From Grant Park in Chicago.

Tonight, we saw two exceptional and patriotic speeches from two exceptional and patriotic men.

And, while I’m proud of the progress our country has made and I’m proud that we elected a Black President, I think that the results of some of the ballot measures across the nations — particularly those dealing with gay rights — make it painfully clear that we have not reached the dream of equal rights on which this country was founded. We still have pockets of senseless hate oozing their way into legislation. I’m hopeful in the sense that the votes in favor of Prop 8 are coming more from old people than from young people. Hurry up and die, you hateful old buffoons, so that my children can be raised in a country free of legislated hate and senseless discrimination.

South Dakota voters SAID NO to a measure that would have prohibited abortion except in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger.

Colorado voters rejected Amendment 48, which would have defined the term “person” to include any human being from the moment of fertilization, again, essentially making abortion illegal.

The former SNL comedian is still in a tight race for a Minnesota Senate seat. Franken, a Democrat, was up earlier in the night, but now he’s down, with the vote 43% for his opponent, 41% for him, with 72% of precincts reporting. It’s too close to call right now.

From CNN.com‘s exit polling:

First-time voters cast their ballots against the proposition by a 64 percent to 36 percent margin. The rest of the electorate favored the amendment 52 percent to 48 percent.

Californians who attend church weekly voted for Proposition 8 by an 83 percent to 17 percent. Those who attended church occasionally voted 40 percent in favor and 60 percent opposed. Californians who never attend church were 14 percent in favor and 86 percent against.

College graduates opposed Proposition 8 by a 57 percent to 43 percent margin. Those without a college degree favored it, 53 percent to 47 percent.

African-Americans voted for Proposition 8 by a 69 percent to 31 percent margin. However, 55 percent of white voters and 52 percent of Hispanics voted against the proposition.

As of right now, at 10pm EST, Prop 8 has 53% yes votes, with 25% of precincts reporting.

We’ll stay tuned. FINGERS CROSSED. I want tonight to be a night about CHANGE and HOPE, but that’s gonna be hard if such a hateful proposition can still get traction in a state like California.

Paris Hilton arrives at her polling place in Norwalk (?) with a security detail. What, the Secret Service wasn’t there with her? She is running for President, after all. I certainly hope she wrote herself in.

I’m sorry to be a buzz-kill right now, but Prop 8 looks like it’s going to pass.

Very disappointing, California.

Why the hate?