In the NYT, the Beltway Dominionists are soiling their diapers at the prospect of the defeat of Prop 8. This is their last stand, and are declaring that religious persecution is around the corner unless it passes. In fact, owner of the KKK’s mailing list, and Family Research Council honcho Tony Perkins declares that this battle over marriage equality is more meaningful than the presidential election.

Conservative religious leaders from across the country are pouring time, talent and millions of dollars into the state in support of Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage. They are hoping to reverse a California Supreme Court ruling in May that gave same-sex couples permission to marry, resulting in thousands of exultant same-sex weddings.

Similar marriage amendments are on the ballot next month in Arizona and Florida. But religious conservatives have cast the campaign in California as the decisive last stand, warning in stunningly apocalyptic terms of dire consequences to the entire nation if Proposition 8 does not pass.

California, they say, sets cultural trends for the rest of the country and even the world. If same-sex marriage is allowed to become entrenched there, they warn, there will be no going back.

OMG – does it mean the end of the world is around the corner? If so, why hasn’t Massachusetts caused the End Times? Oh silly, why should facts get in the way of The Rapture. Hyperbole alert…

“This vote on whether we stop the gay-marriage juggernaut in California is Armageddon,” said Charles W. Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries and an eminent evangelical voice, speaking to pastors in a video promoting Proposition 8. “We lose this, we are going to lose in a lot of other ways, including freedom of religion.”

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian lobby based in Washington, said in an interview, “It’s more important than the presidential election.”

“We’ve picked bad presidents before, and we’ve survived as a nation,” said Mr. Perkins, who has made two trips to California in the last six weeks. “But we will not survive if we lose the institution of marriage.”

Doesn’t it leave you breathless?! Tony also takes the opportunity to knife John McCain in the back for not stepping up to the plate enough to help the fundies — even though he selected Bible Spice to carry the torch of intolerance for them.

“He’s not helping, and he’s not being helped by the support for the marriage amendment,” Mr. Perkins said, in contrast to the campaigns of President Bush.