President Clinton: North Carolina's 'Amendment One is too big of a risk.'

President Clinton speaks with North Carolina residents in the wake of Hurricane Floyd, Sept. 1999
(White House/Wikicommons) President William Jefferson Clinton is the latest, and arguably the most significant luminary, to lend his voice to the cause of stopping North Carolina's proposed Amendment One to ban gay marriage, civil unions and any legal recognition of any non-married relationships.

President Clinton (Clinton Foundation) The 42nd president of the United States has released a message of unequivocal  condemnation that will be used by the Protect ALL NC Families campaign for automated voter calls.

The statement reads:

"Hello, this is President Bill Clinton.  I'm calling to urge you to vote against Amendment One on Tuesday May 8.  If it passes, it won't change North Carolina's law on marriage.  What it will change is North Carolina's ability to keep good businesses, attract new jobs, and attract and keep talented entrepreneurs.  If it passes, your ability to keep those businesses, get those jobs, and get those talented entrepreneurs will be weakened.  And losing even one job to Amendment One is too big of a risk.  Its passage will also take away health insurance from children and could even take away domestic violence protections from women.  So the real effect of the law is not to keep the traditional definition of marriage, you've already done that.  The real effect of the law will be to hurt families and drive away jobs.  North Carolina can do better.  Again, this is Bill Clinton asking you to please vote against Amendment One. Thanks."

You can listen to the recording here:

Amendment opponents have already unquestionable won the earned media war, and news of President Clinton's involvement can only help. He remains a very popular person in the state. The campaign estimates it will need an additional $25,000 to properly fund the distribution of this message.

Proponents of Amendment One have called the concern about the collateral damage to women and children "lies" although no credible sources have agreed with them, and many disagree. Clinton is a powerful validator for the essential message that Amendment One does nothing to change the status quo of gay marriage in North Carolina, but will visit real damage to the economy, children, families and all unmarried couples.

Like the Mississippi Personhood Amendment last year, conventional wisdom has decreed this amendment is destined to pass.

The vibe is very different on the ground, however.

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