This time, Newsom plays it straight

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/27/9 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

[SmithL]

"Like it or not," San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and his handlers made a point of not trying to electrify any crowds after Tuesday's state Supreme Court decision upholding the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

Instead, the mayor offered up a cooler, calmer message delivered over the course of three hours in individual interviews with a string of local, state and national reporters.

"We just feel one-on-one offered the best opportunity to get our message out," said mayoral spokesman Nathan Ballard.

The sit-downs also guaranteed that there would be no repeat of Newsom's infamous, growling declaration in the City Hall rotunda last year after the court legalized same-sex marriages that gay and lesbian weddings were "gonna happen - whether you like it or not."

The crowd cheered that day, but the video clip became the cornerstone of the campaign that passed Proposition 8 - an ad that gubernatorial candidate Newsom would just as soon never see again.

This time, "the message is going to the calm, firm and resolute," said Newsom campaign manager Eric Jaye.

And well-scripted to boot - just like when Newsom first defied state law by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004.

Every time Newsom appeared back then, he opened by saying he was straight, married and Catholic - and just about every time, he managed to have an American flag behind him.

Camera call: Newsom wasn't the only star playing for the cameras Tuesday: The anti-Prop. 8 protest that started outside the state Supreme Court building on McAllister Street was pretty well-scripted, too.

Protest organizers met with San Francisco police in the days leading up to the court's decision and negotiated just how the arrests would go down.

The organizers even sent out a press release Friday announcing the plan.

[rvoitier]

"I never thought I'd live in a state where the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch are all made irrelevant in a context of protecting a minority's rights - that's where we are in California today."
- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

Hey penis-breath, it's called, We The People.

Look it up.

The arrogance of the elitist ruling class is astounding and anathema to the Constitution.

[GraceG]

Quick someone tell the Liberals in California that the Judges are Legislating from the bench!!!

[nufsed]

This is the guy who’s sanctuary policy lead to the murder of 3 members of a family when a illegal immigrant violent criminal was realesed from jail onto the streets of San Francisco. Now he thinks he should be governor.

[Carry_Okie]

"We just feel one-on-one offered the best opportunity to get our message out get elected," said mayoral spokesman Nathan Ballard.

There, fixed it.

[Right Cal Gal]

Gavin Newsom created this mess and now stands around saying “uh, uh, I dunno how this happened.” He wanted his name in the national news and sanctioning gay marriage was the way to do it. He could have cared less about the will of the voters in the State: Newsom wanted to be on the national news. The video clip that “he’d rather never see again” will figure prominently in the anti-Newsom campaign coming up, and will continue to be used in Pro-8 messages.

Add to that the behavior of “Perez Hilton” and the disgraceful treatment of Carrie Prejean for answering a question according to her conscience? Comparing gays to Blacks and Hispanics? Your mileage, of course, may vary, but I think gay marriage approval is dead in the water right now.