Arkansas Blog

Well this is not permanent. It can be undone by another initiative in two years so no better time to start than right now.

Prediction: in all the precincts that voted most heavily for this act, there will now be a huge uptick in adoption or fostering of the many children who need such care more urgently than ever due to the act.

While those churches continue citing the bible to show that gays go to hell, they'll also now be preaching about the far more numerous scripture verses that condemn people of faith who ignore the need of orphans.

It is all about the children, after all. We now have a chance to show the rest of the nation how concerned for child welfare the Christian population of Arkansas is. I believe we are on the verge now of creating a model statewide church-spearheaded program of exemplary care of children raised in mama-papa Christian households, to turn the tide against increasing tolerance of gay people by youth nationwide.

How about it, Don? Strange? Chasv? Pines? Catfish? Pumpkin? Large?

That is what you had in mind with this act, right? It's all about the children.

Hat's passing, boys. I expect to find it full of names by the end of today.

Sounds like all the christers knew precisely what they were doing when they entered the voting booth and a lot of the people who aren't scared of homosexuals were too lazy to figure out in advance how to vote -- or perhaps even to vote at all.

"Pulaski Heights Presbyterian, the mother church of liberal voting in Arkansas, voted down the act, of course, 2,271 to 537."

That's where my son and daughter-in-law vote. They'll be disappointed to learn that 537 of their neighbors actually voted FOR this act of narrow mindedness."

According to an AP story, what succeeded in passing Act 1 was Pulpit Politicking. Jerry Cocks' group convinced Pastors to preach that this was strictly a ban against gays, and the sheep believed what they were told instead of reading it for themselves. Hell, I flipped through all of the major news and network channels Tuesday night, and the ONLY network that did NOT call Act 1 a "gay adoption ban" was MSNBC! And even they referred to it as "an adoption ban by unmarried couples" instead of what the Act actually says: "Cohabitating Single Adults".

It also did not help that copies of the ballot measures were not easily accessible to voters waiting in line at the polling locations. I voted early in Sherwood and waited in line for over an hour. The only copy of the measures and sample ballot was a laminated copy hanging on a coat rack next to the voting machines.

some random observations. I went to a talk by a political science professor before the election who noted that when Arkansasans go to vote --- if they don't understand a particiular initiative or amendment -- they tend to vote no. ALL of the ballot measures passed this time. Maybe new voters are different and tend to vote yes when confused ? If voters were confused by the foster parent amendment - they would have been even more confused by the rest. Honestly, if I had not read in detail several of the ballot measures, like the water bond or the one to allow idiots to vote -- I would have no idea what I was voting on. It is the duty of the supporters or opponents of each measure to educate the voters obviously, but on limited funds, that is difficult. Maybe they should have copies of each one you can read before you go to vote if you need more time, and not just put them on a wall somewhere.

I was at happy hour last night and talked to the head of the ACLU about the election. She was, understandably, a bit down about the results. Of course, when both California and Florida shoot down gay marriage - it was a bad election for civil rights ballot measures. In Florida, they even shot down an amendment that would repeal a 1926 law that bans Asians from owning property. Why? Maybe confusion again. I think this is a small set back but there always are in any civil rights movement. I think there are lots of people out there who would quickly support civil unions, even though they would never vote to accept same sex marriage. Of course, here in Arkansas, I think we passed an amendment that even outlawed civil unions -- but since then, there has been steady increase in tolerance - so in a few years, there might be a different outcome.

Hey, the Baptists of Arkansas knew what they were doing the other day.

They voted for the lottery so that when they hit the big payoff, they will better be able to afford all of those poor kids they are going to begin adopting.

And, failing that, they made it possible for the Legislature (the Rev. Representative Roy Raglands et al) to meet every year to "fix" things for them if they don't happen to work out just right.

It all makes perfect sense to me. I know, because I'm a good Christian.

Looks like Arkansas got it wrong AGAIN! Some of the most kind hearted, loving people I know are gay. I just don't understand what the opposition thinks it is accomplishing by keeping these kids away from these potential loving homes. I guess they are small minded enough to think that if they are raised by homosexuals then they will be gay too. Hmmmmm. Let's think about the logic of this. Were most gay people raised by gay parents. Probably not. One does not choose to be gay, and just because they are born with those set of circumstances should not prevent them from the same joy that us "regular folks" get to enjoy by being parents. It is so sad that the ones who say they love the most seem to actually want to prevent love from happening.

I'm still waiting for all of the esteemed theologians and biblical experts to explain how caring for foster children promotes "the Gay Agenda." If Cocks and his ilk start caring for foster children will they be promoting "the Hate Agenda"? Heaven forbid, these kids already have the cards stacked against them, now they'll be told who the Baby Jesus hates.

>>I would like to think the Pulaski and Washington votes reflect a higher degree of information about the act thanks to more media exposure, along with more progressive outlooks. I probably kid myself.<<

I dunno Max. I read the Letters to editors every day in 3 papers, ADG, TMN and NAT.
There were a dozen letters in local papers AGAINST act 1. All the local papers editorialized
against Cocks' Act. The Morning News did the spread on the two versions of adopting in Fayetteville...the preacher family and the two gay women.

I saw only one letter supporting Cocks. I know of no local fundies who preached about it from the pulpit, at least none that attracted any news. Perhaps Armanie Ronnie's scare with the IRS caused several fundies in this area to back down from politicing in the pulpit.

So many Marshallese children up here needed adopting. To her credit a mayorial candidate in Chickenopolis is a parent to adopted children.

Perhaps the organized churches should have addressed Cock's act instead of the scholarship lottery. Would have been much more humane.
.

This thread is a perfect example of why i do not encourage others to vote.

I would encourage people to vote that are informed on the issues.

Anyone reading the Act 1 completely (it's would only take 2 minutes to read slowly and completely) would understand how to vote.

I did not vote for some of the judge races because I don't have enough knowledge to understand what is needed and the candidate's backgrounds.

I also did not vote on one of the amendments for a similar reason.

If you aren't informed BEFOREHAND don't vote on that race. That is the only way not to accidentaly vote your own interests and beliefs!

This is not a multiple choice test where you may stumble onto a correct guess, it is an election that will affect people and events!

Like I said, I do not encourage people to vote (or register) because if they are not already planning to, they probably are not informed.

But Searcy, 2,158 to 1,852 AGAINST?<,

I know of two very active people who crusaded against act 1 up in Searcy county.

Again, the reactions to it were mixed:

Not sure what a vote meant.

Messing with families' private arrangements.

Anti-gay knuckle draggers.

But the jury has not formed on this one. It will be challenged in court just as soon as
Human Services tramples on the wrong family's toes. May take a few years but it will come.

Tick, tick, tick.
.

Elwood,

I get the Marshall Mountain Wave, the newspaper in Searcy County based in Marshall.

Once a month they print a listing of the area churches and there were 22 listed last month. The sign at the edge of town says population 1,313.

(The churches included are also in outlying areas but still close enough to be called a marshall church.)

Nuff said.

Let this be a lesson learned. When you have a confusing ballot title, you must educate and the discuss the title extensively. The "against" side did a horrible job with this. They needed to run spots that clearly stated if you're "for this" vote "against" and hammer it home. Next time, hire a professional and it you did hire one, don't hire them again.