With Meg Whitman declaring that she will support Proposition 8 if she's elected governor, a new debate about the topic has arisen in the state. Proposition 8 or Prop. 8 prohibits same-sex marriage, and was approved by California voters during the state elections of November 2008. However, the law was held unconstitutional by a district court ruling and is presently being examined by an appeals court to check its validity. Whitman has pledged her support to enable Prop. 8 to make an appeal to the Circuit Court of Appeals.

 

In her quest to defend Prop. 8, Meg Whitman wants to restore the sanctity of traditional marriage. According to Proposition 22 that was supported by almost 61% of California voters, marriage can only be between a man and a woman. However, Whitman also stresses the fact that such affirmation for traditional marriage won’t take away privileges, rights or benefits that registered domestic partners of the same sex enjoy. In other words, Prop. 8 in her opinion won’t violate anyone's rights.

 

Whitman believes that a law like Pop. 8 needs to be a legalized only through the vote of the people and not through a minority activist community. Like other supporters of Prop. 8, Whitman also thinks it to be a radical vision of a constitutional structure, where the majority sentiment should prevail over the rights of a minority community. .

 

Prop. 8 is surely an issue that’s quite different from the typical issues around running a campaign. However, despite the opposition to it, Meg Whitman is right to voice her support to Prop. 8 against court challenges mainly due to the fact that Prop. 8 was voter supported and came to fruition through the legal political process afforded to all Californians.  The position of the majority of voters in  California has to be respected.  As Meg Whitman has stated, Proposition 8 has to move forward, but with the proper safe guards to protect the rights and benefits of those affected.