It looks as if Amendment 1 will pass, and that sickens me. It upsets Mike at Chez Bez, too, and he makes an interesting observation:
I see amendments like these and think that it’s just a ploy by one party to get people to the polls (“Don’t have an opinion about taxes? How about gays?”). But then, in a tight race where Corker is currently winning with 53% and the amendment winning by over 80%, that tells me that a lot of Ford voters are voting YES, too. (Or does that mean that a lot of YES voters aren’t casting a vote for the senate at all?)
Considering that a vote for Ford is almost not even a vote for a Democrat, I can see where there’s little conflict with voting for Ford and voting Yes for Amendment 1. And I suppose it’s not a given that Democrats are going to be supportive of gay rights anyway (don’t ask, don’t tell!) and some conservatives have been making some good arguments against 1, like this amusing but logical-in-its-conservatism argument:
Constitutional Amendment #1: No. I make it a point not to care what other people do with their lives, as long as it doesn’t affect me. The gays getting married, though I believe inadvisable, isn’t my business. If your answer in this debate is to amend the state constitution to prevent the possibility of such a union, you should think about what that means. Rather than limiting the power of government over our lives, you are expanding it. What could be more Communist than that?
and this conservative’s argument about a better way to “protect” marriage:
Defense against threats–real or preceived–has won many elections for the Republicans, and so I guess they’re sticking to the “defense” guns on the marriage amendment as well. Even though it’s among the weaker arguments the Vote Yes camp can offer.
And even with all that sound reasoning, it looks like Amendment 1 will pass. Oh, Tennessee, I’m disappointed in us.
it’s pretty gross.
I’m disappointed in us as well, and I’m kicking myself for not registering to vote in Nashville before the deadline. :/
I’m embarrassed by this state sometimes. Celine and I are both disappointed by this, not just because it passed (I never really thought we’d win this one, as much as I was hoping for that), but the margin by which it passed. Is this state really 80% for this amendment? That’s just so upsetting.
If you want to protect the sanctity of marriage, whatever the hell that means, perhaps they could start by banning no-contest divorce? That’s a bigger threat to the “sanctity of marriage” than two men having the buttsex.
I’m disappointed in us too, and so angry. I just can’t believe that so many Tennesseans (and other states as well!!) are so homophobic. WTF?!
I am so, so embarrassed by our state. I was pretty sure it would pass, but I was hoping for a closer vote. 81% of voters….ugh. I am just sickened. It’s not enough to know that gay marriage will (probably) never be legal in TN, so hey! why don’t we add our bigotry and discrimination to the defining document of our state! Yeah, that’ll show eveybody.
I think I need a mental health day.
Colorado not only passed a “Ban Gay Marriage” amendment that defines “marriage” as between one man and one woman, but they defeated an amendment that would give benefits to Domestic Partnerships. So fucking lame.
But at least we have a democrat for a governor now.