Lawmakers facing backlash over gay marriage vote
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Wednesday's historic Senate vote to approve same sex marriage has energized supporters, but it has also caused a backlash for some of the lawmakers who voted in favor of the bill.
Officials from the state information office said just prior to Wednesday's vote, 2,300 calls flooded into the state capitol, with most of the calls opposing gay marriage.
"There have been some fairly profane and angry kinds of communications to members," said Sen. Lisa Brown, a Democrat who was one of the 28 members who voted in favor of the bill.
The state patrol said there haven't been any death threats since the vote, but a lot of people are fired up.
"I've gotten some pretty negative phone calls," said Sen. Kevin Ranker.
Ranker, whose father is gay, gave an impassioned speech on Wednesday in favor of same sex marriage.
"As with any issue that is this passionate, people's response when it doesn't go the way they want, is also passionate," Ranker said.
The immediate fallout is the vow from opponents to try to get those who voted in favor of the bill out of office. That includes four republicans who crossed party lines to approve the bill.
Now, as members of the House get ready to vote on the issue, some people are pressuring state representatives to shoot the bill down.
Jim Sathre was at the Capitol on Thursday holding a sign urging a no vote on the house bill, but he said he's not threatening anyone.
Asked if he wishes the politicians who voted for gay marriage any ill, Sathre said, "No, no, no. God can make some moves on people if he wants to."
None of the four Republicans who voted for the bill wanted to speak to the media on Thursday, saying they want to move on and put the spotlight back on the state budget.
Officials from the state information office said just prior to Wednesday's vote, 2,300 calls flooded into the state capitol, with most of the calls opposing gay marriage.
"There have been some fairly profane and angry kinds of communications to members," said Sen. Lisa Brown, a Democrat who was one of the 28 members who voted in favor of the bill.
The state patrol said there haven't been any death threats since the vote, but a lot of people are fired up.
"I've gotten some pretty negative phone calls," said Sen. Kevin Ranker.
Ranker, whose father is gay, gave an impassioned speech on Wednesday in favor of same sex marriage.
"As with any issue that is this passionate, people's response when it doesn't go the way they want, is also passionate," Ranker said.
The immediate fallout is the vow from opponents to try to get those who voted in favor of the bill out of office. That includes four republicans who crossed party lines to approve the bill.
Now, as members of the House get ready to vote on the issue, some people are pressuring state representatives to shoot the bill down.
Jim Sathre was at the Capitol on Thursday holding a sign urging a no vote on the house bill, but he said he's not threatening anyone.
Asked if he wishes the politicians who voted for gay marriage any ill, Sathre said, "No, no, no. God can make some moves on people if he wants to."
None of the four Republicans who voted for the bill wanted to speak to the media on Thursday, saying they want to move on and put the spotlight back on the state budget.
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