Leave a Comment Sagesse
Anti-Gay Ads, Side-By-Side
October 15, 2012
By Matt Baume
An anti-gay ad in Washington is re-using discredited misinformation from other states. We’ll have a side-by-side comparison. New polling shows us with a healthy lead in several states, but some of the numbers don’t quite add up. And new protections from the Obama administration could save LGBT couples from forced deportation.
A new anti-gay ad just launched in Washington, and it’s a carbon-copy of the same misleading, hurtful messages running in other marriage battleground states. We’ll release an in-depth takedown of the ad’s false claims in a day or two. But in the mean time, take a look at how our opponents are re-using the same disinformation from one state to the next.
“Gays and lesbians already have the same legal rights as married couples.”/”And same-sex couples already have the legal protections of marriage in virtually all matters.”
“But marriage is more than just a commitment between adults. It was created for the care and well-being of the next generation.”/”Marriage is more than what adults want for themselves. It’s also about the next generation.”
“When laws like 74 have occurred elsewhere, people who disagree have faced lawsuits, fines, and punishment.”/”When gay marriage has become law elsewhere, people who disagree with it have been fired, sued, fined, and punished.”
“Don’t redefine marriage. Reject 74/Vote no on Question 1.”
Polling is still close in the states that will vote on the freedom to marry in just three weeks. A Public Policy Polling survey in Minnesota shows the proposed marriage ban losing, but by just four percentage points. The ban is currently at 46 percent support, and it needs 50 to pass.
Our lead is stronger in Maine, where a proposed marriage equality law has 55 percent support to 39 percent opposed.
And we have polling data from the Washington Post on three states that don’t have marriage on the ballot — yet.
The Post shows us ahead in Florida, 54 to 39 percent. In Virginia, they have us leading by 49 to 40 percent. And in Ohio, the Post shows us ahead by 52 to 37 percent. Now, these numbers are a little suspect. They’re unusually strong in our favor, especially compared with the trends established by other surveys. And while public support for the freedom to marry is definitely growing, we should treat the Post’s figures with some skepticism.
Meanwhile, this week the Obama administration issued new guidelines for bi-national couples facing deportation. The memo from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that LGBT couples’ marriages should considered when deciding whether immigrants may remain in the country. Although the federal Defense of Marriage Act still prevents the government from recognizing those marriages, these new guidelines provide an interim remedy until DOMA can be overturned.
And finally, we’re expecting big news in France in just two weeks. Ministers there are expected to approve a marriage equality law on October 31st.
Those are the headlines. Visit AFER.org/election2012 for ways that you can get involved in Maine, Minnesota, Maryland and Washington in the remaining days before the election.
Having technical problems? E-mail equalityontrial AT couragecampaign DOT org for assistance!
22 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Gregory in SLC | October 15, 2012 at 2:40 pm
detailed fact checker provided by "Washington United for Marriage":
http://marriagefactcheck.com/
"Mainers United for Marriage" also have Quick Facts:
http://www.mainersunited.org/pages/facts
2.
specificplan | October 15, 2012 at 2:57 pm
I don't understand why we keep letting them lie over and over and over again? Isn't this slander and defamation? Aren't there laws to prevent people from telling lies about other people?
3.
Gregory in SLC | October 15, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Here is another week in review. "14 Of The Best LGBT Moments Of The Week: October 7 – October 13":
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/13/somethin…
My favorite "Ontario Transgender Law: Birth Certificate Change All That's Needed To Switch Gender":
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/10/12/ontario-t…
4.
Kathleen Knowles | October 15, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Its no surprise that the ads sound almost exactly the same. Its the same creeps who are running the campaigns- the exact same people!! Its's worked before, so….
5.
davep | October 15, 2012 at 5:39 pm
The fact checker has lots of great info, but it doesn't do any good unless this information gets put into the ads on TV. Keeping it hidden on a web site that is only visited by people who already agree with us is just 'preaching to the choir'. We need to confront the lies head-on, and give the information directly to the on-the-fence voters.
6.
Gregory in SLC | October 15, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Agree…about need to get the rebuttals on TV…debunk the lies.
7.
Fluffyskunk | October 16, 2012 at 6:02 am
Conspiracy theory: the people who make the ads for our side don't want us to win. Because as soon as we start winning, they stop getting paid.
8.
Seth from Maryland | October 16, 2012 at 7:56 am
[youtube LtTE773K9EY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtTE773K9EY youtube]
The Four.com episode 3: Washington
9.
Stefan in CA | October 16, 2012 at 8:12 am
"We’ll release an in-depth takedown of the ad’s false claims in a day or two". I agree with Davep. Any takedown should be in the form of TV ads, not on this site. Everyone here already knows about the lies and deceptions. It's the people in those four states who need to know, not the regular visitors to this site. People need to be told that what they're hearing in those ads is not true. It's a simple as that. Think of how sad and disappointing it would be to lose Maine, Washington and Maryland, not to mention the amendment in Minn.
10.
SoCal Anthony | October 16, 2012 at 8:21 am
I don't understand why we don't:
1. Make ads that reveal their lies.
2. Make ads that REALLY convey emotion. Does anybody remember the "It's Time" video that the Aussies made? It was POWERFUL, sad, and beautiful.
[youtube _TBd-UCwVAY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBd-UCwVAY youtube]
11.
Gregory in SLC | October 16, 2012 at 8:54 am
Where are the longer videos shown(besides to us that care)? Too long for Television aren't they?
12.
SoCal Anthony | October 16, 2012 at 9:32 am
True that they may be too long, but that doesn't mean they can't be just as powerful.
13.
_BK_ | October 16, 2012 at 10:24 am
Completely in agreement with you, SoCal Anthony.
14.
Mike in Baltimore | October 16, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Ad space is sold in 30 second (1/2 minute), 60 second (1 minute), 5 minute and 30 minute blocks. The lengthier the ad space, the more it costs.
How much money are you pitching in to air the longer videos?
15.
Jamie | October 16, 2012 at 3:21 pm
In all honesty, our ads sound exactly the same as well. At least Frank Shubert knows to do the same thing when he wins. We evidently think we should continue to do the same thing when we lose.
16.
Deeelaaach | October 16, 2012 at 11:43 pm
You can debunk that theory by pointing out to the theorist that not only do they have oodles of other work to do, they will have as many as 43 other states and years more of funding to pass other initiatives assuming 74 passes. Assuming SCOTUS or the circuit courts don't step in first and affirm our constitutional rights to equality.
17.
AnonyGrl | October 17, 2012 at 9:08 am
Part 1
We need to be writing 15 second and 30 second ads that really grab.
My spouse died alone because the hospital refused to recognize our marriage (with a pic of one partner dying and the other outside fighting to get in).
Our child has cancer but because our civil union is not the equivalent of your marriage, she is going to die since her mother cannot insure her (and a sick kid with her two moms holding her and crying while a social worker explains that they cannot insure her).
18.
AnonyGrl | October 17, 2012 at 9:08 am
Part 2
Derrance with a picture of Ed: I wanted to marry my love of 40 years before Alzheimers took his memory of me completely away. He died before we could marry and I have his memory but we were denied the joy of a wedding.
Two fathers playing with their adopted kids. One steps up to the camera while the other continues to play. "I am terrified that If something happens to me, our children would be taken away from their father because he is not allowed to co-adopt. Our kids who have known only us as their family would be thrown into the state foster care system, even though he is a terrific father. Please, protect our children. Protect our family."
19.
AnonyGrl | October 17, 2012 at 9:09 am
Part 3
A man gets down on one knee in a beautiful rose garden in a park and offers his girlfriend a ring. he says "Will you marry me?" She nods yes and they kiss. Camera pans to another man on his knee offering a ring to his partner. He asks "Will you civil union me?", stands and they shake hands, looking over sadly at the other couple still hugging and kissing. Voiceover says "Separate is not equal. Support marriage equality for all."
Stuff that grabs the heart fast and hard.
20.
SoCal Anthony | October 17, 2012 at 10:02 am
EXACTLY! Ads don't need to be long in order to be effective. NOM uses scare tactics and distorted "facts" and we've seen how they've influenced voters. Real life examples of what AnonyGrl just told us about happen all the time. You got to fight emotional scare tactics with emotional facts.
21.
John | October 17, 2012 at 10:11 am
It's probably to late, we continue to do the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
22.
Gregory in SLC | October 17, 2012 at 10:41 am
As usual, your offerings are superb : ) A common complaint on youtube about the current ads is they do not feature LGBT persons speaking…just others "I have a gay son" .."We have a gay neighbor" like we are handicapped or something.
Leave a Comment
XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
TrackBack URL | RSS feed for comments on this post.