressure on churches is an abuse of the public trust and an infringement of the Constitutionally-guaranteed separation of church and state.

The enclosure promoting Proposition 2 is an even more blatant violation of the separation of church and state. The organizations cited as sources include Jerry Falwell’s “Liberty Council,” James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” and other extreme-right Christian lobby groups. The suggested sermon points include a mixture of half-truths, misrepresentations and demagoguery, all calculated to arouse homophobic anxiety in the public. And their very inclusion in a letter from members of the legislature should be offensive to all theologically-educated clergy.

On the face of it, Proposition 2 is a thinly-veiled attempt to write discrimination toward gay and lesbian Texans into the Constitution. The existing “Protection of Marriage” law is discriminatory enough, denying basic legal protection and spousal benefits to anyone whose sexual orientation or committed relationship differs from the norm. And the promoters of Proposition 2 are aware that it is probably doomed to be found unconstitutional by the courts - thus their rush to write it into the Constitution.

Whet a pity that the last Legislature will be known primarily for failing to fund our children’s education and for attempting to deprive many Texans of their rights! Please don’t compound the error by eroding the wall of separation of church and state.

The Rev. William D. Nix, Jr.
Canadian (Texas)

Rev. Tom Heger: For Real

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Proponents of Prop 2 claim the "Reverend" is a fraud. If you can't attack the message that the Marriage Amendment threatens marriage, attack the messenger. Except, the messenger is quite real.

The Statesman has a full bio on Rev. Tom Hager, a former Austin Presbyterian pastor. You can listen to his message here (.wav) and read the script as follows.

I’m Reverend Tom Heger. Rick Perry and the Legislature made a blunder in writing the gay marriage amendment. Don’t Risk It. Vote Against It.

They left off words that would have made sure it applied only to gays. A greedy insurance company, tricky divorce lawyer, or a liberal Austin activist judge can easily use these words to overturn traditional marriage and cause people to lose health insurance, tax breaks, and pensions.

The status quo protects everyone's marriage. Don't Risk It. Vote Against It. God bless you. Read it for yourself at Save Texas Marriage.com.

Want further proof, how about his bio? It's in the extended entry. This should put to rest the concerns of those that feel he is a pretend minister or a front for some devious scheme which is so far off the mark they don't even have a clue.

Thomas J. Heger
Born: Chicago, November 25, 1943

School:
St. Olaf College, BA, 1965
Princeton Theological Seminary, M.Div., 1969

Ordained:
Minister of Word and Sacrament, The Presbyterian Church (USA), October 1969

Work:
+Assistant Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, Queens, NY: 1969-71
+Associate Pastor, Brick Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY: 1971-74
+Co-Pastor, The Downtown United Presbyterian Church, Rochester: 1974-81
+Campus Pastor, The University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon: 1981-92
+Pastor, St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Manchaca, TX: 1992–2005
+Pastor, Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX: 2005–present

And:
+Twice elected to the Eugene, Oregon, 4J School Board…
+Active in Mission Presbytery (regional governing body) and Presbyterian Church (USA) advocacy and social justice organizations and ministries.

Married:
Lois Heger, LPC
8 amazing grand kids!

Recently moved to San Antonio and accepted the call to be the pastor of the Beacon Hill congregation.

Shackelford: Don't Trust "God Bless You"

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

As an example of how much the opposition to Prop 2 has managed to get the conservative supporters of the Marriage Amendment completely off their rockers, Kelly Shackelford, Free Market Foundation President and spokesman for Prop 2, sent out this e-mail earlier this week. It's not often that we are able to do this, but we've force the debate to be about the threat of voiding all marriage in Texas, not the Republican "one man, one woman in the eyes of God" talking point. Now he's telling the conservative base not to trust the so called traditional conservative message.

From: Free Market Foundation Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 5:14 PM Subject: BEWARE- Misleading Info Spreading about Prop. 2

Special Message from Free Market Foundation
President Kelly Shackelford, Esq.

"Deceptive phone calls are now going out telling people to vote NO because of a supposed flaw in the legislation of Prop. 2. There must be a lot of them because we are getting calls from a number of supporters who are confused. The calls from "Save Texas Marriage" are so deceptive that they are even ending the call saying "God Bless You." One of these starts out from a "Reverend" and says that Governor Perry messed up, and that there is a hidden liberal agenda. The group is even calling seniors who would typically support conservative legislation. We have received several calls from people who were extremely heartbroken to learn they were mislead into voting something today they did not believe. This is an all out fraud to
deceive voters. Please Beware."

Groups Using the Following Scare Tactics:

• Deceptive Phone Calls

"Save Texas Marriage" has a website devoted to setting up call banks to trick voters. The argument is completely false. The second sentence in no way invalidates the first sentence. Do not be fooled, including by calls ending in, "God bless you."

• Lies to Voters at Polls

There has been confusion over how to vote at the polls. If you want to vote to only have marriages between one man and one woman, vote FOR the amendment. Voting AGAINST the amendment will mean that you want to allow homosexual marriages Texas.

So now the official word is not to trust those giving you information on Proposition 2 if it's coming from someone saying "God Bless You". Guess that knocks out every conservative preacher in the state, eh?

Stick Thin Support

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Thanks to Chris Elam over in Tom DeLay's district, we have this wonderful report on the "God inspired" yard sign design that has an image and message that should appeal to voters with a second grade mentality.

The following was written by Michael Franks, State Republican Executive Committeeman for SD18 in Wharton, TX. His full remarks are in the extended entry. Apparently God doesn't just speak to the crazy ones; he also speaks to their elected Party officials. (Oh God, if you need to speak to me, I'm listed in the UT Directory.)

If we got MORE of our Church's to get on board and KNOW about this sign effort we could blanket the State, create the awareness that there IS a vote on this issue, energize the “Church” to action, and everyone would know to vote FOR Prop 2!!!! NOTHING creates awareness more than folks seeing signs in yards in their neighborhoods. ONE key Church in each major city in Texas could have their members take the signs home with them and we could cover every city in Texas!!!

Some wanted me to drop the stick figure design and just go with a sign that said “Save Texas Marriage, Vote For Prop 2”. Isn't it funny how God had another plan KNOWING the other side would try and use the same language of “Save Texas Marriage” trying to trick people into voting NO. I had the vision of the sign months ago put into my thoughts and the design concept was always the same after many thoughts an input from others trying to change it. (God had a plan)

And to think, your support for undermining marriage in the state of Texas only costs you $2.50. Oddly enough, the website he directs people to in order to buy these signs is http://www.vote4marriage.com/, which forwards to the National GOP site which proclaims "GOPUSA is proud to be working with Texas activist Michael Franks on this non-partisan, non-denominational effort to distribute yard signs and to help raise awareness of the upcoming vote on the Texas Marriage Amendment."

Wonder if they are bothering to report those expenditures?

Isn't it great that God put the “idea” in my head a few months ago about the concept of a State wide yard sign campaign for this marriage amendment, much less He put the very DESIGN into my mind.

Now we are seeing the confusion from the other side trying to trick folks into thinking voting NO on prop 2 means it will protect marriage. The gay and radical left lobby have just proven they will stoop to anything.

This State wide grass roots yard sign effort makes it CLEAR what a YES vote is for. 1 Man + 1 Woman = Marriage, the stick figures of a man and woman holding hands shows the “visual”, and Vote FOR Prop 2 tells folks how to vote. God had a plan for these signs.

If we got MORE of our Church's to get on board and KNOW about this sign effort we could blanket the State, create the awareness that there IS a vote on this issue, energize the “Church” to action, and everyone would know to vote FOR Prop 2!!!! NOTHING creates awareness more than folks seeing signs in yards in their neighborhoods. ONE key Church in each major city in Texas could have their members take the signs home with them and we could cover every city in Texas!!!

Some wanted me to drop the stick figure design and just go with a sign that said “Save Texas Marriage, Vote For Prop 2”. Isn't it funny how God had another plan KNOWING the other side would try and use the same language of “Save Texas Marriage” trying to trick people into voting NO. I had the vision of the sign months ago put into my thoughts and the design concept was always the same after many thoughts an input from others trying to change it. (God had a plan)

We are moving THOUSANDS of these State wide for the Republican county chairman, activist, and Church's that KNOW about it. Some Church's have orderd hundreds, and some a few thousand to get to their people.

If you can help in this sign effort please do and get back with me!!!! We are printing EVERY day and shipping statewide. $2.50 a sign with wire H stake. Info is on the website below.

Thanks,
Michael Franks
State Republican Executive Committee SD18
Wharton, Tx

http://www.vote4marriage.com/

Legal Opinion on Rep. Chisum Prop 2 E-mail

By Phillip Martin

Yesterday afternoon, Rep. Chisum issued a press release through the Texas House e-mail system titled "False Campaign Meant to Destroy Prop 2." Here is part of the press release:

"The folks who produced this recording have laid all integrity aside," Rep. Warren Chisum (R - Pampa) said. "The language for Proposition 2 has been reviewed by the legislature and some of the state's top attorneys. This is a scare tactic orchestrated by individuals who are willing to do anything to make sure Proposition 2 is unsuccessful in the polls. I am appalled that people would take advantage of others by disseminating this type of widespread deceit."

There is some question as to whether or not the press release constitutes political advertising. If it did, since it was sent out through the Texas House of Representatives e-mail system, it could violate the statutory ban on the use of public funds for political advertising. Personally, I wasn't sure if it did, but I received the following legal opinion in my e-mail (I added links to the election code sections cited):

Texas law prohibits the use of “public funds for political advertising.” ELEC. CODE § 255.003(a). “Political advertising” is defined as “a communication supporting or opposing . . . a measure that . . . appears . . . in a pamphlet, circular, flier, billboard or other sign, bumper sticker, or similar form of written communication[.]” Id. at § 251.001(16). A “measure” is any “question or proposal submitted in an election for an expression of the voters’ will[.]” Id. at § 251.001(19). An internal e-mail system, including one belonging to a legislative agency, may not be used to distribute political advertising. See id. at § 255.0031. Violations of the ban on use of public funds for political advertising or the ban on distribution by internal e-mail are Class A misdemeanors. Id. at § 255.003(c). The statute creates an exception for “a communication that factually describes the purposes of a measure if the communication does not advocate passage or defeat of the measure.” Id. at § 255.003(b).

The legal opinion, which was anonymously sent and is contained in full below the jump, argues that the Texas Elections Commission has ruled in certain school board cases (which are cited in the legal opinion) that the magic words test doesn't necessarily apply if state resources were used for general campaign advocacy.

Again, I'm certainly no legal expert, and I'm not pretending to be -- I'm merely reporting what's out there. This legal opinion, if nothing else, is well-written, well-researched, and could have some serious merit. I'd imagine someone would need to issue a complaint against Rep. Chisum and a judge would have to rule on the actual legality of the press release to see if this was a real thing or not.

Personally, what strikes me most about the Rep. Chisum e-mail, is that he chooses to attack Save Texas Marriage, yet says nothing about the KKK rally that will go on in downtown Austin next weekend. I mean, really -- which group would you assoicate with the charge of using scare tactics and willing to do anything to get what they want?

Based on a quick review, I conclude that the press release by Representative Chisum probably violates the statutory ban on the use of public funds for political advertising. It probably does not violate the statutory requirement that certain disclaimers be placed on political advertising.

Texas law prohibits the use of “public funds for political advertising.” ELEC. CODE § 255.003(a). “Political advertising” is defined as “a communication supporting or opposing . . . a measure that . . . appears . . . in a pamphlet, circular, flier, billboard or other sign, bumper sticker, or similar form of written communication[.]” Id. at § 251.001(16). A “measure” is any “question or proposal submitted in an election for an expression of the voters’ will[.]” Id. at § 251.001(19). An internal e-mail system, including one belonging to a legislative agency, may not be used to distribute political advertising. See id. at § 255.0031. Violations of the ban on use of public funds for political advertising or the ban on distribution by internal e-mail are Class A misdemeanors. Id. at § 255.003(c). The statute creates an exception for “a communication that factually describes the purposes of a measure if the communication does not advocate passage or defeat of the measure.” Id. at § 255.003(b).

Representative Chisum’s press release is titled “False Campaign Meant to Destroy Prop. 2.” It begins by quoting Representative Chisum as saying that “[Y]esterday, two million Texans received phone calls containing false information meant to deter voters from voting for Proposition 2.” A later paragraph quotes Representative Chisum as saying “[t]his is a scare tactic orchestrated by individuals who are willing to do anything to make sure Proposition 2 is unsuccessful in the polls.”

The term “advocacy” as used in the statute has not been interpreted by any court. The Texas Ethics Commission, which administratively enforces the statute, considers a statement to be advocacy if the statement expresses sympathy or support for the passage or defeat of a measure by use of words such as “support,” “best solution,” or “the right thing to do.”

An independent school district paid for a six-page newspaper insert that contained a “Message from the Superintendent” which contained the sentence “[o]ur citizens now have the opportunity to position the NEISD for the 21st century. Please support the vision -- our future depends on your commitment.” In the Matter of Richard A. Middleton, No. SC-981182, at 2 (Tex. Ethics Comm’n 1998). The insert ran after the school board called a bond election but before the election was held. Id. at 1.

The commission found that the insert “presented facts about the school bond measure.” Id. at 2. However, the superintendent’s message “cause[ed] the insert to cross the line from a communication that is factual to a communication that advocates passage of the bonds.” Id.

The Decatur ISD board of trustees and superintendent called a bond election and hired a consultant to prepare informational material on the election. In the Matter of Scott Johnson, No. SC-231180, at 1 (Tex. Ethics Comm’n 2003). One circular “state[d] that the bond proposal provides the “best solution” to the needs generated by the school district’s population growth.” Id. An information booklet that was distributed included a press release “quot[ing] the school board president as saying, “This bond is the right thing to do for the children of this community.” Id. at 2.

The commission found that the phrase “best solution” and quote from the school board president to “advocate[d] passage of the bond measure, even though the information booklet contained a “great deal of factual information.” Id.

Representative Chisum states the phone calls would “deter persons from voting for Proposition 2” and were “orchestrated by individuals who are willing to do anything to make sure Proposition 2 is unsuccessful in the polls.” In Representative Chisum’s view, these calls are meant to “destroy” the ballot measure. Taken as a whole, a reasonable factfinder could find that the words indicate Representative Chisum’s support for the ballot measure.

This is likely so considering that the press release certainly does not contain any factual information other than assertions that “[t]he language for Proposition 2 has been reviewed by the legislature and some of the state’s top attorneys.” Representative Chisum does not provide the legal conclusions of these attorneys which might constitute “facts” that could be used by a voter to resolve doubt and make up his mind.

If the press release is political advertising, then Rep. Chisum might also runs afoul of the rules requiring certain notices to be placed on the advertising. See ELEC. CODE § 255.001(a). However, the disclaimers are only required to be placed on “political advertising containing express advocacy.” Id. There is no statutory definition of “express advocacy.” The “express advocacy” test under Federal law requires that a communication must include “explicit words of advocacy of election or defeat of a candidate” before the communication will be considered political speech that may be subject to some government regulation. Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 43 (1976). The focus of the “express advocacy” test is on the words used by the speaker. Thus, a “finding of ‘express advocacy’ depend[s] upon the use of language such as ‘vote for,’ ‘elect,’ [or] ‘support[.]’” FEC v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life, 479 U.S. 238, 249 (1986). The press release seems to fall short of express advocacy.

Finally, if the Chisum press release is political advertising, then the House Administration Committee erred in distributing the release.

In addition to the criminal penalties, the Texas Ethics Commission has civil jurisdiction over violations of Section 255.003 and 255.0031, which is triggered by the filing of a sworn complain. See ELEC CODE §§ 251.001, 253.134, 255.003.

State Round-Up

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

"If gay marriage is a threat to your marriage, then your marriage sucked anyway." -quote of the day

Statewide Early Voting Numbers (for the top 15 counties by population) are now posted at the Secretary of State's website here. The average for the first day of voting was .3% which was exceeded by a large degree by Williamson and Travis County (Travis leading the way). This also means that the UT-Austin voting location cast 3% of the vote for the top 15 counties combined yesterday. Of course, I should remind you that one on campus precinct had the highest turnout in all of Travis County in the 2004 election with 99.7% turnout.

Here's a round-up of the day's coverage of the big news yesterday that passing Proposition 2 has the potential to void marriage in Texas. (Save Texas Marriage)

Houston Chronicle: "That in the hands of an activist judge could lead to the ruin of my marriage and every other marriage in this state because the status that is most identical to marriage is obviously marriage itself," said Trampes Crow, a graduate student at the University of Texas and a former army captain who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

El Paso Times: All 118,000 marriages in El Paso County could be jeopardized by a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution banning same-sex unions, a group opposed to the measure said Monday.

"We have an awful lot to lose emotionally and financially with this kind of irresponsible legislation," said Austin resident Martha Cotera, who has been married to her husband, Juan, for 42 years.

Some El Paso lawyers agreed with the anti-amendment group Save Texas Marriage that wording in the proposed amendment could have unintended consequences.

Fort Worth Star Telegram: It's that language that opponents say could lead to a legal challenge of traditional marriage -- common law or otherwise.

Austin American Statesman: "I do" could become "by golly, we didn't" for more than 4 million married couples in Texas if voters approve a clumsily worded proposed constitutional amendment, opponents said Monday.

Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is in favor of the Amendment, saying Voting in favor of Proposition 2 is a vote to protect a basic human union, so critically important to the common good of society, from being altered in its structure and purpose.

Someone get him a memo to let him know that voting in favor of Prop 2 could profoundly alter the structure and purpose of this basic human union, whereas voting against it at least maintains the status quo.

Travis Turnout Day 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Turnout remained heavy on campus today as it picked up countywide across the city of Austin. Reports from San Antonio say it's double the pace of 2003 there with 2,842 cast yesterday. Gainsville was reporting 154 cast which was for a poll worker to claim "we were shocked" at the turnout.

The data below..

Top 5 locations for today along with (total cast to date)

595 University of Texas (1249)
314 Northcross Mall (520)
272 Randall's Research (532)
260 Randall's South Mopac (468)
190 HEB South Congress (395)

3786 Total Cast
Travis Turnout 1.5% now
16.7% of County cast by University of Texas now

Though it's really hard to predict turnout from 2 days of voting, if this year's voting pattern hold to the presidential election, and we have also have about 60% of the Travis Co. vote cast early, I predict a Travis turnout of 17.2%. It's odd that total turnout actually went up today from yesterday, largely due to all the media is my guess. Tomorrow being a Wednesday, I'd expect to see the camus vote bump up again as it does on MWF compared to TTH.

Top 10 locations by total cast are now...

University of Texas 1249
Randall's Research 532
Northcross Mall 520
Randall's South Mopac 468
Travis County CourtHouse 436
HEB South Congress 395
Randall's Bee Cave 330
Randall's 35th Street 314
Randall's Ben White 302
Highland Mall 254

Travis Turnout Day 1

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The first day of early voting is complete and Travis County has released their data. Needless to say, the UT-Campus vote is beyond all expectations, leading next closest voting location by a 2-1 margin.

Votes / Early Vote Location (Travis)

654 University of Texas
270 Travis County CourtHouse
260 Randall's Research
206 Northcross Mall
205 HEB South Congress

Total Today: 3667 (.7% County Turnout so far)
UT % of total turnout: 17.8% of the County

Total vote cast in 6 Campus Area Precints in 2003 by E-Day: 411

We have exceeded the campus area vote of 2 years ago in 1 day of early voting. They had to drive in 6 more voting machines today because the vote was so heavy on campus. And to think that 2 years ago, they were prepared to eliminate the UGL early voting location.

Here is the video coverage from this morning by KXAN and News 8 Austin.

Stand Up For Traditional Marriage: Vote AGAINST Prop 2!

By Andrew Dobbs

(I noticed that no one had posted on this yet, so I figured I'd go ahead. Sorry if anybody had their heart set on putting this out there, K-T can put something else up if he'd like).

There is no typo in the title of this post. While its proponents rail against gay marriage's threat to traditional families in Texas, the passage of Proposition 2 would actually be the biggest blow to traditional marriage in American history.

As Save Texas Marriage explains, the text of the amendment itself is terrifically flawed. Let's take a look at the wording:

Sec. 32. (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.

(b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.

Read it closely. Section (a) defines marriage as one man and one woman. Hooray for straight people! But Section (b) says that nobody in Texas can recognize any status identical to marriage. Wha? That's right: if this amendment passes, marriage is outlawed in Texas. Other states had the good sense to say that no status involving "unmarried persons" or "any other status" in order to make it clear that marriage still existed. Not here in Texas! The same guys who couldn't fix our schools, couldn't figure out how to take care of sick kids and can't seem to figure out how to obey the law can't even screw over gay people correctly. Thanks Republicans!

So remember, if this Prop passes, we will all be bastards, our loved ones all living in sin and divorce attorneys and insurance companies will have a field day with this one. If you want to defend marriage, you better vote AGAINST Prop 2.

KKK to Support Prop 2 in Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

From the world of "oh brother" comes this wonderful gem. Apparently someone thought it was a good idea to bring a white supremacist group, to Austin, for them to rally in support of Proposition 2. I'd seriously like to know who their scheduler is.

One, don't bring the KKK to Austin of all cities in Texas. That's just stupid. Two, having the KKK support Proposition 2 is one of the few, if not only things you could do, that might make people actually want to vote against it simply because of how negative an opinion they have of this group. Three, having your little shindig in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday during the weekend when there isn't any voting going on makes little electoral sense, reducing that as a motive for the event. Four, having it on the weekend just invites all those off work staffers and various other Austinites to show up and make a ruckus, which is quite obviously the real intent.

The city has given permission of the Ku Klux Klan to hold a rally on Saturday, November 5. The group says they want to have a pro-family values rally in front of City Hall that afternoon to get voters to vote against gay marriage.

The city has reserved the Austin City Hall’s south plaza on Lavaca and Cesar Chavez from 1-3 pm on Saturday, November 5.

In an e-mail to the city for permission, a representative for the American White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan wrote: “Our speech will not be inflammatory, but we all know the reputation of the name of the KKK, so we expect anti-Klan demonstrators to be there who may become violent. We certainly don’t want any of our people hurt nor any city officials. We just want to come and encourage people to vote for Christian Family Values and against legalized homosexual marriage in the state of Texas.”

I only wish I could express the degree to which I'm rolling my eyes and sighing right now.

Join Us Overnight at UT

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Our Campus Alliance Against Inequality is throwing an overnight shindig in front of the UGL (Flawn Academic Center) tonight starting at 8 pm and running until tomorrow morning when the polls open to start casting votes in the Constitutional Amendment election.

We invite you to join us on the West Mall, starting at 8 pm, we will have 3 local bands perform, a break for the media at 10 pm, then a Campus Storm to get flyers and posters up all over campus, and then free food and movies as the night wears on. Bring a sleeping bag, pajamas, a blanket, whatever you like, or go home and join us again for 7 AM early voting, where there are more media expected as well and we will be handing out free balloons to those who voted, which we made especially for this event.

I will be liveblogging the events tonight so tune into BOR for what develops as well as my endorsements on the Constitutional Amendments, since now I have to actually think about the rest of these boring lame ass amendments before I vote at 7 am.

All Major TX Newspapers Against Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

What do El Paso, San Antonio, Galveston, and Lufkin all have in common? Newspapers that came out in opposition to Constitutional Amendment 2 today. The means that every single major statewide newspaper has endorsed a vote AGAINST Prop 2. Lufkin, happens to be represented by Sen. Todd Staples, the Senate author of the amendment.

Also, we have finally seen our first Texas newspaper (and I can't believe I'm actually saying this is the first one being the day before voting starts) which has endorsed a yes vote- The Amarillo Globe News, though the arguments are very short. Here's your clipped roundup...

El Paso Times: Vote NO. It's redundant, already addressed in Texas law.

San Antonio Express News: Marriage does appear to be in trouble in Texas, but it is hard to see how gays have jeopardized the sanctity of the union between a man and a woman.

...

Because it could create unnecessary legal problems in a misguided — and discriminatory — attempt to strengthen marriage, voters should reject the amendment.

Galveston Daily News: The Daily News has opposed this idea for a long time. We’ve got one reason: Government should stay out of the private lives of people.

Before you get caught up in the rhetoric of this debate, ask a simple question. What, exactly, is the compelling reason for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage?

...

Yes, a high percentage of marriages end in divorce.
Yes, deadbeat parents don’t pay child support.
Yes, almost a third of the children born today are born out of wedlock.
Yes, an alarming number of traditional families suffer from abuse and violence.

Those are sad facts about the American family. But how can anyone presume that gays and lesbians are responsible? Don’t all those facts reflect on the behavior of heterosexual people, rather than on homosexual people?

Think about the claim that failing to pass this amendment will undermine marriage. Does anyone really foresee that heterosexual men and women will stop marrying?

...

Government should afford gay people the same rights that other people have. Government should not guarantee rights to some — and then make them off limits to others. Government should not pass laws that restrict personal freedom.

When government must restrict someone’s freedom, there ought to be a compelling reason for doing so. The reasons given in favor of a ban on gay marriage don’t meet a very high standard for clear thought. They’re not even close to compelling.

Lufkin Daily News: The amendment that is drawing the most attention is Proposition 2, co-authored by state Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, who represents our area.

...

But we have long favored allowing gay couples to join in civil unions that provide them the same legal protection that married couples have in terms of health benefits, inheritance, etc., without having to draw up expensive legal documents to obtain those rights. And that's why we oppose this proposition. The second half of the proposition bans governments from recognizing any "legal status" similar to marriage.

That goes too far. The amendment will be used to discriminate against a class of people that make up a significant number of productive Texas citizens – all in the guise of "protecting" marriage.

...

Proponents say the law banning same-sex marriage isn't sufficient, because a judge could overturn it. First off, as another editorialist pointed out, no Texas judge is going to overturn a ban on same-sex marriage, because that likely will be the last term of office he or she serves. Second, a state amendment can still be overturned by a federal judge as being a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The ultimate arbiter is the U.S. Supreme Court, which is where this issue will likely be decided once and for all.

The Jacksonville Daily Progress also had a staff writer editorialize against Prop 2, though I don't believe the paper has taken an endorsement otherwise. The title? Gay marriage, big whoop.

Update:I can thank the Aggies for something, even though we will beat them on the ballfield in a few weeks. The Byran-College Station Eagle endorsed a NO vote on Prop 2 as well, joining the Daily Texan in encouraging defeat of this amendment.

Travis County Bond Election

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

While we are all focused on the Constitutional Amendments, there are three Travis County bonds up for a vote on Nov. 8th that deserve your support.

Here is the flyer that visually lays out where the projects are planned for purchase or construction. http://www.traviscountybonds.org also has some information on why you should vote for all three.

BOR endorses a YES vote on Travis County Bond Propositions 1, 2, and 3.

Dallas Morning News: No on 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

One of the three largest remaining state newspapers has now endorsed yet another NO vote on the Texas Marriage Amendment. The Dallas Morning News, driven in part by concerns over the threatened loss of local benefit registries, has editorialized against the amendment, available here.

DMN: Given that state judges in Texas are elected, and therefore answerable to the people, the chances of a judge doing so are about as good as the Texas Supreme Court outlawing barbecue, so this proposed amendment essentially uses a sledgehammer to kill a mosquito.

...

Dallas and Travis counties provide certain health benefits to the partners and families of gay workers. So do hundreds of jurisdictions elsewhere in Texas and across the country. An amendment outlawing "any legal status ... similar to marriage" seems to subject these benefit plans to legal challenge. For what gain?

Proponents of this amendment argue that it won't affect private contracts between gays, and they cite language that was part of the resolution referring this issue to the ballot as proof that the intent behind the amendment isn't to undermine private contracts. But that language doesn't appear on the ballot...

In fact, the state House expressly rejected an effort to clarify the amendment's effect on private contracts when it voted 96-44 earlier this year against including on the ballot a provision stating that the amendment "may not be construed to prohibit the recognition of any contractual relationship currently available."

We doubt most Texans want to make it more difficult for gays to visit loved ones in the hospital or the like. These and other private contracts are already largely accepted by society – and even considered good for business. Thirty-eight of the Fortune 50 companies offer benefits to same-sex couples. Four of North Texas' largest private employers added domestic partner benefits last year.

Why on earth deny to these men and women, not special privileges, but ordinary human decencies?

We recommend a "no" vote.

The El Paso Time and San Antonio Express News have yet to endorse.

Daily Texan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: No on 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

More in the string of this week's major papers to come out against the Texas Marriage Amendment.

Texan: According to a call to action on its Web site, the Free Market Foundation - which claims to be guided by principles that call for both "limited government" and government enforcement of "Judeo-Christian values" - believes amending the Texas constitution is necessary. The site claims that, "The only way to take this issue out of the hands of the judges and into the hands of the people is a constitutional amendment."

Except, in Texas, we elect our judges.

So even if a case challenging Texas' current anti-gay marriage law is brought to court, it will be heard by a judge who has just as much democratic legitimacy as, say, a bunch of legislators who want a moral victory after failing miserably to fix the state's school finance system.

Star-Telegram: Skeptics might be justified in calling this the "Gov. Rick Perry Re-Election Amendment," given the highly publicized bill-signing ceremony that Perry's people put together on June 5 at a Fort Worth church school so the governor could demonstrate his commitment to the sanctity of heterosexual marriage. Constitutional amendments do not require the governor's signature.

Proponents of this initiative attempt to justify their support by wrapping it in terms that evoke motherhood and Old Glory. However, all the lullabies and red-white-and-blue bunting in the world won't mask what Proposition 2 would achieve if voters are deluded enough to approve it: state-sanctioned discrimination.

Unless anyone has seen otherwise, I think that makes every single major and even minor newspaper in the state coming out against Proposition 2, of those that hace issued a stance so far.

Corpus Christi Caller Against Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Joining the chorus with a well written opinion...

The Caller: Proposition 2 on the Nov. 8 ballot is an exercise in legislative redundancy and should be defeated by the voters.

...

The assertion that passage of the proposition would somehow protect the institution of marriage is linguistic fraud. Those who have concerns about marriage might want to support laws and economic conditions that create more affordable housing. Better schools help families. So, too, does a more robust economy that gives families livable wages so that parents can spend more time with their children. That would do more for marriage than a law that targets scapegoats as the supposed cause of social breakdown.

Many Americans who oppose gay marriage are willing to consider the possibility of allowing civil unions. But Proposition 2 would remove any possibility of such arrangements. A gay person might not even have the ability to give a partner the right to make medical decisions on his or her behalf.

The statute now on the books recognizes the religious tenets of the majority of Texans regarding homosexual unions. To enshrine that prohibition in the Texas Constitution would be demeaning to all Texans, both gay and straight.

Austin Mayor Opposes Prop 2 (update)

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Austin's Mayor Will Wynn publicly opposed Constitutional Amendment 2 today at a Press Conference in town. I havn't seen it hit any wires online yet, but here is the text release of this statement. He was surrounded by a plethora of local elected officials who didn't speak but stood with him in opposition.

A listing more or less of those officials are as follows. In italics are those that did not join the coalition of officials calling for a "no" vote on Amendment #2.

Mayor Will Wynn
Mayor Pro Tem Danny Thomas
Council Member Raul Alvarez
Council Member Betty Dunkerley
Council Member Jennifer Kim
Council Member Lee Leffingwell
Council Member Brewster McCracken

County Commissioners
1- Ron Davis
2- Karen Sonleitner
3- Gerald Daugherty
4- Margaret Gómez

Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos
Rep. Dawnna Dukes
Rep. Elliot Naishtat
Rep. Mark Strama
Rep. Eddie Rodriuez

Travis County Constables
4- Maria Canchola
5- Bruce Elfant

District Clerk Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza
Tax Assessor-Collector Nelda Wells Spears
Treasurer Dolores Ortega-Carter
County Attorney David Escamilla
Sheriff Greg Hamilton

There are two primary reasons that I’m standing here today to voice my opposition to Proposition 2, which will appear on the November 8th ballot. This proposed amendment would place in our state constitution the definition of marriage as being solely the union of a man and a woman.

First, I’m a proud American who believes that the First Amendment of the American Constitution prevents us from making any laws that codify religious values. I understand full well that a lot of well-intentioned folks oppose gay marriage on the basis of their religious beliefs. And, I respect the First Amendment rights of these citizens to speak their minds about their opinions. I don’t, however, want their - or my - feelings and thoughts about religion put into law. It’s not an accident, in my opinion, that the same amendment to the American Constitution that guarantees free speech also forbids laws regarding the establishment of religion. We can talk about and practice our religious faith with wide latitude here in America, but we will not make laws about it. The founders of this great country knew all too well that the mixture of religion and law produces a fatally divided society, and they were not about to let the mistakes of past empires and nations be repeated in the new republic that they were building.

Further, the wisdom of our country’s founders regarding the separation of church and state reflects not only their observations of history, but also the Christian heritage that they shared: it was, after all, Jesus who said, "Pay Caesar what is due to Caesar, and pay God what is due to God."

Second, I’m very proud to be a sixth generation Texan with roots in the Austin area going back to 1843. And, to me, one of the great cultural characteristics of Texas is that, here, we mind our own business. In Texas, there’s more than enough room for a lot of different people with a lot of different opinions. We may not like something that someone else is doing, but unless it’s really hurting somebody, we just go our own way and let it be. I like this aspect of Texas culture a lot—a whole lot, in fact. I think it comes with being such a big and wide-open state, and I think that it, more than almost any other mindset, defines what it is to be Texan. So, let’s
just not get into the habit of taking our opinions and trying to turn them into the laws of the land, particularly constitutional amendments: every time we let this happen, we lose a big part of what it is to be of and from the Great State of Texas.

Thank you all.

Will Wynn

Waco-Tribune Against Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The Waco-Tribune adds its voice to the Houston Chronicle, Austin-American Statesman, and Victoria Advocate in opposing Proposition 2.

When Texas lawmakers approved Proposition 2 to be included on the Nov. 8 constitutional amendments ballot, they must have been looking for an issue that would grab voter interest.

Of the nine proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, Proposition 2 is sure to generate the most passion since it touches on homosexuality, marriage, civil rights, religion and politics.

...

Gay marriages are already banned in Texas. Proposition 2 is unnecessary. The Tribune-Herald editorial board recommends voting against Proposition 2.

It seems that the rest of the major dailies will come out with their positions this upcoming Sunday or Monday when early voting begins. It's good to see a broad cross section of papers reject this so far. I have to reprint this quote from another article in today's Waco paper.

More couples in the South get married at younger ages. The average household income in the South is lower. Educational attainment is lower in the South. And Southern states have fewer Roman Catholics, which one conservative research group, the George Barna Research Group, says makes a discernible difference on the divorce rate. (Baptists have among the nation's highest divorce rates, the research group found.)

...

In fact, the state with the lowest divorce rate in the nation is Massachusetts, where gay marriage is now legal, and which has half the Texas divorce rate at 2.4 per 1,000.

So if we want to protect marriage, should be importing Roman Catholics and Homosexuals? I'm both so I'm doing my part saving gay marriage just by staying here I suppose...

Anti-Prop 2 Ads: Good or Bad idea?

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I noticed today, that the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has gone up with a $200,000 TV ad buy in Houston, urging voters to cast ballots against Constitutional Amendment 2. I have mixed feelings to say the least. To view them go here.

One of the good things about Houston cable is that you can do much better targeting than say in Austin or San Antonio, because they have their network set up where you can get your ad only in front of the audiences you want it. Don't want to broadcast to blacks? Or just to certain age demographics? Odds are that you can do it with Houston cable. For that I am thankful because for this election, untargeted Broadcast Ads are NOT the way to win. There are very few areas where raising awareness of an actual election going on to the populace at large gets us a boost in turnout that actually help us.

Remember, in Texas, if we had Presidential level turnout, we'd be as much up shit creek with this Amendment as even Oregon was with their $2.4 million in aid from the NGLTF. It's not that we want low turnout either, we need the correct turnout. By making this big splash in the press about us running ads in Houston, not only are Houstonians aware of what's going on from the ads, but so is the rest of the state and those on the right that are paying attention to what we are up to. It's hard to ignore a fifth of a million dollars suddenly playing with Prop 2 turnout.

Why couldn't we have had $200,000 in aid for phone calls? Or direct mail? Or organizing on the ground? Or more focused radio or print advertising? On top of that, I viewed all six of those ads (and why spread out the message with seven different ads...) and I'm left with a feeling somewhere between "huh" and "meh". Gay couples talking about marriage and equality? It makes you think that we were actually voting on Gay Marriage in November, which will be illegal no matter how the vote turns out.

Plus the text overlay simply says "Vote No on 2". 2 what? 2 people? 2 homosexuals? What if there happened to county level bond proposals on the ballot like here in Travis County where "2" is actually a damn good bond issue for public lands and green space. This assumes that people know what 2 means, which if they are doing TV ads, usually means people don't.

Star Telegram: Dave Fleischer of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said the ads were unusual in featuring gay couples. Ads in other states with similar campaigns avoided direct use of the words "gay" or "marriage."

"We're going in a different direction here," Fleischer said. "If we're honest with voters, that's how we'll earn their votes."

The messaging also seems off, like the first ad which asks for respect for her family and not to ridicule her child. Most of the other ads leave me with the impression that the NGLTF is using this election, not to defeat Amendment #2, but rather as an excuse to try to change people's minds, something that they have been attacked for doing in elections last fall, which they deemed hopeless with the exception of Oregon.

I'll be thankful for the ads if their insider info on targeting has all been approved by Glen Maxey, who'd I'd trust to know his shit.

I'd appreciate winning. I can only hope this helps.

Austin & Victoria Papers Against Prop 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Today the principal papers of Austin and Victoria came out against Constitutional Amendment 2, joining the Houston Chronicle in endorsing a No vote.

The Statesman was very eloquant in it's editorial, one of the best I've read...

Over the past five years in Texas, about 635,000 divorce cases have been filed in state and county courts to end a marriage between a man and woman. But Texans are being told that on Nov. 8, in a statewide election, they can defend the institution of marriage — not by banning divorce, or making it more difficult to marry in the first place, but by voting for a constitutional amendment to ban marriage between people of the same sex.

A ban on gay marriage would do nothing — nothing at all — to protect or enhance traditional marriage. We urge Texans to vote against Proposition 2, the proposed amendment, because it's true purpose is to discriminate against gay Texans.

...

In short, there's no pressing legal reason to pass Proposition 2. In fact, its passage would be a step backward for Texas.

Texas and the nation have made enormous progress in the past half-century in knocking down laws and social practices that excluded people from all the benefits of citizenship in a free society because they were the wrong color, the wrong sex, had physical disabilities or were gay.

But Proposition 2 would anchor in the constitution a prejudice that same-sex couples — citizens who work, pay taxes and obey the law like everyone else — are not entitled to official recognition of their intimate, committed relationships to each other. And it would make it as difficult as possible to ever obtain such recognition from the Legislature, even if a majority came to support it.

It remains a terrific irony that, even as gay Texas citizens who want to marry cannot, "straight" Texans who can marry file some 120,000 divorce actions a year. And yet voters are told that the way to "protect" marriage is to pass a constitutional amendment attacking gay Texans.

It's not needed to defend marriage, and voters should reject Proposition 2.

The Victoria Advocate...

If the 79th Texas Legislature had shown that it genuinely cares about Texas families by reforming how the state funds its highest priority, public education, we might be inclined to take more seriously lawmakers' claims that their concern for the future of Texas families is why they sent Proposition 2 to voters, even though such a constitutional amendment is not needed and could do harm.

...

Because 79th Legislature wasted time on this proposal that it should have spent on important matters, because the proposed constitutional amendment is unnecessary and because it could do real harm to some of our fellow Texans, including families, the Victoria Advocate recommends voting AGAINST Proposition 2.

Help us Register UT

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

When: Oct. 9, Sunday, 7 pm
Meet at: South Steps of the UT Tower (by the flags)
What: As part of the Campus Alliance Against Inequality's last push to register students at UT we’re doing something that has NEVER been done before:

1. We’ll be putting up fliers all over campus AND
2. We’ll be distributing over 6,000 voter registration cards in every dorm on campus!

But to do that we need your help! We need 50 good people to help us in this last-ditch effort to get as many UT students registered as possible! So if you can help, please RSVP to Marti ASAP!

Pro-Prop 2 E-Mails Going Around

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The following is the text of an e-mail that landed in the Houston inbox of the uncle of a college of mine in Student Government here at UT. It seems that this is electronic variation of the now infamous "The Homosexual Groups want to pass The Same Sex Marriage in Texas" flyer.

Subject: Fw: Special Election November 8, 2005---PLEASE READ

PLEASE COPY AND SEND TO YOUR ENTIRE EMAIL LIST IN TEXAS. Thank you

Don't forget that in Texas we have the November 8 special electron.

Special Election November 8, 2005

The Marriage Amendment stating that marriage in Texas is between a man and a woman passed both Houses of the Texas Legislature and will be on the ballot for a special election on November 8. The amendment, which will be listed as PROPOSITION 2 on the November 8 ballot, must be approved by a majority of Texans for this to become a part of the Texas Constitution, which would remove the issue from the jurisdiction of activist judges on the courts who have struck down Defense of Marriage Acts that other states have passed as simple bills and not as constitutional amendments.

If this were on the ballot during a regular election, there is no doubt that this would pass by a large majority. This is a special election, where the statewide vote is expected to be only 750,000 total. The passion, money and organization on the side of those who oppose Proposition 2 because they want same-sex marriage to be legal in Texas could cause this very important amendment to go down in defeat. Because Texas is the only state where this issue is on the ballot this year, same-sex marriage proponents across the nation are sending their money and volunteers to Texas to defeat Proposition 2. In one of their organizational meetings in San Antonio, the plan was disclosed to have people from other states come to Texas to register to vote 30 days before the election to defraud this election. There is no residency requirement to register to vote in Texas --you can register the day you move here.

The other side has money, a website, yard signs, bumper stickers, and paid staff in every major city and has done a major buy for advertising on TV and radio. We don't have their money or supplies, but we DO have the truth and what God says about marriage.

The church must weigh in on this election to insure that God’s standard for marriage is the law of the land.

To begin with, I've always wondered if the right wing would take a hint at the fact that if courts, in red or blue states, find DOMA laws to be unconstitutional that maybe it's a sign that, well, restricting marriage to straight people and disallowing it to millions of gay people violates the US Constitution on equal protection grounds. So where does amending the constitution end? Should every piece of legislation that gets overturned by Supreme Courts be 'fixed' by Constitutional Amendments? That's not the correct use of our founding documents.

Now there are as usual, some major errors in this piece of crap e-mail. I would wager that the statewide vote will be more than 750,000, considering twice that came out and voted on limiting lawsuits in 2003 on Prop 12. I'd expect at least a million at the polls quite honestly.

But the real kicker is that bussing in people form other states trick showing up here again. Why do they think this is happening? It's totally impractical from a GOTV standpoint as it is. Can you imagine first how hard it would be to rustle up enough homosexuals in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma to fill the number of busloads it would take to tip the vote in Texas? Then can you imagine how much money that would cost that even the semi-funded No Nonsense campaign can't afford?

As to residency requirements, Texas has a 30 day requirement, the maximum allowable by law. Look at this chart to see that Texas remains one of 14 states that impose the maximum duration, similar to our neighboring states.

Until 1970, Texas required one year residence in the state. States justified lengthy residency requirements with arguments of fraud prevention and a promise of more knowledgeable voters, but often used them simply to disenfranchise. However, the 1970 Voting Rights Act set thirty days as the maximum permissible residency requirement in presidential elections and a 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision (Dunn v. Blumstein, 405 U.S. 330) applied the thirty day maximum to state and local elections.

I'd like to think that our side will win because we have "money, a website, yard signs, and bumper stickers" (I don't think the right wingers want stuff stuck to their car or yard anyways) but I'm glad to hear their side thinks they lack money and supplies but will win the election because "the truth and what God says about marriage" is on their side.

So even if your faith allows for a Holy Trinity with distinct separation, God only gets to cast 3 votes of a million.

Patio Party

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Here on the UT Austin campus, we realized that as much as we wanted to have a House Party most of us lived in dorm, apartments, or cooperatives. So we scrapped the house and got ourselves a Patio and had a Party on the Patio on campus by the Texas Union. I have a couple pictures here and here.

Tonight, 50 students took the time to spend three hours listening to two outstanding live music acts by Abi Tapia and Bonnie Whitmore, a conference call, and the Steering Committee of the Campus Alliance Against Inequality talk about our efforts on campus. They signed up for activities and some are joining us for a West Campus blockwalk this weekend.

But two things inspired me tonight.

After Glen's call, I placed a box I had labeled with the word Victory on the nearest table. I called upon those gathered that we could not be satisfied on campus with an empty victory and pledged to personally match up to $200 in donations with my early Birthday money. And after that Victory box had visited every member of the crowd over the next 10 minutes, $200 in donations came in from those 50 students making for $400 in total funds.. Let me repeat that- students on a Friday night donated $400 to fight against inequality to defeat Constitutional Amendment #2.

If that wasn't enough, we also had two brave souls step up to the task of organizing outreach into West Campus Co-ops, filled with sympathetic and activist students who are for the most part with us but may not know about this election yet. That means up to 1000 more students could soon be informed by their fellow co-opers that the Nonsense stops November 8th.

11 Days to Register, 39 Days until Victory

Austin Capitol Vigil

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

I attended the No Nonsense in November vigil tonight at the capitol where hundreds of Austinites encircled the capitol in a silent march before heading over to a volunteer appreciation party at Mother Egan's. An interesting story, I was trying to get up inside the Capitol to someone's office that faced out over the crowd to take some shots from above and the only place open was the Governor's Press Office. So I went in and asked of course.

Two very nice young women smiled at me and seemed somewhat helpful. One went off to get her superior, a bland looking white guy who came out and said they couldn't really open up the window for me to take pictures. Of course, I didn't need the window opened up, I could shoot through clear glass any day of the week, but he proceeded to say that he'd have to decline my request. Not that I was surprised, but it was worth the exchange. Especially since the House Floor was open and I just went over to that chamber and shot pictures out of their windows. So you can see that picture here. And I got a ground shot here and one shot that somewhat gets across the line we made around the Dome.

But my favorite shot of all is in the extended entry.

Left/Right Oppose Amendment #2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The Log Cabin Republicans of Texas will work to defeat Prop 2.

"Individual liberty and freedom from governmental interference are the basic beliefs that founded the GOP. We are proud to continue this tradition by standing up against the politics of hate and fear that only lead to unwarranted government intrusion and loss of freedom."

The AFL-CIO will work to defeat Prop 2.

Sheppard said that the broad language of the proposal, which would also deny the creation or recognition of civil unions, puts workers in jeopardy of losing their health care benefits. Both Travis Co. and the city of Dallas, as well as dozens of private companies in Texas, extend employee benefits to domestic partners.

"Passage of Proposition 2 would, at the very least, place political pressure, and maybe legal pressure, on private companies ... to withdraw those benefits," Sheppard said. "In an age when companies are looking for an excuse to cut health care costs, Proposition 2 provides too tempting a target of opportunity." More than two-thirds of the federation's executive board voted to reject the proposition.

The Flyer

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

A big thank you to Abram at Casual Soapbox for getting a scan of the flyers that have been finding their ways onto parking lots full of cars around Austin. This one appeared at Central Market South, which followed the two cases I wrote about earlier at Barton Creek Mall and a Chuckie Cheese.

Vote No on Prop 2.

UPDATE: An interesting photoshop of the flyer.

Houston Chron Goes No on Amendment 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Color me suprised. The Houston Chronicle in an op-ed piece today endorses a NO vote on Proposition 2 (the discriminatory texas marriange amendment).

This November, Texans will vote on Proposition 2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would silence further reflection on these important issues. The referendum language defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Texas law already outlaws same-sex marriage. Should voters approve this amendment, it would change nothing in the law. It lacks any purpose other than to enshrine bigotry in the Texas Constitution.

But the amendment also bans the state, or any political subdivision, from creating or recognizing any legal status "identical or similar to marriage." Impeding protections for relationships that are even "identical or similar to marriage" is a crude assault on an existing truth. Throughout the state, same-sex couples are thriving, raising children, volunteering in the community and supporting each other financially. Withholding protections for these family units cruelly jeopardizes their ability to take care of themselves and their children.

Houstonians, now famous for their compassion and practicality, will have special clout on this referendum: The city is the only major population center holding municipal elections this November. Already voters under 30 have told pollsters that they don't agree with changing Texas' Constitution in order to discriminate.

Prodded by conscience, these voters could turn the tide. In the same spirit, all Texans who support true family values should vote "No" on Proposition 2 on the November ballot.

Now, I know that Houston has some city council races going on and I'll leave that to Greg and Charles to say how that will affect the Yes or No votes, but I can say that it will be one of the highest turnout urban counties simply because Municipal elections draw out more voters than drawn by constitutional ones. Austin has some environmental bonds on the ballot on November 8th which should help our turnout as well. Anyone else have some various proposals up for a vote that will alter turnout?

Just an Image

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

This is an open thread.

No Nonsense Newsletter #5

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Here is the latest NNiN newsletter from Glen Maxey. I cut out some of the supporter commentary because you can always go read that at their blog. More staff has been hired in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley and I got word that here on campus today it looks like the UT LULAC chapter may soon be joining the Campus Alliance (which has a meeting tonight at 7 pm, Texas Union 2.102-Eastwoods Room).

In this week's newsletter … find out about …

ORDINARY PEOPLE
“I’m up here in Pampa, Texas, (home of Warren Chisum, HJR 6 sponsor) and I am going to vote against this amendment. I went to your web site and when I saw your name, I said “That’s just what we need – No Nonsense!”

NO NONSENSE BLOG UP AND BLOGGING
To read more comments from our supporters, check out our new Blog on the homepage. www.NoNonsenseInNovember.com. I have posted many more comments, and will continue to do so as they come in.

FINDING SUPPORT THROUGHOUT TEXAS
We have been working around the state to ensure that all fair-minded Texans vote Against Constitutional Amendment #2. We now have groups organizing in Abilene, Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, Bryan, Brownsville, Burnet, Cedar Hill, College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denton, Dripping Springs, Edinburg, El Paso, Fort Worth, Frisco, Georgetown, Harlingen, Houston, Irving, Longview, Lubbock, Marshall, McAllen, Pflugerville, Plano, Richardson, Round Rock, San Antonio, San Marcos, Spring, Tyler, Waco, and Wichita Falls. Phew!

If you do not see your city or town listed. That is a problem. Help us fix it. We need you and your friends to coordinate our supporters in your area. If you do see your city or town on the list, and you aren’t involved yet, check our contact page to find the best person to contact - they can find ways for you to make a difference.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Just this past weekend our Field Coordinators, Liz Brenner and Matt Glazer, drove 36 hours across the state to speak to organizers and volunteers in El Paso, Lubbock and Amarillo about defeating the Nonsense in November. Between the three cities, more than 200 people showed up ready to make a difference.

In the Panhandle and West Texas, people united to make a difference by committing to phone bank, “dorm storm” and talk to their friends and families about defeating Constitutional Amendment #2.

The incredible turnout in just one weekend shows the ever growing support we are seeing across the state. In West Texas, East Texas, Rural Texas and the Big Cities, people are rallying to defeat Constitutional Amendment #2.

We need your help no matter where you live! In fact, a gas station in Fort Stockton is now our sole outpost there - proudly displaying a bumper sticker and pledging to fight AGAINST the Nonsense.

HOUSE PARTIES
Our first statewide House Parties are Friday night, September 2. If you haven’t already planned a House Party, but you still want to get in on the conference call, you are still welcome to join us. I’ll be talking to everyone gathered across the state to discuss campaign happenings and ways to get involved. I will even let you in on a little poll results and campaign messaging.

We just know that you will have so much fun on this call, that you will be ready to start planning your House Parties for September 30th and October 28th. For the next two house parties, we will have nationally recognized callers – you won’t want to miss it!

So, if you haven’t planned a House Party yet, invite over a couple friends Friday night, and make the call and just jump in.

At 7:30 p.m. you can call 1.800.977.8002 and enter access code: 543989#.

By the Way - these calls do cost us money, we’re guessing $3 or $4 a call, so if you can combine your calls and use speaker phone, or want to add $5 to your next donation that would be fantastic!

Follow the directions below during the call to adjust volume, etc.
Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1.800.977.8002
Conference Name: House Party
Participant Number: 543989#
1. At 7:30 p.m., dial 1.800.977.8002
2. When prompted, enter your Participant Code followed by #.
3. Your Participant Code is 543989#.

Participant Star Commands
*4-Volume - Pressing *4 will increase/decrease the volume.

HELP ORGANIZE YOUR COLLEGE CAMPUS
If you’re interested in getting involved on college campuses, contact Emma at Emma@NoNonsenseInNovember.com or 301-651-4329 or Derek at Derek@NoNonsenseInNovember.com, 484-678-7468.

MORE STAFF HIRED IN SAN ANTONIO AND RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Melanie Cervantes comes to us with a depth of campaign, outreach and policy experience. Recently she has consulted on a Mayoral campaign and the Kerry for President Campaign, but has worked for members of the Texas Legislature, US Congress as well as many campaigns in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. Melanie has been active in the community for many years. She is a member of HRC, Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio and many other organizations that would make any mom proud. Melanie can be reached by email at Melanie@NoNonsenseInNovember.com or (210) 884-2009.

LOOK WHO’S JOINED THE COALITION THIS WEEK
Activists for Sexual Minorities (Texas State U), Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Democratic Party of Collin County, Denton County Democratic Party, El Paso GLBT Community Center, JUMP-START Performance Co., Texas Freedom Network and, The Equality Campaign, Inc. Check out our web site for a complete list of Coalition Members!

Glen Maxey
Campaign Director

No Nonsense Blog

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The No Nonsense in November campaign has added a blog to their site. Check it out as it will be be updated by Glen Maxey and Co.

And remember, it's more important to Double Extra Ban Gay Marriage in Texas than get textbooks to school on time. And it's really more important than making sure that 9 Texas Public State Parks don't shut down because someone was too busy pissing away money on special sessions while ignoring requests from Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Robert L. Cook that more money was needed to simply keep things open.

Campus Alliance Second Meeting

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

The Campus Alliance Against Inequality is having another BIG Meeting to organize STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF to help fight the anti-gay Texas Marriage Amendment that will be on our ballot this November 8th.

When: Thursday, September 1st, 7-9pm
Where: Texas Union, Eastwoods Room, 2.102
(directly behind the info desk in the Texas Union)

The CAAI is the UT Campus Arm of the No Nonsense in November campaign.

Fundraiser Tonight, Get Involved

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

More news on the ever changing No Nonsense in November campaign. My inbox was full of back and forth information about things going on Campus. Things will be rocking there when we have our next full meeting for everyone back at school on September 1.

FUNDRAISER THURSDAY!

Please join us for our first fundraiser to benefit the No Nonsense In November Campaign. Release your frustration of the legislature’s failures by donating now to the No Nonsense in November campaign. Come to our Fundraiser at Mother Egan’s on West 6th Street, this Thursday, August 25 at 5:30 p.m.

No time this month for an organized effort? Drop by our fundraiser this Thursday; grab some pledge cards and information to keep in your purse or pocket. This way you can get voters to pledge while waiting in line at the grocery store or slip them to family members. Make your own phonebanking list of family and friends who live in Texas and support our cause. Call and get their pledge this August. By Sunday we want 500 new pledges and volunteers committed to No Nonsense in November in the Capitol area.

BLOCKWALKING SATURDAY!

Get your walking shoes on as we walk key Austin neighborhoods. We will knock on friend’s doors in order to shore up support and gather pledges to vote Against in November. Send an e-mail to Austin@nononsenseinnovember.com to sign up. We will get out the door at 10 a.m.; wrap up by 2 p.m.; come by at 9:30 a.m. for juice/coffee and an overview. You will be partnered up with someone else who has done work of this kind before so don’t feel like you need to have experience. Don’t worry, we are talking to friends and we are walking before the sun wilts us.

COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OUTREACH – Special efforts are being made to reach a diverse voter base. County co-coordinator Celia Israel needs to gather as many of our friends who are active or would like to be more active in the Hispanic or African American communities to help reach them with targeted and personal messages. Please send information or questions you may have to Celia.

Austin Headquarters: 1210 Rosewood
Austin Phone: 236-0843

Fighting Prop 2 in Houston and Austin

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

From a comment left on a post of Kuff's about a previous BOR post.

The Houston Equal Rights Alliance (currently the Houston arm of the No Nonsense in November grassroots campaign) is having a blockwalk this Saturday morning to recruit volunteers and talk to people about why they should vote against Constitutional Amendment 2.

We're meeting at 10 am this Saturday, August 27th, at the GLBT Community Center at 3400 Montrose in Suite 207. We're in the building across from Kroger and in the same building as the SkyBar.

If you support equality for everybody in Texas, call 713-522-4372 to sign up for the block walk this Saturday, or e-mail me at goodland@rice.edu.

PinkDome also has some humorous analysis of other analysis on Prop 2.

A report from here in Austin...

Thanks to everybody who attended the joint meeting last Sat. w/ the Austin Association of Social Justice and the No Nonsense in November campaign. We had 100 people sign in, we jived as a group and we continued to gain ground and momentum to fight this crazy measure. How do we know?

We signed up 43 NEW volunteers in these areas: blockwalkers, phone bankers, houseparties, faith outreach, vigils, AASJ website, and campus organizing.

We gathered tons of new pledges, distributed even more blank pledge cards and instructed everyone on the use of these simple but powerful weapons of goodwill.

We deputized 49 new registrars so that’s a bunch of us now able to target and register new friends to vote! Thank you Bruce Elfant for your grace and generosity.

And, drumroll, please, with a simple ask at the meeting we raised $4,888 for the NNN campaign! With Mother Eagan sponsorships, that’s almost $10,000 raised in Austin before we’ve even had a fundraiser!

No Nonsense Newsletter #3

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

From Glen Maxey, more good news

Over the past week, we’ve been responding to your volunteer offers and plugging you into projects and areas where your talents can best help our effort. We have accomplished a lot – thanks to your willingness to be a part of “No Nonsense in November,” the grassroots effort that will defeat the Constitutional Amendment that prohibits civil marriage and civil unions between same-sex couples inTexas.

Here’s what YOU helped accomplish!

FIELD OPERATIONS EXPANDING

No Nonsense in November has coordinators in the state’s 25 largest counties – following up on your offers to “act locally.”

We now have county organizations based out of the following cities – Abilene , Amarillo , Corpus Christi, Denton, El Paso, Longview, Lubbock, Marshall, Waco, South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, Tyler, Waco and Wichita Falls.

Building the No Nonsense in November statewide database to fuel our VOTER ID and GOTV efforts is the biggest priority. Waco has set a launch-goal of 350 new names this week and plans to e-mail their friends across the country to donate. What will you do?

FUNDRAISING
HRC Members Leading the Way to Raise Funds for Our Infrastructure

A little friendly competition is taking place in the fundraising effort spearheaded by Texas members of the Human Rights Campaign to raise $120,000 statewide for the campaign’s infrastructure. San Antonio has thrown down the gauntlet, saying they’ll reach their goal first. You can mail a check NOW!! Just include a note with your donation asking it be credited to one of these local city’s tote-board totals --- San Antonio , Austin , Houston or Dallas/Fort Worth. Watch our web site for dates when each city will celebrate reaching their goal, so you can join in!!

House Party Dates and How-To Information Ready for Launch

Dates have been set for the No Nonsense in November House Parties – the event that puts the fun in Fundraising. We’ll jump start the effort on September 2 with our first statewide House Party night. I’ll “attend” all parties by phone and look forward to talking to party throwers and attendees on a conference call.

September 30 has been set as the date for the next coordinated House Party, where we will have a celebrity guest on the conference call. Our goal is 250 parties that night. We’ll wrap up the House Party circuit October 28 when we hope to have 500-plus House Parties swingin’ across the state.

Remember, you don’t have to wait for a scheduled House Party night. You can throw a House Party whenever and as frequently as you like! If you signed on to help raise money, a House Party may be just the way to do it. The September 2 party is a good opportunity for people new to the House Party idea to attend one, see what it’s all about and then plan to host your own! Watch our web site for a tool kit on “How to Host A House Party” and find House Party locations near you!

“NO NONSENSE IN NOVEMBER” STUFF COMING!

Our regional offices will have t-shirts, bumper stickers and buttons that you can distribute at your House Party. Contact the office nearest you to get the materials. If you’re not close enough to one of these offices, e-mail Elizabeth at Elizabeth@nononsenseinnovemebr.com.

SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL STAFF HIRED

We are excited to announce that two new Regional Coordinators have joined us to work in the greater San Antonio area.

David C. Fisher has been active in the community for many years. He has served on HRC's Board of Governors and as a Board member of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. In San Antonio, he served as Co-chair of the GLBT for Kerry Committee and is currently serving on the board of Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio and on HRC San Antonio Steering Committee. David most recently worked on the winning Elena Guajardo city council campaign as Field Manager.

Roberto Flores is a Corpus Christi native who has lived in San Antonio for the past twelve years. He has his Masters in Psychology and more than 30 years experience organizing in Texas, including in Houston where he lived for 15 years and served as a precinct judge and voter registrar. He is a member of Stonewall Democrats and the Texas Association of Chicanos, and he is Assistant Coordinator of Soulforce, San Antonio . Two things Roberto points to with pride are that he is 70 years old and he has been in a relationship with fellow organizer Dan Graney for 31 years.

We’ve certainly accomplished more in a week than the Legislature has all session. As they get ready to “Sine Die” on Friday without resolving the state’s school finance woes, you’ll notice that editorials and Letters to the Editor are singing our song – “The Legislature has failed Texans by leaving the real problems unsolved.” We need to position the Marriage Constitutional Amendment as an example of the Nonsense they did achieve … and that message is getting out there.

Look who’s joined the coalition this week … Union for Reformed Judaism, Latinos for Texas, Far North Dallas Group of Drinking Liberally, Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church … to name just a few! Check the web site for a current list!!

Keep it growing …

Glen Maxey
Campaign Director
No Nonsense in November

To contact our regional offices, see our web site www.NoNonsenseInNovember.com

HJR 6 = Hate Amendment = Proposition 2

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

Nonsensical legislating now has a name: Proposition 2.

The ballot order was selected by pulling slips of paper from a cookie jar. The enacting legislation, HJR 6, was of course pulled out of Warren Chisum’s ass.

Two years ago, just 12 percent of registered voters cast ballots in an election that gave constitutional authority to the Legislature to limit certain awards in civil lawsuits. About 7 percent voted in the 2001 constitutional amendment election.

…

"It's a matter of the simple issue of educating voters that no matter where they stand on these issues, the constitution is not the place to be having a social debate," said Glen Maxey, director of No Nonsense in November.

This is the battle folks, one which we can win thanks only to the unique circumstances presented to us in an election with nothing else grabbing people’s attention. Because it’s certainly not going to be any of the other mind-numbing amendments.

Among the eight other propositions on this fall's ballot is one that would allow the Legislature to define interest rates for commercial loans and another that would authorize the denial of bail for a suspect who violates a condition of his or her release pending trial.