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11/01/2009
Protect Maine Equality Releases Final Ad Before Tuesday Vote
Protect Maine Equality has released its final ad before the election on Tuesday.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
The AP's David Sharp looks at the race thus far: "The polls have been difficult to interpret. But both sides say the
contest will be extremely close and will hinge on turnout, particularly
among the 18-to-25-year-olds who went to the polls in great numbers
last year to elect President Barack Obama. 'There's a knot in my
stomach,' said Steve Ryan of Buxton, who operates a property management
business with his partner of 34 years, Jim Bishop. 'We're very
encouraged, and we're very worried at the same time.' Gay-marriage
supporters have framed the issue as a matter of equality for all
families, straight or gay. Opponents say that allowing same-sex couples
to wed would be a dangerous social experiment and that Maine's domestic
registry law could simply be bolstered to give gays additional legal
rights."
And Rex Wockner continues his excellent coverage from Portland, and says these factors are in play:
"1. The polls are a tie. That may not be good for the gays because, it is thought, some people who are going to vote in a way that others consider bigoted may not tell pollsters the truth. 2. Opponents of same-sex marriage tend to feel more strongly about the issue than supporters do. Opponents, therefore, may feel more motivated to actually go vote. Not good for the gays. 3. However, the gay side's get-out-the-vote operation here in Maine is superior to the opponents' GOTV operation. This is very good for the gays. Regardless of how someone feels about same-sex marriage, it doesn't matter a drop if they don't go vote. The gay side may well get a higher percentage of its supporters to the polling place."
Rex says volunteers (from anywhere in the country) can still make a difference in this race. Click HERE to find out how you can make calls for the campaign.
Watch the new "No on 1" ad, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 4:40 PM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage, Maine, News | Permalink
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I just don't understand how in this FREE country the majority can put minorities rights on a ballot and then just vote them away.
Here is my little rant on youtube..
Jim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27cITQe6S7I
Posted by: Jim Stone | Nov 1, 2009 5:50:02 PM
I'm from Germany, I only know one American loosely, nothing in this ballot effects me immediateley, but I'd be so damn disappointed and sorry for you "over there" if the newfound equality would fall through.
Seriously, I was raging after Prop 8
Posted by: Mark | Nov 1, 2009 7:35:36 PM
The United States was never a country with "freedom for all." We have always had more than one class of citizenship here. We had slaves, then 3/5's of a man, and women were second class citizens without a vote. There is a long tradition here of denying equality.
An ignorant voting public can deny equal rights for all -- they always have, so far.
Posted by: jessejames | Nov 1, 2009 8:48:07 PM
While I lament the fact that most jurisdictions allow voters to undo or block gay rights, I think it is a waste of time to decry this fact, since it is very, very unlikely that states and cities will take away voters' ability to vote on these matters. Instead, we should be devoting our time and energy to persuading voters to vote for equality
Posted by: Javier | Nov 1, 2009 8:59:48 PM
0 for 30 so far.
And prospects for Tuesday don't look terribly promising. But doesn't the polls say it is a toss-up?
Yes and No.
Whenever an opinion poll says it is a tie, that's very bad news for the pro-gay side. Many homophobes are closeted. They'll tell the pollster they are not prejudiced. Then election day arrives and these same people will endorse every homophobic candidate and initiative inside the privacy of the voting booth.
We've been fooled by these "encouraging polls" before. Only to be blown away by how badly election night goes when the actual returns are in.
Posted by: John | Nov 1, 2009 9:15:25 PM
The EU is quasi dictatorial compared to the United States. They were royally pissed off when Ireland blocked the Lisbon Treaty through a democratic referendum to the point they demanded and got a second referendum with the desired result.
JesseJames:
The United States was not unique in regards to female emancipation, in fact it was in the forefront at grassroots level, as with gay rights. Switzerland didn't allow woman to vote until 1971! My state was the first recognized government on Earth to completely outlaw all forms of slavery. My state's last execution took place in 1948, long before most 'Progressive' nations like Canada or the UK. The State of Maine last executed a prisoner in the 1930's! My state was the 1st American jurisdiction to legalize gay marriage, not just civil partnership like some countries, but marriage.
At least the United States never had gulags and concentration/death camps.
Posted by: John in Boston | Nov 1, 2009 9:48:10 PM
@ John in Boston: The US (and Canada) had Japanese internment camps during WWII. While they were not to the degree of severity of Europe's concentration camps they still existed to separate the first class from a secondary class citizens. No matter the name, they are still of a kind and purpose; another thing that we should strive not to have happen again.
This is not to detract from the other examples given of progressiveness in Maine. I'm sure many of us everywhere are rooting for all of you to hold to that proud history and maintain equality. It could be the feather that tips the scales on the mini NOMs and Maggie Gallaghers.
Posted by: Keith | Nov 1, 2009 11:24:46 PM
I'm aware of the WW2 internment camps. They were wrong in retrospect. THEY IN NO WAY COMPARE TO WHAT OCCURRED IN EUROPE, OR WHAT THE ATROCITIES THE JAPANESE COMMITTED.
Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan are responsible for a war, the worse violence and depravity the world has ever seen, that killed 80-100 million people.
Communist Russia killed many millions, mostly their own people, during the 20th century.
Mao and his cultural revolution killed many millions.
The 'evil' America and Americans have done NOTHING comparable.
Posted by: John in Boston | Nov 1, 2009 11:37:52 PM
I don't think it is fair to call the EU dictatorial. Ireland is being no more coerced into a shotgun wedding than Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island were when the original U.S. Constitution came into force without them.
Though the EU has certainly become much more than the humble "trade and customs union" it was originally envisioned as. In American terms, the Europeans are at a stage when they're debating whether they should move from a loose collection of sovereign states - the Articles of Confederation stage - to a genuine federation with a central government and federal structures.
Posted by: John | Nov 1, 2009 11:39:25 PM
Anyone who does not believe that the people who are voting to take away rights from gays would also vote to intern Asian Americans or Jews if given the chance is dreaming.
Posted by: Observer1000 | Nov 2, 2009 12:07:25 AM
What makes anyone think all 'Minorities' would vote yes for gay marriage or gay rights legislation/law? There are just as many anti-gay, 'homophobic' minorities as there are among so-called 'Whites'.
Speaking of Asians:
Traditional Asian cultures and societies are notoriously anti-gay. Even Japan has a serious problem with this.
Jewish people? There are plenty of anti-gay, homophobic Jews. I personally know a few. It's a stereotype to think Jews are all kumbaya and 'Progressive' anymore so than others. And macho Israeli society has a very strong homophobic streak.
When will 'Progressives' acknowledge 'Minorities' are just as capable of bigotry and hate as 'Whites'?
Posted by: John in Boston | Nov 2, 2009 12:31:27 AM
If it makes any difference, I find that the pollsters who don't want to tell the pollster usually say they're undecided, not voting the other way. Some of these polls have shown basically dead heats, in which case I'd say we'd lose this election 52-48 or 51-49. Others have the No side with more like 52-53%. It depends on the turnout.
Hoping for the best, expecting the worst. But if you want to read a poll that shows 48% on both sides, you can safely assume the other side gets 52%. That's how you judge the people who balk.
Posted by: Bruno | Nov 2, 2009 1:41:22 AM
I go to the PRC and Japan on business all the time. There's more apathy towards homosexuality than you'd imagine.
The Shinjuku scene is about as hedonistic as anything we have in the United States. And while China is more conservative, there's usually at least one gay bar in any decent sized city. Everyone knows what it is - including most of the taxi drivers - and nobody cares. And unlike in San Francisco or Manhattan, you can walk the streets without having some corn fed idiot yell "faggot" from a car window or charge at you with a baseball bat.
Posted by: John | Nov 2, 2009 1:52:08 AM
By the way, PPP has just come out with a poll showing question 1 WINNING 51-47. However, they've released a spate of polls tonight that show a heavy conservative lean. Hoping they're just in error.
Posted by: Bruno | Nov 2, 2009 1:56:43 AM
I don't think I mentioned anything about "evil" or that such actions were exclusive to America at all. My previous comment disclaims the comparison of scale and treatment, and was focused on the organizing principle of what they were used for.
It was said in the interest of fairness to those of us who have an additional history layered on the continuing fight for human and civil rights. As you show in your examples, it's happened repeatedly and hindsight reveals those choices for what they were: An act of government, and sometimes the people themselves, stripping other citizens of their rights to liberty, the pursuit of happiness and even life. Somehow I doubt the Declaration provides that some American citizens should be satisfied with only being spared their lives, for one of three. Isn't the fufillment of these things the backbone of what we are here for?
It's a mixed blessing to be able to vote for and protect your rights, it's another thing entirely to not be asked at all.
Posted by: Keith | Nov 2, 2009 2:10:19 AM
On John in Boston's note about Asians: The current attitude is complicated. A few of hundred years of being held hostage by war, economics, physical and mental colonization, missionaries bearing gifts, political upheaval and having it rammed down your throat that your society is backwards can do that. Older Asian parents and grandparents lived in a time when their cultures demanded they absorb all the 19th century morality and manners they could in order to be taken seriously at home or abroad.
History, literature and art show that different sexualities existed in many Asian cultures and attitudes towards it fluctuated just like anywhere else, this skew towards homophobia is just one of these shifts. As (the other) John points out, it's also reappearing given half a chance. To conflate the recent generations of Asians as indicative of their respective traditions is a misunderstanding of how the societies have changed.
Instead of vilifying others for their prejudice, why not understand the cause of it and inform them otherwise?
***
This is probably the last I will comment on this article; I apologize for derailing the subject.
Posted by: Keith | Nov 2, 2009 3:32:28 AM
On John in Boston's note about Asians: The current attitude is complicated. A few of hundred years of being held hostage by war, economics, physical and mental colonization, missionaries bearing gifts, political upheaval and having it rammed down your throat that your society is backwards can do that. Older Asian parents and grandparents lived in a time when their cultures demanded they absorb all the 19th century morality and manners they could if they wanted to be taken seriously abroad.
History, literature and art show that different sexualities existed in many Asian cultures and attitudes towards it fluctuated just like anywhere else. As (the other) John points out, it's also reappearing given half a chance. To conflate the recent generations of Asians as indicative of their respective traditions is a misunderstanding of how the cultures have changed.
Instead of vilifying others for their prejudice or enduring it, why not determine the cause of it and inform them otherwise?
***
This is probably the last I will comment on this article and I apologize for derailing the subject.
Posted by: Keith | Nov 2, 2009 3:38:03 AM
Quasi dictatorial? Your interpretation of EU politics may not be wrong, John in Boston, but having lived for decades on both continents, I have to say that I feel far less put upon in Europe (the UK, Germany and Italy being my reference points) than back home in the USA. The general attitude of the people seems far more mature, and the libel culture of America really doesn't exist to the same degree. Freedom of speech means freedom of speech, whereas in the US, it means freedom of speech as long as you don't piss anyone off.
Living among Europeans is like living with very chilled out and laid back liberal grandparents - a reflection maybe of their rich histories. But quasi dictatorial, only in the US news perhaps :)
Posted by: ST | Nov 2, 2009 3:50:49 AM
The EU's political process is quasi-dictatorial, not everyday Europeans. It is more heavy-handed than Americas.
I've lived in England, France and Germany. I'm also a 1st generation American with close family over there, and friends.
You can get EVERY conceivable viewpoint from around the world in America so I don't know why some people keep on insinuating otherwise. This is 2009. From my own wide experience I can honestly say the average Brit or Euro IS NO BETTER, more intelligent, or cosmopolitan than the average American. MOST anti-Americanism that comes out of the UK and Euroland is gratuitous and often based on gross ignorance of American politics, law, government, everyday life. THE VERY SAME THINGS MANY BRITS AND EUROS ACCUSE AMERICANS OF.
I did not mean to disparage Asian cultures or Asian people. I grew up in a neighborhood with many Asians, mostly ethnic American born Chinese, and Korean. 2 years of H.S. at least 50% Asian. I stand by what I said. The Asians I know aren't that thin-skinned.
Posted by: John in Boston | Nov 2, 2009 6:44:22 AM
The USA has uniquely designated itself as the world-wide purveyor of freedom and democracy for all. Even if they don't want it!
That's why these votes on gay rights, which so far have created two classes of citizens here, are so hypocritical.
Even more ironic is our military, with its silenced gay soldiers, fighting for "democracy and freedom" in countries which openly discriminate (to the point of killing) people who are gay.
How do Americans who vote against Equality not see the Injustice?
Posted by: jessejames | Nov 2, 2009 6:47:50 AM
OK, I'm the second posts' Mark.
Not sure why this ended in some Europe versus USA discussion again, just wanted to say good luck, that's all.
Posted by: Mark | Nov 2, 2009 1:31:15 PM
I really like the ad, but this one like all the others before it really bothers me.
There's not one gay male family in the ad. They are all lesbian families.
We won't have equality if we keep marginalizing an entire group of people with families who will be affected by the outcome of this vote.
Get over the "ick factor" already!! You have to ask yourself if equality gained by ignoring an entire segment of a population is truly equality at all. You are just as guilty of promoting intolerance as those who would deny us all equal rights.
Posted by: Go Maine! | Nov 2, 2009 1:47:03 PM