Fair / 48° F
Marriage voters speak out after amendment loss
Published 11:37am Thursday, November 8, 2012While elections are over and the results are in, discussion over the marriage amendment hasn’t slowed down.
“I’m glad it didn’t pass,” said Otter Tail County DFL chairman Mike Windey. “I don’t think that belonged in the constitution.”
The Rev. Greg Paffel, however, said he didn’t think the amendment was actually “voted down.”
“I’m a little disappointed,” he said. “I don’t think it was really voted down. A lot of people didn’t know to vote yes because if you leave it blank, it’s counted as a ‘no.’”
A total of 1,399,806 voted yes on the amendment, 1,506,029 voted no and an estimated 33,591 were left blank, and by state law were counted as a no, leaving only 47.62 percent of the yes votes.
While gay marriage is still not legal in Minnesota, the fact that the amendment did not pass might be a sign of things to come. Minnesota was the first state to defeat a constitutional ban, after 30 states approved them in the last decade.
Until Tuesday, gay rights activists had never won a statewide vote, an indicator that acceptance for gay marriage is beginning to show up on election day.
“I think there’s going to be a lot more conversation over the issue,” Paffel said. “It’s not going to change anything for my teaching or the teaching of the Catholic church. If it does anything, it will embolden people who would like to keep marriage between a man and a woman and pursue if further.”
Windey said he thought this amendment would have been a step in the wrong direction for Minnesota.
“I believe it would have made it legal to discriminate against a class of people, and the constitution is supposed to encourage freedom,” he said.
Community members spoke out on the issue, and Erick Fromming of Fergus Falls said although he voted “yes” to the amendment, he wasn’t too disappointed when he saw it was voted down.
“It doesn’t really bother me,” he said. “I don’t think it will really affect anything.”
“The Rev. Greg Paffel, however, said he didn’t think the amendment was actually “voted down.”, and the sun still revolves around the earth. Copernicus and Galileo Galilei were wrong and you’ll go to hell if you eat fish on Friday.
Benjamin alias, please tell me where it is written that same sex marriage is a civil right. Some rad-lib judges have decided so, as well as some rad lib legislatures, but my definition of a “civil right” are those things enumerated in our constitution or fetermined by the supreme court of the land.
Marriage is an institution created by the immutable laws of our Creator. Fools may mess around with that, but will have a price to pay on Judgement Day.
It sure is ironic you calling anyone a fool.
Hey there Cammy, gonna go rile up some senior citizens today?
Fortunately, for the sane people of America, we don’t decide things in accordance with “your definition.”
“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” is a phrase in the Declaration of Independence. The phrase is meant to exemplify the “unalienable rights” all human beings are endowed.
I know you’re dying to fire back with some more mis-used metaphorical arguments of, “well what about child molesters and their pursuit of happiness!!!” but please show some restraint.
So you’re saying God is the boss of marriage? That’s funny, when I got married I went down to the courthouse, picked up a license, and had it filed within a certain length of time. I don’t remember seeing God at the courthouse… maybe it was his day off.
And, even God doesn’t force anyone to follow him – doesn’t the bible say that choice is ours? Pushiness is NOT next to Godliness.
I’m glad you are at least willing, in your own words, to respect the decisions of the Supreme Court. I presume that includes the right of a woman to have an abortion, right?
You and Mr Olson are angry, vicious, disrespectful people.
Your opinions are your opinions, that does not mean your opinions are correct models.
That say a lot Nancy, coming as it does from one of the most hysterical vitriolic mudslingers on these pages.
Some people refer to your behavior as projecting (unconscious transfer of feeling: the unconscious ascription of a personal thought, feeling, or impulse, especially one considered undesirable, to somebody else)
Thank you, Ms. Stokes, for the compliment.
I have gay friends, neighbors, and co-workers. They are fine people.
I have a problem when pompous, judgmental turds suggest my friends should be treated as anything less than equal. In fact, I have a huge problem with it. So, yes, when it comes to dealing with mentally-polluted imbeciles of that nature, I will be vicious and I will be disrespectful.
There is no room to “agree to disagree.” Forget that. If you think I’m going to listen to someone crap all over my friends and then cower back and say, “well we just have different opinions,” you’re wrong.
America, as a country, has enough challenges facing it without a group of bigoted fools trying to oppress their fellow citizens. Those people must absolutely be shouted down until they unpolluted their brains and join those of us who want to advance and move forward.
I hope you’ll join us, it’s a much better side of the fence to be on.
It is amazing to witness the lies people tell themselves to help them get through the day. Case in point: Reverend Paffel. Even if every single blank response was counted as a “yes”, the measure still would have fallen short by over 70,000 votes. Though it’s not a landslide by any means, the intent of the electorate is quite clear.
But hey, why should facts get in the way of a good story? Seems we’ve been following that logic for the last couple millennia, and everything been great, right?
And there was also this note printed on each ballot to help prevent the misguided non-vote:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/440024/bo/2012/amendment-ballot.jpg
It reads: “Failure to vote on a constitutional amendment will have the same effect as voting no on the amendment.”
To the oft-quoted maxim “The world belongs to those who show up,” I would also add “and read.”
lets hope that Gay marriage never becomes a reality in Minnesota.; There have always been and there will probably always be Gays. However this is only an attempt to legitimize and get the public to endorse this type of behavior. A marriage has always been between a Male and a Female. God created Eve to be a companion to Adam. Notice I said Eve, not Steve.
Christians base their beliefs in Gods word. Churches all need to stand together on this issue. There are some so called Churches that are straying from the teachings of the Bible. They are simply trying hard not to offend anyone.If this is the case maybe you need to seek a different Church. Offending a Gay is probably doing that person a favor. Sin needs to be pointed out, and maybe that Person will repent of their sins. Christ will forgive if we are sincerely ask him for that forgiveness.
Get behind me, Satan.
The old “Adam and Steve” nursery rhyme huh? I think that one might predate the knock-knock joke. *yawn*
It’s interesting… if you listen to folks who are actually educated on topics like social policy and the [positive] effect of diversity on society… they don’t say stupid things like you just said.
So, I guess we can surmise you don’t really know what you’re talking about, you’re just some dude who wants to hate on people you don’t know but think are gross?
Mr. Jim, do you think your own naked intimate escapades are some beautiful spectacle or something? Grow up and get beyond the hehe and haha of boobies and peepees.
Hope I just did you a favor.
Will Christ forgive extreme arrogance? I can’t remember when I’ve heard such a pompous, portentous affected condescending comment. I truly believe even Merle Hexum would be loath to let such hatred slip from his lips. This is like Jerry Farwell came back to life just to insult people.
Jim Aaker, it is people with attitudes like yours that turn more people from Christianity than the so-called devil. If I had to sit in church next to your attitude, I would rush out and take a shower.
No doubt, the first one in many moons.
You know Camillbill, when you get personal and vulgar you show everyone reading here how shallow you are and that you have not the intellectual resources to call upon to formulate an argument. That may be one of the reasons so many disregarded your advise in the last election. It is evident that even a devastating loss is no occasion for you to reflect, even assuming you possessed that capacity.
So the king of personal and vulgar attacks admonishes someone for doing the same? The king of shallowness and hypocrisy – that’s you RichardMunk. Keep up the good work – your wife must be so proud of you.
The GOP needs to wake up and realize that unless they loosen their stance on social issues(pushing their religious views), they may not win another national election. Whether they choose to believe it or not, the majority of people do not(and never will) agree with them.
I know it is hard to accept, but it is a losing battle and the gap will continue to widen. The younger generation is much more social conscious and tolerant. They hear some of the crazy things that Michelle Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Todd Aiken etc. say, and want nothing to do with the party.
This same generation(and the ones to follow) will be voting for the next 15+ presidential elections. One would think that this would be a good group of voters to appeal too, yet they seem to have no interest.
For the record I have voted GOP in all 7 of my presidential elections, but it is becoming much harder to do so.
We need to change the GOP before the GOP we lose it.
We need to change the GOP before we lose it.
Edit feature would be nice.
I agree with the intelligence test to be able to vote. If you cannot pass a driver’s test, no vote.