The Connecticut Catholic Conference has begun airing a new television spot urging residents to vote next Tuesday in favor of holding a constitutional convention.
The ad is pretty innocuous. An unidentified woman stands in front of the capitol in Hartford, telling viewers a constitutional convention will “pave the way” for residents to have a more direct say in their government. She does not identify herself with any particular group or cause.
Supporters of the convention hope it will result in allowing residents to force statewide referendums on controversial topics.
What struck me as odd about the ad is that it avoids mentioning what the Connecticut Catholic Conference hopes to accomplish through referendum – overturning the state Supreme Court’s recent ruling legalizing same sex marriage.
I asked Michael Culhane, the CCC’s legislative liason, why same sex marriage was not mentioned and whether the group has other issues it wants addressed through referendum.
He said: “The main thrust of the ads are to bring government closer to the people. To have government more responsive to the people … Any other issue is not on our radar screen at this time.”
I can’t help but wonder if the ad avoids the topic of banning same sex marriage because that could actually convince voters NOT to support a constitutional convention. A recent University of Connecticut poll found residents back the court’s decision, 53 percent to 42 percent.
