YES ON 8 CAMPAIGNERS MORPH INTO MAFIOSOS

It's a pretty well known fact that the Yes On 8 campaign has regularly used lies and twisted truths in their attempts to influence voters. Now they've started using tactics that can only be compared to the old days of the notoriously amoral mafia.

And make no mistake about just who the Yes On 8 campaign is. By virtue of their member's millions of dollars in donations (77% of the whole) and the staggering amount of man hours their followers have contributed at the direction of their leaders, the Mormon Church is and has been the primary driving force behind not only this campaign but the Arizona Yes On 102 campaign as well.

Now they've stooped to an alarming new low. On October 20th, the campaign's executive committee sent threatening letters to every small business in California that contributed to the No On Proposition 8 campaign.

The letter said, in part:

We respectfully request that (name of business here) withdraw its support of Equality California. Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error and restore Traditional Marriage.

Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. You would leave us no other reasonable assumption. The name of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published. It is only fair for Proposition 8 supporters to know which companies and organizations oppose traditional marriage.

We will contact you shortly to discuss your contribution sincerely hoping to receive your positive response.

The letter was signed:

Ron Prentice, Campaign Chairman
Edward Dolejsi, Executive Director, California Catholic Conference
Mark A. Jansson, Executive Committee Member
Andrew Pugno, General Counsel

They obviously added their general counsel's name and signature as a lame attempt at subliminal intimidation.

This, to me, is outright, blatant extortion (possibly even qualifying under the "Rico" act) and certainly should be prosecuted as such by the California Attorney General.