2009 Media Outlook from Portfolio.com

2009 Outlook Highlights

John Cassidy, Jesse Eisinger, Kyle Pope, and Dan Colarusso discuss the media outlook for next year

Pro-Family Response to California Supreme Court Agreeing to Hear Challenges to People's Vote on Prop. 8

CCF MEDIA: News Releases	Print Page
CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
For Immediate Release
Thomasson: If the court disobeys the constitution by voiding Prop. 8, it will ignite a voter revolt
Sacramento, California -- In response to today's decision by the California Supreme Court to hear the challenges to Proposition 8, the California Marriage Amendment, Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, a leading California-based pro-family organization, issued the following statement: "It's unfortunate that the judges are giving time to the mushy, subjective arguments of homosexual activists who reject the clear reading of the constitution and the clear reading of Proposition 8. If the court disobeys the constitution by voiding Prop. 8, it will ignite a voter revolt. It will also threaten the validity of all future constitutional amendments. "The court is playing with fire by threatening to destroy the people's vote on marriage. The California Constitution clearly says that the voters have the right to alter the highest law of the land. It's the beauty of the American system of government. The four Supreme Court justices who unconstitutionally invented homosexual 'marriages' -- Ron George, Joyce Kennard, Kathryn Werdegar and Carlos Moreno -- seem to be ignoring the fact that the people get the last word, not the judges. "The clear reading of the constitution, as well as California's legal and legislative history, tells us there is a world of difference between a constitutional amendment and a constitutional revision. Proposition 8 is a single-subject, voter-initiated amendment, not a legislature-initiated, multi-issue, whole-scale revision that alters many sections of the state constitution. "If Prop. 8 gutted the constitution, why is it only one subject in one section of the constitution? If Prop. 8 doesn't stand, then our constitution doesn't mean anything, the people's vote doesn't mean anything, marriage has been utterly disrespected, and judges lied when they swore to uphold the constitution. Prop. 8 must stand, because the constitution is above the judges, not the other way around. "Marriage is, was, and should always remain a natural, beautiful relationship between a husband and a wife. Marriage between a man and a woman is an essential, beneficial role model for children to emulate. "Fortunately, the California Constitution tells us 'all political power is inherent in the people' and that 'they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require'" (California Constitution, Article II, Section 1). Explaining the clear distinction between an amendment and a revision is University of California, Berkeley Department of Political Science Chairman Emeritus Dr. Eugene C. Lee, who, in 1991, wrote: Specific changes to the California constitution may be proposed by amendment. Substantial changes may be proposed by a constitutional convention or by the legislature as constitutional revisions. Regardless of their origin, all changes must be approved by a majority of the electorate voting on the issue. Legislative amendments, the method most commonly used, require a two-thirds vote in each house of the legislature. Initiative amendments may be placed on the ballot by a petition of registered voters equal in number to 8 percent of the total vote cast in the preceding gubernatorial election. By explicit language in the constitution concerning initiatives and by court interpretation with respect to measures arising in the legislature, amendments are required to be limited in scope. As far back as 1894, the California Supreme Court distinguished between a revision of the constitution and a mere amendment thereof (Livermore v. Waite, 102 Cal. 113). As reiterated in 1978, the court held that a revision referred to a "substantial alteration of the entire constitution, rather than to a less extensive change in one or more of its provisions" (Amador Valley Joint Union High School District v. State Board of Equalization, 22 Cal.3d 208). Whether in the public and explosive setting of a constitutional convention, as in 1879, or in the relatively calm, almost academic environment of a revision commission some 90 years later, the revision process is intensely political....To be successful, revision requires gubernatorial as well as legislative leadership. Given the requirement of a two-thirds legislative vote, revision involves negotiation and compromise. The agreement implied in an extraordinary legislative vote does not guarantee popular support. Thus, an effective political campaign is essential. But even with a good campaign, success at the polls is not assured. Constitutional revision can be a high-risk endeavor and will continue to be so. These conclusions should be taken seriously in any legislative consideration of constitutional revisions. In addressing the current imperfections of the California constitution, the costs and risks of revision must be weighed carefully against the alternative of carefully targeted amendments. -- Eugene C. Lee, "The Revision of California's Constitution," April 1991, commissioned by the California Policy Seminar, University of California, Berkeley -- end -- CAMPAIGN FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (CCF) is a leading West Coast nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing children and families. CCF stands for marriage and family, parental rights, the sanctity of human life, religious freedom, financial freedom, and back-to-basics education.

Prop. 8 the Truth Hurts

Why Gay Activist Are Angry

By LibertyNewsprint

Proposition 8, the proposition that amended the California State Constitution, now limits marriage in the state between one man and one woman. Opponents to the proposition used the argument that their right to marriage was being taken away from them. In fact, Californians have never voted to approve same sex marriage. Actually, Californians have voted twice to limit Marriage between one man and one woman. In Fact, for the past 4,000 years or so when you asked almost anyone what a marriage is they would define it as a religious and legal union between a man and a woman.

The "right" to marry was given to homosexuals by four California Supreme Court Justices where the Justices took it upon themselves to find "equal respect and dignity" of marriage is a "basic civil right" for same sex couples because here in California sexual orientation is a protected class. In essence this legal limbo of a decision leads the four Judges to believe that there is no compelling interest for the government to adhere to the traditional form of marriage of a man and a woman. Thus should not infringe on a "basic civil right" of people to marry those of the same sex.

The problem with the Judiciary finding is that it's not up to the Judges to determine what a "compelling" interest is. In a Democracy Rule by a government where the people as a whole hold the power, the people determine what that compelling interest is. Here in California the people have spoken twice on the issue. Now Prop. 8 opponents are still trying to find ways to co-opt the legal system to overturn the vote of the people calling those who don't agree with them haters and bigots. The supporters of same sex marriage have even started a form of religious persecution against the Mormon Church by singling them out and trying to brand them as extreme when every mainline religion came out in support of proposition 8. Also, gay activist have started a Blacklist of people who donated to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. Its natural to go through a phase of feeling anger when you've suffered a loss but at some point there has to come an acceptance of the truth. Forcing people to agree with you through intimidation leads to terrorism.

The fact is most Californians do not support same sex marriage for a host of compelling reasons and that's the truth.

Congratulations to our 44th President Barack H. Obama

Fellow Americans,

Democrat, Republican, Independent or Other we can all agree that this is a historic day for our country... A person of African descent was elected President of the United State of America fulfilling a dream and completing a struggle... only in America!

Let us now get on with completing all of Martin Luther Kings Jr's Dream:

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

-JRobinson Editor of Liberty Newsprint

Why I (A Black Man) am not voting for Obama

Dear Friends,

A few months ago I was asked for my perspective on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just around the corner I decided to complete my perspective.
First, I must say whomever wins the election will have my prayer support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments, but I need to explain
why I will not be voting for him. Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness. I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ follower) means He leads, I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does because He is the leader .
I can't vote black because I am black, I have to vote Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second. Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white. I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
In an election there are many issues to consider but when a society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, and human cloning wrong, economic concerns will soon not matter.
We need to follow Martin Luther King's words, don't judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record. His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in the US Senate in 2007.
NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (1/31/2008).
To beat Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton as the most liberal senator takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in two short years. I wonder what
would happen to America if he had four years to work with.
There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 % rating.
There is a reason the homosexual community supports him.
There is a reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas, etc., love him.
There is a reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court.
There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill.
There is a reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion.
There is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito.
These two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial birth abortion--the same practice Obama wanted to continue.
Let's take a look at the practice he wanted to continue.
The 5 Step Partial Birth Abortion procedure
A. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby's leg with forceps.
(Remember, this is a live baby.)
B. The baby's leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
C. The abortionist delivers the baby's entire body, except for the head.
D. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby's skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the hole.
E. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.
God help him.
There is a reason Obama opposed the parental notification law.
Think about this: you can't give a kid an aspirin without parental notification, but that same kid can have an abortion without parental notification. This is insane.
There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years. Obama tells us he has good judgment, but he sat under Jeremiah Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I wonder why now?
Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him. A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 'Go and make disciples of all nations.' This means reproduce yourself. Teach people to think like you, walk like you, talk like you believe what you believe, etc. The question I have is, what did Jeremiah Wright teach him?
Would you support a white President who went to a church which has tenets that said they have a:
1. Commitment to the white community.
2. Commitment to the white family.
3. Adherence to the white work ethic.
4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the white community .
5. Pledge to allocate regularly, a portion of personal resources for strengthening and supporting white institutions.
6. Pledge allegiance to all white leadership who espouse and embrace the white value system.
7. Personal commitment to embracement of the white value system.
Would you support a President who went to a church like that?
Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been marching outside. This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up after 20 years and just discover he went to a racist church. The church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular race. He came for the whole world.
A church can't have a value system based on race. The church's value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if its a white church or a black church--it's still wrong. Anyone from either race who attends a church like this would never get my vote.
Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal theologian
James Cone, author of the 1970 book, "A Black Theology of Liberation." Cone wrote: 'Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally
with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him."
Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe this?


Huntley Brown is a pianist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He is a Jamaican and his wife, Annette, is from the island of Barbados. Huntley is a graduate of Judson Baptist College and NIU. He has a Master's in Piano performance from Northern Illinois University.