The Lower Depths

Conservatism, as anything else, is a vertical arrangement, and we can all name the ones at the top. Now we can name some of those at the bottom -- if, indeed, there is a bottom: Yes on 8.

In their newest television ad, the Yes on 8 Campaign focuses on the field trip that some San Francisco children took to celebrate their teacher’s wedding. It goes without saying that they distort the story; dishonesty is the hallmark of the Yes on 8 efforts. And although this lack of integrity is worthy of indignation, what truly reveals the immorality of their efforts is that they chose to exploit images of the children that attended.

It is one thing to criticize the decisions of the parents and the school’s administation. It is quite another to plaster the face of children across the television screens of all California households and present them for ridicule.

And, given the reactions engendered by the campaign, these children are being exposed to potential attack. Let's talk again about "family values."

It gets worse:

Ah, but these “good moral people” who believe that “parents and not liberal schools should be the protectors, guardians and ultimate teaches of their own children” seem to have no respect for parents when they don’t support their anti-gay agenda. They have told these parents that they have no intention of stopping the exploitation of their kids.

“The images of the children wouldn’t be in the public domain if they hadn’t called the press and publicized it. It’s been on national TV.”

Are these the kind of people you want to be associated with?

Update: From Andrew Sullivan, evidence that someone has been running around turning over rocks.