Prop. 8 opponents say they welcome Cindy McCain's support of same-sex marriage

Gay rights supporters in California say they have found an unlikely ally in Cindy McCain, the wife of Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who lent her name this week to the cause of same-sex marriage.

McCain’s support comes as Proposition 8 proponents and opponents battle over the constitutionality of California’s ban on gay marriage in San Francisco federal court. The ad features McCain, right hand over her heart, wind rustling her blond locks, with “No H8” written on her cheek and silver duct tape over her mouth.

“To have the wife of a Republican presidential candidate really turns everything upside down,” said John Henning, executive director of pro-gay marriage group Love Honor Cherish. “People expect conservatives to be against same-sex marriage, and more and more conservatives are saying that they favor it.”

But conservatives shrug at the suggestion that Cindy McCain is influencing the public.

“The people of California have been very clear on this issue,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, one of the groups that supported the Proposition 8 campaign in California. “They’ve voted twice to preserve the definition of marriage.”

The photograph of McCain was a spontaneous decision, said No H8 Campaign co-founder Adam Bouska. McCain’s daughter Meghan, who had been involved with the campaign, had come to Bouska’s studio for a photo shoot for her new book, "Dirty Sexy Politics."

Cindy McCain, who had accompanied her daughter, saw the “No H8” photo of her daughter holding an elephant and a few minutes later voiced an interest in participating in the “No H8” campaign. Bouska, the campaign’s photographer, said he was “surprised and honored” by the decision.

The elder McCain had not arrived prepared for the shoot -- she was dressed in a black turtleneck and red jacket, and all participants are supposed to wear white T-shirts. They grabbed a shirt from the rack and had her place her right hand over her heart, as if pledging allegiance.

Henning said McCain's support would help redefine the Republican brand and help the tide to turn against Proposition 8.

A Los Angeles Times/USC poll published in November found that 51% of California couples favored marriage rights for gay couples, with 43% opposed.

Family values groups scoffed at Cindy McCain’s supposed role in redefining the GOP.

“There’s probably a reason she’s not first lady,” Perkins said. “People were worried about the influence she would have on social issues such as this.”

Part of the issue for opponents of same-sex marriage was that relatively few supporters lent their images to the cause, gay rights activists said.

“They have a charisma problem,” Henning said. “They won the vote, but they won it by operating in the shadows.”

-- Amina Khan

Photo: Cindy McCain in an ad supporting same-sex marriage. Credit: Adam Bouska / Love Honor Cherish

Comments

[Steve in NorCal]

The McCains are NOT conservatives!!!

[Jet Black]

Wow! McCain's wife supporting homosexual "marriage". That should send the "brand" of Republicans crashing into each other to get their name on the role. Polls by the Times always seem to reflect the majority support homosexual "marriage", until the poll of public opinion weigh in at the polls. 32-0 is the only poll I believe. Besides, If homosexual marriage is supported by the majority according to "the poll", then why is there a trial going on right now to overturn the outcome of a legal election held because of this issue? Voted on twice!

[NestorGonzalesJr]

Meghan and Cindy McCain represent the country? Is this a sick Joke?

While reading the L.A Times assertion that this is a "game changing" moment because McCain has the GOP brand keep in mind this is the party that nominated Bob Dole to dither around in the absolute worst campaign by a GOP candidate ever while the post-Hillarycare, pre-Monica Clinton sailed to an easy victory.

This is the Republican Party that nominated John "Open Borders" McCain to oppose the most left-,wing socialist candidate that the Democrats ever ran for President. Ever.

The simple truth of history is that when the GOP nominates Conservatives, they win. This is why is a nonexistent Tea Party Political Party is polling higher than the allegedly conservative GOP

When the GOP nominates the candidates that the New York Times chooses (as they did with McCain), they lose.

If you nominate a Reagan, he wins; if you nominate a McCain, we get an Obama.

Given a choice between an ardent Leftist and a R.I.N.O (Republican In Name Only), voters pick the "honest" Leftist.

The people of the United States do not want homosexuals forcing their "morality" on them.

The New York Senate defeated a "gay" marriage bill in December by a vote of 38-24.

The loss means the bill, which was pushed by President Obama's lackey Gov. David Paterson, may not be brought back for at least a year. Austin Nimocks, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, said "..Americans believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman. There is so much more that unifies us in America than divides us, and one of those things is marriage and the family," he said. " Over 50 million Americans have voted for marriage."

Once again, whenever the people have an opportunity to fight for traditional marriage the "gay" agenda is rejected.

Keep in mind that this is from the bluest of blue states. New York elected Hillary Clinton to the US Senate. NY voted overwhelmingly for Obama. In spite of this, the people's voice was heard.

The problem for Americans is that the Left believes in Jean Jacques Rousseau's concept of "The General Will." The General Will is not the same as the majority will. It is not 51% of the vote, and it is not the same as majority rule. It is defined in a very slippery manner by Rousseau in his writings (which were deeply influential on evil men like Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, Mao Tse Tung , Che Guevara etc..). The basic idea is that the General Will is what the elites (who know best) want for the masses. If the masses vote against something (say "gay" marriage, or importing people infected with AIDS to the USA for free healthcare), they must vote again, and again, until they get it right.

Rousseau prescribes the cure for the masses' ignorance as "forcing men to be free" - the ultimate oxymoron.

How does he propose to accomplish this? Education, of course. Why do you think the NEA and other far Left groups place such a huge emphasis on teaching young children about "Billy's Two Daddies" or "Harvey Milk Day"?

By capturing the minds of the young, they hope to transform the USA into their own vision of the way things ought to be. These results from New York were absolutely buried by the mainstream media this week. Does any honest person believe that we would have heard absolutely nothing had the other side won?

A battle was won, which is great news that you will not hear reported in the managed media, but the war rages on.

[Zach]

The people DID twice (not that rights are up for a vote in this country), with waning numbers against gay marriage representing the truly shaky voice the population has on the matter. Everyone knows that eventually there will be marriage equality, the question is how long will YOU be on the wrong side of history in your stubborn opposition to it?

[A Concerned American]

"Everyone knows that eventually there will be marriage equality, the question is how long will YOU be on the wrong side of history in your stubborn opposition to it?" Posted by Zach

The bible states the the road to heaven will be narrow and the road to hell will be wide.
So yes, eventually it will pass. but as for my family and I we will agree that mariage is between a man and a woman and you can CALL it something else.

[Debbie]

I appreciate Cindy McCain giving support but she is an old woman trying to look young and that is creepy. Prop 8 is about being who you were created to be gay or straight. Cindy isn't facing the fact she is getting old.

[Scott Piotrowski]

At one time, the vast majority of American citizens believed that slaves should not be counted as citizens. At one time, the vast majority of American voters felt that women should not share that right.

Just because a majority feels something is right does not mean that it is. Equality for all should be an automatic in this and every country. It is not. Until then, struggles like this will continue. We should not need to fight for equality for anyone.

[DRE DAWG]

Yes! More Repub's need to see the light. It's people's ignorance and prejudice that's destroying marriage/love/family in the US...not gay marriage. Y'all need to cut this out! Prop 8 is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!!!!

[Calvin]

There will nevere be such a thing as gay marriage. Hopefully the duct tape can't come off.

[Hoot]

A majority of Californians voted to legalize pot, too.

[Lornaj]

I have seen some family values, and they suck. Perkins is just another one trying to have people do what want, while Perkins; and the rest live their life the way they WANT.

[Mark]

And the h8ters continue to kick and scream...

[Zach]

A Concerned American can call marriage whatever he likes, that's his right. His church can conduct a marriage ceremony for as many or as few couples as they like, that's their right. But we concerned Americans do not have the right to take the rights of other innocent citizens away. What you believe may be between you and your God, but how you vote and whether it stands is between us and our Constitution.

[Chandler]

A Concerned American, good thing your Bible doesn't run my country. Our government is based on the Constitution, and under that we are all granted equal rights. The government has no bearing on religious marriage. Marriage as it relates to government is a contract that merges 2 estates. Gay couples have every right under the Constitution to protect their families and their property, and deserve equal rights to make decisions regarding their medical care, etc.

[Locrian]

Wouldn't it be more accurate if A Concerned American changed to A Concerned Christian? This trial is about religion, period. I hope idiotic testimony like that from William Tam opens the floodgates on how childish religion really is.

Thanks for being you, ACA.

[Richard Sagor]

America is suffering from a tribal mentality. These days if one is a Republican then one is expected to hold fast to certain positions; meanwhile Democrats are also expected to rigidly adhere to set of positions and beliefs. The clear message this telegraphs to our children is someone is either "one of us or must be one of them." There can be no future for a democratic society where people have givn up the freedom to think for themselves.

Because of her prominence, Cindy McCain's willingness to stand up publicly for something she believes is considered by many to be a direct threat to the big brother mindset; by showing us that her concern for the extension of human rights trumps short term political considerations of her husband and her political party, Cindy McCain has provided us with a very real contemporary profile in courage. As a person devoted to the furtherance of human rights and as a person who profoundly wishes to see our country become a truly dynamic and vibrant democracy I salute and thank Cindy McCain. Her strategic use of personal celebrity to demonstrate the power of standing up for one's beliefs will surely empower countless Americans.

Cindy, I can't thank you enough!

[Arizona Resident]

That's great, Cindy. You live in Arizona. You are a community leader in Arizona. Your husband is an influential politician in Arizona. Where is your leadership in Arizona? Where is your speaking-out on this topic here in your home state? Where is your activisim on other human rights issues in Arizona? Come home Cindy, we need your moral courage here more than they do in Cali.

[Alekxia]

It's not just about marriage...It's about "equality".
Everyone of the 2k+ pics in the NoH8campaign has a story.
I too had “No H8” written on my cheek and silver duct tape over my mouth.

In my case, the H8 came from a California judge (Joseph Patrick Brannigan).
He prohibited me from discussing "Transgender Issues" with my son.
His speech prohibition (silver duct tape over my mouth) is real.
I'm not even a shadow; he legally made me invisible...as if I ceased to exist.
His ruling left my son without parents for 24hrs when my wife was hospitalized.
-I could NOT take care of my son..
Taliban-like discrimination exists in America.
I have not seen my son because H8 exists.

Cindy McCain, thank you for supporting equality.

[midwest]

For what it is worth most people do not oppose equal rights. The reason prop 8 passed is because people who do not agree with gay 'marriage' do not want judges defining marriage for society.

The homosexual community would do themselves a great deal of good by admitting that they wish to RE-define marriage to include 2 men (or 2 women) instead of pushing their agenda through the courts. Even the Cali. S.C. will not overstep the will of the people when it comes to constitutional amendments.

[Ella]

Jet Black, refer to Dredd Scott v. Sandford.

"midwest", your argument is ludicrous. Marriage isn't "redefined" when two gay people marry. Gay people are gay! Gay people, therefore, marry each other.

That's logical. The argument that somehow marriage is being redefined is not.

[midwest]

Ella, if that is the case then I have 2 questions:

1) where does the definition 'bride' and 'groom' come from?

2) Why did the state of California change marriage certificates from 'husband' and 'wife' to 'spouse 1' and 'spouse 2'?

[Zach]

They changed those fields, midwest, because they were antiquated by changes in law. That's the application of the law, not the definition, because at its core, marriage is the union of two willing people - the wording on a form follows that.

Marriage is law, judges interpret law, so it's foolish to expect judges aren't going to interpret marriage.

[midwest]

You state that "marriage is law, judges interpret law, so it's foolish to expect judges aren't going to interpret marriage". So you agree that the California S.C. is right when they determined that Prop 8 is constitutional?

31 states have defined marriage as between one man and one woman. They have amended their state constitutions to reflect that. Even France has marriage defined as between one man and one woman.

BTW: the definition of marriage is 'the state of being husband and wife'. These are not antiquated terms unless you believe we should do away with the terms 'male' and female'.