The new ad produced by 'meckconservative' goes after Parks Helms using his own words (June 2004) that he would effectively abolish marriage (that there should be no legislative restrictions on who could marry).
Using the theme to "Love American Style" and photo's from the old 50's TV series "Leave it to Beaver" Meckconservative has taken Creative Loafing John Grooms advice to the next level (see this link for the CL article).
"By now you've probably seen the Republican campaign ads on Youtube.com that Democrats have been moaning about. Created by someone called "meckconservative" (real identity unknown, of course, to any local GOP politicians), the low-budget ads attack County Commission Chair Parks Helms specifically, and Democrats in general, for supporting gay marriage, high taxes, and the general decline of Western civilization." - Creative Loafing 10/25/2006 (John Grooms)
In the ad, Parks' statement that "you can not 'legislate' marriage" should come as a surprise to the folks in Mecklenburg County who applied for and received a marriage license from the REGISTRAR OF DEEDS (a county department).
Democrat Mayor Gavin Newsom (San Francisco) ignored State marriage laws. Why is it unreasonable to conclude that Parks Helms and the Democrats wouldn't also? After all, Parks has publicly concluded that 'marriage' can't be legislated AND the County issues marriage LICENSES through the Registrar of Deeds (a county department).
If Parks Helms, Wilhelmenia Rembert and Jennifer Roberts (the three Democrat at-large candidates) win, they could decide to follow Gavin Newsom's example and order the County to issue marriage licenses to ANYONE who applies. Sure it would land in court (as Newsom's attempt did, but the Democrats could do it).
Some members of the media have asked whether the issue is a valid issue in the County Commission campaign. I believe it is for three reasons:
Parks made the statements, they were not taken out of context, and the County Commission GOP at-large candidates ARE making an issue of it (see campaign ads on TV).
The County Commission has the 'authority' to buck the State and COULD (following San Francisco's example) do so.
Parks Helms has stated his intent and opinion that marriage should not be 'legislated' therefore that means he believes marriage laws should be "repealed" (which would lead to dire consequences.
The Democrats will likely claim that this is a rogue ad however the same effective content about it is running, produced by GOP candidates on TV. Like it or not, Parks statements against 'legislating' marriage are a valid campaign issue whether liberals - or the liberal media accept it or not.
Photo Summary of the 'meckconservative' adgoing after Parks Helms for saying that marriage can't be 'legislated'
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