This will be a short diary that I WOULD wait to post in an open thread (or try to email to any of the front page contributors here at dKos) but the help is needed now.
The potential for this diary to get lost in the Presidential diary fray is also high but so are the stakes of Amendment 2 on the Florida ballot next month. It's termed as an Anti-Gay Marriage amendment with ramnifications that go far beyond it's target. Join me below the fold for more info and what is needed.
There has been a very strong and vocal opposition to Amendment 2 online for countless months. Say No 2 and it's social network communications has reached far and wide through the state to raise awareness that the the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot also attack all unmarried couples and partners - gay or straight.
So why am I bringing this up on a national web site? Because SayNo2 is trying to air a television ad statewide and needs money -- stat -- in order to get this done.
Here's the ad posted on YouTube:
And let me quote the plea for support email that I just received:
Here’s our new TV ad
Voters love it. When they see this ad, the dire consequences of Amendment 2 hit home and support for the amendment plummets.
Unfortunately, not many Floridians will see it because we just can’t afford to put this great ad on the air. Yesterday we sent an urgent request for money to keep our ads on TV and many of you responded.
But we still need to raise $70,000 more dollars to share this ad with voters before the polls open Monday. I can’t stress enough how important this is. Even though there are 18 days before Election Day, it will be difficult or impossible to buy any TV time after this Monday.
So we have only a few hours to raise $70,000 or this ad will stay right where it is – on YouTube.
Will you help put this ad on TV by making a contribution to our media fund right now? http://www.sayno2.com/...
Every dollar you contribute today and tomorrow will go into TV time. Not one cent will be spent on anything except putting this ad on TV and cable stations where you live.
We’re not asking you to do this by yourself – I had a conference call with our campaign staff this morning and asked them to stop whatever they were doing and call their friends, family neighbors and everyone they knew to help us find this money. They are doing that right now. But we won’t succeed with you.
We know the election will be close and it will be heartbreaking if we fall short knowing – with just 18 days to go – that we could have won.
Please do all you can right now to help. We’re really counting on you for this final, most important push.
Derek Newton
Campaign Manager
P.S. This is getting embarrassing. This morning another daily newspaper came out against Amendment 2 – making it 17 newspapers opposed and zero in favor.
And it’s not just the papers - yesterday financial expert Suze Orman announced she opposed Amendment 2. In case you missed it, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida (the state’s largest insurance provider) is also officially opposed to Amendment 2.
We clearly have a great message to deliver – we just need your help to get that message out.
Don't let endorsements fool you, this is Florida. The voters are their own breed in a very dangerous way.
The amendment, on election day, must fall short of 60% of the vote in order not to be made part of the state constitution. For whatever your reason that you may want to support this effort -- because of your horse in the race, so to speak, or just general belief in equality -- please step up and aid the Say No 2 campaign if you can.
Update 2:02 EDT: Comments requested polling numbers and I'm happy to obildge with them. From October 8th and a Florida Today article on the Amendments on the ballot:
Amendment 2, which would define marriage as between one man and one woman only, remains below the approval threshold, but the director of Mason-Dixon polling said similar proposals in other states have shown that a big chunk of the undecided vote will cast ballots in favor of Amendment 2.
The survey showed 55 percent in favor, 34 percent opposed and 11 percent undecided on Amendment 2.
Also, I want to add an action request that comes from blueintheface in comments:
.. trying to enlist volunteers and religious leaders who will help speak out against this amendment?
For anyone who wants to act, we have canvassing this Saturday from 2-6. Sign up here for more info.
And we also have a rally in Tampa on Oct 26 from 4-6pm at Lowery Park.