Backers of Olson-Boies Challenge to Prop 8 Speak
Reuters speaks with political strategist Chad Griffin and producer Bruce Cohen, two board members behind The American Foundation for Equal Rights, which hired Ted Olson and David Boies to mount the federal change to Prop 8, about their motivation and how it all came about.
Griffin says friends led him to a conversation with Olson: "Patience is a virtue I've quite frankly never possessed -- if patience is a virtue. History is on our side, law is on our side. Half way through that conversation I realized that I was perhaps
sitting across from someone who, if we decided to proceed, could become
one of the most eloquent, important spokespeople in this movement for
equality
Cohen says that his Hollywood background has made him fearless, in a way: "You get into the habit, which I think is a good one, of going for it. From the political world we bring the knowledge that there is no such thing as a sure thing. From the Hollywood world, everything is a one in a million chance."
The case has its first hearing in a San Francisco federal district court on July 2
Previously
Board Behind Olson-Boies Challenge to Prop 8 Announced [tr]
I'm torn, the whole "Hollywood 1 in a million chance" thing gives me pause, yet I applaud anyone for standing up for human rights. I just wish I felt the Supreme Court wasn't so unfriendly to the cause (and that a failure there wouldn't amount to more than a "direct to DVD" release).
Posted by: ichabod | Jun 18, 2009 10:33:54 AM
Isn't it completely false to report that the "board" of this "organization" "hired" right-wing extremist traitor Ted Olson to take this case?
Isn't the truth that Chad Griffin decided against the advice of everyone who knows better to put our rights in the hands of right-wing extremist traitor Ted Olson and THEN created an "organization" and THEN put together a "board"?
This only happened in the last few weeks. Are we already re-writing history for their benefit on their say-so?
With right-wing puppet Schwarzenegger now pushing for the case to be fast-tracked to a hostile Court before the state of CA can repeal Prop 8 and render it moot, why are we now helping them pretend that these people are doing anything less than working to destroy any chance at equality for generations to come?
Traitor Ted Olson because destroying America is what his entire career has ALWAYS been about and Chad Griffin because he's an unforgiveable idiot?
Posted by: ohplease | Jun 18, 2009 11:06:09 AM
I know this is a serious issue/story... but, how could anybody take Cohen seriously with that Dutch Boy hair do?!
Posted by: DrTheopolis | Jun 18, 2009 12:25:07 PM
these are two well-to-do, clueless white guys. we don't have the votes on SCOTUS right now. anthony kennedy is not a reliable vote on this issue. if the supremes accept arguments on this case and we lose, it will be no skin off these two idiots' teeth. they will still be able to buy their rights. meanwhile, a precedent setting decision will take years to live down. gawd save us from rich, white 'mos!
Posted by: nic | Jun 18, 2009 1:42:05 PM