A rant about San Francisco, with a pathetic 49.8% turnout rate (NSFW)

[Newsjock]

According to the official state results, only 49.8% of you lazy fucks bothered to go out and vote Tuesday. Are you so goddamn self-absorbed that you couldn't rip yourself away from your double latte and your gym membership that you couldn't take 10 fucking minutes to cast a vote in the most important election of the new millennium?

To the nearly 240,000 of you who were registered but did not vote: What's your damn excuse? You were having a bad hair day? There was another breakdown on the N-Judah? Voting seemed just so ... suburban? I don't want to hear it.

I'll admit that more than 240,000 votes were needed to sway Prop. 8, and I'll admit that there's plenty of blame to go around elsewhere in the state. But, San Francisco, your turnout was among the most staggeringly god-awful pathetic rates in the whole state. For a supposedly "progressive" city, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

But you're smug enough that you probably won't care about the rantings of a yucky, evil suburbanite like me -- a gay suburbanite who, through your inaction, just had his equality voted away. But excuse me, so sorry, I forgot: y'all reject such heterosexist norms as "marriage." It's not "queer" enough.

Well, fuck you.

[rpannier]

1. Recommend

Another group of all talk and no walk.

It is disgusting.

It doesn't affect me and that makes me more offended.

People need to think about others.

Good post

[readmoreoften]

2. Or maybe the votes were stolen? Some ridiculous number voted for Prop 8 in San Fran.

Something like 38%.

And I'm a queer, poor urbanite who--along with other queer, poor urbanites have watched the California count come in all night with baited breath.

I have to agree, though, that queer folks who wouldn't vote for the freedom of gay people to marry are selfish enacting their own social norms of what it means to be LGBT.

[AsahinaKimi]

3. I live in SF

I got an absentee ballot and personally took it to city hall.
Many people were told to vote early. I thought it seemed that voter turn out
was light, but this city is usually pretty political and active.

not sure about the numbers but heres a link to some of the figures
via sfgate.com
http://www.sfgate.com/election/races/2008/11/04/

[Eryemil]

4. Some people can't face up to reality

So much of the work for the 'No on prop 8' movement was done by lesbians. Most of the donations were from straight supporters, specially the big ones. Where were all the gay millionaires?
A lot of us put some of the blame on black and Hispanic homophobia and there's certainly a lot of that but I blame gay males too.

[nichomachus]

11. All the gay males I know worked their asses off and donated heavily n/t

[myrna minx]

54. Same with me. My gay friends worked so hard and donated so much to defeat this proposition.

I really wish we weren't savaging each other over this. :( It's horrible enough that this nasty thing passed.

[JVS]

15. Huh? Are you saying gay men wanted prop 8 to pass?

[Newsjock]

16. Many gay men couldn't be bothered to care

Marriage is just so "old-fashioned," they say, that there was no point in getting all worked up over the whole thing. They didn't care that their "San Francisco values" weren't shared by the rest of the state's gay population.

[Chovexani]

26. Rosie didn't give anything because she "doesn't live in CA"

Yet somehow my broke ass 3000 miles away in NYC managed to give a few dollars.

[Pastiche423]

5. Recommend

[iamincali83]

6. What?!

Wow the voter turn out was that low??! I'm really surprised and disappointed I mean San Francisco of all cities I thought would have record turnout!

[mythyc]

7. this CAN'T be right. I don't think the early voting and absentee ballots show up in the #s

Everywhere all over the city was abuzz with voters and EVERYONE I know voted.

As far as I know, the #s represented on the SF election site only tally precinct voting, meaning early voting and absentee ballots have not been factored in yet.

I could be wrong about this, but shouldn't you verify this kind of essential fact before diving right into the vitriol?

If it is right though, I'm just as disappointed....

[Newsjock]

8. The official word

http://www.sfgov.org/site/elections_index.asp?id=70720

Total Registration and Turnout
Registration 477,651
Total Ballots Cast 237,843 49.79 %
Election Day Reporting 191,962
Vote by Mail / Absentee Reporting 45,881

Now I'll get back to my vitriol. :)

[mythyc]

12. yowza. to my word i'm as pissed off as you!

as post #9 relates, i'm as dumbfounded because voting was heavy in my precint too, and everywhere I went today on the campus I teach at, everyone was talking about the election.

as a comparison, here are the Feb 5th primary #s:

Registration & Turnout 415,761 Voters
Election Day Reporting Turnout 158,995
Vote By Mail / Absentee Reporting Turnout 110,217
Total 269,212 -- 64.75% of total registered voters

(source: http://www.sfgov.org/site/elections_index.asp?id=70716 )

How did the # of registered voters actually drop from super tuesdy till today (by 51,98o voters no less)?

For that matter, 31,369 less voters voted in the Generals than the Primaries. This is a whopping 15% less as many registered voters voting


.

I'd be curious to compare the #s for 2000 and 2004, and to see what the registered percentages are fot surrounding counties, state elections (I heard Illinois broke 80%), and the general...

.

either way, there's something very wrong here and you're absolutely right to be upset and wondering what the hell. Prop 8 is tragic, and of all places, why wasn't SF fully mobilized? if anyone can shed light on the whys and hows, we'd all benefit from it...

[gardenista]

24. So check out the so-called minorities that "let us down"

Contra Costa County by precinct:

http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CA/Contra_Costa/9041/13267/en/md.html?cid=0192

Notice anything?

First of all, the predominantly black and hispanic precincts DELIVERED against prop 8.

Honestly, this really should put an end to the ridiculous assertion that minorities brought down the opposition to 8.

Now, rather than casting blame, let's get off our asses and get serious about equality in California.

[mhatrw]

9. I agree. But turnout seemed very heavy at my precinct.

When I signed in about 4:00, the book looked well over half full already.

But at the class I was teaching tonight, everybody was excited that Obama won, but nearly half the class hadn't voted today. I'm ashamed. I should have done more to GOTV.

[Hannah Bell]

10. wow. scanning the news, they're saying national turnout was 60-65%.

what happened to sf?

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

13. I just find it so hard to believe that turnout was so low. n/t

[robinlynne]

31. I think this is a fake thread. nothing at the link to "official data".

[rpannier]

35. County results

San Francisco Yes 53,321, No 177,036 (100% of precincts)

linK: http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/county/#val=CAI01p4

Now that would make less than 250,000 people who voted.

On edit:
Number of registered voters 471,651

http://www.sfgov.org/site/elections_index.asp?id=70720

[robinlynne]

41. Interesting thing here in LA Official turnout at 67%, but we saw lines and

thousands upon thousands of people voting.....

I was guessing turnout at near 100% from what we saw.

Who is counting the votes in san francisco?

[republikkkon]

14. i voted...

the lines were longer than i've seen in 10 years here. nice way to make a blanket statement about the people of san francisco though. san francisco is a transient city that actually has a decent amount of conservative people from the midwest, even though it's policy is very liberal. anyway, maybe you should go spew your hate on hannity's america or the o-reilly show. i'm sure they would love to hear your take on san francisco values.

[TexasObserver]

17. Anyone who didn't show up to vote against it failed.

[juno jones]

18. Had we still lived in CA there would have been 3 more NO votes

This is coming from a hetrosexual nuclear family. I heard my husband SCREAMING last nite at a friend of his who lives in Sac and DIDN'T vote. And this was the guy who dragged my hubby (and I say *hubby* loosely, we aren't legally married) to the polls to vote for clinton in the 90's. Too many people who could have made a difference sat this one out and too many of the newly minted dem voters don't quite understand that the dem party is trying to overcome predjudice of all kinds, not just racial.

He is on the phone now educating a friend of ours in LV, NV whose husband was a huge McCain supporter and giving our reasons why we voted for Obama. One would think it wouldn't be too hard, she's a crazy liberal girl from the north bay area, but she was steeped in *R* propaganda the entire campaign and hasn't heard a good thing about our guy since the shit started.

We have a lot to work on and pointing fingers, especially at DU members isn't going to do a bit of good.

[Burma Jones]

19. Not Queer Enough.....

God, I hate you normal Guys with your Volvos and Golden Retrievers

[robinlynne]

20. I DOUBT THAT IS TRUE!!!!

[slampoet]

21. Get with the program ! Don't you know everyone is over at GDP blaming blacks and mexicans?

[Ignis]

22. "We're too cool to vote."

Most of my friends who still live in the City both voted and helped with GOTV efforts. But for some reason, a lot of the IT/Techie crowd in the City have this sort of neo-Libertarian South Park mindset, and just can't get over themselves enough to vote before they get on the bus in the morning.

We won, but I'm very close to writing a few of these idiots off--despite the fact that they're old, old friends--for claiming to be "Libertarians" while not working (or at least voting!) against bullshit like Prop 8.

Grr.

[gardenista]

23. Damn right! We brought it in Contra Costa County

Where were you guys?!

[Zhade]

25. kick

kick

[LeftCoast]

27. As a queer SF man I find much of this thread hopelessly offensive

I've just had my marriage shit on by the voters of CA and now it's MY fault?

Fuck all of you finger pointing fuckers.

[Chovexani]

28. Seems like it's everyone's fault but the Mormons who were bankrolling the shit.

:(

[rpannier]

37. If you didn't get out to vote or you chose to buy into this BS and vote yes

You are at fault.

The LDS Church might have put up the bucks, but they weren't all those yes votes, nor were they even the majority of those yes votes.

From msn:

Exit polls for The Associated Press found that Proposition 8 received critical support from black voters who flocked to the polls to support Barack Obama for president. Blacks voted strongly in favor of the ban, while whites narrowly opposed it and Latinos and Asians were split.

Everyone who voted yes is at fault and unfortunately many of those yes votes (Black, White, Hispanic, Asians) voted for Obama.

These people are the ones I find most vile. They speak of supporting Civil Rights, but their concern and support doesn't seem to extend very far.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27557521/?GT1=43001

[Chovexani]

38. sigh.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8009

You know what's vile? Bigotry. You know what else is vile? White LGBTs who ignore the existence and concerns of people of color in their own community by framing this as a gay vs. PoC issue.

If you don't bother to click on that link, it points out that Prop 8 would have still passed if every black voter, straight or LGBT, stayed home. And those people you're bashing? A good chunk of them also lost the right to marry. You may not ever see them on the cover of The Advocate or on Will and Grace, and you sure as hell did not see them in the No on 8 ads, but we and our families are hurting just as much as you are. I am black, queer, and struggling financially. I sent money I didn't have to this campaign, despite living 3,000 miles away. And every day I quietly live my life and fight against homophobia, with zero support from folks like you.

We are doing everything we can to reach out to our communities and win hearts and minds. Are you in this fight with us? Or will you throw us to the wolves and pretend we don't exist some more?

[rpannier]

51. Let see...

In my post I placed the blame on everyone who voted for the amendment whether they were White, Black, Latino or Asian.

You were the one who made it a Gay vs PoC issue...I did not. I blamed everyone.

As to blaming the Mormons. They deserve blame, at least those that helped fund it and those that voted for it. However, they did not cast all those yes votes. Some Obama supporters (of all races and religions) voted yes as well.

As to your "...zero support from people like you."
Guess what...I live my life without support from you as well.
I am not gay. And I do I care about other people's rights, which apparantly people who voted yes do not.

It reminds me of people who get outraged about Racial Profiling, except for when it's people who are Middle Eastern. Then I hear the, "Well, they may be terrorists."

An article you may (or may not) be interested in:
http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/_No_on_8_When_Reactive_Politics_Become_Losing_Politics_6262.html

[TahitiNut]

45. Some people prefer "friendly fire" ...

... since the chances of being fired at in return are less. It's an easy "self-righteous high."

:shrug:

[Laughing Mirror]

49. and the Roman Catholics, according to the AP

to the tune of $72 million ... Paid off, didn't it?

[Chovexani]

50. Who Would Jesus Hate?

:cry:

[Duncan Grant]

55. Thank you for saying so. This queer SF man agrees with you.

Can you believe this shit?

[Jamastiene]

29. Apathy solves nothing.

That 240k lazy, good for nothing, self centered, trendy fuck, snobbish bunch of sorry asses proved that. There is nothing I hate worse than a snobbish trendy fuck who won't vote for their own damn rights because it is not the "in thing to do" at the time. That's exactly the same thing as outright hatred. They might as well have voted against gay rights. If one of them complains but couldn't be bothered to get off their asses and vote, they need their asses handed to them. They should not be allowed the right to complain if they didn't vote. They gave up the right to complain along with their own civil rights. Fucking snobby assed trendy fucks with be the death of us. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

:banghead:

[Luminous Animal]

47. Well, the ballots are still being tallied...

The percentage has risen since last night. The website states that we will not know the final count until 2 weeks. FYI, "the gay neighborhood", the one I live in, the one with the snobbish trendy fucks, has the highest turnout listed on the site. I suspect the number will only increase once the absentee ballots are accounted for.

[Jamastiene]

52. The snobby trendish fucks I was talking about were the ones who did NOT vote.

Not the ones who did. The ones who DID vote obviously are NOT the snobbish trendy fucks. I want to make sure we keep the definition of snobbish trendy fucks intact here. :hi:

[robinlynne]

30. Your official results link goes to nothing. can you show us the data you're using??

[deoxyribonuclease]

32. Here

http://www.sfgov.org/site/elections_index.asp?id=70720

[yardwork]

33. That's disappointing. We could have used those votes to defeat the Hate Bill.

Next time...

[EFerrari]

34. You sound just like the freepers talking about "San Francisco liberals".

Good going!

Where you here in a GOTV effort?

[HughLefty1]

36. Another reason to stop calling these races early!

I was talking to a co-worker today who did NOT bother to vote because by the time he got home the presidential election was practically called for Obama. I know unbelievable but I think it's fairly common out here.

[nichomachus]

40. Voting should take place over three days

And no results should be announced until 8 a.m. on the morning after the last poll closes. Problem solved.

[Jamastiene]

53. That is what got us in all that trouble in 2000 too.

They called it before the votes were even counted then stopped the counting of votes to get Mr. 76 Days Left of His Royal Tyranny into the White House. We need a complete counting of the votes, then call it. I think it does affect the outcome in close races.

[nichomachus]

39. Why are you assuming it's gay men who didn't vote?

Why don't you smear other groups? You could blame the Chinese. Sure, that's the ticket. Those self-absorbed Chinese with their pot stickers and egg rolls didn't bother voting.

Maybe the Latinos. Yeah, sure. They couldn't pull themselves away from their tacos and burritos long enough to vote.

Christ on a pogo stick. Get some facts before you rant. Or else, just get a shopping cart and joined the rest of the gang ranting on the street.

[upi402]

43. He did NOT blame gays

He is gay.
I think you misread his post.

[AntiFascist]

42. Hold on...

there are 3 million ballots yet to be counted, including absentee ballots from counties "yet to be identified". Should we get our hopes up?

[Freddie Stubbs]

44. In a very blue area of a very blue state is is sometimes hard to convince people that

their vote will make a difference.

[orleans]

46. i'm surprised that so many didn't vote.

if not for themselves, then for the gay community, their friends, their relatives, for people like me in a chicago suburb who wanted this voted down in order to have a positive effect for friends here in the midwest.

wow.

[femrap]

48. Wow...that's unbelieveable!

However, I've read that a normal middle class family can no longer afford to live in San Fran. It's just the rich that are left there.

And IMHO, when I meet male DUers who say they are from San Fran, they seem very prim, wealthy, and close-minded. Just what I have encountered.

I lived there 1977 to 1993...it has changed.