Meanwhile, On the Non-Presidential Front...

By Baxter

Yes, we're all consumed with the Presidential race, but believe it or not, there are other issues that Americans will vote on next month. Gay-related referendums in two important states have caught our attention tonight.

Seems that the gay-marriage ban in California is not winning over a majority of voters there. The Washington Post reports that 55 percent of Californians oppose a proposal to ban same-sex marriage — which means that if that number holds, the state's Supreme Court ruling that gays and lesbians have the right to marry will legally stand.

We cats think this is wonderful, and not just because it's just. It's also a good thing for the economy of California, something with which the Commonwealth of Massachusetts agrees. At at time when we're all losing our jobs and cutting back on expenses, gays — happily spending on their weddings, bachelor parties and receptions — are pumping millions of tax dollars into Sacramento's and Boston's state coffers.

In Florida, the other state we're watching, the question is whether a same-sex marriage ban will be established in that state's Constitution. Now, mind you, Florida has been rather cavalier with the issues that have been so enshrined. We cats would like to think that only sweeping, momentous matters get addressed in so sacred a document, but Florida — bless its heart — has not been so constrained. But gosh, cut them some slack: Was there a character from Florida in the musical "1776"? No! The good songs went to John Adams and Edward Rutledge! Floridians have no heritage, no appreciation of Constitutional issues, no good lyrics to sing!

However, we digress. Appearing on the 2008 ballot in Florida is Amendment 2, a proposed same-sex marriage ban. Which, by the way, Florida law already prohibits. It's just that those dang Christians want to plop it into the state Constitution forever and ever, amen. That's why we're particularly impressed with an anti-Amendment 2 mailer that landed in voters' mailboxes today.

"Decisions about marriage should be made by individuals, their families, and their clergy — not politicians," it says. "Amendment 2 is a needless morality law. Politicians are the last people who should be passing laws on morality. Your family is your business. Keep the politicians out of our lives."

Whew! After these last two weeks, we cats couldn't agree more.