Final and BEST 'No On 1' Ad: "Clear"

I wish I felt as positive about the message being sent as you do and I wish I could agree with JohnVisser's comment.

But how can I agree that this ad is REALLY addressing the issue "head on" when NOT ONCE, in this ad or any other, is it even mentioned who the people being denied equality are?

And how are they NOT skirting the issue when 90% of the couples shown, with and without children, are heterosexual.  A couple of lesbian couples/parents are shown.  Only one male couple is shown in ALL of the ads COMBINED and they are only shown with grandma there to supervise, sending the subtle but very clear and obvious message that they didn't want viewers to be made uncomfortable with two gay men alone with a child.  People will take offense that I point this out but I will guarantee you that it wasn't an accident.  As a gay father and husband who has lived with this kind of subtle, and not so subtle message, DAILY for 14 years, I find it extremely offensive and hurtful that even our allies take such great care to not cross that line.

One could watch every one of those ads, and not knowing anything more about the campaign, come away assuming that the people being denied equality are white couples, straight and lesbian, and white families headed by heterosexual and female couples.

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by: Zeke @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 09:43:23 AM CDT

Yep, and we lost in CA because no one wanted to have this conversation.

I'm not offended by your pointing it out, just surprised that no one has complained until now. I expected a lot of objecting to the campaign based on the families it featured--though I admit that the racial angle is a surprise. (Are you familiar with Maine's demographics at all? 97% of Mainers are white.)

I'm sorry you find it hurtful and offensive, but don't grasp why that's a negative about the ad. There's nothing subtle about it--moms with their kids and puppies are the visual imagery that affects undecided voters.

So if we win in Maine, how will you feel then? I'm still going to feel pretty lousy that we're being forced to market our families to make our fundamental rights appealing to the average voter. That's the sick part of this, not the attempt to make the sale succeed.

If I could responsibly turn my back on the whole process in disgust, I would. But as a parent, I don't get to give up on behalf of my kid's rights. So this is a great ad, because it effectively responds to the ads that moved CA voters in the last 3 days of the Prop 8 campaign.

But wait, there's more!

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by: PhoenixRising @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 10:32:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

PhoenixRising, I'm a parent too...

and as you will see from the second post I made, moments after my first, I haven't "turned my back on the whole process" either.  I took a week off and traveled to Maine to volunteer, I have given money and I'm making calls right now from Tampa.  Maine's success is THAT important to me even though I don't live in Maine.

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by: Zeke @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 14:36:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Having said that, let me add...

I went to Maine from Florida with a native Mainer friend and spent a week volunteering.  I have donated to the campaign and I will be making GOTV calls from home all weekend.

I think the folks running the campaign, except for my one concern above, have done an EXCELLENT job, and having seen the operation in person, I can say that I've NEVER seen a more dedicated and hard working group of people.  AMAZING folks from ALL over the country.

DONATE.  GET TO MAINE IN PERSON IF YOU CAN.  SIGN UP TO CALL FROM HOME IF YOU CAN'T BE THERE IN PERSON.  THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS LEFT.

I'm excited that this vote could jumpstart a new era in this debate.  I'm even more concerned that a loss will dishearten and damage our movement in ways that will be hard to recover from.  I believe that THIS campaign, and THIS vote will either MAKE or BREAK us for at least the near future.  It's that important.

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by: Zeke @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 10:35:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks! :)

I'm developing permanently cramped fingers from the tickety typing, thanking so many folks and I couldn't be happier. :)

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Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 12:31:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I understand your pessimism, but

Mainers are not dumb - they know who this ballot question is about and they don't need to be told that. For decades the people have been shown images of gays couples as buttless chaps wearing deviants or other extreme stereotypes. This ad shows all different types of families and not just the couple (whether gay or straight) but the couple's extended family also - parents, grandparents, etc. so I don't really see the problem with the ads imagery and how it relates to the narrator.

However, after reading your comment and looking at the ad again, I do see that a gay male couple is not shown (possibly the first image does, but not really). But the topic of the ad is not about the fear that some people have about gay men being pedophiles. The focus of the ad is to make people think twice about how voting yes on 1 would effect gay parented families and specifically how it effects the children of gay parents.

It is not about dismantling the gay-pedophile lie - it is about dismantling the "they're not a real family" lie.

Close the GayTM. Only give to candidates who have actually done something other than make promises - most are just pandering for our cash.

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by: JohnVisser @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 11:13:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes, but, as Pheonix said

Maine is 97% white. Remember this is a statewide campaign not a national campaign.

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by: kevinchi @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 12:42:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This is a great ad, especially for its target audience

I can see how armchair observers from everywhere have opinions about which messages resonate where.  Being a New Englander, knowing so many wonderful people from Maine, having spent deep and rich time there with people who are my friends - I say, "Spot on."  

I'm not saying that I know much or know best, but the people making these ads ARE these people and they are talking to their neighbors and other Mainers.  Communications Theory 101 (or lower, perhaps) teaches that communication only occurs when a message  from a sender reaches the receiver as intended, without "noise/distortion-producing dissonance (cognitive or other).  

This ad seems like it has a fantastic opportunity to deliver, to communicate.  Now I am craving Maine lobster, darn it.  Tuesday is SO CLOSE!  

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by: Diego @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 11:36:25 AM CDT

Me too, re:lobster

I have purposefully refrained from it all year, so when I do indulge it will taste all the sweeter!

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Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 12:32:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think the ad is well done for a Maine audience

If lesbian images are less offensive to those on the fence than a gay couple...FINE.
If the population of Maine is overwhelmingly white..FINE.
Retaining the Right to Marry in Maine is the goal, and I want to win, I want to win HUGE, so these bigots can never again raise massive funds to fight us.

Gays and People of Color in Maine will have the Right to Marry, even if only white lesbians are in the ads.
One of the problem in CA is they didn't show ANY of our families, they used cute Mac vs PC ads, that were funny, but didn't rally support from those not already convinced.
An ad in Louisiana, or Alabama with just white families would be more offensive, because it would be denying the racial make up of the state. We have to be smart, and strategic to various regions, one strategy doesn't fit every state.

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 12:59:21 PM CDT

The difficulty to motivate not angry voters,, who don't regularly vote in off years is a HUGE deficit Maine No on 1 face

Angered voters are more likely to vote, older voters vote EVERY election. We are rallying young voters we can hopefully inspire to turn out, on the concept of equality and fairness.
Don't underestimate the motivation those hateful hide behind children ads can produce, this is a bare knuckle fight, and using our advantages any where possible, is how we win.

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 13:12:13 PM CDT

Yeah, but don't underestimate the anger

of those who have viewed some of the Yes On 1 ads and find them distastful.

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by: kevinchi @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 13:19:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm hoping, and it sure as hell angered me

   http://s810.photobucket.com/al...
and
  http://s810.photobucket.com/al...

I noticed they stopped them quickly, but that may mean they seeded the hate and fear, and used it sparingly to not come off as BIGOTS.

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Sat Oct 31, 2009 at 13:44:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]