Courage Campaign and Max Diposti file formal complaint, request investigation into Stop SB 48 tactics
September 30, 2011
By Adam Bink
You all recall this:
Thing is, lying in order to obtain signatures is a no-no. California Elections Code, Section 18600:
Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who:
(a) Circulating, as principal or agent, or having charge or control of the circulation of, or obtaining signatures to, any state or local initiative, referendum or recall petition, intentionally misrepresents or intentionally makes any false statement concerning the contents, purport or effect of the petition to any person who signs, or who desires to sign, or who is requested to sign, or who makes inquiries with reference to it, or to whom it is presented for his or her signature.
(b) Willfully and knowingly circulates, publishes, or exhibits any false statement or misrepresentation concerning the contents, purport or effect of any state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition for the purpose of obtaining any signature to, or persuading or influencing any person to sign, that petition.
As such, yesterday, Courage Campaign filed a formal complaint with the California Attorney General, District Attorney, and the Oceanside City Attorney on behalf of Max Disposti, who witnessed the events, requesting an investigation (and possible prosecution) into signature-gathering tactics used by Stop SB 48 volunteers. Alleging that SB 48 could expose children to sexual predators is simply unacceptable, and Stop SB 48 campaign and their volunteers should be held accountable. We’ll keep you informed as this proceeds.
Our formal complaint can be found here, and below is an e-mail from Max Disposti explaining what happened. Co-sign our complaint!
Only 13 days left to turn in their signatures. Turn up the heat.
Adam:
A few days ago at a fair in Oceanside, my husband and I were asked if we wanted to sign a petition to protect children from abduction. When I asked what she meant, she said there was a law that just passed called SB 48 (the FAIR Education Act) that is forcing children to learn about “homosexuality” and sex without parental control, exposing them to sexual predators. As you can see in the photo on the right, she had plenty of supplemental materials to make her case. And, you guessed it: she turned out to be a volunteer with the Stop SB 48 campaign.
When I confronted her about these lies, she called the police. Well, we’re going to call the authorities on the Stop SB 48 campaign and fight back.
We can’t let their lies stand. I stood next to this woman for the next three hours and talked to every single person who approached, drawn in by her giant posters. Every single one of them was disgusted by her actions and refused to sign her petition when I told them the truth about SB 48. Every single one. With only 14 days left until the Stop SB 48 campaign has to turn in their signatures, everything we do right now matters.
Thanks for fighting back,
–Max Disposti, Courage Campaign member
22 Comments
1.
Mark ;-) | September 30, 2011 at 8:24 am
Awesome, I hope that every single signature is tossed out because of this. There needs to be fairness in the political process. Lying to pass Prop 8 and now trying to repeal SB48 based on lies is doing good to no one.
2.
jpmassar | September 30, 2011 at 8:35 am
I found this on the California Secretary of State's website
A guy stopped me in front of the supermarket and asked me to sign a petition. When I asked what the petition was for, he misrepresented what the petition was about and covered up the printed summary at the top of the petition. He can’t do that, can he?
No, you must be allowed to see the official summary of the petition. A circulator is breaking the law and can be fined or put in jail if he misrepresents the contents and purpose of the petition. (EC §18600, 18601, 18602) If you have reason to believe that a circulator is breaking the law, gather as much information on him or her as possible. Note the location at which the circulator was working, a physical description of the circulator, the name or a description of the initiative measure and/or the proponents of the petition you were asked to sign and the names of anyone who also witnessed the misrepresentation. Remember to report anything unusual to your local election official or to the Secretary of State’s Election Fraud Investigation Unit at (916) 657-2166
3.
jpmassar | September 30, 2011 at 8:36 am
Oh, link
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/vfph-2009.pdf
4.
FlexSF | September 30, 2011 at 8:38 am
OMG. I just watched this video. The producer states that the woman gathering signatures threatened too, or called the cops, because she was being intimidated.
Say no more.
We're dealing reckless assholes! Growing up I didn't know these negative emotions.
5.
Ronnie | September 30, 2011 at 8:40 am
Awesome….. go get 'em Courage Campaign…… subscribing & sharing…..
"I Do" – Australian Marriage Equality (video)…….. <3…Ronnie:
[youtube 6WMnRxsPWuw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WMnRxsPWuw youtube]
6.
Alan_Eckert | September 30, 2011 at 9:33 am
co-signed and shared!
7.
karen in kalifornia | September 30, 2011 at 10:23 am
Thank you Max and Courage Campaign.
Can I say that Max standing witness for 3 hours talking to people who might otherwise sign the initiative petition is so so so much better than a "decline to sign" movement.
Thanks again Max.
8.
Adam Bink | September 30, 2011 at 11:35 am
Thanks karen.
The "decline to sign" movement is actually all about that… asking volunteers to confront signature-gatherers and talk to would-be signers!
9.
LCH | September 30, 2011 at 10:28 am
Signed it.
♀♀=♂♂=♀♂=∑♡
10.
maggie4noh8 | September 30, 2011 at 10:59 am
Check this out…
http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2011/09/29/…
There is also a link to petition Facebook to remove NOM based upon it's hate-filled content.
Please follow through…
11.
Adam Bink | September 30, 2011 at 11:34 am
Awesome. Who wants to write this up and send in a draft?
12.
AnonyGrl | September 30, 2011 at 1:56 pm
I'll take a look at it all when I get home and write something up for you.
13.
Kate | September 30, 2011 at 11:32 am
Ann S. — Merit badge for Max and his hubby!
14.
Ronnie | September 30, 2011 at 2:20 pm
This is the America NOM et al is creating & perpetuating…
Two Florida Gay Men Attacked In Likely Hate Crime http://www.towleroad.com/2011/09/two-florida-gay-…
Manuel Galan and Cirildo Soliz, two openly gay men who live in Immokalee, Florida, were attacked by a gang of five men last week. The incident occurred in the middle of the street, they say, and was completely ignored by passersby.
From Naples News:
Both Galan [27] and Soliz, 21, are openly gay but are just good friends, Galan said. They have lived in Immokalee for almost their entire lives and had been called names before. This was the first time verbal attacks got physical, they said.
The attackers whaled with fists and feet on Galan’s and Soliz’ faces, ribs and limbs and repeatedly yelled derogatory names for gay people, the report said. Galan and Soliz refused medical treatment after the beating.
“I don’t hate who I am. I like who I am. I don’t hide my life,” Galan said. “They just don’t like gay people, so they attacked us.”
…
Soliz told deputies that once the kicking ceased, one of the attackers pointed his finger at him and said, “I’m going to kill you and I know where you live.”
The most disturbing part of this story is that Galan and Soliz know a few of their attackers, against whom they're now pressing charges. The men also say they refuse to be intimidated into hiding.
Said Soliz's mother, Yolanda Vasquez, "I tell him, ‘I don’t want you going out of the house, I don’t want them hurting you.’ He tells me, ‘I’m not going to hide from anybody.’"
(me) But you know it is the prop 8 witnesses & supporters as well as NOM et al including Maggie G's new "'Marriage" Anti-deceny Alliance: Pillorying & Defaming" thing who are in "danger" <— BULLSHITE!!!!….. XI…Ronnie
15.
Chris in Lathrop | September 30, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Thank you, Max. I signed and shared.
Some few years ago I signed one of these petitions. I don't recall the issue, but I thought it had merit. Not long after that my sample ballot for the primaries arrived and I was dismayed to find out I was suddenly registered as a Republican. Something I would never do. I've also heard signature gatherers since misrepresenting their cause. I hate to broad-brush, but it's left quite a bad taste in my mouth, and this episode has removed yet another modicum of trust for these signature-gatherers.
16.
AnonyGrl | September 30, 2011 at 5:10 pm
My father, a minister with DISTINCTLY left wing views, found himself unwittingly and unwillingly registered as a Republican once too. He discovered it when his "Republican membership card" and various campaign literature and a begging letter arrived in an envelope in the mail one day.
It came with a self addressed return envelope that guaranteed the addressee would pay the postage. He was ready to toss the whole thing when I asked him if I could have that envelope. After assuring him that his name would not get anywhere the Republican party's office, he gave it to me. I took a brick, wrapped it in brown paper, and very firmly taped the envelope to the outside, then put it in the mailbox, assuring that, even if they didn't understand the message, at least the Republicans would be forced to pay the postage on mailing a rather heavy brick through the US Postal system.
Dad approved. 🙂
17.
Chris in Lathrop | September 30, 2011 at 9:30 pm
I like that even better than the "Andy Rooney" method of using those to send the perpetrators other junk mail! 😀
18.
Lodi Gal | September 30, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Thanks, Max. I signed too.
One voice matters. One voice at a time can change the world. Call me naive, but that's my mantra.
19.
Elizabeth_Oakes | September 30, 2011 at 8:47 pm
I signed also. And thanks Max for calling this person out–so many people would have rolled their eyes and just kept walking.
20.
Brain Death | October 1, 2011 at 10:17 am
Can anyone explain why SB 48 was even necessary?
I could understand if textbooks devoted entire chapters to telling children how gays are going to Hell and how it is their holy duty to help them there, but this was not the case here.
the L.A. Times editorial opposed the law.
http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/06/gays…
"In other words: Politicians shouldn't be in the business of writing textbooks.
The bill, SB 48, adds to an overly long list of requirements, some more reasonable than others, that have been pressed upon the state's textbooks over the years. Minority groups, the elderly and the disabled must be represented proportionally and never portrayed in a bad light. People in poor countries aren't supposed to be shown as poor, lest they be stereotyped, and information on AIDS in Africa must not reflect negatively on the continent. So poor people aren't poor and the elderly are physically fit and financially sound, according to the textbooks — and we complain that students are poorly educated.
Fables don't make for solid instruction. History is the great story of people, groups and movements — their faults as well as their accomplishments — shaping the world up through the events of today. It is a story best told by historians, not by politicians."
21.
demandequality | October 2, 2011 at 6:27 pm
http://www.nomblog.com/14253/ National Organization for Marriage Inequality is of course aiding & abetting another illegal act linking from their Facebook page to incite more violence against LGBT children, men & women. Sign THIS petition to get NOMZIS kicked off Facebook http://www.change.org/petitions/mark-zuckerberg-r…
22.
Mark ;-) | October 3, 2011 at 12:34 am
Check out this inflamatory article written by and posted on the StopSB48 website: http://stopsb48.com/voters-asked-to-stop-sexual-i…