Buh-Bye Jeff Kent, Don’t Let The Door Hit Ya!

OK, you’re probably wondering what a post about the retirement of baseball player Jeff Kent of the LA Dodgers has to do with Prop. 8? Well, it’s because I just read an article saying Kent, who played many years in San Francisco for the Giants, donated $15,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign last year.

Kent’s name was one of many released by the state on Monday after a court ruled that the information should not be withheld—something being pushed by Prop. 8 supporters who said they’ve been harassed and threatened because they donated to the proposition.

More on Kent later. But first I want to say how silly it is for Prop. 8 supporters to want to hide behind secrecy if they’ve stepped forward to back a controversial proposition. If you’re not willing to stand up for your principles, it makes me wonder how much you really believe in them?

These aren’t donors who dropped, say, $100. They’re people who spent more than $1,000 to have discrimination written into the state Constitution. I feel that people donating less than $100 is really like those in the crowd who raise their hands when asked who supports something. But when you donate $1,000 or more, which is a lot of money for me since I make very little, then you’re really sticking your head out and should be willing to stand up to the criticism.

On the other side of things, I don’t condone violence, which includes verbal and physical threats. I don’t believe in that, but I do support boycotts as a form of expressing one’s dissatisfaction against someone. The other threats should be reported to the authorities, but the fear of threats shouldn’t mean our voting system and related financial support should be shielded in secrecy.

As for Kent, I love the San Francisco Giants, which I consider to be my home team. But I never liked Kent when he played here. He was always arrogant and cocky, even though he tries to play the “good ole’ boy” image. I’m not surprised that he would support such a hateful proposition. I, for one, won’t miss him on the field.

New York Times article on Prop. 8 donor list.