Pepperdine University Forces Yes on Prop 8 Campaign to Remove Professor's Affiliation from Ad

When proponents of Proposition 8, the initiative that would eliminate marriage rights for committed same-sex couples, launched their first television ad last week, they featured a misleading commentary from Pepperdine University law professor Richard Peterson. Apparently a number of Pepperdine alumni were upset at their alma mater's association with an initiative that would write discrimination into our state constitution, so the university contacted the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, insisting that the professor's affiliation be pulled from the ad (h/t LAist).

"We’d like to stress that the professor does not represent a Pepperdine University-endorsed position, as the University does not advocate for/against political candidates or ballot propositions," explained Jerry Derloshon, executive director for public relations for the university in an e-mail to alumni. "The professor in the ad was not advocating a Pepperdine position, but his own personal position. We have received confirmation that our request to have the reference to Pepperdine University deleted from the ad will be honored."

Incidentally, Prop 8 joins Props 7 and 10 as one of only three initiatives without a single editorial board endorsement. One would imagine the Orange County Register, San Diego Union Tribune, or Tracy Press would adamantly reject a proposition that allows "people [to be] sued over personal beliefs" or puts churches in danger of losing their tax-exempt status, as Professor Peterson falsely claims in the ad. But instead, three of the state's most conservative-leaning editorial boards endorsed a No on Prop 8 position, because, as the Tracy Press explained, "We shouldn’t change the state Constitution to take away civil rights."

No matter who they find to spew nonsense in front of a camera, the Yes on Prop 8 campaign can't escape this simple fact: Californians tend to be reluctant to take away rights, and Prop 8 would restore a separate and unequal marriage system in California that does not reflect our state's inclusive values.   

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