Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs with both Liberty Counsel and Liberty Alliance Action, issued the following statement on news that the voters of Maine have rejected counterfeit "same-sex marriage" by 53% - 47%:
"There's good news and bad news here," said Barber. "The good news is that even in one of the most liberal States in the Union, Maine, the people have once again rejected the ridiculous and oxymoronic notion of 'same sex marriage.' The momentum has again shifted - hopefully for good this time - in favor of protecting legitimate marriage. A counterfeit is a counterfeit. An orange is an orange no matter how much you want it to be a turnip. This isn't about 'marriage.' It's about hurting and broken people desperately seeking affirmation of an objectively deviant lifestyle. One that, even in their heart of hearts, they know to be a dead end. As for the militant 'No on 1' homosexual activists? I'm reminded of spoiled children dressing up and playing house, refusing to come in when mom calls for dinner.
"Here's the bad news. The margin of victory could have been greater. Many behind the 'Yes on 1' campaign, rather than simply telling the truth, chose the Neville Chamberlain approach. They merely circled the wagons around the word 'marriage,' even suggesting that 'domestic partnerships' ('gay marriages' by another name) are acceptable. This makes no sense. If that's a viable compromise, then why not simply allow 'gay' duos the word 'marriage'? It's an incongruity that demands an explanation. This is an historic battle for the minds and souls of our children - for our very culture. The mealy-mouthed approach must end. This is not just about 'marriage.' It has everything to do with forced affirmation of homosexuality - under penalty of law. Indeed everyone who fought hard to defend marriage in Maine is to be congratulated, but if it weren't for a brave group of truth tellers - Paul Madore, Peter LaBarbera and Brian Camenker - who came to Maine in the final hour to hold a press conference and address the pink elephant in the room - homosexual deviancy and the radical 'gay' agenda - counterfeit marriage might have prevailed." [emphasis added]
About the only thing NO on 1 could have tried that it didn't was to run alarmist, negative ads itself. Some observers thought NO on 1 should have tried that, but there was no loud or sustained effort to change the campaign's decision in that regard. The campaign believed that calling its opponents "bigots" would alienate some of Maine's libertarian-leaning voters who opposed vetoing same-sex marriage based on general political philosophy more than any strong pro-gay sentiment.
NO on 1's TV ads stuck to a theme of equality for all Maine families.
-Rex Wockner, posted from Maine
Of course, neither Wockner nor No On 1 campaign manager Jesse Connolly concede that sticking to this theme lost yet another election to bigotry and fear mongering.
Although the No On 1 campaign included same-sex couples in its media buys, it once again refused a direct attack upon hate mongering leaders who repeated the lies about a scary gay attack on children. Contrary to Wockner, it would not be "alarmist" to define the Yes On 1 leadership as a gang of bigots, from both inside and outside Maine, intent upon maintaining their "right" to discriminate against an entire class of Maine citizens. Matt Barber will remain a poster child-in-waiting as MAINE BIGOT OF THE YEAR.
In addition to dismissing "alarmist, negative ads" Wockner doesn't even mention the MIA Democrats. Not only did Obama sit this one out, but Attorney General Eric Holder told Mainers that the administration "had no position" on Question 1 about same-sex marriage. Finally, the Democratic party itself poured money and other resources into Virginia and New Jersey-- including repeated campaign stops by Obama who did expend political capital when he deemed it important-- but was MIA on gay equality.
Mounting public rallies and marches would have tagged the fight for same-sex marriage as a just and determined struggle for civil rights. Yet, to my knowledge, no rallies, no marches were held.
Only a movement free of Democratic party alliances and control, and committed to the use of a direct action strategy will deliver the goal of gay legal equality.
Bob Schwartz
