Where was the No on Prop. 8 support BEFORE the election?

By DAN ROSS
Register Online Editor

In the weeks leading up to election day -- especially in the final four days -- I saw a tremendous amount of Yes on Prop. 8 support building throughout northern California. I was in a number of different cities in the election's final days, and in each city I came across a large curbside gathering of placard-waving Yes on 8 supporters.

I saw a grand total of zero No on 8 activities in those same cities in the final days leading up to the election.

With the election results showing that same-sex marraige is going to be banned in California, NOW the No on 8 crowd starts gathering in massive numbers for unorganized, and sometimes organized, protests about the decision of the electorate.

Hey protesters, if this was so important to you, why didn't you get out to the opposite streetcorners and work to generate support for your position? Why wait until after the decision is made by voters to get outside and be so vocal about something you feel so passionate about?

Before any of you begin trying to label me as a Yes on 8 supporter, I voted the opposite, but I can easily admit that the Yes crowd sure appeared far more effective in drawing attention to themselves and their cause in the days before we all voted.

I do not like some of the TV ads I saw from the Yes on 8 crowd. I do not like the incredible amount of money that came in from out-of-state to support the Yes on 8 crowd. Despite that, I do need to give credit where credit is due.

Those who supported Prop. 8 in Napa, in Vallejo, in Fairfield, in Davis, in Sacramento, in Citrus Heights, in Folsom, in Auburn and other cities by becoming part of the curbside crowd definitely were out in public to show their voting preferences.

Would the vote been a No on 8 if those opposed showed in as large a force as they are doing in their post-election protests?

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