May 8 has been since 1945 known as VE day since that was the day in which the Nazis finally surrendered to Allied forces in Europe. May 8, 2012 is a chance for the forces of good once again to strike a blow for freedom and equality in North Carolina by defeating the ill-conceived, divisive and ignorant proposed constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.
It is my honest hope that this will happen. But, I'd also like to encourage everyone to use this as an opportunity to completely screw with the GOP majority in both houses of the NC General Assembly who put this travesty on the ballot to begin with.
Although they are claiming (without blushing) that they put it on the primary ballot in May instead of November to avoid the appearance that they were trying to boost Republican turnout in November's presidential and gubernatorial elections, the simple fact is that it was placed on in May for purely political reasons. There is a Republican presidential primary in 2012, while President Obama will be unopposed in his re-election campaign. Furthermore the race for Governor will also almost certainly have several Republicans vying to replace Bev Perdue who will probably not be opposed in a primary.
It isn't terribly difficult to see the cynicism and political brinkmanship the GOP is employing in placing this measure on a ballot where they are certain to have an overwhelming advantage, since Republicans will have a reason other than the constitutional amendment to turn out to vote, while Democrats will not.
So, let's screw with them. Seriously, cynically, screw-tacularly mess them up and show that we are tired of the political games we have seen in the past year coming out of Raleigh.
It's not that hard, really. Here's what I am proposing:
1. North Carolina has open primaries. That is, that Independents can vote in either party's primary.
2. If you are a Republican and you oppose the gay marriage amendment, I applaud you and hope that your voice will become louder in your party. There is nothing you have to do except turn up and vote as you already would.
3. If you are a Democrat and you oppose the gay marriage amendment (I'm hoping it's most of you, but we are in North Carolina after all), switch your party affiliation (it's ok, you can switch it back later) to Unaffiliated prior to the May 8 primary.
4. For all of you who are already registered unaffiliated and for all of you newly minted former Democrats who are now registered as unaffiliated, simply go to the polls on May 8 and request a Republican ballot.
5. Vote against the amendment as you would have done anyway.
6. (Here's the good part). There are plenty of crazy mother****ers running for everything in the Republican Party. Most of these will still be plugging along in the primaries come next May. So, by all means vote for the craziest mother****er you can for every position. For President I suggest either Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann or Herman Cain (there's also the gay guy who is running for the Republican presidential nomination -- I don't know his name, but wouldn't it be great if he won the NC primary?). For Governor there is always more than a few crackpots trying to get the nomination, usually someone whose entire platform would require homeschooling and institute some Congregational sect as the official state church of the State -- vote for them. Continue for any and all other positions on the ballot.
If enough people in North Carolina do this, the state's GOP could actually end up destroying their own chances of victory in every state race in November, not to mention the fact that it could really screw up their Presidential nomination process.
It would serve them right. Since the North Carolina GOP took control of the NC House of Representatives for the first time in 141 years they have used it as an opportunity to institute a program of radical socially conservative policies which have turned back the clock of progress in North Carolina decades. Instead of focusing on jobs as they promised, they have spent their time attacking women, abortion rights, education, the poor, teachers, unions, state employees and any other group they saw as being "the other." It is my hope that their insane agenda will lead them to be turned out of power for another 141 years at least.
How many of you are willing to do this? I am already registered as unaffiliated, and I plan on carrying out my plan for myself. Let's unite and work together to make May 8, 2012 a true Victory for Equality and a slap in the face of political cynicism!
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