Information Alert: Truth be told
Victoria Cobb, President
Friday, July 27, 2007
Earlier this week, The Ohio state Supreme Court dismissed arguments that Ohio's marriage amendment undermined that state's domestic violence laws (State v. Carswell). I'm sure you vividly remember that opponents of Virginia's marriage amendment attempted to scare Virginians into voting against the amendment by pointing to the controversy in Ohio last fall.
This week's decision reaffirms what we said all during last fall's bitter campaign - the so-called "unintended consequences" arguments used against the marriage amendment were a figment of the opposition's imagination. As was clearly articulated in Attorney General Bob McDonnell's opinion of Virginia's marriage amendment, no one was going to lose a single existing right when that amendment was implemented.
Virginians can rest assured that domestic violence laws in this state will protect them. I hope that Virginians hold in contempt those who took the serious problem of domestic abuse and used the fears of women in crisis to try to accomplish their political agenda.
Marriage Commission
Almost two weeks ago I told you about The Family Foundation's efforts to
reduce the divorce rate in Virginia. We recently convened the first meeting
of our marriage commission to study the issue. Well, it didn't take long
for the story to hit the media. We've been fielding calls for several days,
and from media outlets as far away as Seattle, Washington!
Much of the coverage, particularly on talk radio has been less than flattering. It seems that there are many people out there who don't think a 50 percent divorce rate is such a bad thing. Or if they admit its too high, they simply throw up their hands and say that nothing can be done.
Regardless of the naysayers and those who simply criticize instead of seeking solutions, we are going to continue to look at this decidedly complicated issue in an attempt to seek real solutions.
Below is a sample of the media stories concerning the commission:
Va.
Foundation seeks to reduce divorces - Washington Post, 7/26/2007
New Commission
aims to make divorce harder - Virginian Pilot, 7/22/2007
Family Foundation
focuses on divorce - WSET TV, Lynchburg
A marriage made in
politics - Roanoke Times Editorial Page, 7/24/2007