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Amendment One has no shortage of conservative critics. Tea Party U.S. Congresswoman Renee Ellmers has already made it clear that she plans to vote against the amendment. Russell Robinson, the conservative grandson of the North Carolina Constitution’s principal architect, gladly released a video in which he denounced the amendment as being “absurdly broad,” and both he and his wife, Sally, said they plan to vote against it.
On March 26, another name was added to the list of those who will vote against Amendment One on May 8. John Hood, president of the conservative Raleigh-based think tank the John Locke Foundation (JLF), released an article in the Carolina Journal, in which he stated that he opposes Amendment One.
In his daily journal article “No Defense For the Offense,” Hood addresses an unflattering, photoshopped image of President Obama that appeared on a blog associated with JLF. He apologizes for the photo and says that JLF does not condone the publishing of that post on the blog. He also makes a statement of political opposition that is uncharacteristic even of him.
“From our founding in 1989,” he says, “JLF has focused on fiscal and economic matters. Since I began writing a column for the organization, I have followed the same editorial policy, although I have commented on other issues in other forums.”
“But in this case I’ll suspend the rule for the sake of illustration,” he continues. “As it happens, JLF staffers and contributors have a wide range of views on social issues, including the marriage amendment. Some support it, based on heartfelt moral or religious convictions. Others oppose it, including me.”
Hood goes on to say that he thinks the amendment is “unwise and unfair” in that it would bar any future legal relationship recognition for unmarried couples, and more specifically, in the form of civil unions.
"With his opposition to Amendment One, leading conservative commentator John Hood adds his voice to a growing base of Republican leadership and other voters who know Amendment One is wrong for the state and will be voting against on May 8,” said Protect All NC Families campaign manager Jeremy Kennedy. “Now more than ever, it's clear that the fight against this misguided constitutional rewrite transcends party lines and political affiliations. From the national stage to the local level, we're seeing a growing momentum against a measure that would take health care away from children, put battered women at risk, and harm vulnerable North Carolina families. And we applaud those willing to keep North Carolina on the right side of history."