Gay leaders blame TV ads, Obama for loss in Maine

Associated Press ^ | November 4, 2009 | Lisa Leff and David Crary

[Zakeet]

Stunned and angry, national gay rights leaders Wednesday blamed scare-mongering ads — and President Barack Obama's lack of engagement — for a bitter election setback in Maine that could alter the dynamics for both sides in the gay-marriage debate.

Conservatives, in contrast, celebrated Maine voters' rejection of a law that would have allowed gay couples to wed, depicting it as a warning shot that should deter politicians in other states from pushing for same-sex marriage.

"Every time the citizens have voted on marriage, they have always sided with natural marriage," said Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based Christian legal group. "Maine dramatically illustrates the will of the people, and politicians should wake up and listen."

Gay activists were frustrated that Obama, who insists he staunchly supports their overall civil rights agenda, didn't speak out forcefully in defense of Maine's marriage law before Tuesday's referendum. The law was repealed in a vote of 53 percent to 47 percent.

"President Obama missed an opportunity to state his position against these discriminatory attacks with the clarity and moral imperative that would have helped in this close fight," said Evan Wolfson of the national advocacy group Freedom to Marry. "The anti-gay forces are throwing millions of dollars into various unsubtle ads aimed at scaring people, so subtle statements from the White House are not enough."

The White House, asked about the criticism, had no immediate comment.

[Snip]

Had Maine's law been upheld by voters, it would have become the sixth state to legalize gay marriage — and the first to affirm it by popular vote. In Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Iowa, gay marriage resulted from court decisions or legislation.

[Zakeet]

Friends of Perez Hilton: "It is infuriating to see that the same fear-mongering ads that were used to pass Prop. 8 a year ago have triumphed again at the expense of so many."

Conservatives: Over and over again, the American people have affirmed marriage at the ballot box and turned aside the demands of a movement that remains largely driven by Hollywood, some extreme activists and a few activist judges. We hope the message sent by Maine's voters will be heard in Washington and state capitals around the nation."

[tutstar]

Bump

[jessduntno]

What does that make us, now...38 and 0?

When do they get the message?

[dnandell]

Zakeet, you really shouldn’t post photos like that so close to dinner time. I mean really!

[jiggyboy]

I think it could happen here...

[Steelers6]

That’s the same line they always put out. In California we know they have intimidate employers into firing people, destroyed Pro Marriage signs and got addresses of people who funded the campaign and harrassed them and defaced their property.

No sympathy for these groups until they stop doing this crap.

[Obadiah]

You know what always strikes me? The homosexuals keep saying that this is all a private matter and nobody’s business, yet at the same time they have parades, they flaunt their promescuity, they want to teach it to our children in schools.

Ya think people have figured this out??

[Joe Boucher]

Boy oh boy doesn’t that sound good?
Obamma did it.
just sitting here grinning.
F-ing marxist jerk.

[C210N]

and President Barack Obama's lack of engagement

First of all, -13's "engagement" would have made the margin of loss for you even greater. And second of all, you folks of all people should not use "Obama" and "engagement" in the same sentence.

[JrsyJack]

First of all WTF is that in the photo and does he really think that anyone takes him seriously? Second, hasn’t Obama already stated that he SUPPORTS the Defense of Marriage Act and is opposed to gay marriage? I know all of his statements come with expiration dates but I really believe he said he does not support gay marriage.

[BigLittle]

Just have them move on down to Messachewsitts.

[calex59]

31 not 38...the 0 is correct, however. The vote in Washington state was not a marriage referendum, it merely established domestic partner rights, which any two people living together could have by simply going to a lawyer and drawing up legal documents anyway.

31 to zero should tell them something but they don't want to hear. The reason? Because right out of the communist playbook, just about #1 on the list, in order to take over a society the first thing you have to do is get rid of morals, kill religion, make queers appear to be normal and so on and so forth. It is a large part of their agenda and they have come a long ways in the US in doing these two things, but haven't reached a majority yet. We can stop it.

[Vaquero]

Gay leaders blame TV ads,

yup gotta take away that 1st amendment....the the 2nd then the 10th

commie faggots....

[freekitty]

How could anyone think that is attractive?

[Jim Noble]

Second, hasn’t Obama already stated that he SUPPORTS the Defense of Marriage Act and is opposed to gay marriage?

Yes, but his gay supporters are cool with that because everybody with an IQ over 65 knows he was lying.

[jersey117]

It just boggles the mind that millions of people think this is normal.

[Elle Bee]

what do these guys think is going to happen to the HIV positive under Obamacare

.

[YankeeReb]

Some California activists said the outcome in Maine strengthened their belief that it will fall to the U.S. Supreme Court — not the voters — to make gay marriage legal.

Let this be a lesson. Liberalism NEVER wins at the ballot box, it is imposed by a court or a legislature. This is why electing marxists who appoint marxist judges has ramifications for decades to come.

[Go Gordon]

May I be the first to coin the phrase: “It’s Obama’s Fault”

[SIDENET]

When "Casual Friday" goes to far.