Opposition to ballot questions grows

No surprise on 1.

Maine sheeple love their bloated tax-and-spend gummint, so no surprises there either.

Voted NO on 1.

The part about Question 1 should be no suprise, I agree with Beelzebubba!!!

Mainers DON'T supress other people's rights. They believe in EQUALITY.

Equal rights for EVERYONE!!!

VOTE NO on ONE!!!!

No.

To onemanarmy: VOTE NO ON 1

Do not underestimate the silent majority.

please, "silent majority" - shut-up !

It is just wrong. Nothing more needs be said.

Actually, this seems like the "Bradley Effect" in that, when questioned, people are too embarrassed (whether its because they're homophobic, racist, sexist, etc.) to state their real intentions in the voter booth.

The BDN is backing the NO vote on question one...Obviously their comments and polls are going to favor the NO vote also...I am not too excited....The YES vote will prevail....

Gay anything is just plain wrong. Yes on one.

Why would anyone vote against Tabor...and send a message to Augusta that we are happy with their job and support them? They have had year after year after year to change the outrageous taxing that they impose on us. We need control....from the little wannabes at the town level to the Augusta loosers.

I could not care less what lie they spew to keep from giving up their control over us.

I will vote for Tabor

The problem in Maine is that taxpayers are outnumbered by people who either do not pay taxes or that feed , either directly or indirectly, off the government teat. In the end, the private sector employed taxpayer always loses in this great State.

garysavard;

I believe that you are correct and it's very sad.

Vote YES on 1 it is the only vote that protects THE WORD written on MARRIAGE.

I see all of the negative energy being spent on these message boards, condemning a people who are only asking to be treated fairly and justly under our laws. We are not asking for your acceptance, we are not asking for your approval. We are asking for equal protection under the law.

Standing for fairness and equality under our laws is what good people across America have done for hundreds of years. And throughout our history, naysayers and pessimists have been with us, every step of the way, predicting doom and destruction for whatever expansion of rights, inclusion of groups, or extension of protections has been debated.

They have consistently failed in their efforts to exclude citizens from the table of rights and responsibilities mature adults enjoy. And we have consistently failed to disintegrate as a country.

As history has shown, we are right in our struggle, and we will be victorious. I make no predictions regarding the November vote; it is my sincere hope that love and understanding will overcome hostility and fear. But the outcome of this vote in no way changes the outcome of this struggle. Marriage WILL be legal for all consenting adult couples, and our country WILL be better for it.

I speak out because these honest, hard working families deserve the protection of our laws, for precisely the reasons that are so obvious on these forums— there are people out there who hold irrational hatred toward those they know not, and our state needs to come to the aid of minorities who are being made to feel like second class citizens by outsiders who will never take the effort to truly know them.

I speak out, and I say NO. I say ENOUGH. It is time to allow these families the security they deserve.

Please join me in voting NO on 1, not because we will eventually "win" our rights, but because you should find it in your heart to not stand in the way of our happiness.

Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness... All men created equal.... these are REAL American values... vote NO one one

Please, Vote YES on one !!!

In this never ending battle between right and wrong, we must always stand for what's right. Allowing more and more immorality has never benefited society, never.

VOTE YES ON ONE

Every single vote is going to count on this one. Please

encourage family and freinds to get out and VOTE YES

on one. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for

those who can't get out. It's going to be very important.

Don't believe the polls. Do what you know is right. Vote YES on 1.

Well, if question 1 is really all about equality then I think we should go with Cass Sunstein, President Obama's regulatory czar, on his opinion. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=114034 We should just get rid of marriage all together because it discriminates against the single people of the state. Since I know this fight isn't really about "equality" I will be voting Yes on 1.

ConvivialVisits: Thanks for your measured, logical, and sane comments. You are quite correct.

Unfortunately, after having written for days in favor of Vote NO on 1, in various papers across the country, and having donated some big bucks (for me) to the campaign, I have come to the conclusion that trying to reason with people who, in their minds, have "GOD on their side and everyone else will burn in the Fires of Hell for Eternity - Amen" is much like trying to reason with a Komodo dragon - you just cannot. All he sees in a meal. Period.

This does not mean I will quit trying.

BUT, what is going to win this is GOTV - "Get Out The Vote." Every last "Vote NO on 1" person has to get to the polls (or use an absentee ballot) and VOTE. We have come to the edge of the river. Now, we need to cross it. This is what will make the difference.

Thanks, again, for your positve and encouraging comments.

Extending rights to a minority, even minorities who are unpopular at the time, has NEVER been a bad idea here in America.

In this never ending battle for equality and fairness, we must always stand for what is right by our constitution and our sense of what is fair and just.

Allowing more and more equality has always benefited society. Always.

Vote NO on 1, and make future generations of Mainers proud.

ConvivialVisits;

You may be right, someday it may pass.

We will hold it off as long as possible though. It is not the same as skin color or race. It is behavior. It is behavior that many people think is perverted and disgusting, and they simply do not wish to have it around them. Therefore they will hold it off as long as they can. Some have still not forgiven homosexuals for the spread of Aids, and the feeling that they have the "right" to expose the rest of us to it, instead of being quarantined like other diseases have been.

History has shown no such thing. You have a few very liberal areas. California has already had their fill of this nonsense and revoked it.

Certainly the people of Maine are smarter than to follow a place like Massachusetts.

forHIMtoday :

What is immoral is people of christian faith shunning and denying people equal rights ,,,thats whats immoral.

I say we tax your church and collections...

To the YES on 1 people:

I have read your comments. I do not agree with most of the justifications you provide for voting yes. I really believe in the separation of church and state and have lived in countries where this is not the case and find it makes me very uneasy. Canadian friends have told me that when they went to school, everyone would get issued a small copy of the bible. (Thoughts of Mao's "Little Red Book" entered my mind.) In reality, probably the Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim kids just shoved it in the back of their lockers, but the idea of a state-sponsored religion, to me, was so Uni-American.

Now, I am watching the neo-Christians come in and tell "the rest of us" that we cannot get married in a state-sponsored, legal, contractual manner, because somehow this offends THEIR particular religious beliefs as if these, apparently, are the only beliefs that matter. There is no consideration given to the beliefs of other faiths and those who do not share the same belief. The way I was raised, we would call this rude.

An outsider would say there must be some impact to the neo-Christians for their stand. But, there is no impact on them. None. So, why then do they feel this way? I have no answer. Every response I get from them is a quote from the bible or some unfounded fear that their children might read about current events and become aware of the real world. Perhaps, this is fear that information might endanger their control?

Believe me, when the law is left standing, the impact on religion, straight marriages, and children, if anything, will be neutral or positive.

Vote YES on 1: promote bigotry and intolerance by stripping rights of your fellow citizens.

Vote YES on 1: ignore the fact that the definition of "marriage" has already changed.

Vote YES on 1: insure children in Maine have inadequate support and care.

Vote YES on 1: continue the spread of lies and misinformation.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Vote NO on 1: to insure equality and inclusiveness for ALL Maine children.

Vote NO on 1: to promote the security and integrity of ALL Maine families.

Vote NO on 1: because the term “marriage” already includes married same-sex couples.

Vote NO on 1: prove once again that the old adage “As goes Maine, so goes the nation” is true for all the right reasons.

WTF266: Your comments are incorrect in just so many areas, I won't even try to correct you with the facts. You should do some research from real, reliable sources, not some neo-Christian website, and then re-evaluate your comments.

WTF266, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this matter. I think the voters can see what emotions your opinions are drawn from and will gauge them accordingly.

I'm puzzled that you would withhold forgiveness on something that we're not even responsible for. Are you also holding animosity to primates in general, where autoimmune deficiency syndrome was first documented? Do you hold animosity to the continent of Africa, where the spread of this terrible disease is most rampant (also its origin point)?

I think it's obvious that California's legislative process was hijacked by special interests that funneled many millions of dollars into a campaing that, just like this one, was full of lies, distortions, and intentional misdirections that confused the voters. Also, I think it's obvious to everyone who is watching this issue that California's proposition 8 will be found to violate their Constitutional protections of equal treatment under the law, as well, and it will be overturned.

Our legal system is a good system, and ensures that equality is eventually extended to all deserving minorities. This history has absolutely borne out.

Vote NO on 1, it's the moral and correct thing to do for ALL Maine families and their children.

Convivialvisits wrote: "We are not asking for your acceptance, we are not asking for your approval."

Of course that's EXACTLY what you're doing. You are asking the voters to redefine the definition of marriage to show that they accept you and your lifestyle just as much as heterosexual couples. Nobody is saying you can't be happy and be with anyone you love and do anything you want to do behind closed doors, and you can walk around holding hands in public just like normal couples do. This is NOT about happiness, but instead is about you asking for the same acceptance and approval that is traditionally reserved for heterosexual couples. You might get a little more support if you were a little more honest about what you are asking instead of pretending that it's not about acceptance and approval when it clearly is. People don't like dishonesty, no matter what the subject.

VOTE YES to finally say enough with the immorality already. You have gone too far, and you will go no further. Its time we turned our hearts back to God. Enough with the porn, illicit sex, cheating, lying, homosexuality, lust, perversion constantly in our faces. Look what its doing to our children! Enough, no more!

VOTE YES, we want our country back.

this is what people like tedlick really want

On 10/18/09 at 5:06 PM, tedlick wrote: Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It will be in Maine. It will be soon. And I'll be sure to hire somebody like you at exorbitant cost just to see them cater the wedding.

Nothing would make me smile more.

Report abuse

"Of course that's EXACTLY what you're doing. You are asking the voters to redefine the definition of marriage to show that they accept you and your lifestyle just as much as heterosexual couples."

There are already same-sex couples in the US of A that have a marriage certificate from the state.

The definition has already changed. Quit being afraid of something that does you no harm.

"People don't like dishonesty, no matter what the subject"

BWA HA HA HA HA... And you guys have Bob Emrich who has lied on television in front of the entire state (and been called on it) and Mark Mutty who has admitted that Yes on 1 campaign has lied in their TV ads?!?!

Good grief...

Vote NO on 1: to insure equality and inclusiveness for ALL Maine children.

Vote NO on 1: to promote the security and integrity of ALL Maine families.

Vote NO on 1: because the term “marriage” already includes married same-sex couples.

Vote NO on 1: prove once again that the old adage “As goes Maine, so goes the nation” is true for all the right reasons.

Vote NO on 1

9:01 AM, forHIMtoday,

If the money means nothing, then so be it: don't take the job. I fail to see what this has to do with anything.

YOU want homosexuals locked up, or worse, but lack the intestinal fortitude to admit it. That shows a horrendous lack of faith in the monster you've made out of the Christian God.

You yourself have said you know this is coming. I am perfectly comfortable with the idea... Marriage already includes same-sex couples in America. That's all I'm after...

Vote NO on 1: to insure equality and inclusiveness for ALL Maine children.

Vote NO on 1: to promote the security and integrity of ALL Maine families.

Vote NO on 1: because the term “marriage” already includes married same-sex couples.

Vote NO on 1: prove once again that the old adage “As goes Maine, so goes the nation” is true for all the right reasons.

For all you folks who are always complaining about taxes, welfare and other fiscally conservative positions...think about the future economic impact of allowing same sex marriage. A study was done to analyze the impact same sex marriage would have on Maine's economy. Here are some highlights from that study. I will put the link at the bottom of my comment so you can check it out for yourself. Wise fiscal conservatives will vote NO on Question 1.

1. Same-sex couples marrying in Maine would boost the state budget by $7.9 million per year.

2. Approximately 2,316 of Maine’s same-sex couples would marry in the first three years.

3. Approximately 15,657 out-of-state couples we expect to travel to Maine to marry.

4. Income tax revenues will rise when same-sex couples file jointly. (positive net gain of almost $70,000 per year)

5. Sales tax revenues will rise as a result of new spending on weddings. (60 million in sales and tourism and over 3 million in new state tax revenue over 3 years.)

6. State expenditures on means-tested public benefits programs will fall. Extending marriage to same-sex couples will reduce the State’s public assistance expenditures. Just as married spouses are obligated to provide for one another’s basic needs, a same-sex spouse’s income and assets would be included in assessing an individual’s eligibility for means-tested public benefits after entering a marriage. This will reduce the number of people eligible for such benefits. We estimate that extending marriage to same-sex couples will save the State at least $3.4 million per year and as much as $7.3 million in its spending on public benefit programs, depending on how much discretion the State is granted to determine whether the income of same-sex spouses is included in Medicaid eligibility standards.

7. Maine will receive increased revenue from marriage license fees. The fee for a marriage license in Maine is $30.00. The result is that same-sex marriages will generate $539,193 from these fees over three years.

http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/publications/MEfiscalAnalysis.pdf

forHIMtoday: "Enough with the porn, illicit sex, cheating, lying, homosexuality, lust, perversion constantly in our faces." Hmm... interesting. From my experience, I would not say these issues are the sole purview of gay people. I hardly think the porn industry could survive on a market of 10% of the population. Oh, wait, I was lied to - apparently, we are not 10% of the population but only 2.5%. And, I might add, I have seen way too many "straight" men over the years who have "crossed over the line."

The point here is that all of these issues you mention exist in small amounts across the board for all people. Your comments are emotional rather than factual. Set the bible down for a moment, go out for a walk, get into the 21st century, and see where the world is today. You will find it not as bad as you think. And, I would suggest not sending any more money to those TV preachers, despite their demands. You must have seen a bit of the news to realize they are using a lot of that money for jets, hookers, hustlers, drugs, booze, broads, bad hairdos, and really, really tasteless furniture.

Jeffrey, I have always been upfront and honest about this issue. This is absolutely an issue of equal protection under the law, it is civil marriage we are talking about here.

When civil rights were protected for blacks, there were absolutely still places where blacks would get beaten, ostracized, or worse. But our courts, our laws, and our tax-paid benefits were equally extended to them nonetheless.

This is what we are asking for. There are plain, bona-fide benefits to marriage that loving couples in Maine are denied because of unnecessary restrictions to civil marriage.

Civil rights legislation protects against discrimination, but what the Maine legislature determined is that the existing statues on marriage denied legal benefits and protections to gay and lesbian couples for no demonstrably legitimate reason. So they changed the law to be more inclusive and allow these loving, committed families into this great tradition for family building.

It is absolutely an attempt to normalize a situation that is unconstitutional by our US Constitution's 14th amendment. The civil rights movement of the 20th century also had to point out the systemic unfairness of Jim Crow laws that violated the constitution. Laws such as "everyone can vote, but you have to pass a literacy test" were every bit as unfair to the sharecropper blacks then as "everyone can marry, but you have to pick someone of the opposite sex" is to homosexual couples today.

Aside from that, though, I don't care if you like me. I'm not seeking your acceptance, I'm seeking equal treatment under the law because I'm every bit a citizen of this country as you are, and I show every bit of commitment to my soul mate as you might yours.

Vote NO on 1, and protect ALL Maine families and their children.

tedlick, if people have lied on the other side of this issue, that is wrong too. After all, did the lies you mentioned change YOUR point of view? Of course not. No more than the obvious lie that convivial wrote and I pointed out is going to persuade anyone who plans to vote yes. Why would you suggest that I'm afraid of it. I'm not even sure what's to be afraid of here. I just don't think "marriage" should define anything but one man and one woman who are in love and pledge themselves to each other til death do us part." That's my point of view, you're welcome to yours.

Every single vote is going to count on this one. Please

encourage family and friends to get out and VOTE YES

on one. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for

those who can't get out. It's going to be very important.

You're right HRH...

Every single vote is going to count.

I encourage everyone not only to get out and vote, but volunteer your services as a driver to get folks to the polls that may have no other way. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for those who can't get out, and get as many out as possible!

Get anyone and everyone out who you can to vote NO on 1 and insure equality under the government for all Maine citizens and their families!

Vote NO on 1

Centaurmyst:

You have let the cat out of the bag, my friend. I know this is a stereotype, but I personally do not know of many gay couple who are on welfare (in fact, I know of none). I also would suggest that most gay male couples, at this time, do not have children, probably due to the fact that they cannot get married in so many places and that security of raising a child comes into play. I know many lesbian couples who have children. Not so much with the men (me, being an exception).

The point is that most gay male couples are DINKS - "Dual-Income, No-Kids" and is every real estate agent's dream-come-true. Two male incomes with a lot of disposible income and very few expenses.

I have had more than one straight couple come to me, telling me of the dollar advantage to all of this.

If you don't believe it, take a run down to Ogunquit sometime. Tell me there are not a few bucks down in Maine's gay capitol.

forHIMtoday....you wrote "Enough with the porn, illicit sex, cheating, lying, homosexuality, lust, perversion constantly in our faces."

Wow dude...don't you think you should be making this plea to all the televangelists, priests and ultra conservative politicians who seem to be partaking of those exact extracurricular activities more so than any other groups in the country? If you are tired of seeing all that stuff perhaps you should consider surrounding yourself with different people and turn off your television and computer. The people I associate with are more into volunteering, helping others, raising their children, going to college, working, spending time with their family, etc. What kind of people are you hanging out with anyway? Geesh!

Jeffery,

With all due respect: you cannot prove that ConvivalVisits lied: you only have your opinion: not fact.

The lies perpetrated by the Yes on 1 leaders can be proven with verifiable fact (in fact, Mutty admitted his).

Your word against ConvivalVisit's doesn't show any form of lie.

Marriage in the USA already includes same-sex couples. You're a little late on that one.

why are we the only country in the world to be considering same sex marrige it takes a man to make a woman and a woman to make a man therefore i think our creator intended the family unit to be comprised of man,woman and child had it supposed to be any other way dont you our creator would have thought of that. futhermore i think that most referendum questions are written by these special interest groups to try to confuse the general intended outcome of the voters however we native mainers well get it right by the time its over VOTE YES TO STOP SAME SEX MARRIGE

Jeffrey, I have conducted myself with complete honestly in this forum. Please provide me an example of where I have lied.

You may disagree with my point of view, and I may disagree with yours, but I am not lying about my beliefs.

Vote NO on 1, and see past the distortions and distractions that make up the referendum supporters' arguments.

forHIMtoday:

You a virgin?

Did you have pre marital sex?

You are just as immoral as the rest of us.

There will always be homosexuality.

There will always be lesbienisim

There will always be porn.

There will always be same sex couples.

There will always be gay children.

Give it up ,even if this doesn't pass it will never, and I mean never go away.

If you can't live with it and accept it,you might as well crawl back under the rock you came from and hide from society.

For being of christian faith,you sure have allot of hate in you

Maine people are smarter than you and more accepting,maybe that someday their children might grow up and be in a same sex relationship. People are going to do what makes them happy, not what makes you happy. If they are happy with the same sex then they will continue to be wit the same sex.

Not your decision who the sleep with..

So did you have pre marital sex?

Lets see your morals be cast out the window,,, let your skeletons out of the closet.

wonderingwhy, we are absolutely not the only country considering this. Others have posted the list of countries that ALREADY support marriage equality, and in all of those nations there have been no negative consequences to allowing committed couples the important protections of civil marriage.

I'm sure someone will post the list for you soon, they always do :)

Vote NO on 1, and make future generations of Mainers PROUD.

Again, the only arguments offered by the "Yes on One" group boil down to religion. "God says so!" Well, my God says otherwise. Other people's version of God said that blacks should not marry whites, Jews marry Gentiles, or Catholics marry Protestants.

One disputed religious belief should not be the law for every citizen. If you don't want same-sex marriage, don't have one.

convivial, I think I've been pretty clear that I don't begrudge you being with anyone you love and I certainly don't dislike you. I just don't think you should be dishonest about this referendum being about acceptance and approval of gays. It might also be about equal protection, but that's not all it's about and everyone knows that. If you were seen as honest and straightforward, less people might be suspicious of you and you might get more acceptance.

Your comparison with blacks who were "beaten, ostracized, and worse" is disingenuous and absurd. That's not happening to gays and if it an isolated incident ever does happen, just like if it happened to the rest of us, the guilty criminals will be arrested and prosecuted.

As long as you are making statements like saying this is not about "acceptance and approval," people will see that you are trying to pull the wool over their eyes and will naturally resist that.

wonderingwhy :

We are not in the days of our creator,, and if we were i'm sure that he would want us to live our lives to the fullest the way it make us happy.

Time are changeing every day and we are not going to stop it. Have to go with the flow.

There will always be homosexuality.

It will never go away .

"let your skeletons out of the closet"

HE WON'T LET THEM OUT OF THE CLOSET!!! THEY KEEP HIM COMPANY!!!

Jeffrey, just don't call me a liar because you disagree with my point of view. I at least extend that courtesy to others here.

It is ENTIRELY about equal protection under our laws, that is why it is civil marriage we are fighting for.

And I have always said it is about equal protection under our law.

Take your beef up with someone else who speaks about us needing more acceptance, because that isn't what I've ever said.

Vote NO on 1, and make future generations of Mainers proud.

I'm voting YES on 1.....

Wonderingwhy:

Really, you need to get out more. As someone stated, a list of all the countries who long ago legalized same-sex marriages was published and it is extensive. When we legalize SS marriage at a national level, we will be very far down the list behind other countries.

And, have you heard in the international news of negative fallout from any of these SS marriages? No, because it is a news non-event. No big deal.

Vote NO on 1 - show the neo-Christians and naysayers that Maine is truly traditional! We long ago adopted a "live and let live" motto.

This is ONLY European countries.

European Countries that recognize same sex couples

Andorra (Registered Cohabitation)

Austria (Unregistered Cohabitation)

Belgium (Marriage)

Croatia (Unregistered Cohabitation)

Czech Republic (Registered Partnership)

Denmark (Registered Partnership)

Finland (Registered Partnership)

France (Registered Partnership)

Germany (Life Partnerships)

Hungary (Registered Partnership)

Iceland (Registered Partnership)

Ireland (in process of enacting Registered Partnership)

Italy (some regions have Registered Cohabitation)

Liechtenstein (expected to enact Registered Partnerships in near future)

Luxembourg (Registered Partnership)

Netherlands (Marriage)

Norway (Marriage)

Portugal (Unregistered Cohabitation)

Slovenia (Registered Partnership)

Spain (marriage)

Sweden (marriage)

Switzerland (Registered Partnership)

United Kingdom (Registered Partnership)

Specific legal info at this link:

http://www.ilga-europe.org/europe/issues/lgbt_families/marriage_and_partnership_rights_for_same_sex_partners_country_by_country

anonon,

I don't expect the Church to come out in favor or even official acceptance of me having premarital sex, and you shouldn't expect them to support officially sanctioning gay marriage. You're right that all the things you mention exist and always will, but that doesn't mean that people who don't approve of them should be asked to vote in support of them. Nobody is preventing you from being with anyone you want to be with, or from being a lesbian or looking at porn, etc. and nobody is preventing any adult from having premarital sex, all just as it should be.

Every single vote is going to count on this one. Please

encourage family and friends to get out and VOTE YES

on one. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for

those who can't get out. It's going to be very important.

You're right HRH...

Every single vote is going to count.

I encourage everyone not only to get out and vote, but volunteer your services as a driver to get folks to the polls that may have no other way. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for those who can't get out, and get as many out as possible!

Get anyone and everyone out who you can to vote NO on 1 and insure equality under the government for all Maine citizens and their families!

Jeffrey...do you think that every child in Maine should be entitled to child support and an appropriate custody arrangement in the best interest of the child when their parents break up?

Do you think the INNOCENT children of same sex couples are any less entitled to our protection in Maine than the rest of the children here?

Do you want to send those children the message that they are, in some way, "less than" every other child in Maine?

If you care about innocent children in Maine then you will vote NO on question 1.

Voted YES on 1

Question 1: People's Veto ......YES

"Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

Question 2: Citizen Initiative .....YES

“Do you want to cut the rate of the municipal excise tax by an average of 55% on motor vehicles less than six years old and exempt hybrid and other alternative-energy and highly fuel-efficient motor vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax?”

Question 3: Citizen Initiative ....... YES

“Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?”

Question 4: Citizen Initiative........ YES

An Act to Provide Tax Relief

“Do you want to change the existing formulas that limit state and local government spending and require voter approval by referendum for spending over those limits and for increases in state taxes?”

Question 5: Citizen Initiative ........YES

“Do you want to change the medical marijuana laws to allow treatment of more medical conditions and to create a regulated system of distribution?”

Question 6: Bond Issue ......... NO

“Do you favor a $71,250,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities, including port and harbor structures, as well as funds for the LifeFlight Foundation that will make the State eligible for over $148,000,000 in federal and other matching funds?”

Question 7: Constitutional Amendment ..... NO

“Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to increase the amount of time that local officials have to certify the signatures on direct initiative petitions?”

Anyone who votes Yes on question 1 supports and sanctions parental neglect of innocent children...

how ignorant

"Do you want to reject the new law that allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

Is this really something you want to do? Are you not voting away your own Freedom of Religion?

Jeffrey :

I was referring to forHIMtoday who was talking about immorality.

Immoral is a part of life.

forHIMtoday:

Is making themselves out to be a saint on a pedistal and would like to remind them that they are no better than anybody else.

Jeffrey:

Also the churches and religious organizations have nothing to do with this at all,,, but all you bible thumpers think that we should all live by your values,,,well guess what we will continue to look at porn,we will continue to sleep with the same sex,we will continue to live our lives that make us happy . I don't expect them to accept the way i live my live,but you hight and mighty church goers expect us to live by yours...

8:55 AM, Jeffrey ; Exactly, I wish I had said that. Very good.

tedlick; We are most definately NOT "afraid" of homosexuals, now you are twisting people's comments to suit yourself. Fear and repulsed are two very different things. And no...we don't want you "locked up or worse" just don't try to tell us it is a perfectly normal thing because it is not.

Centaurmyst; 9:08 AM Give me a break. California is BANKRUPT. Don't hand us that BS.

convivial, you already have equal protection under the law just as much as I do. I'm single, but do have a few close, long term friends who I feel quite committed to, but I don't feel like it would be appropriate for me to ask for my employer to extend the same benefits to my close friends or even one close friend as are extended to husbands and wives. Those special privileges, that my employer doesn't extend to single people like myself, but does extend to married couples, are just fine with me. As long as I stay single, these "equal protections" will never be available to me and they won't be to you either. The fact that neither of us has chosen to marry someone of the opposite sex is our own choice and we shouldn't expect to receive the same level of support from society, or our employer, as those men and woman who do marry. If you were so all about equal protection for all, why didn't you make single, heterosexual, people like myself eligible for the same benefits you strive to get for yourselves?

This is about you asking the people of Maine officially to vote for accepting and showing approval (specifically and exclusively) of gays and gay marriage, why try to hide that? Marriage is not about equal protection for you or for me, it's about a man and woman making a family together.

You're right ted...

Every single vote is going to count.

I encourage everyone not only to get out and vote, but volunteer your services as a driver to get folks to the polls that may have no other way. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for those who can't get out, and get as many out as possible!

Get anyone and everyone out who you can to vote YES on 1 and tell Augusta we're standing up for what's right for Maine families.

10:05 AM, Jeffrey;

Holy cow....your good. You have the ability to put into words what many of us think.

Vote Yes to eliminate Freedom of Religion

Vote Yes to let the government know that you as an individual and/or a religious groups do not want the option/exemption of refusing to perform certain marriages.

Cutting off your nose to spite your face?

WTF266...California doesn't have same sex marriage. It got overturned, remember? Perhaps if it remained legal California wouldn't be quite as "broke".

Also, comparing Maine to California is like comparing apples to oranges. You should compare Maine to Vermont because the states are similar. I actually lived in Vermont when Civil Unions became law and there were NO negative impacts at all. There was, however, a huge boost to the economy and job creation. It was VERY good for Vermont, which is like Maine in that they rely heavily on tourism.

No on 1 is the only sensible, logical and moral choice. Protect ALL children of Maine AND boost the economy all in one!

You know i dont really care either way on the gay marriage thing. The one thing I do care about is that I beleive it was two years ago we voted to give gays the same rights for housing and i agree completely with this. A funny thing though when the people supporting this was asked about gay marriage they said that would not be pursued. Suprise I guess they changed there minds. So why should I trust these people now when they say my kids will not be taught this crap in school. fool me once your bad fool me twice my bad. Im not buying there b#llsh#t this time. Im voting yes. Shouldhve been honest two years ago and I may have supported it.

vote NO on 1

nobama2012 - that is straight out of the newest Yes ad.

Voting NO on 1!

Centaurmyst 10:18 AM;

"California doesn't have same sex marriage. It got overturned, remember? Perhaps if it remained legal California wouldn't be quite as broke". You got my point...only of course you reversed it for your own cause. I was alluding to homosexual marriage being the cause of their bankruptcy, so they dumped it. I'm sure that homosexual marriage just means a pot of gold for all.....NOT.

Centaur, when you write such absurd things about this being about not protecting children, you're clearly just trying to stir things up and cannot hope that anyone will take your argument seriously. First of all, no matter how much sex lesbians and gays have, nobody gets pregnant and no kids result, read your biology book. Children are ONLY the result of heterosexual relationships. So it's not a very big problem. Second, it's pretty difficult for unmarried, single people (straight or gay) to adopt kids, and if this is occasionally granted, there should be ONE single person who is responsible for them so in case of a change in their relationship status, it is still clear who is responsible for caring for them. That's just like if I, as a straight single person adopted a child, that child would always be MY responsibility no matter who I might have a relationship with in the future. If I happen to date or marry a woman with lots of money, that's great, but I wouldn't count on her money to raise my child and I wouldn't expect her to pay child support if we break up.

Jeffrey:

What idf you have a child and you die?

Who would be responcible for that child?

This also goes in a same sex relationship also.

Doesn't matter you have to be legally together as equals to be able to get custody,if you or one parent dies

Beelzebubba, Maine's own Lord of Darkness, shall vote next Tuesday as follows:

1) NO...who cares who marries whom? I wasted ten years married to a shrew. Spread the pain, I say.

2) YES...taxes are evil. The roads already suck year-round.

3) YES...I don't really care, but since Baldacci dreamed up this notion, I say rub it in his face before he leaves office.

4) YES...see #2

5) YES...Maine needs more stoners. If this passes I may need a prescription.

6) NO...the state will just raid this money and give it to layabouts and welfare mamas.

7) Toss-up...don't care (this is the dumbest question on the ballot)

Vote early and vote often.

Thanks a lot WTF, I feel the same way about you and several other posters whose views just seem like common sense to me. I guess I've just got more time one my hands. YES on ONE!

well if that is right out of the newest yes ad i guess they are being truthful in the ad. Say whatever you want, but anyone who was around for that previous vote remembers they vehemotly denying they were pursuing gay marriage. pay attention to history it will tell you alot more then a thirty second tv ad. dont trust the no campaign they were dishonest once why trust them this time.

Jeffrey:

What happens to a child of a same sex couple if one of them dies?

Do you know what happened oafter 9-11?

There were same sex couples that lost their partners,the ones they loved.the one they built a future with,the one that they raised children with. Do you know what the partner got that was left behind? Nothing. The family stepped up and took everything ,even the remains. Do you think that ,that is what the person would have wanted after they died? No, so without legal binding of marriage kids,and same sex partner stand to lose everything that worked hard for all their lives,,,, How would you like that to happen to you?

nobama2012:

Thats crap and you know it,,,, the ad also says that the schools are hireing advisors and groups to push homosexuality on children,,,, try again,,, they are called GLBT ( Gay,Lesbian Bisexual, Transgendered) support groups and they are in all schools because of people like all of you haters and they need these support groups to be able to live in a society of biggotry,hate and ignorance.

Don't listen to the lies people as it gets closer they will come out with any kind of lie to change people to vote the way they want you to..

Maine values equality and everybody should be treated fairly,with respect and equality.

VOTE NO ON QUESTION # 1 For future generations to be treated equally.

Already VOTED NO ON QUESTION # 1

“On 10/27/09 at 5:18 AM, BeaverFood wrote: Do not underestimate the silent majority. “

Are you referring to the “vote yes” side? When did you folks ever become silent? That’s funny! And whether they/you are a majority remains to be seen next Tuesday.

I’ll agree on one thing…don’t underestimate the opposition. Each side really needs to encourage their supporters to participate. Even those of us ahead in the polls should take nothing for granted.

Get out and vote!

And please vote “NO” on Question 1. Be part of an important step forward for fairness and equality among your fellow Mainers.

PROTECT THE CHILDREN OF MAINE.......VOTE YES.......ON QUESTION ONE

anon see california school system and then we can talk. No lied once to all of us how can we trust them now?

anonon 11:02 AM;

Don't worry yourself about that happening to Jeffery...it won't .....for the obvious reason.

If I had a child but I died, then I would hope the courts would have the wisdom to place that child with someone they loved and who would love them and be committed to raising them with good values. If I were cohabiting with such a loving person who was also committed to raising a child, I would hope they would be considered first, but after that, I have 3 sisters who have all proven they can be AMAZING moms and I'm sure they would open their homes to any child of mine if the need arose. But this whole argument is pure silliness because gay couples, by definition, have CHOSEN to not participate in the one activity that is known to cause kids to be born. And of those very few who do successfully adopt, how many are in a committed relationship with another gay person who also is committed to raising children, and then dies? Do you REALLY think this is a big problem that needs to be addressed by changing the laws?

dont we already have a domestic partner law in this state. If we do why not alter this law to cover same aspects as gay marriage. Just an idea.

The President of the World, ( Obama ) is against Same Sex Marriage too.

"Do you REALLY think this is a big problem that needs to be addressed by changing the laws?"

Yup. All citizens are to be treated equally under the law. Pretty simple.

i think thats why we have domestic partner law so that all citizens are protected equally by law.

Hi ForHim, you are SO correct....allowing more and more immorality will not benefit society. I vote to remove your immoral bigotry from our society!

poormaniac, perhaps if you concerned yourself with you, your career and your family, you wouldn't need to use that name.

I bet everyone on here would be for things that would help you find a better job, get retrained, take care of your family. In return for that you want to restrict people's rights? Very sad to say but maybe you deserve the name you've given yourself.

Even with your bigotry, I would still stand up to help you. How can you be against my equality when you have your own admitted issues?

Sad.

The homosexuals are looking for "special" treatment, not "equal" treatment. Watch the commercial with the elderly woman talking about her homosexual son and his partner...the first thing out of her mouth is that Rodney and Robbie (or whatever their names are) are "SPECIAL", there it is plain and simple, right in their own commercial.

Every single vote is going to count.

I encourage everyone not only to get out and vote, but volunteer your services as a driver to get folks to the polls that may have no other way. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for those who can't get out, and get as many out as possible!

Get anyone and everyone out who you can to vote YES on 1 and tell Augusta we're standing up for what's right for Maine families.

wtf266, having grown up in CT and moved to MA for my career and have a vacation home in ME I can tell you mainers ARE SMARTER than massachusett's people in that they do not consistently try to budge into others business. I recently moved a few blocks and one of my new neighbor familes, with lots of kids in tow and beautiful blow dried christian hairdo's were falling over themselves trying to figure out what kind of family I had.

I had no intention of entertaining their sick voyeurism. I have not encountered this in Maine. I'm constantly thanked for pluncking down roots in Maine, spending money and yes, exposing my neighbors to diversity. I've been THANKED for this.

You however don't seem to have inherited the maine genes of fairness, open mindedness and most importantly mind your own business.

You don't want it around you? don't be around it. You think it is behaviour? don't behave that way (we disagree and we are the ones that would know).

What exactly are you holding off? Do you think unmarried gay couples will turn straight? Are you that stupid? The information I have on Aids is it came from straight sex to this country. What other STD's have led to quarantintes?

You are a victim and a pawn of interests that want to limit and do harm to our society. You need to think for yourself, for if you did you woulldn't trumpet the lies of the bigots.

yes on 1 will not "hold it off as long as possible". We've been here for thousands of years (more than the 6k many believe about the earth's age). Your bigoted vote will not affect that. It will affect our prosperity and security and honestly I simply here envy in many people objecting to our family being recognized. Envy we have something to pass on to our survivor, envy of our hapiness...not sure exactly what but that is what it sounds like.

Quite selfish. Very un-way. (as in the way life should be).

You're right HRH...

Every single vote is going to count.

I encourage everyone not only to get out and vote, but volunteer your services as a driver to get folks to the polls that may have no other way. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for those who can't get out, and get as many out as possible!

Get anyone and everyone out who you can to vote NO on 1 and tell Augusta we're standing up for what's right for all Maine families.

“On 10/27/09 at 11:15 AM, Jeffrey wrote But this whole argument is pure silliness because gay couples, by definition, have CHOSEN to not participate in the one activity that is known to cause kids to be born.”

And why is this, do you think? Why do some couples choose same-sex partners?

The answer is really simple. Because we are not biologically attracted to persons of the opposite sex. Instead, our natural sexual orientation is toward others of the same gender.

No, our argument is not "pure silliness". It’s all about fairness. We are as much in love and committed to our relationships as any devoted straight couple is. Marriage is a logical end-result of such a relationship and we feel we deserve that.

And if the polls are any indication, so do a lot of other people.

Please vote “NO” on Question 1. Support marriage equality.

hi ForHim, you are abusing your children by teaching them bigotry and you constantly crie "the children, the children". you sound like that political ad with bush wriinging his hands "but what about the embryoes?".

I've seen you lie so many times on here, maybe you need a dose of your own medicine. You are truly a sad obsessed man. ForHim indeed, I think it means much more than you admit. Your posts are just silly, but mean spirited, cries to honor your fairy.

No fairy tales for me, and bigotry will not win. "we will go no further"? I have news for you...YES WE WILL. Keep wriinging your hands, but if you want to contribute to society perhaps you should start by focusing on this life, the only one you have.

Like you are going to stop us, that had me laughing.

Jeffrey, the honesty plea comes right back at you.

"holding hands like normal couples"...honest? shouldn't you say what you mean "holding hands as if you were a normal couple"?

this IS about happiness...you say stay behind closed doors. (first, you have no right and I'll be in your face if I want to be) How can we be happy if you want to quarantine us?

I do not want nor need your acceptance. I can tell that that would add very little to my satisfaction in life coming from someone who lets others thing for him. This is about our laws. I do not accept vinyl siding but do not advocate for a law against it. See the point?

yes'rs should at least be honest. They want their personal issues of prejudice, discomfort and repressed attractions enshrined in discriminatory marriage laws. We know you would not stop at that. At least be honest about your bigotry.

Jeffrey...

So you are saying that all the children being raised by same sex couples who were created through a surrogate mother, artificial insemination or from one of the couple adopting aren't really children? They don't count in Maine and aren't entitled to equal recognition under the law? Does that also apply to all those religious families who adopted or were unable to conceive and used these same methods should also have their kids' rights and protections stripped from them because they weren't produced by just that couple the old fashioned way?

And you say that what I wrote is absurd? Ooookay....

I'll let the readers decide which argument holds more logic, reason and validity.

Excuse me...I have to attempt to get the coffee that just shot out of my nose off my laptop...

Hey CGGAge, great comment to forHim (I can't get over how that name sounds..someone had to tell me it wasn't a fetish description).

Anyway, I've had the exchange with him already. He is engaged in child abuse and you make a great point that his kids might learn about the real world.

Instead they are learning about santa clause and the easter bunny and how he would not accept the partner of their choice if it didn't match his credentials.

Child abuse, to make your children live under the same irrational fear you have spent your whole life running from.

I always say this is not about the children, but if by chance we save his, that is a good thing.

Every single vote is going to count.

I encourage everyone not only to get out and vote, but volunteer your services as a driver to get folks to the polls that may have no other way. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for those who can't get out, and get as many out as possible!

Get anyone and everyone out who you can to vote YES on 1 and tell Augusta we're standing up for what's right for Maine families.

So Jeffrey, if you are not afraid why do you feel your version of marriage should be the only one? I agree with you! You "just don't think marriage......." I agree you don't think that.

Its not the issue of what a marriage is to you, it is what it is to us. And, the issue is you voting (potentially) against my marriage because it is different than yours.

Newsflash: we can have both. Nobody is going to make you deal with this, nobody is going to come in and change your wife's sex. in fact there will be zero impact to you.

So Ted is right, you are afraid of something that you shouldn't be afraid of. Keep your definition of marriage, I have no interest in taking that away from you. It is, however, irrelevant to the question, which is "should you vote to take away my right to marry?" If you say yes to that, I say it is way beyond bigotry. It is incredibly hubristic and selfish too. A sane person would simply say "none of my business..not something I could or would care to take away" and vote no to the veto.

this isn't about allowing gays to marry..its about vetoing a specific law. Think about what you are telling your elected reps with a yes vote. It is a sick perversion of our political system.

I like HRH's point about driving people to the polls.

think about it..are you going to call your neighbor "hey, want a ride? first let me ask..you are going to cast the bigot vote, right"

Based on the polls, getting as many people to vote is going to help us. Don't assume the religious based bigots will vote yes...my neighbor is a very involved pentacostal who will vote no and has a good group of her congregation voting the same.

Go send a bus and think you are bringing in the bigoted vote. You are not, and thanks for the help!

Wow, lots of responses to this article already.

The efforts are under-way...good to see so many getting involved.

Voting No! on Question #1.

Wonderingwhy, you said it "I think our creator" that is your opinion. I think differently.

And, wake up! We are not the only country. duh.

then you say the special interest groups, being the RCC and NOM, write these to be confusing? They want to win. It is not confusing at all. Veto the law or do not veto the law. Why would they "try to confuse the general intended outcome of the voters" if they want people to agree with them? that's the dumbest thing I've read today.

"So you are saying that all the children being raised by same sex couples who were created through a surrogate mother, artificial insemination or from one of the couple adopting aren't really children? They don't count in Maine and aren't entitled to equal recognition under the law? Does that also apply to all those religious families who adopted or were unable to conceive and used these same methods should also have their kids' rights and protections stripped from them because they weren't produced by just that couple the old fashioned way? "

Of course I didn't say any of the things in your paragraph above.

The point is that very few gays have kids by any means and if they do, under present law, these very few kids have all the same rights as all other kids. Even fewer kids are born to gay couples or adopted by gay couples and then one partner dies while the kids are still young. The kids all have full recognition under the law, it's the homosexual partner that may not be recognized so why don't you just say that instead of trying to distort the issue? Of course the remaining homosexual partner can apply to adopt the child just like the original gay parent did. Not a problem , especially not a problem for the kids. You'd probably be much more persuasive to undecided voters if you stopped pretending this is about kids because we all know it's not. It's about gays wish for us to tell them their lifestyle is "normal," when it's clearly NOT normal. Vote YES on one, I already did! :-)

BeaverFood: You Said: "Do not underestimate the silent majority."

If they are silent, they are not the majority. Only those who speak up (vote) get a say in their government.

Vote No! on Question #1.

You may be very surprised Addisonattimes.

AionCA: With respect, you do not help the "No on One" cause with responses like "shut-up."

Vote No! on Question #1.

You're right HRH...

Every single vote is going to count.

I encourage everyone not only to get out and vote, but volunteer your services as a driver to get folks to the polls that may have no other way. Offer to pick up and deliver absentee ballots for those who can't get out, and get as many out as possible!

Get anyone and everyone out who you can to vote NO on 1 and tell Augusta we're standing up for what's right for all Maine families.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Vote NO on 1: to insure equality and inclusiveness for ALL Maine children.

Vote NO on 1: to promote the security and integrity of ALL Maine families.

Vote NO on 1: because the term “marriage” already includes married same-sex couples.

Vote NO on 1: prove once again that the old adage “As goes Maine, so goes the nation” is true for all the right reasons.

? domestic partner law

Voting NO! on Question 1

Voting Yes! on TABOR II (Should have passed the first two times, though this iteration is better, I think).

DownEastDave: You Said: "Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness... All men created equal.... these are REAL American values... vote NO one one" Amen, brother.

ForHIMToday: You Said: "In this never ending battle between right and wrong, we must always stand for what's right." Allowing more and more restrictions on the pursuit of happiness has never benefited society, never. VOTE NO ON ONE.

SonOfLiberty: You Said: "Don't believe the polls. Do what you know is right. Vote YES on 1." I say, don't believe the polls. Do what you know is right. Vote NO on 1."

Arwen10: You said: "We should just get rid of marriage all together because it discriminates against the single people of the state." I would support that. But that's not the issue in this referendum. Vote No on 1.

Voting No on Question 1.

dont buy the hype vote yes.

Jeffrey :

Yeah go ahead and trust the courts with your child,,, be put in foster home after foster home and like my nephew,got abused by 3 of the foster homes he was in.

Oh and by the way My partner has 2 children from being married,,, and I also have 2 children from being married, and if anything happens to me ,,, I want him to raise my children,,, and same goes if something happens to him,,,,we have no other people in our family that are able to care for children,,,they have either passed on or are too old,,,, and I will not let the state decide where or who will care for my children.

I know a lesbian who went out and got a guy to knock her up so her and her partner could have a child together,,,so that is another way of being able to have a child when you in a same sex relationship...

For this reason the law should be changed.

VOTE NO ON QUESTION # 1 For the equality our children and future generations.

What's next,polygamy?

“On 10/27/09 at 11:31 AM, WTF266 wrote: The homosexuals are looking for "special" treatment, not "equal" treatment. Watch the commercial with the elderly woman talking about her homosexual son and his partner...the first thing out of her mouth is that Rodney and Robbie (or whatever their names are) are "SPECIAL", there it is plain and simple, right in their own commercial”

I’m sure her son and his partner are special to her. Aren’t you special to your mom?

This “special rights” argument from the “vote yes” side is so lame. I remember those “stop special rights” bumper stickers from many years ago. Well, the voters saw through the lies then and will hopefully not be mislead this time, either.

Stop special rights for straights by allowing gay couples to legally be married. Show America that Maine is open-minded and fair.

Please vote “NO” on Question 1.

Alces247: You Said: "What's next,polygamy?"

If it's between consenting adults, sure. I'd support that.

Hey when YES wins will the addage "as Maine goes..." still be the expectation? I love the TABOR ads..."we're voting on this again"? YES should have used that line!

Vote YES on ONE. Acceptance cannot be Legislated

MaineIsMyHome: That's just not right,it's also illegal. We should keep it that way.

This is a democracy. "We the people..." If that phrase doesn't apply anymore,then I pity our future generations.

Ahhh yes, polls. Aren't those always fascinating? Especially since so many people vote BEFORE election day - which incidentally, I have no idea why we have an election day in the first place. Apparently we don't seem to have to need a legitimate reason not to vote ON election day anymore.

These ballot questions will be answered after ELECTION day. To use early voters as a gauge poisons the process in my honest opinion.

12:21 PM, alces247,

"it's also illegal"

What, exactly, is illegal?

12:23 PM, alces247,

"This is a democracy. "We the people..." If that phrase doesn't apply anymore,then I pity our future generations."

Can you name for me just ONE act by the judicial branch of our country (note I did not say state) that was determined by popular vote?

C'mon... just ONE.

12:23 PM, alces247,

"This is a democracy. "We the people..." If that phrase doesn't apply anymore,then I pity our future generations."

Can you name ANY federal law that was determined by popular vote?

C'mon... just ONE!

“On 10/27/09 at 12:19 PM, TurkeyTalker wrote: Vote YES on ONE. Acceptance cannot be Legislated”

But apparently prejudice can.

Let’s put a stop to that. Please vote “NO” on Question 1 for marriage equality.

at 12:02 PM, Jeffrey wrote: "The point is that very few gays have kids by any means and if they do, under present law, these very few kids have all the same rights as all other kids. Even fewer kids are born to gay couples or adopted by gay couples and then one partner dies while the kids are still young. The kids all have full recognition under the law, it's the homosexual partner that may not be recognized so why don't you just say that instead of trying to distort the issue? Of course the remaining homosexual partner can apply to adopt the child just like the original gay parent did. Not a problem , especially not a problem for the kids."

If a heterosexual couple adopts a child, both parents are parents at the time of the adoption. We don't force one adult to be the parent and the other to be a prospective parent who can apply for the right to be the parent to the child(ren) that he or she has been raising since the adoption if the other parent dies.

Seriously, are you taking cold medicine or something? Did you actually read what you wrote? Good Lord, that is seriously messed up.

Why in the world would you force something like this upon families? If the couple had been allowed to marry, this would never be an issue.

already voted, No on 1

This "portland" poll is inaccurate. Just the BDN trying to sway the vote in the direction they want again by publishing polls that are in their favor. If you don't believe me. take these numbers and compare them with the actual vote in november. Has anyone on this blog participated in the poll?

JoeDoe:

Yes I did.

WOW Anonon, WHY would any person (gay or straight) actually get married to someone who wasn't even of the same gender they were attracted to? If neither you nor your partner can even make up your minds about whether you want to be married to a woman or a man, you're hardly a walking, talking example of a stable and nurturing environment in which to raise kids. All the more reason why marriage should be ONLY between a man and a women, and you have to be sure about which you are before applying!

Jeffrey, there are a great many same sex couples who are committed to one another every bit as much as heterosexual couples. I have been together with my soul mate for over 17 years, and we really would like the same benefits as tax paying Maine citizens that other couples who show our level of commitment receive.

Civil marriage is a civil right. Our Maine state constitution compels our legislature to extend equal benefits of marriage to all loving couples, it is in our society's best interest to promote monogamy and stability, both qualities that good marriages exhibit.

Vote NO on 1, and make future generations of Mainers proud.

Addisonattimes: Thanks for the praise. Not one to wish the time away, but I can hardly wait until 1 week from today. My partner and I already have started talking about wedding plans. (We are optimistic.) No matter the outcome, I suspect there will the a slew of lawsuits, allegations of voter fraud, and on and on.

Thankfully, in 10 years, after SS marriage is available for 10%, er, ah, 2.5% (according the the Talibanettes [Taliban Lite members]) of the population, this will be as mundane as inter-racial/inter-faith marriages are now.

Hopefully, the Talibanettes will retire back to Mudflaps, Mississippi, and leave the rest of us the hell alone.

Vote NO on 1!

Jeffrey...... how old are you? When I got married I was 19.... and wanted to have a family (kids) .... I know many were doing that without getting married but that wasn't the way I wanted it..... I was dating a guy who was in his late 20s and so (don't fall out of your chair) I ask ed him to marry me. Well we had three kids and I found that he was not the man I thought he was ... eventually we divorced. When did I know I was not a straight female? Looking back I was probably 6 .... but had no vocabulary for it ..... just knew I liked girls better than boys. Crushes that I had in jr. high and high school were on females. I was in my thirties when I finally figured it out to..... never dated anyone .... but fell in love with another female. See a few years ago it was a given that girls would grow up and marry the man of their dreams .... have kids a house and a little white picket fence ..... especially if you grew up in a small town ..... that was societal expectation.

Lyn (Jack is out of town)

Jeffrey...you cannot support Yes on 1 without viewing those children being raised by same sex couples as not mattering. That is the entire point I was making. There are MANY same sex couples in Maine raising children. Why are you ignoring artificial insemination and surrogate mothers as if they don't exist? Same sex couples can utilize those procedures and services anytime they wish. Single people can adopt children. Single homosexual people DO adopt children and those children are raised by the same sex couple. Those children are bonded to those parents. If the birth or adoptive parent dies and the surviving parent is not recognized as the automatic legal parent the state can remove that child and place them with strangers. It has happened to other children of same sex couples and has traumatizing influences on those children. Again, it is OUR job as adult voters in Maine to make our votes speak for what is right. Protecting ALL children is what is right. To me this has NOTHING to do with homosexuals, religion, the church, what I personally think or feel about any of it. It is about CHILDREN and I firmly and unequivocally believe that voting Yes on 1 would be one of the most horrific, hateful and detestable thing any Mainer could do because it would be HARMFUL to CHILDREN. I refuse to harm a child. That's why I'm voting NO on Question 1 and why I urge every parent who understands how important these protections are to their own children to grant those same protections to ALL of the children in Maine. That is the RIGHT thing to do and no amount of empty arguments will ever change that because NOTHING is more important than children...NOTHING.

Vote NO on 1...

"If a heterosexual couple adopts a child, both parents are parents at the time of the adoption. We don't force one adult to be the parent and the other to be a prospective parent who can apply for the right to be the parent to the child(ren) that he or she has been raising since the adoption if the other parent dies'

You conveniently left out one very critical word, "If a heterosexual (MARRIED) couple adopts a child....."

If "NO" votes carry the day, you'll be able to make your above assertion, but if "YES" wins, we'll preserve that marriage is a special state reserved ONLY for a man and a woman together. So your example turns out to be a good argument for a YES on ONE vote.

Especially since homosexual relationships tend to last even less time than straight ones, I think it's much better for the (very few) kids involved if just ONE partner is 100% responsible as long as they are alive. If that person dies while in a partnership with someone who's been assisting or even partnering in raising their kids, I have no problem with the other partner asserting themself as the most qualified/ likely replacement just as long as that's what the kids prefer too.

Jeffrey: get off the pills.

If you knew my story youd know why I'm in the situation i'm in as far as being a single parent and as far as how my children are raised i can assure you that they are treated better then how the homosexuals are being treted in this thread.

I was married for 10 years and have 2 children untill my wife decides that it isn't the life for her,she wanted to be free of children and commitment so we got devorced and I have the children. My partner went throught the same thing,,, his wife decided that marriage wasnt for her and she didn't really like kids,and had the children because her husband wanted them he had 2 children. We started keeping our kids busy with school activities and what we liked to call family outings,camping,hiking,traveling,and we started doing this together as a family and we started caring for each other more than we had thought,we became more then just friends. Now we have a house together and are a commited couple of 9 years raising our 4 children and they are happier then they have ever been. They have commented on their mothers leaving them because their mothers wanted to be free, well now they are and they are missing their children growing up. The children are raised to be proud of themselves and what they accomplish in life, and to respect others choices.

Jeffrey, that's exactly what marriage equality achieves; it protects children in situations where otherwise they might become victims of an ugly custody battle, especially if the partner is not on good terms with the parents of the deceased.

Your argument seems to be "we shouldn't have gay marriage because we don't have gay marriage."

Extending equality to others has never been a bad idea, and it's not a bad idea now.

Our nation has a very long tradition going for it, one of systematically extending rights and equal protection to minority after minority, group after group. This has been going on since our founding fathers drafted our bill of rights in our nation's infancy, and has been only going in the direction of equal protection under the law.

Vote NO on 1, and uphold our nation's tradition of inclusiveness, equality, and understanding.

"we'll preserve that marriage is a special state reserved ONLY for a man and a woman together."

Nope... you just insure that the battle for same-sex marriage goes to the Supreme Court of Maine.

Nothing more...

"Especially since homosexual relationships tend to last even less time than straight ones"

Jeffery, what's the longest relationship you've been in? Just curious...

Jeffrey:

Get to your closest methedone clinic because you need a fix,,, your talking bullscrap,,,,, like the rest of the yes voters.

1:32 PM, Jeffrey, isn't it good we don't allow you to make laws that effect other people's lives.

Vote NO on ONE

Can we please not verbally abuse each other?

Come on...we are all adults and fully capable of showing some courtesy to each other. I'm so sick of comments getting shut down because of personal attacks. Please...take the higher road when you are offended and counter what they say without the attacks.

OK !

Ya know Maine, there it is not much of a differance in the way WE Treat Gays like We Treated Blacks back in my Days. How did WE treat them. Well for ME it was just like slaves. I just didn`t KNOW it. The gays are in our communities, are good citizens, seems for the most part are hard working, live with there parents, or alone or livin together and have children.

Just like Straight Citizens. Other than reading about the pure hatred that some evil people do have for Gays. What differance is there, Just like back in the days of the Black Movement. Just like listening to one of the Greatest Speakers of Our time Doctor King, who promoted Equality and how to do in the Right Way.

What more do you need to know Maine.

What more do you need to know about Dr King and how he died. Do you remember the mourning. Do you remember the hate that came right back in our faces. Was that ALL of OUR faces. I know sort of that it was not my face or was it my face for not having stood up for what was Good vs Evil. That caused ALL that Hate that came right back at US. Do you remember That Now.

Just WHAT ???????????? Please do have left, tell US ALL WHAT

Aren`t ya tired of trying to figure out what is right.

Look it up in your History Books of YOUR MINDS and explain to you children of voting age that do not have much personnal history. What u Think of ALL that is our History that all kids should know about. Don`t you think ????

NOW Maine NOW, now is the time to show the World what the Great Standing Tall Pine Tree State is ALL about. NOW

We have a chance to Stand Up and Make US HIstory

Don`t you want ALL of us to Make ONE of the biggest % of Peoples Vote on what is right Statement for us ALL . NOW

Voting NO on #1 a straight ex-alter boy that just flat out cares about ALL of OUR Freedoms.

I am a true blood MainiYAK that plans to Stand as Tall as our Pines Trees and will be feelin just oh so PROUD. Right NOW

Maine with its Majestic Rock lined Coastline and its Standing Tall Pine Trees that has always said it to ALL who know of Maine. Maine says what, YES WE are So PROUD of our State. Now and forever NOW.

Come Nov 4th Maine is going to Demomstrate a Very Big and RE- affirmation of What Maine Stands For .

Rock Hard and Standing Tall for ALL and ALL the Rights for ALL.

Yep Just So dang Proud NO ONE can take that away from us ALL. True Rdd White and Blue melting pot that is ALL of US in this Great State which resides in the Great United States of America the good ole USA.

What more can be said,just what more all you Yes`ers in Maine can be said NOW.

Do you want to get on Board or What.

Just a humble straight ex-alter boy freedom lovin MAN from Maine.

Voting NO on #1 for Maine and the good ole USA

I still think OldJim's remark was the most accurate :

"Again, the only arguments offered by the "Yes on One" group boil down to religion. "God says so!" Well, my God says otherwise. Other people's version of God said that blacks should not marry whites, Jews marry Gentiles, or Catholics marry Protestants.

One disputed religious belief should not be the law for every citizen.

If you don't want same-sex marriage, don't have one."

free2bee,

I'm sorry but I just don't "buy" that you didn't know you were a lesbian when you got married. I feel pretty bad for the guy you tricked by pretending that you were attracted to him when you really were attracted to girls. That's his LIFE you are talking about with only some lame psychobabble about societal expectations to hide behind. You weren't anything close to what he thought he was signing up for and you knew it and I think that's a pretty monstrous crime against another person. Without going into inappropriate details that younger readers to possibly see,whether you are a man or a woman, there are VERY obvious signs about which gender you are attracted to, and those are there no matter what societies expectations might be.

Centaurmyst, I'm tired of you trying to put words in my mouth and pretend that your support for this is all about what's good for kids. So you and I will agree to disagree and won't respond to each others posts from now on (at least I won't). But don't forget to vote YES on ONE!

Great post, Electra...

Jeffery,

I asked a question at 1:38...

Care to answer? I'm stepping away for a bit, but I'll be back.

>Jeffrey wrote "If neither you nor your partner can even make up your minds about whether you want to be married to a woman or a man, you're hardly a walking, talking example of a stable and nurturing environment in which to raise kids. All the more reason why marriage should be ONLY between a man and a women"

Your argument does not fly either as evryday in the news you read about heterosexual couples whos children are being abused and die by one of their own hands. And these ARE marriages/relationships between a Man and Woman. Just because the relationship is man and woman does not make them any better parents. I would rather see children in a LOVING home with two people of the same sex before seeing a child in a bad home with a man and woman.

Vote NO on 1

Please Vote NO on ONE

Because ALL children deserve to be protected, not just the straight ones, not just children of straight couples.

A YES on ONE vote HARMS children.

Jeffrey :

if you actually knew any gay people you wouldn't be accusing free of a "monstrous crime".

By the way - where DID you get your Law degree ?

Face it, you are speaking out of ignorance, two times over.

"Can we please not verbally abuse each other?

Come on...we are all adults and fully capable of showing some courtesy to each other. I'm so sick of comments getting shut down because of personal attacks. Please...take the higher road when you are offended and counter what they say without the attacks."

I DO agree with you about this one subject. It seems that when faced with an argument they cannot counter effectively, many of those you agree with resort to accusing others of drug use and worse. Just on this one thread I've been accused of hating, taking "pills," "cold medicine," and been advised to go to a methadone clinic. I don't have a cold, the only pills I take are Advil once in a great while, and am not even 100% sure why ANYONE would go to a methadone clinic. All these statements are quite amusing, but I doubt if this sort of thing serves to persuade anyone that gays should be allowed to marry each other. Besides, isn't "hate speech" supposed to be a bad thing?

"I would rather see children in a LOVING home with two people of the same sex before seeing a child in a bad home with a man and woman."

So would I, but thankfully those are not the only two options.

Seacoast, you are correct, a NO vote upholds this poorly written piece of legislation which gives Government Officials (Justice of the Peace and Notaries Public) authorization discriminate against homosexual couples by refusing to marry them due to their sexual orientation. A YES vote doesn't take rights away from anyone because there hasn't been a homosexual marriage in Maine allowed under this law. So we've stooped to "what about the children"? And are these posters really saying they were married, had children, then "chose" to pursue a homosexual relationship? Or they were born that way but pressured into conforming to a Heterosexual lifestyle, defrauding their spouses? According to this definition something as simple as gender and sexuallity becomes so abigious and relatively obscure.

Vote YES on ONE, As Maine goes, so goes the Nation! Hopefully as Liberal California goes...

No, Turkey, that's a lie.

Jeffrey- I commend you for sticking to this for so long, but you really are wasting your time. I stopped commenting to the posters on this subject a while ago. In their opinion, anyone who is a yes voter is a hypocrit, a bigot ,an idiot and for some reason that we like to see children abused. ...the list goes on. They are posting in desperation, and actually- wont stop however the turnout is on the 3rd. Its sickening, and so are the majority of the posters here. Maine will vote on Tuesaday and hopefully the vote will be yes. If not- nothing really changes, people arent going to " accept" or " Condone" - ever. not in Maine.

Gee "Jeffrey"

Dang..... your response .... deja vu.... same response I got from someone else here a while ago...... how I tricked him and ruined his life ...... yup deja vu

Folks best if you don't respond to this guy ...... my advice and my opinion

Lyn

donnelly : you don't speak for everybody, when you say people are never going to accept or condone gay people, and then whine about being called a hypocrite and a bigot, you just lend credence to the assertions that the YES on One crowds motivations are as malignant as they claim gay people are.

People in Maine no longer buy this, it's a new century, and more of us refuse to be party to the kinds of things you advocate that harm same sex couples and their families.

turkey @ 2:07...I would have no problem with JP's and Notaries not being forced to marry same-sex couples; there are plenty who will..

As to the rest of your letter, I don't recall bringing up the "children" issue with you...not in this thread, anyway. And regarding people who switched sides sexually, there are many bisexuals out there who do that very thing. According to those I've spoken with, there is a certain amount of attraction to both genders for them.

Many others are strongly homosexual, but because of societal pressure will try to make it in the straight world and end up failing. I personally know of several situations like that.

As you pointed out, as Maine goes, so goes the nation. Vote "NO" for marriage equality and let’s send the message loud and clear that Maine won’t discriminate against gays.

in YOUR opinion . only. you dont have any idea how " we" ( the yes voters ) think and feel . because in YOUR tiny minds, we are wrong. how dare you! - Im pretty darned sick of listening to all of you. I was born and brought up in Maine, and I CAN speak for the people when I say that no- you will NOT be accepted .

I HAVE voted, and on Tuesday I am taking the day off to make sure yes voters can have a ride to the polls. We WILL fight you until the end.

of course.....thats not going to shut you up---we know this.......

donnelly :

We do not accept you or your ignorant input on this issue. You are the poorest excuse for a human being. Anybody that would want any individual that is a US citizen to be treated any differant than you, is an azz. Created equally,and shoud be treated as equals.

You say you want to protect the children and your really our to hurt them.

I hope that you have gay children or gay grandchildren and you will feel differantly if they are with the same sex and if you don't accept them then your no human being at all.

I VOTED NOON QUESTION # 1 ALREADY

I Also will be takeing the day off to give rides to the booths,and already am getting absentee ballots and handing them out to people that are VOTEING NO ON QUESTION # 1.

If you care about your future generations and want thenm to be treated eqally as any other red blooded american Then youll VOTE NO ON QUESTION # 1 Also.

Thanks you.

How quick some of the yes side is to call those of us who tell you over and over that we did not choose which gender we are attracted to.......to them we are liars.... or it is our opinion .... and because there no hard scientific evidence that we did not choose it ... we lie. Well I would not question you if you say you are heterosexual .... I might ask you when you made that choice .. but we know you don't like that question ..... but you know there is no hard scientific evidence that you did not choose it.

donnelly Sorry you can NOT speak for the people ..... I was born and raised in Maine too .... so were my parents and their parents and their parents and beyond. Some were founders of towns in the state. Some fought in the Revolutionary War, some the Civil War .... right through to the current war. Does that mean I can speak for the people? NO, no more that it does you.

You are correct ...... IF this law is repealed on Tuesday .... it will go to the courts. We will not shut up till we are full equal citizens under the law.

donnelly : Your outrage is phony, it's clear how YES voters feel, they come in here day in day out and make their phony assertions and express their fear of people and things that they admit they don't know jack about.

Of course you're sick of listening, you have a prejudice and it's eating way at you. Thing is, no amount of consorting with other bigots is going to ameliorate your own guilt, ignorance, and hypocrisy.

I never claimed I speak FOR you or any of the YES mob, I don't need to, you've all pretty much hung yourselves with your lies and your prejudice and the fear that you constantly espouse here. You are motivated by fear, we get it, it's the same fear people like you had at the idea of "the races mixing" or "women voting"

Your acceptance isn't necessary or even sought, nobody cares what you accept - that's the whole point, you don't have to accept anything, but at the same time, the rest of us don't have to allow you to exert control that you are not entitled to exert on people's families, people that by your own admission you know nothing about.

So you go ahead and take the day off from work and give other similarly fearful people rides to the polls, we'll see how Maine votes on this one. Either way, when it's all over, you'll still be afraid, and you'll still be an ignorant bigot hell-bent on doing harm to people you know nothing about.

Alces247: You said: "That's just not right,it's also illegal. We should keep it that way."

Marriage between blacks and whites used to be illegal too. Should we have kept it that way too?

Vote No! on Question #1.

Centaurmyst: You Said: "Can we please not verbally abuse each other? Come on...we are all adults and fully capable of showing some courtesy to each other. I'm so sick of comments getting shut down because of personal attacks. Please...take the higher road when you are offended and counter what they say without the attacks."

Amen, brother.

Vote No! on Question #1.

ElectraGlide: I assume your comments of 1:47 PM were directed toward me (my apologies if there was someone else, or the State as a group). I'm with you (though I wasn't alive when Dr. MLK died (I'm in my early-to-mid 40's).

The people of the State of Maine have a chance, finally, to show they are better than the backwater bigotry that many in the country have presumed us to have by virtue of being Mainers (come on, we've all heard the jokes..."You guys actually have electricity AND indoor plumbing?"). Maine people, I think, are better than that, and have a chance to prove it by refusing to accept lesser rights for its citizens.

As Maine Goes, So Goes The Nation...

Let's just hope it goes forward, not backward.

Vote No! on Question #1.

you are bitter, vile people. this is why I rarely come and even READ these anymore. The people will speak on Tues...in the meantime, I have better things to do with my time than listen or argue with any of you.

Vote YES on Tuesday.

Vote NO on Tuesday.

I haven't been in here for a few days but I see the "no" voters are still spreading the hate and discontent. See you all at the polls.

"A YES vote doesn't take rights away from anyone because there hasn't been a homosexual marriage in Maine allowed under this law"

Just because there has been no marriage doesn't mean the right hasn't been granted.

Good grief...

"you are bitter, vile people. this is why I rarely come and even READ these anymore."

YOU are voting the rights away from your fellow citizens and you call US bitter and vile?

Good grief...

Vote YES on 1: promote bigotry and intolerance by stripping rights of your fellow citizens.

Vote YES on 1: ignore the fact that the definition of "marriage" has already changed.

Vote YES on 1: insure children in Maine have inadequate support and care.

Vote YES on 1: continue the spread of lies and misinformation.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Vote NO on 1: to insure equality and inclusiveness for ALL Maine children.

Vote NO on 1: to promote the security and integrity of ALL Maine families.

Vote NO on 1: because the term “marriage” already includes married same-sex couples.

Vote NO on 1: prove once again that the old adage “As goes Maine, so goes the nation” is true for all the right reasons.

Just curious....can anyone tell me....if the homosexuals get married will it be "I now pronounce you husband and husband"? Or wife and wife? Will a homosexual man say "I have to call my husband and tell him I'll be late for dinner"? Does one get to be the husband and the other has to be the wife? Do they get to switch? Do they have arguments over who is going to be the "wife" tonight?

Do they have all these minor details worked out? It can't be "my mate" that would indicate breeding. "Partner" would allude to a business in most people's mind, details, details, is this guy in business or a homosexual?

I'm thinking the yes votes are going to win....but just in case I would like to be up to date. We rednecks are all clueless of course, but unfortunately we all get a vote.

wht can'tthey just say 'I now pronounce you married.' Stop worry about labels.

keep thinking, but don'ttyhink too much, your brain might shutdown for doing something it hasn;t done for quite sometime.

3:56 PM, WTF266,

Write your own vows... you can then word it however you want. People (straight people, btw) do it all the time. Problem solved.

So... there are really no "details" to work out. Oh, and "partner" is most common (as they're partners in this thing we call life).

I haven't seen anyone call you a redneck. Bigot, yes, but not a redneck.

Jeffrey...I was not quoting you with my responses to you. I was, however, attempting to show you the sentiments your comments are reflecting. It seems that you are bothered by what I wrote to you, and I'm very glad to hear that. That tells me that you did not intend to sound the way your comments implied. I urge you to really think seriously about the issue and the comments you have made. I don't think you mean for them to come across in the way that they are. You really do sound like you don't care about the children of same sex couples. Perhaps you should go back and reread what you wrote and think about it.

WTF...Gay guys refer to each other as "husband". I haven't spoken with any lesbian couples, so not sure what their references are.

In all cases though, the answer is the same as it is with straight people...you're marrying "the person you love".

Please vote "NO" on 1 so we can do just that.

tedlick;

I know you are the only cool homosexual on here, and only you will get a chuckle out of my previous question. I expect the rest to start calling names but I get a chuckle out of that too.

tedlick;

Oh yes thank you, I forgot bigot. It has been redneck too, just not today, but I can't expect you to read all the posts here.

For anyone who believed the references to the Taliban were off the mark:

----------------------------------------------------------

"The culture of homosexuality is a culture of self-absorption because it does not value self-sacrifice. It is a glaring example of what John Paul II has called the culture of death. Islamic fundamentalists clearly understand the damage that homosexual behavior inflicts on a culture. That is why they repress such behavior by death. Their culture is anything but one of self-absorption. It may be brutal at times, but any culture that is able to produce wave after wave of suicide bombers (women as well as men) is a culture that at least knows how to value self-sacrifice.

"Terrorism as a way to oppose the degeneration of the culture is to be rejected completely since such violence is itself another form of degeneracy. One, however, does not have to agree with the gruesome ways that the fundamentalists use to curb the forces that undermine their culture to admit that the Islamic fundamentalist charge that Western Civilization in general and the U.S.A, in particular is the 'Great Satan' is not without an element of truth. It makes no sense for the U. S. Government to send our boys to fight Al Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan, while at the same time it embraces the social policies embodied in Bill 185 (as President Obama has done). Such policies only furnish further arguments for the fundamentalists in their efforts to gain more recruits for the war against the 'Great Satan.""

- Guam Archbishop Anthony Apuron

----------------------------------------------------------

Did you get that? This Catholic Archbishop is saying that radical Islamic suicide bombers are better than gays.

WTF266 Said: "Just curious....can anyone tell me....if the homosexuals get married will it be "I now pronounce you husband and husband"? Or wife and wife? Will a homosexual man say "I have to call my husband and tell him I'll be late for dinner"? Does one get to be the husband and the other has to be the wife? Do they get to switch? Do they have arguments over who is going to be the "wife" tonight?"

Is this seriously the most pressing issue that the Yes on One crowd has to worry about? What a same-sex couple would call their spouse? How about Bill, or Ted, or Irene, or Janine, or Mary or Bob or Jennifer? Good Lord, does it really matter? Who really cares? The argument about what to "call" their spouse is the weakest justification I've seen for the Yes on One crowd.

I've never called WTF266 a bigot, tempting though it might be.

WTF266, if what you said is true (that TedLick) is the only cool homosexual on this thread, then the Yes on One referendum is going down in flames, because if there's this much support for No, and only ONE person is homosexual...don't you think that maybe, just maybe, you might reconsider your position? If this many straight people can support one homosexuals position...maybe you're just not on the right side. You know?

I'm the first to admit, I can't understand why anyone would not support same-sex marriage. I just don't understand it. I know there are people like me who can't understand why anyone would support same-sex marriage, too, but...

It always seems to come down to religion.

Which I suppose is why I just don't understand. Being a heathen atheist and all.

Vote No! on Question #1.

WTF266: I know your question was tongue-in-cheek, but in case anyone is wondering...

When we were married, the JoP pronounced us married. My husband refers to me as his husband. I refer to him as my husband. We divide up the chores at home and share them pretty equitably. Neither of us "owns" a specific task, and we just seem to naturally trade off and everything that needs to get done gets done. If one of us is going to be late for dinner, we call the other so no one worries. Neither of us is the wife. Neither of us wants to be the wife. We're both men.

When talking to someone about my husband, before we were married, I'd use the term "partner" (as in "life partner") but we also have worked together professionally and intend to do so in the future, so business partner is applicable too. Now that we're married, I use both "husband" and "partner". To-date, everyone seems to get what I'm saying.

Here is a situation that there are many of in this world for you to think about:

My situation is I was married for 10 years and have 2 children, My partner was married and has 2 children. We bought a house together to raise our 4 children and provide them with the life they deserve. We are raising them to be proud of who they are, be proud of where they came from, to be respectful, kind, and not to judge the way people live or live their life. We have taught them that they can do anything that they put their minds to.

We provide them with everything that they need. We give them unconditional love and support. They know and are fully aware of our living situation being a same sex couple and have no problems what so ever and all the children see us as their parents, not as 2 men, not as 2 woman, not as a man and woman,, the see us as equals and love us for who we are not for what we are. We told them that as long as you are happy with your life don't let anybody change you, it’s your life to live and do what you think is best and be proud of that. We taught them to stand up for what they believe in and stick to it.

Both our parents, brothers and sisters are up in age where they would not be able to care for our children if it came down to one of us meeting an untimely death. My children would not be able to go with my partner and his would not be able to stay with me without being legally married and adoption papers being drawn up they would end up in the hands of the state. How many of you would want you children being passed from foster home to foster home?

By being able to be legally married one or the other of us could adopt the other 2 children and make it legal so that if anything did happen they would be cared for by one or the other and stay in their own home that some day we would like to pass on to them, but without being legally married we would not be able to pass our estate and what we had built up and saved to be able to leave them something to give them a secure start in their adult lives.

By not being able to marry it would be like some of the 9-11 victims, where the partner left behind lost whatever they had worked hard for all their lives thinking that it would be left to the surviving partner ,,,but that is not what happened, families jumped in and took everything including the bodies so that the 2 committed partners could not even be laid to rest with each other in their joint resting place.

That’s sad to think that everything that you had built and planned most of your life went the opposite of how they wanted it to be in the end.

Some of you say that you want to protect the children, if all the children have is 2 dads or 2 moms that cannot be legally married and be treated equally as heterosexual couples and have the same rights , then the children have nothing but foster homes and being taken away from the parent that has loved, nurtured, and cared for most of their life that has no rights to their well being after their other half passes on .

The mothers are no longer in the children’s lives because they wanted a life of partying and being free to roam with their crowd of friends. They have stated to the children that they are better off and are glad they don't have to be responsible for their well being. They were never meant to be mothers and don't know anything about them and don't care to. So again what difference does it make to your lives if same sex couple get married and raise their children? How is it effecting your family?

VOTE NO ON QUESTION # 1 To protect the children of same sex couples and that they are treated as equals in society and get to stay at least with one of their same sex parents.

ALREADY VOTED NO ON QUESTION # 1 for the future of my children, my partners children, and generations to come.

It's not about:

Teaching children in school about homosexuality.

Turning children gay.

Wanting the public to accept homosexuality.

It is about legal rights as an American to be treated as equals and having the same rights as everybody in the country.

MaineIsMyHome 4:24 PM;

Well see? We do have something in common. You are speaking to a fellow atheist. Religion has nothing to do with it as far as I am concerned.

tedlick and I have had a conversation on here in the past and he made me LOL. Only he would have understood what I meant, or perhaps he has forgotten, no matter.

As far as religion goes? I believe it is for the weak of mind and spirit to believe some invisible mythical character is going to come make it all better.

I never use to care if anyone was gay or not but after reading so many rage filled attitudes by gays in this forum, I have changed my mind.

What kind of kickback does BDN receive for this thought control headline?

WTF266: You Said: "We do have something in common. You are speaking to a fellow atheist. Religion has nothing to do with it as far as I am concerned....As far as religion goes? I believe it is for the weak of mind and spirit to believe some invisible mythical character is going to come make it all better."

Excellent. "There are more of us than you think...", aye???

Glad to know you of sound mind. Even if I disagree with your opinion on the issue of same-sex marriage. :-)

Vote No! on Question #1.

On 10/27/09 at 4:49 PM, Scintillate wrote: "I never use to care if anyone was gay or not but after reading so many rage filled attitudes by gays in this forum, I have changed my mind."

BS. Project much?

If you want to see the sort of attitude that we gays are up against, scroll up and read my 4:24 PM post. With stuff like that to have to deal with day in and day out, I think we can be forgiven if we're a mite testy. However, even given that, the attitude displayed here by the Yes on One crowd is the worst. And a good deal of it has been pretty vile.

haakon :

The Taliban's are nuts,,, what about the children that use as human bombs,,, I don't believe that they are one group that you sshould be useing as and example to prove your point. whatever that may be.

Vote YES on 1!!

Vote Yes Forever On One!!

anon: The comparison is apt. And the Archbishop said this: "One, however, does not have to agree with the gruesome ways that the [Islamic] fundamentalists use to curb the forces that undermine their culture to admit that the Islamic fundamentalist charge that Western Civilization in general and the U.S.A, in particular is the 'Great Satan' is not without an element of truth."

He admires the way in which Islamic fundamentalists deal with homosexuals. They murder gays.

How the bloody hell _should_ I read that?

Vote NO on 1!!

Who are we to decide the rights of some one else. Things would be different if straight people were trying to get marriage legalized. And what about the special needs or African Americans. We didn't deny them rights. Why would we do that to the gays and lesbians? They should have every right as us. What if your child was gay? Wouldn't you want them to have the same rights as you? As it is now some cannot even make decisions for their life partners because of the way the law is written now.

VOTE NO ON ONE!!

I have too, there is a lot of rage and name calling on the no side, that is what is going to hurt them bad, and maybe even lose this one, Hope to God you do!!

Yes has been there done that with the name calling and rage as well.

VOTED No on 1!!

Vote No on 1!!!!!

Can't wait to VOTE YES ON ONE!!!!

But not as much as on your side, I can't believe you people, are you all okay or is it Me!

Please for the good and welfare of our wonderful country, PLEASE VOTE YES ON ONE!!!!!!

Papere:

How is same sex marriages going to effect your life?

How is it going to effect the welfare of our country?

Homosexuals will always be around.

Same sex couples will still be living together and raising children.

It is up to an individual how they live their life and who they choose to be with.

By voting Yes is not going to banish same sexes from the world or being in a committed relationship.

Eventually and mark my words, no matter what happens at the polls on Tuesday is not going to be the end, and the end result will be that we will be able to be legally married to the one we love and no matter what people want to accept that will be the outcome.

Give the reason that same sexes should not be legally married?

without bringing religion or morals into that reason.

This country was not based on morals or religion it was based on equality and that everybody be treated as equals and freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

anonon, you forgot to mention in your story how you "CHOSE" to be a lesbian, or was that intentional?

I would also like to add that the same sex couples even if they don't have children are paying taxes to so that your children can go to school and i'm not saying that they shouldn't but if they are paying the same taxes as heterosexuals then they should have the same rights and be treated equallly as the heterosexual couples.

You are twisted...... anon is male ..... I guess if he was once a lesbian it would have been when he was married to a woman..... oh wait he couldn't be one cause... he's male. You are so mixed up

Lyn

Don't worry 4HIM..... we all look alike on the comment boards....... but you really should go back and read anon's story so you don't make faux pas.

Lyn

forHIMtoday :

No and I'm sorry for that:

We are both males and we found each other after our wives decided that they didn't want anything to do with raising children or being in a comitted relatiopnship. The strange thing about it is that we both had the same circumstance that we were dealing with and had been friends for years and had kept in contact with each other,so we started to support each other and concentrating on our children , sombody had to be the responcible ones. We started hanging out with each other kids and all and doing things to keep our children stable and occupied so as not to disrupt their lives anymore than they had been. We went camping,dgetting involved in their school activities,,,, and with one income trying to raise children ,rather than going on the state for help we grew into a family and bought a house to gether and combined our incomes to provide our children with a stable home and future and as time went on had very strong feelings for each other which in the end we are in a comitted relationship and our main concern was the welfare of our children to provide them and raise them to a life they deserve.

It just felt right between us and we went with our feelings and our children are happy for us and for haveing 2 parents that love them unconditionally.

I trust a 'poll' from Pan Atlantic about as much as I trust politicians or news from the BDN / National Enquirer.

Preserve & protect the cornerstone of society, Vote Yes on 1.

Lyn you once again are the confused one or someone is lying, care to guess who?

n 10/8/09 at 8:26 PM, anonon wrote: Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

JoeDoe: I chose homosexuality the same way I chose heterosex. I found a person that I was attracted to,became friends with,and it grew into a relationship where we were there for each other through good times and bad times. What people don't understand is that love is a emotion that can't be controled it just happens. Just as it did when I was heterosexual, I met a girl, became great friends and it became a relationship which i was attracted to her and fell in love and we got married had children. It didn't work out for us because we fell out of love for each other because she wanted a differant life,she wanted to be free from all the responciblities of marrage and of being a mother of 2 children. I ended up consoling and being there for a long time friend in the same situation as mine and we started spending more time together and concentrating on our children being happy and making sure that their lives,feelings and what they went through with their mothers leaving them would not happen to them again. So eventually as I said before we grew attracted to each other,had the same thing in mind for our children and it grew into a great relationship where our children are the happiest now then they have ever been. They now have a family with 2 same sex parents that does not effect them what so ever and our kids love us and have each other. A family is a family wether it is a man and woman , 2 men, or 2 woman with children.

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ah, my mistake, you chose to be gay rather than a lesbian...my apologies.

MaineIsMyHome wrote: : AionCA: With respect, you do not help the "No on One" cause with responses like "shut-up." Vote No! on Question #1. "

My remarks was in response to BeaverFood's comment "Do not underestimate the silent majority. "

It was "please, "silent majority" - shut-up !"

And it was not a remark specific to the No on One champaign. As a matter of fact, neither of us mentioned No on One. So please spare me your preaching.

4him... why did you CHOOSE to be religious?

anonon, forgive me for not finding your story all that heartwarming, in fact I find it quite perverted.

downeastdave wrote: " 4him... why did you CHOOSE to be religious? "

A more pressing question would be why did he "choose" to suppress his own homosexuality, and use religion as a mere crutch specifically to suppress his own loneliness and emptiness by oppressing people who are more honest with themselves ?

Also, why is it that forHIM has never heard of a bisexual ? And why are the variations of human sexuality arbitrarily designated as "evil" and "abomination" by him and propped-up primarily with mistranslations from the Bible ?

forHIM - not really much more perverted than being a self admitted homosexual repressing his nature and substituting mistranslations of scripture to try and cover his self-loathing and spending all his says and nights twisting scripture to do evil.

I feel that Maine people are standing there ground and won`t back down. They know what is right and won`t back down.

Just getting by of the Equality Issue is NOT Good enough for me and I do not feel it was good enough for Rosia Parks.

Do any of YOU all

God is Great with his Grace, Beer is Good and some people are Crazy

Hey forHIMtoday~~~Dang man open your eyes man. Can`t u see that your CROSS u are using is not going to work.

The Cross WE like is the ONE we use againts Vampires.

? for ya man, are u going to be a Vampire Tonight?????????

hey forHamToday~~~I hope on Nov 4th you get the full force of the Stake, WE don`t want the Stake to do u in.

But a change in Attitude would be dang refreshing, just like I`m switching from Coffe to the Red Bull, you know don`t cha my 3rd addiction.

If Gay Marriage is soooo right, then why do they say in their own commercial that the state won't allow something "inappropriate" to be taught in schools.

It's their own word, meaning=Gay Marriage is Inappropriate!!

I'll vote yes on question 1.

I know I lov to Kiss my Harley and NO ONE says anything about doing that.

FOR we motorcylist are a family and we appriciate everything this ole #1 USA country offers us ALL every single today.

We also believe the LAW will take care of the Good and the Evil of Society.

Straight Biker Voting NO #1. For ALL my Harley Family do you really know what that Patch alot of Us wear that is a Symbol of our Red White and Blue Flag that has a Big Fat #1 on it really means. If you don`t you mite want to think of taking it OFF.

Ain`t being a united family againts those that think about taking our loud pipes away just mite have some Gays in It. Huuuummmm !!!!

To those of you supporting the No vote--it appears that the no voters are the least tolerant of all--based on the thumbs downs given for non-offensive comments.

forHIMtoday:

I didn't ask for your opinion or your acceptance, i answered your question and our main concern is our children that they have a stable life and have the life they deserve. There are many orrientations out there in this world. There are homosexuals,there are bisexuals,there are transgenderd, there are lesbians. Perverse or not they exsist and as long as people are happy in what they choose that is their life.

People are always questioning why did you choose, or were people born that way,,, Im not sure what the outcome is for me, I chose to be married and then found a differant side of me that maybe was suppressed but as long as im happy that is what matters. I have the support of my family ,my children,my partners children and my partner thats all I'm concerned about, not what everybody else is concerned about. My life, my family and our children. Thats all the support I need.

Hey greyhound~~~I have met alot of greyhound drivers at hotel and motel along my travels. They are great guys are very compassionate and very tolerant of ALL there passengers

So if you think the NO`er` are thumbing u down u would be wrong on that.

The BDN is in charge of snubbing any un-polite language.

And if do not believe that, then anyone that doesn`t that just can open up the comment for just themselve. u see we protect our kids here in good ole Maine. BTW were did u say u are from.

Do u dare to say?????

didn`t think so!!!!!!!!!

6:41 PM, shopkins that means "sexual activity." What ails you?

Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

Rom 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

Rom 1:27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

Rom 1:28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

Just another yes'er trying to turn things around to make their side look better. Like that could happen.

VOTE NO on 1

shopkins :

Inappropriate as in sex of any kind wether heterosexual or homosexual, if you can't read between the lines you had better go back to school yourelf and learn some things. anything inappropriate meaning sex period which should be taught at home .

yes on one. That may be right or it may be wrong, But that;s the way I believe .

forHIMtoday :

As I posted before,,, How pure are you ,,,

Did you ever engage in sex before you were married?

Have you eaten shellfish?

have you lied?

you are no better than anybody else and in the end we will all be in the same place.

Get over yourself, and come off that pedestal that you are on because we are all created as equals and will remain equal as god created us.

If there were homosexuals back then and there are homosexuals now, then it has been going on for years and if it hasn't changed then there is a reason for it. God created all of us and I don't think for one minute that he is going to cast us to the fires of hell for what he created.

Hey forHIMtoday~~~Dang man open your eyes man. Can`t u see that your CROSS u are using is not going to work.

The Cross WE like is the ONE we use againts Vampires.

? for ya man, are u going to be a Vampire Tonight?????????

Very interesting post Jeffrey...

Jeffrey :

Read my statement instead of jumping to conclutions, or specualting what went wrong. Both my partner and mine wives decided that they wanted the life of partying and wanted no responcibility of raising children, I was happily married and so was he,, they were irrisponcible and wanted nothing to do with a committed relationship and chose to party and be the way they wanted, that was their choice,, Me and my partner decided to pick up the pieces and move on with our lives and raise our children the way it was intended. We provide a life for them to have a chance and grow and realize that there is more to life than partying. We are raising them to be responcible and be respectfull, and not to judge how others live their lives that there are many differant situations out there in this world and you have to make the best of them... I don't care what any of you think that are agianst my relationship, im not asking for acceptance or apporval of our situation,,, just that we get treated equally as any other red blooded american.

anonon, I have stated hundreds of times that I am a sinner, always have been one and still am one. The shellfish story is overused and tiring. It was a dietary law given to the Israelites and does not apply to us gentiles. Don't confuse those laws with Gods moral laws which are enduring. What was immoral then is still immoral now. God is not a God of confusion and God does not contradict himself. He did not create you as a homosexual. You and I are indeed going to separate places when we die. I am saved by grace, saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I am going to heaven. Not because of my goodness but because of my Savior. You have chosen your destination, I have chosen mine. You can still change your direction, its up to you.

Mat 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

Mat 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Electra: no one is amused by your act...even the No

side doesn't respond to you. Clean it up or take a break.

I'm sorry, it's been two days of this...enough already!

hey anonon~~~don`t ya know forhamtoday gets off on people suffering.

He is probably watching a movie of the Nazi`s slaughtering Jews right now!!!

Well fht are u ??? U sure can`t have a wife, have u ever had one ???

Just trying to get to know u better.

You are for sure one strange dude !!!

and I forgot to add anonon, the difference between between me being a sinner and you being a sinner, is that I'm not the one trying to justify my sins, you are. I am not the one calling my sins right, you are.

is soooo funny, are u tired too, oh well why don`t u just suck down some red bull

my FHT ya sure are a twister of the truth, and u don`t think most All can see thru that tall grass

the other thang that happens when one side or the others post disappears.

I talked to a friend that told me when they something, and if agree or disagree he thought the thumbs up or down was like taking a poll

SO if that is the case, ONE would have to wonder as you say most of the post thumbed down wasn`t because people that don`t post but just read showed u what they all thought of those post. hummmm

forHIMtoday :

So what your saying is that I'm better than you because I admit my immorals and you don't ,you choose to lock them in a closet. What I'm saying to you is that you are no differant than me,, you have sinned and you will continue to sin like the rest of humanity but you choose to ridicule eveybody else for sinning. if you can't be truthfull to yourself than you are no christian you are a fake. I atleast state my imperfections wether right or wrong.

I drink, I smoke, I watch porn and I have sex and it is nobodys business but mine .

. forHIMtoday:

I'll see you on the other side, because you are no different than I when it comes to sin. I was raised a catholic ,baptized, confirmed and accepted,, god forgives us for all our sins that’s what he died for, so get over your righteousness and get with the real world of acceptance and change

gee whiz, no one told me it was immoral or a sin to drink, smoke, watch porn and have sex.

I guess I better find my Rosary Beads again for IF that is true no one here proved that to me yet.

But ya know just in case (:~)

Your absolutely right anonon @8:02 And you will

be the only one answering for it in the end.

anonon your basing all that on your feelings, its not in, or anywhere close to what the bible says. This is nothing more than wishful thinking on your part. You contradict the bible at every turn. Jesus went so far as to say that if you so much as look at a woman lustfully you have committed adultery in your heart, not to mention Mat 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mat 18:8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.

Mat 18:9 "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell

Not quite the fairy tale you have conjured up is it. Read verse 6 again, you are the one causing your kids to stumble, it will not bode well for you no matter how hard you try to think it away.

Ah! 4him is here!

Ever found any evidence of harm to nations or states that have seen fit to grant same-sex marriage?

We've been waiting for months to hear your wisdom about that, seeing how you love to tell us about your hang-ups with homosexuals.

Whatcha got?

Sorry for being so blunt people but forhimtoday is really being a fake in the eys of the god that they worship so much by resiting scriptors and being so holier than thou and they are no better than any other human being. I hate when people try and belittle others for their inperfectins and flaws and try and make themselves out to be the oh holy ones. They are on the same playing field as you and i but seem to think that they can judge and seek imperfections of others and try and make them feel bad about it, but I guess thats what the bible thumpers do. It will get them in the end. Lol

HRH, you miss the same thing 4him does: civil law is not based upon your religion.

If it were, we might as well adopt sharia law.

Concentrate on this world: show us the harm that your bigotry claims.

anonon, you shouldn't have to justify your life story to anyone on here. All American citizens, all Maine citizens, deserve the same equal protections of marriage.

No one who focuses on homosexuality being nature or nurture is doing so because they are undecided on this marriage equality issue.

No one who muses about the names spouses will call one another is doing so because they are undecided on this marriage equality issue.

No one who quibbles over which parts of the bible are outdated vs. timeless instruction is doing so because they are undecided on this marriage equality issue.

All of these questions and issues being raised are raised in the hopes of distracting us from the very real injustice that will be done if the good law our legislature passed is overturned.

Don't vote away the rights of fellow Mainers who wish you no harm, and who do you no harm by living their lives in peace.

An entire class of Maine citizens, made up of members of our communities of all walks of life, strongly and clearly made their case to our legislature that civil marriage has unique rights and responsibilities, and that civil right was being withheld from them for no legitimate reason.

Our legislature agreed that it has a vested interest in promoting stability in Maine families, for social and economically sound reasons that a lot of Maine citizens agree with.

This legislation was not passed in some back room with little debate. The process at which we arrived at this legislation was thorough and highlighted the lengths we go to in ensuring that all citizen voices are heard. The legislation was debated for two days in our capital. The legislation was legitimately passed.

Everyone will have their opportunity to vote this Tuesday. The vote will be valuable insight into how the majority of Mainers feel on this issue, but it does not change this issue— marriage equality is still absolutely a requirement to us, and it is absolutely a civil right that was denied us unconstitutionally.

If it is denied us again because we don't win a popularity contest next week, we still have just as legitimate a right to it; the elected injustice will be addressed. Our equality will come. And our nation will be better for it.

Vote NO on 1, and be proud of who you are.

"I'm not the one trying to justify my sins"

No, you're expecting people to feel as guilty about theirs as you do about yours.

Not everybody is afraid of the world or modern times.

Now, where's that harm 4him?

"you will be the only one answering for it in the end"

You hope.

Vote YES on 1: promote bigotry and intolerance by stripping rights of your fellow citizens.

Vote YES on 1: ignore the fact that the definition of "marriage" has already changed.

Vote YES on 1: insure children in Maine have inadequate support and care.

Vote YES on 1: continue the spread of lies and misinformation.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Vote NO on 1: to insure equality and inclusiveness for ALL Maine children.

Vote NO on 1: to promote the security and integrity of ALL Maine families.

Vote NO on 1: because the term “marriage” already includes married same-sex couples.

Vote NO on 1: prove once again that the old adage “As goes Maine, so goes the nation” is true for all the right reasons.

Quoth 4him: "forgive me for not finding your story all that heartwarming, in fact I find it quite perverted"

Of course! It was a HUMAN story and had nothing to do with a monster!

Exactly why are you afraid of homosexuals, 4him?

Inquiring minds want to know...

Mat 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

forHIMtoday :

You must be a bitter ole spinster who could not find a man or woman that would have you.

God didn't intend for us to live the way he chose he wanted us to live the life that we chose thats why we are at this pont in our lives and thats why we are being tested, if you can make it throught life and all its hell then then in the end we will all be in a better place. I have always thought that all the implications and tests that we endure through life if we deal with the circumstances to the best of our ability and make the best of our lives that is the test. Hell is on earth and the test and we make the best of what we have and in the end is pease no worries,no problems, no bills . We only have one life on this earth and by god I am going to do what makes me happy not what make other people happy . You can pluck your eyes out, cut your foot off or your hand and thats fine with me ,, but I will live the life that I want and you can live the life you want and I'll meet you on the other side.

Knowing God Personally

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Wait for lightning to strike? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you? NONE of these. God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him. This will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now...

Principle One: God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

God created you. Not only that, he loves you so much that he wants you to know him now and spend eternity with him. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."1

Jesus came so that each of us could know and understand God in a personal way. Jesus alone can bring meaning and purpose to life.

Principle Two: All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God.

We sense that separation, that distance from God because of our sin. The Bible tells us that "All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way."2

Deep down, our attitude may be one of active rebellion or passive indifference toward God and his ways, but it's all evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

The result of sin in our lives is death -- spiritual separation from God.3 Although we may try to get close to God through our own effort, we inevitably fail.

This diagram shows the great gap that exists between us and God. The arrows illustrate how we might try to reach God through our own efforts. We may try to do good things in life, or earn God's acceptance through a good life or a moral philosophy. But our good efforts are insufficient to cover up our sin.

Principle Three: Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through him we can know and experience God's love and plan for our life.

We deserve to pay for our own sin. The problem is, the payment is death. So that we would not have to die separated from God, out of his love for us, Jesus Christ died in our place. On the cross, Jesus took all of our sin on himself and completely, fully paid for it. "For Christ also died for sins...the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God."4 "...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."5 Because of Jesus' death on the cross, our sin doesn't have to separate us from God any longer.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."6

Jesus not only died for our sin, he rose from the dead.7 When he did, he proved beyond doubt that he can rightfully promise eternal life -- that he is the Son of God and the only means by which we can know God. That is why Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one can come to the Father except through me."8

Instead of trying harder to reach God, he tells us how we can begin a relationship with him right now. Jesus says, "Come to me." "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me... out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."9 It was Jesus' love for us that caused him to endure the cross. And he now invites us to come to him, that we might begin a personal relationship with God.

Just knowing what Jesus has done for us and what he is offering us is not enough. To have a relationship with God, we need to welcome him into our life...

Principle Four: We must individually accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The Bible says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."10

We accept Jesus by faith. The Bible says, "God saved you by his special favour when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."11

Accepting Jesus means believing that Jesus is the Son of God, who he claimed to be, then inviting him to guide and direct our lives.12 Jesus said, "I came that you might have life, and have it more abundantly."13

And here is Jesus' invitation. He said, "I'm standing at the door and I'm knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in."14

How will you respond to God's invitation?

You can receive Christ right now. Remember that Jesus says, "I'm standing at the door and I'm knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in."15 Would you like to respond to his invitation? Here's how.

The precise words you use to commit yourself to God are not important. He knows the intentions of your heart. If you are unsure of what to pray, this might help you put it into words:

"Jesus, I want to know you. I want you to come into my life. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin so that I could be fully accepted by you. Only you can give me the power to change and become the person you created me to be. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life with God. I give my life to you. Please do with it as you wish. Amen."

If you sincerely asked Jesus into your life just now, then he has come into your life as he promised. You have begun a personal relationship with God.

What follows is a lifelong journey of change and growth as you get to know God better through Bible reading, prayer and interaction with other Christians.

Wow 4him... a lot of blah blah that no one will read.

Is it the simple fact that you can't find harm that has befallen anyone for same-sex marriage?

I think that's probably exactly it.

WTF266: Your 4:47pm comment to me was hidden. I really don't know why people do that to posts, especially when they aren't super-rude or contain bad language or something. Both sides have played the "I'm gonna hide your posts" game. Immature. Sorry it took me awhile to get back to you, I had a lesson to go to.

AionCA: You said: "So please spare me your preaching." You first. :-)

ForHimToday: No matter how many times you quote the bible, it doesn't matter. Nothing that the bible says is any justification for the legal denial of rights to same-sex couples.

Vote No! on Question #1.

Vote YES on 1: You cannot strip a right that has never been given. There's NEVER been a same sex marriage in Maine.

Vote YES on 1: They are going to continue to call us names anyway.

Vote YES on 1: Sexual Orientation is too ambigiuos to create a special right for.

Vote YES on 1: ANYONE and EVERYONE can get married as long as they follow the current Law, there is no discrimination.

Vote YES on 1: Insure children in Maine have the best love, support, and natural care.

Vote YES on 1: Truth is, Boys and Girls are different, not because they "think" they are different, but because they have opposite and complimentary distinctives essential for reproduction, natural child rearing and raising, and support for the family structure.

"Nothing that the bible says is any justification for the legal denial of rights to same-sex couples"

Amen.

tedlick :

They will never reveal, because they are alone and all they have left is the scriptures to go by,, they can't think and live for themselves they have to rely on a book to guide them through life,,, pitiful really.

tedlick :

They will never reveal, because they are alone and all they have left is the scriptures to go by,, they can't think and live for themselves they have to rely on a book to guide them through life,,, pitiful really.

TurkeyTalker :

Bullcrap.......

"There's NEVER been a same sex marriage in Maine"

Ahh... but the right was granted. Saying otherwise is a lie.

"They are going to continue to call us names anyway"

Only when the name fits your behavior.

"Sexual Orientation is too ambigiuos to create a special right for"

This "special" right is one kept from some citizens... seems it's only "special" to those who can get it.

"ANYONE and EVERYONE can get married as long as they follow the current Law, there is no discrimination"

The current law says same-sex partners can take part in marriage. That's what you're trying to take away.

"Insure children in Maine have the best love, support, and natural care"

Your path excl udes children in Maine. That means you're depriving them of the best love, support, and natural care.

"Truth is, Boys and Girls are different, not because they "think" they are different, but because they have opposite and complimentary distinctives essential for reproduction, natural child rearing and raising, and support for the family structure"

Truth is, Boys and Girls are different, not because they "think" they are different, but because they have opposite and complimentary distinctive biologies essential for reproduction that is not necessary for the right to partake in civil marriage.

Try again.

Vote NO on 1 and embrace the reality some folks are trying to take away.

tedlick, I have a question for you....

Ted the law was passed but not acted upon because LEGALLY the people of Maine have the opportunity to force a referendum, and then vote that law up or down. Therfore, since the law has not been LEGALLY passed as of yet, and there is not one legal same sex marriage in the state of Maine, there is nothing to take away. You are so astute at calling names and bullying your religious dogma that you make the case for YES!

Currently ANYONE in the State of Maine, as long as they are of the age of concent, not a blood relative, and opposite gender can marry. If EVERYONE can then where is the discrimination?

I wonder why homosexuals are such misogynists. Why do you think the role of Mother can be so easily reduced, replaced, and removed? Could it be that the YES folks simply recognize that the strengths of both genders provide the BEST family structure for society and children?

As for names, isn't it interesting that when a YES poster takes the bait and uses a descriptive word for the NO campaigners the page gets shut down. But a NO poster can write any inflamitory and hateful thing they want, all in the name of inclusiveity and equality, and they are the enlightened intelligencia.

TurkeyTalker: Some blood relatives can marry. First cousins are legally allowed to marry.

Sec. 6. 19-A MRSA §701, as amended by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. C, §4, is further amended to read: "B. Notwithstanding paragraph A, a man person may marry the daughter of his father's brother or sister or the daughter of his mother's brother or sister, and a woman may marry the son of her father's brother or sister or the son of her mother's brother or sister that person's first cousin as long as, pursuant to sections 651 and 652, the man or woman person provides the physician's certificate of genetic counseling."

Vote No! on Question #1.

Thanks David for making my point a little clearer, appearantly, even blood relatives can marry! EVERYONE CAN LEGALLY MARRY. Now if we're talking about taking rights away we may want to start therewith the cousin luvin'! David are you with me?

TurkeyTalker: I absolutely am not. I believe any two people of legal age and having legal ability to give consent should be able to marry. I might think some of those are sick, mind you, but if two grown adults with the ability to give legal consent should chose to marry, who are we to stand in the way of their happiness?

Vote No! on Question #1.

David I'm proud of your integrity! You have been tested and you've shown yourself strong! Since when has the LAW been responsible to grant Happiness? We've been given the opportunity to "Pursue Happiness", but that is not the purpose of Law. I believe the State of Maine will allow 16 year olds to marry with parental consent. Do you think a 16 yr. old boy or girl is old enough to give legal consent?

TurkeyTalker: The SCOTUS has many times ruled on the difference tween minor-age children and their rights, vs. the rights of legal-age adults, with the legal right to give consent. You'll notice I stated specifically that I was referring to "two grown adults with the ability to give legal consent." A sixteen year old is not of legal age to give consent. Which is why they need parental consent. I have known couples who had to get parental consent to marry (two couples.) Fast-forward twenty years, and one couple is still together, the other not. 50-50. About average, isn't it? I also think an eighteen year old who is old enough to fight and die for his country is old enough to buy and have his own beer.

Vote No! on Question #1.

TurkeyTalker...here is your answer on the age one can marry in Maine and with parental consent in Maine.

Maine The age of consent is eighteen. With parental consent, parties can marry at age sixteen. With parental consent, parties can marry at age sixteen. Maine offers some spousal rights to registered same-sex domestic partners. Common law marriage is not recognized.

You asked David Reeb "Do you think a 16 yr. old boy or girl is old enough to give legal consent?"

'

I agree with David's answer, the reason a 16 year old needs a patents consent to marry is they have not reached the age of majority and cannor enter into a contract on their own. Another example is a 17 year old may join the military with parental consent . If the parent refuses, they have to wait until they reach their 18 birthday.

There's a new article online, about the Yes on One rally in Brwer tonight. 17 people attended. See the photograph on this article.

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/127097.html?comment_result=posted#comments-post

Vote No! on Question #1.

Why are you arguing with a retard ?

forHIMtoday wrote: "You can receive Christ right now."

Who are you to say he hasn't; and why is it any of your damn business ?

Vote NO on ONE ~ Because we do NOT permit THIS type of fascist inquisition in Maine.

I don't think he's a retard. I don't agree with his position, but he's been willing to engage in meaningful debate, at least in the posts I've seen.

Vote No! on Question #1.

shopkins wrote: " If Gay Marriage is soooo right, then why do they say in their own commercial that the state won't allow something "inappropriate" to be taught in schools.

It's their own word, meaning=Gay Marriage is Inappropriate!!

I'll vote yes on question 1."

Marriage is not taught in Maine schools, so your point is... Well... Pointless.