Prop 8's Campaign of Fear

Polls a few months ago showed California's Proposition 8 failing by as many as 17 points. On Election Night, it passed by four. What happened? The Los Angeles Times reports that Proposition 8's supporters ran a shrewd campaign that focused on insinuations of the effects of same-sex marriage on schools, churches, and children. They alleged that children would be indoctrinated with same-sex marriage at school against their parents’ wishes and that churches that did not perform the marriages would be punished. The measure was very successful among black voters who, out in large numbers to vote for Barack Obama, supported Prop 8 2-to-1.