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Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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Ban On Homosexual Marriages Trails In California

August 10th, 2008 • Richard Cochrane

Money Flowing Into CalifornMarriage is the cause of all divorcesia on Both Sides

The constitutional amendment to ban homosexual marriage in California is drawing large contributions from both sides. The amendment which will appear on the November ballot, was introduced following the California Supreme Court’s May 15 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. The amendment states: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

The homosexual rights group Equity for All and a related organization raised about $2.6 million in the first half of 2008 to fight Proposition 8, according to the San Jose Mercury-News. That’s about $300,000 more than the amount raised by the major backers of the amendment, Protect Marriage and the National Organization for Marriage-California.

James Dobson’s Focus on the Family organization, gave $250,000 to Protect Marriage that supports the ban. Focus on the Family told the Mercury-News that Dobson’s organization believes the outcome of the vote on Proposition 8 will affect the rest of the country as well. California does not require couples to be residents to marry there.

Donations have continued to pour in since the end of June, and much of the money has been coming from outside California. The Mississippi-based American Family Association gave Protect Marriage $500,000 on July 21.

Equality for All recently received $1.05 million from a political action committee of the Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign, and $250,000 from the Gill Action Fund, a gay rights foundation in Denver.

Both sides believe they can raise between $10 million and $15 million by Election Day.

Back in 2000, a proposition declaring that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California” passed with 61 percent of the vote.

The Supreme Court ruling struck down that statue, meaning the constitutional amendment is needed to ban same-sex marriage.

Barack Obama opposes the initiative, calling it “divisive and discriminatory,” but he remains opposed to same-sex marriage and supports civil unions and domestic partnerships. His presidential rival John McCain announced his support for the amendment in June.

The debate has even generated controversy over the veracity of the California based Field Poll. During the Proposition 22 debate the Field poll, as it does now claimed support for homosexual marriage was 50% but it passed by over 60%.

A July 15, 2008 Field Poll says 51% will vote “no” and 42% will vote “yes.” The major parts split while non-partisan voters overwhelmingly oppose it 66-27%.

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