NOM BLOG

Category Archives: North Carolina

What "WE DO" Does

The "WE DO" Campaign -- a project of a group called The Campaign for Southern Equality -- is an effort to rally same-sex couples across the South and nationwide to show up at their local clerk's office to request marriage licenses in places where marriage law still upholds the traditional and biblical definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

State Law ShredderAccording to its website, currently "the Campaign for Southern Equality is traveling across North Carolina, standing with couples as they approach the marriage license counter and ask their local elected official to stand with them as an act of conscience."

An op-ed by a member of the organization published in at Advocate.com claims that the Campaign for Southern Equality has been emboldened to step up this project by the actions of D. Bruce Hanes, the Register of Deeds from Montgomery Country, PA who recently made national news for issuing same-sex marriage licenses there -- an action which, as the court in Pennsylvania recently affirmed -- was illegal and in violation of his oath of office.

It is important that marriage advocates everywhere know that the recent disturbing trend of lawlessness, with local and state officials flouting and breaking clear and constitutionally enacted marriage laws, is not merely a coincidental or copy-cat phenomenon, but a carefully planned tactic aimed at undermining the democratic process and overriding the will of voters in order to impose a radical agenda of genderless marriage on our communities.

Remain vigilant, find out how marriage license issuance works in your community, and be sure to speak up to those responsible for upholding the law that you are watching and expect them to fulfill the duty they are sworn to do!

Local Paper Mentions North Carolinians Coming to DC to March for Marriage

The Winston-Salem Journal:

Nearly a year after voters in North Carolina passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the issue Tuesday and Wednesday in two different cases that could have national implications.

Winston-Salem residents who are on both sides of the issue will be watching closely. At 7 p.m. today, about 300 people will gather for the Light The Way To Justice vigil in front of U.S. District Court, at 251 North Main St., in support of equal rights for same-sex couples. And on Tuesday, opponents of same-sex marriage, including some from Winston-Salem, will board eight buses to travel from Raleigh to Washington, D.C., for a March for Marriage rally.

Legal experts say that the Supreme Court, which will issue a ruling in late June, could decide any number of ways on the two cases, which involve California’s Proposition 8 that banned same-sex marriage in that state, and the Defense of Marriage Act that bans same-sex marriage under federal law. The court could rule narrowly or issue a sweeping decision that would eventually affect North Carolina.

BuzzFeed: Moderate Democrats Walk Back Support for SSM in Face of Electoral Realities

Props to Buzzfeed for noticing that, while the media focuses on the very few Republicans who have abandoned the GOP platform on marriage, there are prominent Democratic Senators walking back from their previous support of SSM in the wake of recognizing their constituents strongly oppose SSM:

One week after Republican Sen. Rob Portman declared his support for marriage equality, some Democratic senators whose seats might be vulnerable in 2014 are hesitant to do the same — or even talk about the issue at all.

Sens. Kay Hagan, Mary Landrieu, Mark Begich and Mark Pryor, all moderate Democrats who will face fierce reelection battles during the midterm election cycle, either would not state their position on marriage, or declined to comment via their office.

"I am really concerned right now about the budget, about jobs in my state," Hagan, of North Carolina, responded when asked about her stance on marriage equality. Ironically, last year Hagan went on record opposing a same-sex marriage ban in North Carolina, saying it would have "far-reaching negative consequences."

... "I feel very strongly that people should be allowed to love who they love, but unfortunately my state has a very strong ban against gay marriage constitutionally, so I'm going to have to think really carefully and listen to the voters of my state about that issue," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, who hails from Louisiana. "But it's very tough because I think most people believe that people should love who they love."

The offices of Begich and Pryor declined to comment for this story.

... Hagan, Landrieu, Pryor and Begich did not sign on to an amicus brief opposing the Defense of Marriage Act, filed on behalf of Democratic lawmakers to the Supreme Court as it considers the act.

North Carolina: "Same-Sex Marriage Divides Allies" as 18% of African Americans Remain Undecided

A new Zogby poll found 18% of African Americans are undecided about who they will support in November.

Ramifications of the President's marriage flip-flop? The Charlotte Post looks at the question:

When President Obama publicly stated his personal approval of same-sex marriage, the black church went into a state of controversy.

How can you be a Christian and support homosexuality? How does a Christian support a president who believes in same-sex marriage? Where does the black church go from here with their support of the president?

These and a myriad of other questions proliferated from the hearts of clergy and faith leaders across the country. What do they tell their congregations?

One unfavorable response has sparked a movement that is getting the attention of congressional members. Some pastors are instructing their members to stay at home and not vote at all, rather than vote against Obama.

The recent Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference dedicated a roundtable discussion on the black church and same sex marriage.

Audio: Brian Brown on Why Obama's SSM Position Will Hurt Him in November

Our President Brian Brown was interviewed by 790 KABC during the Democratic National Convention and had this to say about marriage and the November election:

"We just won in North Carolina by 61% -- 61% to support a strong marriage amendment. Just looking at it politically this is a state President Obama needs to win and being on the wrong side of 6-in-10 voters right when you're going to have your Democratic National Convention there and the Democrats are going to put an endorsement of same-sex marriage in their plank? This is a very bad idea and I think what you're going to see ... you're going to lose these key swing states. You're going to lost Ohio, you're going to lose North Carolina."

Rasmussen: Romney Opens Up 51%-45% Lead Over Obama in North Carolina

North Carolina is a key swing state and the Obama campaign hoped holding their convention in Charlotte would boost the President's chances.  But his endorsement of gay marriage and the sour economy is causing him real, persistent troubles, as this new poll shows:

Mitt Romney has cleared the 50% mark again in the battleground state of North Carolina despite the presence of the Democratic National Convention there little over a week ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely North Carolina Voters shows Romney with 51% support to President Obama’s 45%. One percent (1%) likes some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

National Organization for Marriage Launches Radio Advertisement in North Carolina Encouraging African Americans to Say "No More" to President Obama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 27, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)


"We urge all North Carolinians to join Dr. Wooden in rejecting the anti-family policies of President Obama this November" —Brian Brown, NOM president—

National Organization for Marriage

Washington, D.C. — Today, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) launched a radio advertisement in the Raleigh, North Carolina media market featuring Dr. Patrick Wooden, a prominent African American pastor, urging African Americans to say "no more" to President Barack Obama in light of his recent endorsement of homosexual marriage. NOM plans to spend $34,000 on the advertisement in the Raleigh media market, which is home to 40 percent of the state's African American population. If proven successful, NOM plans to roll out the advertisement in markets across North Carolina, a key presidential swing state.

"African Americans in North Carolina were quite understandably proud of Barack Obama for his historic election in 2008," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "But President Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage, his administration's determination to repeal DOMA and the Democratic Party's call for the repeal of North Carolina's marriage amendment puts Obama at odds with the values of the African American community."

The advertisement features African American leader Dr. Patrick Wooden, a highly renowned pastor who gained state wide recognition for his strong efforts to pass the North Carolina Marriage Protection Amendment on May 8, 2012, which passed by over 61 percent of the vote. Pre-election surveys showed that a plurality of Democrats supported the amendment, with African Americans supporting it by a two-to-one margin.

"It was the African American community that helped [President Obama] win here in North Carolina," Wooden said in the advertisement. "But President Obama has turned his back on the values of our community with his strong endorsement of the homosexual movement. We worked hard to pass the Marriage Protection Amendment this past May. With the strong support of the African American community, the amendment protecting marriage as the union of one man and one woman passed overwhelmingly. The very next day, President Obama came out for homosexual marriage. Now his campaign leaders are working to deny North Carolina's ability to define marriage, and they want to overturn our state marriage amendment altogether. Join me in saying 'no more' to President Obama."

"The goal of our advertising campaign is to issue a wake-up call to the African American community in North Carolina that President Obama does not represent the values that they have fought to protect," Brown said. "We urge all North Carolinians to join Dr. Wooden in rejecting the anti-family policies of President Obama this November."

Listen to the radio ad here.

###

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Jen Campbell (x145), [email protected], at 703-683-5004.

Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).

Gay Marriage to be a Centerpiece of Democrat Convention

Over at my personal blog I look at the lengths the Democrats are going to make gay marriage a defining issue for their party at their annual convention next week in North Carolina.

I begin with two observations about that: a) it's ironic they would do so considering a plurality of Democrats in North Carolina just voted a few months ago to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman and b) social issues sure appear to factor in greatly for Democrats.

I wonder when the media will get the memo about both:

"...This is the face the modern democrat party wants to project: pro planned parenthood men (which really means pro planned parenthood women) and parents with gay kids (which really means gay parents) as the centerpiece of their convention.

In other words, people whose very identity is tied up with progressive politics. People who look to the government to secure their “right” to have government pay for their contraception and (when that fails) abortions and who demand government redefine marriage according to their definition and then force that definition upon the rest of society. That’s who the Democrat party wants to cater to.

Trampled underfoot in both these actions is, of course, religious liberty. It is, after all, only the Christian (and often particularly Catholic) witness in defense of the dignity of every human person and in defense of marriage and family that stands in the way of the sweeping social changes championed by the modern progressive movement. For the DNC to reach its public goals it must undermine and discredit the public witness of people of traditional faith and Catholics in particular. That’s an astonishing state of affairs, but I’m convinced it’s the reality we now inhabit."

DNC Chair Says She Expects Gay Marriage Plank in Party Platform

Predictions for what will happen at the DNC convention in North Carolina from the party's chair:

Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who represents Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives, told PGN this week that she expects marriage equality to be a plank of the party’s platform, which will be finalized at the Democratic National Convention Sept. 3-6 in Charlotte, N.C. PGN interviewed Wasserman Schultz, particularly about what LGBTs can expect from Democrats in the short and long term. -- Philadelphia Gay News

The evidence suggests that at least a plurality of Democrats in North Carolina voted for their Marriage Protection Amendment this May.

Examiner Columnist: "Is President Obama Losing North Carolina Because of SSM?"

Ben Knotts of the Examiner asks that question:

A current poll from Real Clear Politics has the presumed GOP nominee, Mitt Romney, consistently leading PresidentObama in the fall election, since May 15th, 2012.

Prior to May 15th, polls showed President Obama continually leading his GOP opponent in North Carolina., but since that day, Mitt Romney - the former Governor of Massachusetts - has not failed to carry the support of the state.

What caused the shift in numbers? The issue of same-sex marriage provides a reasonable explanation.

On May 8th, North Carolina voters banned same-sex marriage by amending their state constitution to only recognize marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

On May 9th, President Obama endorses same-sex marriage - putting himself at odds with North Carolina voters on the controversial issue.

On May 12th, Governor Romney addressed social-conservatives at Liberty University declaring that marriage is only between one man and one woman - putting himself in agreement with North Carolina voters on the issue.

By May 15th, Obama's lead has shifted to Romney, and Romney has held the lead consistently ever since.

Michelle Malkin on Obama's Coming DNC "Disaster"

Michelle Malkin notes that North Carolina's strong support of their Marriage Protection Amendment has added to the woes of the DNC and the President's re-election campaign:

"...Moderate Democrats aren't the only ones refusing to put on the party hats and sing "Kumbaya." North Carolina is riling Obama's left flank, too. And national media outlets are noticing. In a piece on the DNC "going awry," Bloomberg News reported:

"Voters just approved a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, which conflicts with Obama's view on the issue. Convention fundraising has been slow, and labor unions tapped to fill the financial gap are angry the convention will be in a city — Charlotte — with no unionized hotels and in a state where compulsory union membership or the payment of dues is prohibited as an employment condition." -- CNS News

Business Insider: Obama Is Doing Stunningly Bad Among African Americans In North Carolina

The author does not have same-sex marriage on his radar otherwise he might have a better way to interpret these numbers:

President Barack Obama is rapidly losing support among African-American voters in North Carolina, a new poll out today from the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling shows.

The poll finds that Mitt Romney would get 20 percent of the African-American vote if the election were held today, compared with 76 percent for Obama. Overall, Romney has a 48 percent to 46 percent lead on Obama in the crucial swing state.

Obama received 95 percent of the support from African-Americans in North Carolina in the 2008 election, compared with just 5 percent for Republican nominee John McCain.

In PPP's May poll, Obama received 87 percent of the African-American vote to Romney's 11 percent.

All of Obama's numbers with African-Americans are sliding. His approval rating is down from 86 percent to 77 percent. Romney's favorability, meanwhile, has doubled from 9 percent to 18 percent.

Jim Williams, a polling analyst at PPP, said it could be "statistical noise" that comes with a small sample (only about 200 African-Americans were surveyed). But he said it was not something the agency has "ever seen before."

"Seventy-something percent is obviously low," Williams told Business Insider. "It's not something we've ever seen before. It's definitely something we're going to monitor."

Williams added the obvious: If the results keep turning up like this, it would be "very bad news for him."

California Pro-SSM Church Buys Billboard Attacking Supporters of North Carolina's Marriage Protection Amendment

One pro-SSM church in California is not handling defeat in North Carolina well:

A California-based church has put up a billboard in west Charlotte, apologizing for North Carolina voters’ support of a law that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

The billboard, on the Billy Graham Parkway, was installed Wednesday. It apparently is in response to the May 8 vote, in which about 60 percent of voters who went to the polls supported Amendment One.

... The billboard apparently was put up by Missiongathering Christian Church, which is based in San Diego.

The message on the board reads, “Missiongathering Christian Church is sorry for the narrow-minded, judgmental, deceptive, manipulative actions of those who denied rights and equality to so many in the Name of God.”

Amendment One was supported by the two Roman Catholic bishops of North Carolina and also got the support of some other churches across the state. -- The Charlotte Observer

AP: North Carolina a Political Headache for Democrats (Because of Marriage)

The Associated Press:

Once a bright spot for President Barack Obama, North Carolina is now more like a political migraine less than four months before Democrats open the party's national convention in Charlotte.

... When Democrats announced the choice in February 2011, they said selecting the Southern city signaled Obama's intent to fight hard for the conservative-leaning state like he did in 2008. They also highlighted the economic transformation in the state and in Charlotte - from tobacco, textiles and furniture-making to research, energy and banking. Party leaders noted the state's strong political leadership and expressed hope that a Perdue re-election bid would get a boost from the attention that would be lavished on the convention.

Now traditional Democratic Party groups are threatening huge protests in part because they're deeply uncomfortable that the convention is being held in one of the least union-friendly states. And thousands of Democrats across the country are calling for the convention to be relocated because of the gay-marriage vote.

... There's also the fired-up Republican base that turned out Tuesday to approve the constitutional ban on gay marriage. The vote prompted more than 28,000 people to sign an online petition - by the New York-based Gay Marriage USA - to move the convention from Charlotte. Twitter also was flooded with similar sentiment from angry supporters of same-sex marriage. Obama stated his support for gay marriage a day after the vote.

Democrats want to include gay marriage in the platform to be adopted at the convention. That could create controversy at a gathering that's intended to promote party unity by drawing attention to a divisive social issue when the economy remains the most pressing concern.

Video: Christian Teen Madeleine McAulay Tells FoxNews About the Hateful Response To Her Video On Gay Marriage

Mediaite:

On Wednesday, Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy interviewed a 16-year-old conservative teen on her political beliefs, as well as the backlash she’s received for them. “She’s conservative, she’s christian and she’s only 16 years old,” said Doocy, introducing Madeleine McAulay. “But when it comes to politics, this North Carolina teenager is certainly not afraid to speak her mind. [...] Referred to as the teenage political maverick, it’s no surprise that the 16-year-old is being followed by none other than her political idol, Sarah Palin.”

....Doocy then turned to the reaction the teen received after posting a video about same-sex marriage in her home state on her website, FaithHopeAndPolitics.com.

“Within, I think, two days,” she said, “I had over 1,000 views. And, you know, the hatred and the vile, vulgar, disgusting comments started coming in and over the past few days, they have gotten totally extreme and completely inappropriate.”

“Well, they are inappropriate,” Doocy agreed, “and I was looking at your website last night and, well, there were some death threats there.”

“Yes. That was the first time yesterday that I had ever received, you know, kind of death wishes and that was quite interesting, to get that feeling,” she told him.

Watch the video: