On the same day that the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign released its first commercial, the independent Californians Against Hate posted its first commercial.

on its web site: CaliforniansAgainstHate.com

This ground breaking spot depicts San Diego mega--donor Terry Caster. Caster and many of his eight sons and daughters and their spouses have given a combined total of $293,000.00 to the Protect Marriage / Yes on Proposition 8 campaign between January and July of 2008. Caster owns A-1 Self Storage Company of San Diego. A-1 Self Storage has 40 locations throughout California with over 4 million square feet of storage.

Caster has been the focus of a "Call Terry Caster Campaign" for the past two months, which has generated so many calls to his office that he had to put in a separate phone line to field them all.

The commercial features one of his 38 grandchildren, portrayed by 4 year old Madison of Los Angeles, asking her grandfather, "Why did you give so much money away, Grandpa?" The innocence of the little girl is in stark contrast to the mega contributions of Caster and his family. The spot opens with Madison plucking the pedals off a daisy, just like the little girl did in what is arguably the most famous political ad in American history, Daisy Girl 1964. That commercial ran only once, but it became the centerpiece of President Johnson’s landslide victory over then U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater.

Madison in Daisy Girl 2008

Fred Karger, Campaign Manager of Californians Against Hate said with the release of their first commercial, "We want to remind people exactly who is giving vast sums of money to try to take away marriage equality here in California. We will have at least one more commercial featuring anther mega-donor that will be coming out soon."

The commercial was produced, filmed and directed by noted filmmaker and documentarian, John Keitel and his Shelter Productions. Special thanks go out to all who helped make this historic commercial!

The cast and crew of Daisy Girl 2008: Bryin, make-up; Director John; Buck (seated) playing Terry Caster; David, one of Madison’s dads and Madison.

Records of major contributors to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, including Terry Caster and his family’s contributions, can be found on the "Dishonor Roll" on the Californians Against Hate web site.

Here is a summary of the Caster Family donations thus far:

Terry Caster & Family
A-1 Self Storage
4607 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA 92120
Tel: 800.219.4854

www.a1storage.com (Don't use this service, Not GLBT friendly)
www.castergrp.com (Don't use this service, Not GLBT friendly)
www.servinghands.com (Don't use this service, Not GLBT friendly)

$293,000

The Caster Family has given:

Terry Caster - $172,500
Barbara Caster - $9,100
Brian Caster - $29,100
Candice Caster - $9,100
Cha Cha Caster - $9,100
Christina Caster - $9,100
Craig Caster - $9,100
Gary Davidson - $9,100
Justin Caster - $9,100
Kenneth Kremensky - $9,100
Mechele Kremensky - $9,100
Nick Caster - $9,100

The Caster Family owns A-1 Self Storage, with 40 locations throughout California. Terry Caster is quoted in the San Diego Union Tribune as saying "without solid marriage you are going to have a sick society." Son Craig Caster is the Founder/Pastor of Family Discipleship Ministries in San Diego. The Caster family has donated more to Proposition 8 than any other family in San Diego.

Photo : Californians Against Hate