Pro-Prop. 8 Strategist Leaves Consulting Firm

A key political strategist in the 2008 campaign to pass California's Proposition 8 is leaving his consulting firm to focus exclusively on social conservative (read: antigay) campaigns.

Frank Schubert, Yes on 8's campaign manager and founder of the Sacramento-based firm Schubert Flint Public Affairs, Tuesday announced his departure from the company as well as his new venture, Mission: Public Affairs.

Following Prop. 8's passage, Schubert Flint hardly shied away from touting its work on the ballot measure, which earned the firm a 2009 Pollie Award at the American Association of Political Consultants' annual meeting in Washington, D.C. (Schubert and business partner Jeff Flint discuss their tactics here.)

The firm's work included notorious ads that have been replicated in same-sex marriage fights in other states. One in particular, of a young girl telling her mother she had learned in school about a prince marrying a prince and how she could marry a princess, had a significant last-minute effect among undecided voters in Prop. 8. (See video below.)

But Schubert Flint has since nearly scrubbed all information on the firm's Prop. 8 work from its website. And judging by Schubert's Tuesday announcement, that's no accident.

"Being involved in those issues has resulted in a reluctance by some in the general business community to hire my firm for new work," Schubert wrote in an email accompanying a press release on his departure. "Additionally, the media focus on my marriage work has overshadowed the work of others in the firm who are accomplishing a lot of great things for our clients."

Companies that Schubert Flint has worked with in the past include Ford Motor Co. and Reynolds American, both of which have pro-LGBT business policies.

"I've chosen to try to make a difference fighting for families, faith and the principles of the American founding, endowed by God, that gave rise to this exceptional nation of ours. I'm excited about the next chapter in my career," Schubert continued.

On its blog, the National Organization for Marriage, which saw its damning internal strategy memos go public to much ado last week, enthused of the news, "One small step for a man -- one giant leap for life, marriage and religious liberty!"