November 6, 2008
Backers focused Prop. 8 battle beyond marriage
by Dan Morain and Jessica Garrison
Los Angeles Times
The measure on the ballot was only 14 words long -- a simple statement that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
But supporters of Proposition 8, in what political analysts said was an extremely effective strategy, made the race about much more than that.
They were able to focus the debate on their assertion that without the ban, public school children would be indoctrinated into accepting gay marriage against their parents' wishes, churches would be sanctioned for not performing same-sex weddings and the institution of marriage would be irreparably harmed.
Supporters of gay marriage, along with political leaders including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco) and the state's superintendent of public instruction, denounced those messages as scare tactics, but they were not able to sway voters. Preliminary returns showed Proposition 8 passing 52% to 48%.
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