Proposition 8 Blackmail

I know that for many California voters (and indeed probably many non Californians) that Proposition 8 is a controversial subject. I understand that we all have different opinions on the subject of Gay Marriage and while some people are go a bit overboard in expressing those views, for the most part we can all respectfully agree to disagree.

But there are times when people go a bit too far in promoting their opinion and recently we have seen an example from those who are in support of the proposal. As discussed in a number of media stories, they have started going to businesses who contributed to the No on 8 campaign to demand a payoff in the form of a similar (or larger) donation to the Yes campaign.

If they do not get the contribution they promise/threaten to label the companies as pro-(well you can guess the words they insert here).

Now I am not one to oppose simple boycotts. If you don’t like the business practices of a company then you are free to not patronize that company. But to more or less shake down the company is a bit over the line. It reminds me of the days when Jesse Jackson threatened companies with being labeled racist unless they paid him off. Or the practices during the Civil Rights movement when people would publish the names of African Americans who registered to vote in the newspaper so they could be properly punished.

Those who support this practice should be ashamed.