Not the Same

by: Adam Bink

Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 19:00


Hark! A Stand for Marriage Maine ad that doesn't completely suck! And after weeks of fearmongering, a positive one to boot!

This seems like their closing argument to me, and is a strong one at that: "we can protect traditional marriage while preserving the rights of gay couples."

But it rings false on the merits. Even in their own ad the language is highlighted: "Under the law, registered domestic partners are accorded a legal status similar to that of a married person". Not the same. And Gerald over at Dirigo Blue points out that on the State of Maine's own website, the state clearly prints "it is important to remember that a registered domestic partnership is NOT the same as a marriage". On top of that, when DOMA is repealed, domestic partners will not get the over-1,000 federal benefits of marriage. Nor will they get the respect and dignity of marriage.

Put more simply, as Nick McCoy, an organizer with HRC, said at yesterday's DC Council hearing on marriage equality legislation, "You don't say 'will you domestic partner me' to the person you love."

At OpenLeft, we sent out an e-mail blast today (if you're not on our list, sign up here) promoting the No On 1/Protect Maine Equality's Call for Equality program. When I was up in Maine, I discovered how much of the state is actually very rural- too remote for effective canvassing. We have to reach those voters, and our urban/suburban supporters, by phone using Call for Equality.

It'll take just a few hours to ensure we win this thing. No experience required, all you need is an evening, a phone and an internet connection, and the campaign even provides training.

This thing isn't over, and the other side just made a strong closing argument. Please sign up to Call for Equality and help win this.
Adam Bink :: Not the Same

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Not the Same | 5 comments
The 'No On One' lawn signs suck. (4.00 / 2)
It's like they photocopied the bumpersticker into the middle of the sign.

That said, the phonebanking is fantastic. I'll be knocking on doors this weekend and again on election day. Or poll watching. I kinda want to do poll watching, but I've got temper issues, so that might not be a good idea.

I'll make more calls this week... (0.00 / 0)
This crap is motivating me to go for it! Their side really is a complete replay of everything Yes on 8/Yes on 1 did in California, but I so hope the outcome is different in Maine. I want to make sure it will be!

Yes, Virginia, there are progressives in Nevada.
Huh ! (4.00 / 1)
I wish the anti-gay forces would explain why they think gay marriage threatens their marriages.  I'd like to hear them make that case.

And since they are so hell-bent on making sure that marriage is restricted only to one man and one woman, I wonder if they would like to see arrest and prosecution of all them cohabitatin' Morman Republicans?

Hmmm.... (0.00 / 0)
I wish I could help tomorrow, but I've got a full plate and won't even have much of a chance to read the blogs till way late in the day (oh, wishful thinking...).  But for any of you who are making calls, feel free to use this comment as reference material if you like.

---

We've had full marriage equality here in Iowa for the past couple months.  No deadly plagues, locusts, floods, fires, meteors....  The uber-volcano nearby hasn't blown up.  The nearby uber-fault hasn't done anything, either.  So, I think we can safely say that marriage equality is not the end of the world.

As for my every-day life, so far I haven't noticed any changes.  I'm still a heterosexual male with no urges to be with other men, though I do feel a little more free, but that may just be the season.  As far as other marriages go, I'm single, so I can't offer any personal experience on that front, but my aunt and uncle don't seem to have experienced any detrimental side effects with their marriage.

I have not heard of anything about schools changing their curricula, but this is another area I have no personal experience in, being that I haven't been to a public school in well over a decade.  But considering how much public schools and education get talked about, any mention of the curricula changing to "teach kids how to be gay" (or some other such nonsense) would have been big news not just here, but throughout the US.

Businesses continue to do business.  I think there's been a slight uptick in weddings, which would increase business for flower shops, caterers, event planners, etc., though I've got no data to back any of that up.  It just seems a reasonable supposition to make considering the situation and the fact that we're the only state in the region that acknowledges equal marriage rights.

Oh, and everyone still gets to decide how they want to say their marriage vows.

So yeah.  Basically, very little change, and what change there has been has been positive.  If that kind of change scares you, well, what can I say?  (Fraidy cat.)

If you don't fight, you can't win.
Never give up. Never Surrender.

that ad is much better (0.00 / 0)
than the previous "yes" ads I've seen. They could get a bump out of this ad, no question.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.
Not the Same | 5 comments
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