Newsom: The unwitting star of Yes on 8 ad
Proponents of banning same-sex marriage have rolled out their first TV ad - and it stars San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaiming gay marriage is "going to happen, whether you like it or not."
Newsom, of course, brought the issue to the forefront of national consciousness in 2004, when he tried to legalize same-sex marriages in San Francisco. That move was stopped by the courts, but it set in motion a legal battle that culminated in the California Supreme Court legalizing such unions earlier this year.
"This door's wide open now," Newsom says in the opening clip of the ad. "It's going to happen, whether you like it or not."
Outraged conservatives placed Proposition 8, which would strictly define marriage as between a man and a woman in the state constitution, on the Nov. 4 ballot. The measure would overrule the court's decision.
The Newsom ad, which you can watch on the Yes on 8 campaign site, is the first TV spot in favor of the measure.
"Acceptance of gay marriage is now mandatory," an announcer intones in the spot.
Frank Schubert, the Yes on 8 campaign manager, wrote supporters that the campaign has reserved $10 million in TV ad time in the final five weeks of the campaign.
"California, meet San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom!" Schubert wrote to supporters.
In only 30 seconds, the ad levels numerous charges, including that "churches could lose their tax exemption" and suggests a future of "gay marriage taught in public schools."
Steve Smith, a senior consultant to the No on 8 campaign, accused his opponents of "trying desperately to change the subject so they can get onto some ground that they can win."
"They are losing by, depending on which public opinion poll you want to believe, somewhere between 10 and 15 points," Smith said.
The most recent Field Poll showed Proposition 8 losing 38 percent to 55 percent.
Smith called the churches and schools charges "red herrings" that are "misleading."
As for borrowing Newsom's face, Smith conceded, "It was a nice creative device."
The No on 8 campaign unveiled their first TV ad last week.