Sunday, Nov. 02, 2008

Vote no on Prop. 8, supporters' scare tactics

Proposition 8 is about eliminating a fundamental right. Furthermore, the campaign for 8 makes false statements about leaving our constitution as it is written. Clearly, these misrepresentations are designed to frighten people into voting for a bad law.

These scare tactics are even being repeated by some local religious and community leaders. Truth: Religious beliefs are already protected under our constitution. A "no" vote on 8 will not compel ministers and priests to perform marriages they don't want to. Truth: California's public schools already give parents power to opt out of health and family life education they see as inappropriate.

Scaring the public into voting for protection they already have is paranoid and wasteful, not to mention discriminatory. Vote "no" on Proposition 8.

JANET BETCHER

Modesto