Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

"Now I see his true colors"

Tim Eyman's attempt to reverse HB 2661, just passed last Friday and to be signed by the Governor tomorrow, is already backfiring:
The move to repeal the gay rights bill drew fire outside the gay community.

Yelm resident Tony Engler, 47, said his view of Eyman has changed because of Monday's filing.

"I'm not gay or Christian, I'm not a right-wing whacko or a bleeding-heart, tree-hugging Evergreen liberal," Engler said.

"I'm just a guy who's partially disabled and who has laws set up out there to protect my rights to live as a human, not as some second-class citizen," he said. "I'm glad the Disability Act was established before Tim Eyman came along or I'd still be fighting high curbs in crosswalks.

"I used to think Tim Eyman was an OK kind of guy, fighting the good fight; now I see his true colors."
NPI and Permanent Defense are already gearing up to get ready to fight Eyman this year. The response to Eyman's filing yesterday was astounding. We were contacted by dozens of people who want to know what they can do to help stop Tim's wicked schemes.

We expect we'll be hearing from even more people today.

Tim Eyman is no citizen's champion. He is a greedy right wing zealot interested only in his own ego and profiting at the expense of other people. And with his action yesterday, it seems more and more people are beginning to see Eyman for what he really is.

Other reactions to yesterday's filing:
Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said a voter initiative is the wrong way to deal with minority rights.

"I would never welcome any minority group having their rights put on the ballot," Murray said. "The fact that we are now going down the road where majorities are going to decide the rights of minorities flies in the face of what this country is all about. What's next, are we going to decide that certain religions are going to be on the ballot?"

[...]

"I think he is looking for another paycheck," said Rep. Joe McDermott, D-West Seattle.

[...]

The Washington State Labor Council condemned Eyman's plan.

"Let's hope that Washington's Christian faithful focus on the Bible's many lessons of tolerance when they come across Merchant Eyman's table, and opt not to sign his petition," said union spokesman David Groves. "Or they might mimic Jesus' rare display of anger and righteous indignation, and just flip it over."
We will stand with groups like Equal Rights Washington to fight and defeat Eyman's evil schemes. To join the grassroots effort, click here.

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