Let's see if I got this straight: Hundreds of supporters of gay marriage, opponents of California Proposition 8, have picketed a Mexican restaurant in L.A. and shouted vulgarities at innocent customers just because one employee - a daughter of the owner - gave a modest $100 donation in support of the measure protecting traditional marriage. Opponents of Proposition 8 have threatened and harassed several other businesses - including a radio station, a theatre, and a chain of health food stores - because employees gave money in support of Prop 8. Opponents of Prop 8 have knocked a cross from the hands of an elderly woman and stomped on it during a demonstration in Palm Springs. Suspicious white powder has been sent in an envelope to a Mormon temple in Westwood. (Mormons were big supporters of Prop 8.)
And the supporters of Proposition 8? Well, their measure - which sought to restore the definition of marriage between only a man and a woman - won in a statewide referendum by a 52 to 48 margin. They simply want judges to respect the vote and uphold its result.
So what does the Los Angeles Times' Tim Rutten have to say about all of this? He says in his November 15 column that "both sides" "are going too far" and "need to cool down."
"Both sides" "need to cool down"? "Both sides"? Wait a minute. It seems one side is a tad bit hotter than the other! A number of the episodes I've cited above are from Rutten's own paper. Has he checked it out lately?
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Rutten's column also bemoans the "unprecedented intervention" and "distasteful business" of the Catholic and Mormon churches voicing their support of traditional marriage and Proposition 8. He's upset that they have "leap[t] into the political process" as religious organizations. "[I]t raises hackles, and rightly so," Rutten asserts.
Gee, Tim. Your paper didn't seem too upset about any "distasteful business" or "unprecedented intervention" a few years back when your paper published a favorable editorial about Cardinal Mahony "saying the right things about illegal immigrants" and "reinforcing the right of religious leaders to speak out on the moral ramifications of political issues."
Hey, Tim. What about that same right now? Ohhh, wait. This time the Church has the opposite view of your own, and that is "raising your cackles."
All together now: "Double ... standard."
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*** UPDATE: Mon. 11/17/08 AM:
Check out this letter to the editor in today's (Mon. 11/17/08) paper:
I have read the articles about how gay couples are distraught at the passage of Proposition 8.
How about an article about how devastating it is for faithful Mormons to see their temple property trampled? Why not publish pictures showing signs reportedly held by demonstrators that read "Mormon scum"?
It has been reported that donors to Proposition 8 are being blacklisted, rocks have been thrown through church windows, businesses are being boycotted and a book sacred to Mormons was found ablaze on a front porch. Hmmm ... scapegoats, temples attacked, books burning. Does this sound vaguely familiar?
Many who share my views -- the majority of Nov. 4's electorate -- are hiding their yellow signs and bumper stickers for fear of being "outed" and attacked, verbally and physically. The vocal minority is on the rampage.
Janet Gutierrez
Rancho Cucamonga
So, Tim. "Both sides" need to cool down, eh? Get a clue, bro'.
—Dave Pierre is the creator of TheMediaReport.com and a contributor to NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
A TURD
November 16, 2008 - 21:36 ET by timzankIs always a turd. Rutten is a turd. He's a very typical "journalist" in that he uses anybody who is convenient to his argument at the time. It's not a "double standard" in his mind, it's what's right.
schmuck
LAT'S Rutten
November 17, 2008 - 00:01 ET by donsalimanI caught a misspelled word in the article.
Rutten is the word, it should be rotten no! (^_^)
Another media trick - moral
November 17, 2008 - 00:44 ET by mattmAnother media trick - moral equivalence. The traditional marriage supporters are accused of hate, but the militants who stomp on crosses, shout threats etc. are merely protesters.
This is a religious battle. Why some gays, or gay advocacy groups, are so vehement of having the state recognize their relationships as marriage only makes sense one way: the real attack is on traditional religious beliefs - hence the desecration...
The media and government
November 17, 2008 - 00:56 ET by Conservative VoiceThe media and government has definately picked sides. Churches and homes of supporters have been vandalized, and the media says not a word. Now where are the hate police? I thought it was considered a hate crime to attack people for their religious beliefs...silly me the gay community can blackmail, vandalize, and be absolutely obnoxious because their hate is protected.
And here is the thing, in CA they have civil unions, that gives them everything other than the word marriage.
Proposition 8 and the protesters
November 17, 2008 - 01:05 ET by merlin61I guess we have "protected hate" now for the
gay community. They are protected,
religious beliefs are not. Do we really live
in America?
this just proves prop 8 is
November 17, 2008 - 11:16 ET by TruthMongerthis just proves prop 8 is completely on the right track
juvenile deviants and civilization just do not mix do they
keep up the great work people!!!
Dominate education now
Speaking of hate...
November 17, 2008 - 19:11 ET by 3strikesWill any of these people who are perpetrating these crimes be prosecuted under "Hate crime" laws?
Wouldn't that be a twist of fate!
Moral relativity
November 17, 2008 - 11:08 ET by moderncommentaries83The left has been using this trick for years, saying "truth" is open to individual interpretation and therefore cannot be set in stone by any one person or, heaven forbid, an institution like the church.
It's really all about figuring out a way to have people buy into their dream of a freedom-from-constraint world, wherein everything and anything goes and libertine attitudes toward sex and marriage are the norm.
They've identified the enemy, and it is us - those of us who hold to the time-tested, time-honored, and actual truths of religious faith. So you are absolutely right in saying gay "marriage" is not about benefits (those could easily be conferred with civil unions or at the descretion of employers), it is about overthrowing religious institutions - forcing them to accept immorality or, preferably, shutting them down entirely.
However, in the centuries-long history of Christianity, the same arguments and libertine attitudes have tried and failed to break through the gates of heaven. They (the left) always argues and believes that if religion were gone, they'd be happy.
Yet they've denied God and attacked religion for decades, and all I see is that they're still pretty darn miserable.
Why? Religion isn't the problem. Moral relativity is.
****UPDATE****
Tell me how this is not an all-out culture war? The gay anarchist group Bash Back is issuing a not-so-thinly-veiled threat against Mormons (and, by extension, all religions):
http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2008/11/270047.shtml
California is Burning
November 17, 2008 - 05:49 ET by John_WayneBurn, Baby, Burn
Sounds familiar
November 17, 2008 - 06:43 ET by EurikaIt reminds me of the time, when Obama said that both Russia and George should show some restraint...
What debate?
November 17, 2008 - 09:48 ET by LionKingThe people of California have spoken and the state's constitution has been amended. The California Supreme Court is powerless from their activism.
Kind of like Al Gore and AGW...it is settled.
Chuck punches back
November 17, 2008 - 12:02 ET by Conservative Voicehttp://www.worldnetd...
Talk about "murky"
November 17, 2008 - 12:15 ET by CobraMan"The distinction between amendments and revisions is one of the murkiest in California constitutional law, and courts traditionally have been loath to wade into it."
Talk about "murky," this argument is the "murkiest" in California history. In order for a Constitution to be revised, there must be something contained within said Constitution which is facing revision. There was nothing in the California Constitution that defined what is, or is not, a marriage, so Proposition 8, which DOES constitutionally define marriage, is an amendment and not a revision. Why is this so hard for people like Tim Rutten to admit?
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
I only see the gays
November 17, 2008 - 12:59 ET by rbosqueI only see the gays protesting here in L.A.
I voted for McCain but no one will see me protesting.
Those idiots do not respect the law or our Constitution.
Speaking as a Christian (who
November 17, 2008 - 19:32 ET by sherylsimsSpeaking as a Christian (who doesn't always act like one, I admit) when I heard of all the hate crimes that were being perpetrated against the supporters of prop 8 I was angry and spent some time thinking what I would have done if *I* had been in the situations some of the victims of the hate crimes were. I would NOT have been calm and gracious as someone was spitting in my face, etc. (as they were). This is intentional rewriting of events in the news. It is impossible NOT to notice that nobody was fighting back. Not an oversight. Definately something that couldn't be missed. The Christians that are being attacked are being told to show love to the attackers. Our whole sermon in church yesterday was about loving your enemies, etc. Very timely. Who cares if the media doesn't report it. God knows.
My response in thier page
November 17, 2008 - 19:43 ET by DeskpilotFor as long as we live in a democracy, the winner of a politcal vote is the one with the MOST votes[sp]. You lost this round. Find out what you did wrong and reorganize the argument to win over the electorate.
Violence and Hate wil cost you voters every time it's tried. Destruction of community property, such as a church, will only galvanize the community against you.
As this keeps up, rest[sp] assured that there will be more campaigning AGAINST you, not withstanding the freak Geo. Soro's support for you.
If like so many other freaks of Califonia, you don't like the results of our Constitutional election, you are free to pack up and get out of our country and move to France. Let me know what airline and I'll sent them a dollar towards your airfare. I'm sure that you'll be warmly welcomed. That is until the Muslims overpopulate the country, win all of their elections and set out on a jihad aginst you, hunting you down and killing you for you beliefs. At least here in America, you can still argue on merits and not feel like a moose in the Alaskan winter.
Can't wait to see their hatriolic (h/t Michael Smerkonish) response(s)
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, You're welcome - Deskpilot, AM(H)1 (AW), USN (Ret)
The response to the Prop 8
November 18, 2008 - 00:37 ET by maggieqpublicThe response to the Prop 8 vote will have a chilling effect on future contributions to conservative political initiatives. It’s too dangerous to have an opinion.
Thanks for calling Rutten on the absurdity of his 'both sides have gone too far' argument.