Stand for Marriage Maine Plagiarizes Sum of Change

[Rusty5329]

Apparently, the anti-Gay marriage lobby isn't big on producing original material these days.

This morning, Sum of Change was startled to discover that video we shot at Netroots Nation this past August is being featured, unattributed, in a television advertisement for the 'Yes on 1' campaign produced by Stand for Marriage Maine. (We chose not to link to the commercial in question, "They Said", we would prefer if people did not watch it)

Continued at http://sumofchange.blogspot.com/2009/10/stand-for-marriage-maine-plagiarizes.html

[Nikki Stone1]

1. K & R

And get this to the front page. These bastards need to be called out.

[WonderGrunion]

2. "Yes on 1" has been running a dishonest campaign from the beginning

Aside from its' obvious bigotry, "Yes on 1" has church-and-state issues, dishonest advertising, contributor-disclosure problems and they aren't doing well in the polls despite all that.

[Rusty5329]

7. there is a pattern, n/t

[gratuitous]

3. Thieves aren't a real particular bunch

But I'm sure that the fine, upstanding citizens who make up the leadership of Stand for Marriage Maine, now that they know the source of the footage they appropriated, will make every effort to give proper attribution and (ahem) compensation to Sum of Change.

Unless, of course, they really are thieves.

[Rusty5329]

5. we're not holding our breath... n/t

[msongs]

4. lol what do you expect from the religion terrorists, honesty and integrity? nt

[eShirl]

6. nothing these bottom-feeding straight supremacists do surprises me anymore

[janet118]

8. I was in Maine last week and watched all the ads

One of the "Yes" ads featured a "Catholic" lady upset because she was afraid homosexual sex education would be taught in Maine schools.

The "No on 1" ads were great - mostly, they featured real Maine families with gay members who wanted their sons and daughters to be accepted.

The good news is that there were numerous local television and radio public affairs programs that had civil, informative discussions on the issue.

My friend and I have a theory that the referendum vote will end up supporting gay marriage. Here's our reasoning: The way the question is worded is confusing. It's counter-intuitive to vote "No" if you want to support gay marriage and "Yes" if you want to rescind the law.

"Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry, and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

Since most of the people who support gay marriage are involved, intelligent and aware, we figured that they will get it right and vote "no." While those who have reading comprehension problems and mind numbing prejudice, will vote "no" thinking they are voting against gay marriage. I hope we're right.

In Massachusetts, when Deval Patrick was elected governor, I swear that many voters, who would never have voted for a black guy, filled in the Patrick/Murray circle because they thought they were voting for two Irish guys. ;-)

[Rusty5329]

9. Gov Deval Patrick was...

my first primary vote. I vividly remember walking to town hall to take part in a caucus with some 35 other voters from my district. It was the first time I voted in something other than a Presidential election, definitely a proud moment.

[WonderGrunion]

10. I'm cautiously optimistic for "No on 1"

The gals and guys at "No on 1" have been doing an amazing ground game here. Phone banking and message control has really been top notch. And they seem to be saving enough money up to run an effective GOTV effort on election day. Maine voters have generally been good on GLBT issues. I'm hoping we pull through again and provide the first ever popular vote victory for equal marriage rights in the United States.

[Rusty5329]

11. they're certainly not neglecting the ground game...

I'm eager to see the outcome.