Google publicly opposes Prop 8

Google is typically viewed as a good corporate citizen.  They’re a major employer in our state and they provide excellent benefits and one of the best work environments on the planet.

Now, they’ve “come out” against Proposition 8:

As an Internet company, Google is an active participant in policy debates surrounding information access, technology and energy. Because our company has a great diversity of people and opinions — Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, all religions and no religion, straight and gay — we do not generally take a position on issues outside of our field, especially not social issues. So when Proposition 8 appeared on the California ballot, it was an unlikely question for Google to take an official company position on.

However, while there are many objections to this proposition — further government encroachment on personal lives, ambiguously written text — it is the chilling and discriminatory effect of the proposition on many of our employees that brings Google to publicly oppose Proposition 8. While we respect the strongly-held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 — we should not eliminate anyone’s fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love.

Posted by Sergey Brin, Co-founder & President, Technology

I wonder if this now means that there will be a Google boycott among members of the LDS church.

On the Ground at the SEIU-UHW Trusteeship Hearing

Yesterday thousands of SEIU United Healthcare Workers – West members gathered at the San Mateo fairgrounds to protest the bogus hearing being held by SEIU International intended to put their member-led local into trusteeship.  UHW members had these responses to SEIU’s stated plan of taking over the local and installing more hand-picked leaders.  

UHW members’ rank-and-file TV spot: Keepin’ It Real 1 of 2

Keepin’ it Real 2 of 2

Check out more coverage from union members on the ground at http://www.seiuvoice.org.

Excellent poll for Charlie Brown (CA-04)

Very good polling for Charlie Brown in CA-04!  Research 2000 (for DailyKos) has the details:

Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 9/23-25. Likely voters. MoE 5% (No trend lines)

McClintock (R) 41

Brown (D) 46

The poll result, with further analysis and crosstabs, is the current frontpage post on DailyKos, and that should be good for a little bit of money, name ID and excitement.

We all know Charlie can win.  This poll confirms it.  But like all our other candidates, he’ll need money.  Give some.

Prop 4: Some disconcerting numbers

With all the (justified) focus on Prop 8, Prop 4 has been sneaking under the radar.  Folks, we’ve said no to this twice already, but we MUST say no, No, and NO AGAIN on this dangerous parental notification measure.  

Today we get word from the state’s most reliable pollster, Field, that Prop 4 is narrowly leading (PDF here):

Proposition 4, the initiative to require parental notification for abortion by minors, is holding a slim lead in the latest Field Poll. The poll finds that 49% of likely voters intend to vote Yes, while 41% are on the No side. Another 10% are undecided.

This eight-point Yes-side edge compares to a nine-point advantage (48% to 39%) observed by the poll in July.

Prop. 4 is the third attempt in the past four years by backers to pass a parental notification initiative. In each of the two previous attempts ­ Proposition 73 in the November 2005 special election and Proposition 85 in the November 2006 general election ­ California voters narrowly rejected thes previous parental notification initiatives.

Unfortunately, the right-wing just keeps coming with these things. Perhaps as part of any future constitutional conventions, we could regulate repeat initiatives? Either way, it’s too late for that now. We must defeat Prop 4.

Where are you watching the debate?

Use this as an open thread to post where you’re hanging out tonight to watch the debate.

Here’s where I’ll be:

LA for Obama/Los Angeles County Young Democrats Debate watching party

The Joint

8771 W Pico Blvd

LA, CA 90035

map

Suggested $10 donation to the Obama campaign

Where will you be?  What’s going on in your area?  Post it for other Caliticians who may wish to join you.