Craig Missakian Upon reading Ms. Michael’s letter...

Craig Missakian

Upon reading Ms. Michael’s letter concerning Proposition 22, I gave

it to friends to read. Some had supported the measure and some had

opposed it.

All of them advised me simply to ignore her comments. I thought

differently.

In the wake of the March 7 election, if there was any division created in

our community by Proposition 22 now is the time to heal that wound.

Unfortunately, I believe Ms. Michael’s approach in continuing to divide

this community by attacking supporters of the measure as hateful and

bigoted only makes matters worse.

If this community, this state and this nation is ever going to come

together as one national family, the politics of division must end, and

end now. Part of that process means that Ms. Michael must recognize that

a free exchange of ideas is essential to the health of our democracy.

Demonizing individuals whose only crime is that of disagreeing with you

simply stifles that process.

The people of California have voted in large numbers in favor of

Proposition 22. In our community alone, about 64% of the voters raised

their voice in support of the measure.

Many of them believed, as I did, that the proposition is intended to

reaffirm our society’s belief in the essential value of the traditional

family. The institution of marriage between a man and a woman has long

endured and is rightly called the first institution of society.

My support for Proposition 22 does not change my belief that

discrimination based upon a person’s sexual orientation has no place in a

society that values freedom of expression and association, and is based

on the cherished notion that all men are created equal. Such

discrimination has no place in our community.

I have maintained from the outset that all people, regardless of their

sexual orientation, must be treated with dignity. And if I believed that

Proposition 22 or any other measure discriminated against one particular

group, I would have been among the first to denounce it.

As Ms. Michael correctly points out, I know all too well the scars

discrimination can inflict upon one’s heart. As I said in 1996 and will

say again now, no person should lose a single vote because of their last

name, their religion, their sexual orientation or other such factors.

It is my hope that Ms. Michael was judged in this race based not on her

sexual orientation but on her views.

I understand and accept that Ms. Michael will support my opponent Dario

Frommer in the November election because of his opposition to Proposition

22.

But, to Ms. Michael, I make this promise: As an Assemblyman, I would work

tirelessly to ensure that all the residents of the 43rd Assembly District

will live and work in an environment free of discrimination of all types.

It is only then that we will truly be a house united, and so united, we

will accomplish great things.

Liz Michael, my hand is and will remain extended to you. But you are on

the wrong side of the truth. You have misjudged your neighbors. You have

misjudged me.

craig missakian won the Republican nomination in the March 7 primary in

the 43rd Assembly District.