"...here's where it gets tricky and here's where we need some answers
over the next several weeks or months. It's clear that polling
research, both ours and others, did not capture the intensity of Yes on
1 support. Polling cannot predict turnout and the impact of Tuesday's
turnout was counterintuitive. We weren't alone: our opponents,
political observers and field operatives all believed a high turnout
benefited the NO on 1 vote. With voting approaching 60% in Maine, it's
clear that wasn't true. Here's what I do believe after some sleep and a break from the
caffeine: we moved the equality ball further up the hill, not just in
Maine, but everywhere else. Voters do need these conversations which we
had by the tens of thousands; they do need to see real gay and lesbian
couples and their children up close and personal; and they do need to
be reminded that these are neighbors and soccer coaches we're talking
about, not 'homosexual activists' which is the well worn handle our
opponents trot out."
New Left Media has produced an interesting 15-minute documentary about the campaign, which you can watch in two parts, AFTER THE JUMP...
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Frankly, I don't think we should listen to Jesse Connolly's advice. I appreciate what he tried to do, but I honestly see no reason to believe he has any special insight.
How about commercials pointing out that civil marriage is only 500 years old? That the mormon church banned black members until 1977? That the Catholic Church opposed freeing the slaves, giving women the vote, and presided over an immense sex abuse scandal?
When you're talking about the public, hate and fear have always stronger than love and sympathy. It always has been. The key is not to get the public to love us - it's to get the public to hate them.
Posted by: Yeek | Nov 15, 2009 5:29:29 PM
If I were given the opportunity to take away a civil right, say freedom of speech, from a group of people I dislike, say right wing bigots, I would be tempted. I understand the whole tomorrow they may come for me argument, and yet I would be tempted. And our side is the smart side, folks. OF COURSE they are going to show up at the polls. How much of our hard-earned contributions did it cost us to learn that tidbit of very obvious information?
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Frankly, I don't think we should listen to Jesse Connolly's advice. I appreciate what he tried to do, but I honestly see no reason to believe he has any special insight.
How about commercials pointing out that civil marriage is only 500 years old? That the mormon church banned black members until 1977? That the Catholic Church opposed freeing the slaves, giving women the vote, and presided over an immense sex abuse scandal?
When you're talking about the public, hate and fear have always stronger than love and sympathy. It always has been. The key is not to get the public to love us - it's to get the public to hate them.
Posted by: Yeek | Nov 15, 2009 5:29:29 PM
If I were given the opportunity to take away a civil right, say freedom of speech, from a group of people I dislike, say right wing bigots, I would be tempted. I understand the whole tomorrow they may come for me argument, and yet I would be tempted. And our side is the smart side, folks. OF COURSE they are going to show up at the polls. How much of our hard-earned contributions did it cost us to learn that tidbit of very obvious information?
Posted by: Don Garden | Nov 16, 2009 8:02:36 PM