Unbelievable: gay marriage loses in Maine!

[operalover21]

I cannot believe this. We were ahead for months, spent 3 times as much as our opponents, and it looked really good. How did we lose by 3%?????

 

Crap!

[+ azdr0710]

though a bit of an indie state a la Vermont, Maine still has some old-line conservative folk who like things just so....

[GoodFella69]

Disappointing Results in Maine Tonight

 

The results in Maine are disappointing indeed. Where does the marriage fight move to now? New Jersey, New York and Oregon? We can't allow defeat to paralyze us. The fight must continue. :o

[justaguy]

Disappointing, but not unbelievable. While gay marriage might make commen sense to us, or at least to me, it is asking quite a shift in thinking for most other people. The upside, if there is one, is that the vote was so close.

[BgMstr4u]

I agree with justaguy. Maine is not the most liberal state in New England, but it is also not the most conservative (NH is). The loss on this is a major disappointment. But it is also an invitation to consider that what we consider common sense and decent is a major, major step for a lot of the folks out there.

[justaguy]

To be clear. I try to be realistic, but I agree with GoodFella69 that we shouldn't become paralyzed or give in.

[NYTomcat]

you can't give in. OK its not the major victory hoped for. But imagine how many voters would have voted for the civil rights amendment at the time. If we had put that up for popular opinion at the time we would still have slavery or at least apartheid. This is a hard road to hoe. It takes changing attitudes and beliefs and it will take time to do that.

[TruthBTold]

I think that instead of raising tons of money once the fight has started, to target the states where we think that we might win legislative fights and put on sporadic ads that explain our position. Let the message sink in so that it is not so foreign to people once they are confronted with the decision. I know it is hard to know which of 50 states should be the best targets but there must be a way to figure it out. Like, I would not target Oklahoma. Just a thought.

[justaguy]

And take a page from the opposition. Start at home by supporting local politicians who are supportive. The grass roots approach.

[operalover21]

Disappointing, but not unbelievable. While gay marriage might make commen sense to us, or at least to me, it is asking quite a shift in thinking for most other people. The upside, if there is one, is that the vote was so close.

 

It's unbelievable because every poll showed us winning in Maine and the turnout was huge which should also have helped. Also, we outspent the other side by 3-1 margins and Maine is very liberal (I know I lived there for 8 years). If we can't win at the ballot box there, where can we win. Gay Marriage has now lost all 31 times it has appeared on a ballot.

 

Perhaps time is not right, yet, and we should wait a bit, try to educate people, and try again later rather than sooner.

 

No, we shouldn't give up but we should be realistic that people are just not ready yet and we need to work on that.

 

And where was Obama? He was supposed to be "our" president and he didn't lift a finger on this issue or many others. I'm very disappointed in him.

[+ Gar1eth]

OK--I am probably going to get flamed for this but

 

Let me say 1st that I think gay couples that want to have a permanent partnership should have the same rights as straight people in a similar arrangement. But I for some strange reason--maybe only idiosyncratic to myself--think it shouldn't be called marriage. I think the legally established relationship ought to get its own name.

 

So why do I have this weird view--well because there are definitions of words. A fraternity is a male club--a sorority one for woman--those are definitions. Marriage has always been defined as a man and a woman. I am fine with that being the definitionion of marriage. Why can't we have our own unique word for our relationships?

 

Gman

[gp0560]

Cross-posted from Politics ...

 

I do not understand why it's so difficult for Americans to separate the civil union from the "blessed by your choice of god" union. It is my understanding (subject to correction by anyone who knows for sure) that in Europe, EVERYONE who marries gets a civil union, registered at whatever governmental office does that kind of thing. Then, those who want their union blessed go on to have a religious ceremony. But legally speaking, there is no difference in civil status and both are called marriages.

 

I agree with MM that we should give up the language battle in the US in favor of substantive civil and legal rights. A rose by any other name . . .

 

Thoughts?

[Guest zipperzone]

I cannot believe this. We were ahead for months, spent 3 times as much as our opponents, and it looked really good. How did we lose by 3%?????

 

Crap!

 

I was very saddened to read of this defeat. I'm afraid it does not bode well for the chances that same sex marriage will become the norm in the US anytime soon.

 

It always angers me when I hear that the electorate has the power to decide what "rights" they will allow others to have in the name of so-called equality. It's a wonder blacks can ride in the front of the bus, use the same washrooms and drinking fountains etc. If it were still left up to to the voters, hmmmmmmmmmm..... I wonder.

 

While I acknowledge that Canada is far far from perfect, we do have two very important institutions that give me great comfort. (a) I can marry my partner and no group of homophobic citizens can take that away from me, and (b) Although out health care system can certainly be criticized, it works for me and only costs me $54. per month.

 

I fear it will be many a year before my American friends can claim the same thing.

[justaguy]

I share your fear, on both counts.

[Epigonos]

Electing candidates, at the local level, who favor same sex marriage is really not going to be an effective solution to the problem. As Operalover21 so aptly pointed out the issue of same sex marriage has lost in the ballot box thirty-one (31) times.

 

In 2012 California is likely to elect a Democratic Governor – Jerry Brown. It is also likely that the state Legislature will remain the hands of the Democrat’s as well. Regarding the matter of same sex marriage their hands are tied. Proposition 8 changed the California Constitution to allow ONLY opposite sex marriage to be recognized and without a vote of the electorate the State Constitution cannot be changed

 

Until a majority of the electorate has a change of heart on the issue the only hope proponents of same sex marriage have is the United States Supreme Court. The sad truth there is that it is the liberals on the court who are the ones aging. Souter a liberal has been replaced by Sotomayor – no change there. Ginsberg’s health is NOT good but she is also a liberal who Obama would likely replace with another liberal – no change there. J. Paul Stevens is ten years older than god but is also a liberal so if he is replaced my Obama by another liberal there will continue to be no change. The only hope is that one of the younger conservative justices will somehow disappear and give Obama an opportunity to change the entire philosophical composition of the court.

 

Sadly I agree things DO NOT look good.

[seaboy4hire]

I have to go through security soon so I don't have time to read the whole thread but in Wa state we just won everything but calling it marriage all be it with slim winning but still.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[GoodFella69]

Leviticus: God Hates Shellfish (Lobster), too!

 

On the subject of Maine and same-sex marriage, I found the observation in this blog enlightening and thought-provoking. Hope you will too:

 

http://blaghag.blogspot.com/2009/11/you-know-what-else-is-abomination-maine.html

[justaguy]

Thanks for posting the link. Really good stuff, especially the comments on the blog.