Shameless.It’s really shameless how these hucksters fleece their followers.  My uncle’s family were all fundamentalists, and even though they were dirt-poor, they still found the money to donate to half a dozen slick televangelists, because they were convinced it was what Jesus wanted.
If only their “flocks” would wake up and realize that these guys don’t really care about gay marriage – they’re just interested in using the issue as a cash cow.
But as Louis Armstrong said, “Some people, if they don’t know something, you can’t tell ‘em.”

they’re using paid signature gatherersthis is from a very reliable source.  i have edited it for privacy.

Hello, Everyone:
[We] got home from Bellingham about 8:00 PM  where we stood with four others who were protesting the gathering of referendum 71 signatures at Wal-Mart.
We were there for about 75 minutes.
The signature gatherer was from Seattle and was paid $1.00 per signature. He reminded me three times that I was depriving his children of food by my presence. He wasn’t ugly but very frustrated.
We estimate that only about a dozen people signed during that time.
His talking points:
1. This legislation was passed without “our” permission by legislators who did it to get votes and money.
2. The sign said Stop Same Sex Marriage.
3. The paperwork says that public schools will have to teach children k-12 about homosexuality.
4. This  legislation will cost Washington taxpayers millions of dollars and tie up the courts with divorces.
My thoughts:
1. We need to let our legislators know immediately that this is the approach being taken by this campaign. What a slap in their faces.
2. They have printed the forms they are using and there are no legal requirements that  the language reflect anything accurate about the legislation.  It doesn’t. People don’t know this. (That might be a law that needs to be passed.)
3. The Prop 8 campaign used this as their major hook. It is very effective- even when not true.
4. He never explained this but didn’t have to-it just appeals to some people.
Of the people who signed:
More women than men and they were more enthusiastic and gave more rote responses ( God is punishing America because of gay people- gay people are destroying our families).  Most appeared affluent 30-45 a few older women but not that many almost no one read the material  but just accepted what he said and pointed to it when we said it was inaccurate. If it is in print, it must be true??  a few young men…not too friendly but they just ignored us.
We will need to be very specific about suggestions:
1. Be polite- not just in what is said but in your tone
2. Stand exactly where told it is okay (don’t block doors or get in the way of traffic)
3. Once people start to sign, it might make sense to stop talking to them
4. Thank those who refuse to sign (one woman went back to her car to bring us cold bottles of water:) We had many, many people express support.
5. I think signs would help… what should or could they say?
I had a rainbow umbrella- which was great because it was very hot.
Our wonderful young friend [from] the Club Diversity at Sedro-Woolley High School had a sign that said “Referendum 71 hurts me”.
I held a fabric picture of my family made by [a friend from] Tacoma PFLAG.
I feel really sad tonight. I don’t want to but I do.
I am grateful to the Bellingham folks who called me.
I am grateful for my family, for my friend [redacted] and all of you.