Question 1 TV ad sparks charges of ‘blatant misinformation’

[ccharles000]

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/123520.html

You have probably seen the television advertisement by now. It warns that if Maine’s recently passed law that allows same-sex marriage is upheld by voters in November, schools could be mandated to teach students about it, according to Stand for Marriage Maine, the group that paid for the ad titled, “Everything to Do With Schools.”

Numerous educators interviewed this week, however, agreed that there is nothing in state guidelines or local curricula that addresses teaching about marriage, let alone same-sex marriage, and the outcome of Question 1 would not change that.

“It’s troublesome that such blatant misinformation about how this would affect education is being portrayed,” said David Connerty-Marin, spokesman for the Maine Department of Education. “The ad is simply incorrect.”

The narrator of the 30-second spot that has flooded local airwaves recently is Charla Bansley. She’s identified as an Ellsworth schoolteacher, although she does not teach in a public school and is better known as the Maine state director of Concerned Women for America, a conservative advocacy group.

[eShirl]

1. Everytime that ad comes on my husband yells and curses at the TV.

It really gets him upset.
When someone has to lie, you know they have a losing argument.

[WonderGrunion]

3. Yes on 1 was hoping for the low voter turnout

of an off year election to screw over the local GLBT populace. Other ballot issues may be enough to drive turnout to a point where we can stop them in their tracks.

[WonderGrunion]

2. I'm hoping this gets out soon enough

and gets enough local press to make a difference in the upcoming vote. Mainers may be hidebound and resistant to change, but we can seldom tolerate liars. I've been encouraged by the amount of support the "No on 1" side has been getting from local liberal religious leaders. This is going to be such a close vote, but I think we can prevent the bigots from winning one this time.