State's reputation on the line in November electoins

[Bloomin Onion]

So North Carolina was not the first, or the second, but the THIRTY FIRST state where voters defeated gay marriage in a referendum. Gay marriage has NEVER succeeded at the ballot box anywhere in America, not even in liberal California.

Now on this I could be wrong, but I also don't think voters in any state in the past has decided thru a popular vote to give more benefits to illegal immigrants. All the states with gay marriage and/or Dream Acts were done by activist legislators and governors, or activist (and inthe case of Dream Acts....treasonous and un-American) judges. It will be a complete embarassment for Maryland if either gay marriage or illegal immigration are upheld by a popular vote, neither of which has been done anywhere. Remember, not even in liberal California. If illegal immigration is upheld, it will show we do not care about laws or morals, and are so radically liberal that we are willing to pay extra taxes to support illegal aliens who have no right to be in our country. If gay marraige stands, it will shwo that we have turned our backs on God himself and care nothing for family values.

I'm hoping that the double referendums, plus anger over O'Malley's tax hikes and toll hikes and anger aginst Obama will drive more conservatives to the polls this fall. I hope that turnout on the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland, coupled with conservatives and religious people in the Baltimore suburbs will be able to overpower the entrenched liberal base in Montgomery County, PG County and Baltimore City. I've noticed that gay marriage and illegal immigration (and sometimes abortion) are issues where some Democrats, especially blue collar Democrats of all races differ from the party elite.

Now I'm not saying the GOP is perfect on illegals either. The GOP's watered down Dream Act nationally is still too soft since illegal immigration should never be legitimized. It might not make them citizen, but it legitimzies their presence in America which should not be allowed. Even if we are not actively hunting them down, any illegal should always be elgible for deportation if the authorities were to stumble on him for instance in a traffic stop or if someone reports them. THe only kind of Dream Act I would compromise on with citzienship would be if 1) if the illegal not only served in the military but served front line in combat or 2) if in exchange for amnesty, they turn in 20 other illegals who are deported.

[MontanaJack]

I saw from the 2008 exit polls that only 33% of Marylanders attend church more than a few times a year. Wonder how much that number falls when excluding the enormous black population there.

Edit: So yea, gay marriage will probably pass and the immigration issue I think will not.

[regularguy]

Maryland is about as certain to go for Obama as any state in the country.

I think his popularity in the state, and his decision to endorse same-sex marriage, will push the marriage-equality referendum over the top.

[cprenegade]

I think the marriage issue will be close, but will be upheld. I think the dream act will be defeated somewhat easily.

[regularguy]

I think the marriage issue will be close, but will be upheld. I think the dream act will be defeated somewhat easily.

I agree. In fact, that happens to be the way I'm voting.

[Bloomin Onion]

It will be embarrassing if we are the first state to allow gay marriage in a popular vote. Church is very big in our rural areas both whites and blacks. Also other religions not just Christians are against gay marriage. The dream act will bring more Hispanics to the polls the legal ones at least and they will be against gay marriage as they are mostly catholic. 33 percent may be low compared to the deep south but even people who don't go to church weekly can be religious and believe in God and vote accordingly.

[Bloomin Onion]

Also most blue collar voters and most blacks Hispanics and Asians are all against gay marriage in north Carolina 66 percent of blacks voted against it so did most hispanic and rural residents of nc. Gay marriage was only supported by a few liberal enclaves around Charlotte and Raleigh which have many non native southerners there who are liberal elite. The challenge here is that so much of our population lives in monkey county where o'malley is truly from by the way. The average voter in Carroll county or Frederick is no different than your average guy in Kentucky or Georgia.

[Bloomin Onion]

They did a poll where 73 percent of eastern shore residents are against gay marriage. All except illegals and elite liberals are against illegal immigration.

[regularguy]

It will be embarrassing if we are the first state to allow gay marriage in a popular vote. Church is very big in our rural areas both whites and blacks.

Rural voters are a rather small percentage of the voters in Maryland, far outnumbered by urban and (especially) suburban.

[Mitchum]

LOL You finally posted something I agree with.

"The average voter in Carroll county or Frederick is no different than your average guy in Kentucky or Georgia."

[AtticusII]

So North Carolina was not the first, or the second, but the THIRTY FIRST state where voters defeated gay marriage in a referendum. Gay marriage has NEVER succeeded at the ballot box anywhere in America, not even in liberal California.

Now on this I could be wrong, but I also don't think voters in any state in the past has decided thru a popular vote to give more benefits to illegal immigrants. All the states with gay marriage and/or Dream Acts were done by activist legislators and governors, or activist (and inthe case of Dream Acts....treasonous and un-American) judges.

This is hyperbole. There aren't even 31 states that allow for referendums.

And to characterize any law that isn't passed by popular vote as being the product of activist legislators is downright bizarre.

[baltimoreron]

LOL You finally posted something I agree with.

"The average voter in Carroll county or Frederick is no different than your average guy in Kentucky or Georgia."

I thought you were against intolerance, stereotypes and bigotry??!?!?!?

[jtowne-swim]

So I guess Rick Parry is an activist Governor!

[Baltimatt]

It will be embarrassing if we are the first state to allow gay marriage in a popular vote. Church is very big in our rural areas both whites and blacks. Also other religions not just Christians are against gay marriage. The dream act will bring more Hispanics to the polls the legal ones at least and they will be against gay marriage as they are mostly catholic. 33 percent may be low compared to the deep south but even people who don't go to church weekly can be religious and believe in God and vote accordingly.

Why would it be embarrassing? No, North Carolina should be embarrassed by the hate-filled, anti-family amendment it just passed.

[bmore_ken]

This is hyperbole. There aren't even 31 states that allow for referendums.

And to characterize any law that isn't passed by popular vote as being the product of activist legislators is downright bizarre.

What exactly is an "activist legislator"?

[bmore_ken]

I thought you were against intolerance, stereotypes and bigotry??!?!?!?

How is that bigotry? what's wrong with people in Kentucky and Georgia?

[BS21213]

people should not be voting on civil rights. If that was ok to do we'd still have jim crow.

[baltimoreron]

How is that bigotry? what's wrong with people in Kentucky and Georgia?

Are you really that naive?

BTW - read betamanlet's reply below, he spoke what Mitchum alluded to.

[betamanlet]

I'm curious, is california full of "southern redneck" types given California, the most notoriously liberal state, voted to ban gay marriage.

[AtticusII]

What exactly is an "activist legislator"?

Apparently it is someone who doesn't vote the way you wish they had on any particular issue.