This is very good news. I wrote about the campaign between Democrat Liz Mathis and Republican Cindy Golding yesterday, focusing on the weird robo calls that were going out to voters in that Iowa district, instructing them to ask Liz Mathis which homosexual sex acts she “endorses.” For their part, NOM and the local wingnut group [I refuse to type their English-language-assaulting name again on this blog] loudly proclaimed that they had nothing to do with the robo calls, as they transmitted the same exact message as NOM’s, but without the media-tested language they prefer.

Well, the Democrat, Liz Mathis, did indeed win the election, but as Jeremy points out, this is not a “victory for gay rights” — because the election wasn’t even freaking about that:

It wasn’t about marriage, largely. Liz Mathis’ victory over Republican Cindy Golding in Iowa’s 18th Senate District was about jobs, education, local business, property taxes, and a whole host of other true concerns. But by and large, the state’s marriage equality law doesn’t seem to have motivated voters in the area in a major way.

But that’s not what you would’ve heard from NOM, had the candidate that they backed to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars ultimately prevailed. This morning, you’d be reading NOM press release after NOM press release about Cindy Golding, her commitment to putting marriage up for a public vote, and how last night’s results send a message both in Iowa and nationwide. Regardless of what anyone on the ground is actually saying, NOM would still reduce and spin the results so that they spoke to one issue and one issue only.

[...]

[U]nlike NOM, I see a need to operate within the confines of reality rather than that which is most convenient to my cause. I truly believe that we, as an electorate, deserve better than contrived “culture war” fires, which is a big reason why I fight so hard to extinguish NOM’s rhetorical arson. So no: I’m not going to say Liz Mathis won because of her support for marriage equality.

Because they’re liars. BUT, and there is a “but,” and you really need to read all of Jeremy’s analysis, while this election was not about marriage equality, because of the way NOM inserted itself into the race, it was, in a way, about NOM, and the way their efforts to desperately insert bigotry into politics are going quite a bit too far for normal humans these days:

In fact, NOM’s overplayed hand seemed to turn off a lot of voters. I noticed on a couple of occasions how “just not into” NOM Cindy Golding seemed to be. Plus there was credible polling showing only a tiny fraction of voters who considered same-sex marriage a top priority, noticeable attempts from both campaigns to not talk about the (non-)issue, and much anecdotal evidence suggesting NOM had trouble finding a real local support system. That had to feel like a great slight to NOM, considering the considerable capital the organization invested in this race.

A pointed slight, I would say. Even though it wasn’t about marriage, largely, I would argue that this race was VERY MUCH about the National Organization for Marriage. Considering the enormous attention that NOM brought to the district via their quest to nationalize this hyperlocal race, local voters had no choice but to consider what NOM was selling. Ultimately, those voters — whether or not they support marriage equality or even support letting the current law stand as is –decided that NOM’s hyperbolic “protect the families” rhetoric was out-of-touch with the local flavor. Voters repudiated NOM.

Seriously, read it all.

Earlier this afternoon, I wrote about a weird robo call going around in an Iowa state senate race, which asks voters to call the Democrat in the running, Liz Mathis, and ask her which “homosexual sex acts” she endorses. Their reasoning is that, since Mathis supports marriage equality, she must have specific gay sexytime acts that she personally supports. Or something. Wingnuts are nothing if not bizarre and childish.

NOM had denied involvement in the robo calls, presumably because, though the anti-gay message presented therein is absolutely no different qualitatively than NOM’s beliefs, it’s not presented in a media-tested way. They like to slither the bigotry a little more gently into people’s brains, you see.

Well now, Brian Brown of NOM has stuck his foot all the way in his mouth, saying that the robo calls are designed to “steal” the election for the Democrat:

“Yesterday a phony group claiming to support marriage launched robo calls that were so offensive they clearly were designed to turn voters away from Cindy Golding because she supports marriage between one man and one woman,” said Brian Brown, president of NOM, in a statement released on their blog. “Neither NOM nor Family Leader had anything to do with these calls and we decry them. We call on the Attorney General to launch an investigation into this dirty trick to determine who is behind the calls, which are designed to steal the election from Ms. Golding.”

Brian. Brian, Brian, Brian. You do realize you just admitted that ads such as these ads, which contain nothing less than your true beliefs, may have the opposite of their intended effect, and repulse voters so much that they pull the lever for the Democrat out of disgust at “pro-family” Republicans, if nothing else.

How refreshing that Brian admits that his and his organization’s bigotry is outside of the mainstream of normal, non-wingnut Americans.

[h/t David Badash]

If wingnuts ruled the world [more than they already do], it would probably be commonplace for political candidates to have to put in their platform exactly which kinds of sex they endorse, and which kinds make them feel icky. The candidate with the most icky feelings wins!

In Iowa’s Senate races, a robo call has been going out accusing Democrat Liz Mathis of specifically endorsing homosexual sex acts:

ROBO CALL: Liz Mathis also endorses homosexual marriage. But Iowa just threw out three supreme court judges who also did. Homosexual marriage obviously involves homosexual sex. So, before you support Liz Mathis, call her at 319-899-0628 and ask her which homosexual sex acts she endorses.

Yes, this is the childish world wingnuts inhabit, one of jealousy, fear, trans fats and never being able to get a good parking space at Wal-Mart. Zack Ford points out that the group responsible calls itself Citizens for Honesty and Sound Marriage, whatever that means. Zack also points out that, though NOM and The FAMiLY LEADER [wingnuts like to play with letters], the largest groups in the state trying to rewrite hate into Iowa’s constitution, have distanced themselves from the calls, they play a role:

NOM and its Iowa-based partner The FAMiLY LEADER have “decried” the “bogus” calls, suggesting they’re a “dirty trick” and calling upon the Iowa Attorney General to launch a criminal investigation. Golding’s campaign has similarly distanced itself from the calls. Even if NOM is not directly responsible for the calls, the group is still responsible for using large sums of outside money to inject the issue of marriage into the race in the first place. If NOM was not prepared to stand by the homophobic rhetoric at the heart of their anti-equality argument, perhaps they should not have involved themselves at all.

Zing!  It’s sort of like when people like Porno Pete whine about how much they hate Fred Phelps and the God Hates Fags crew. It’s the same message, you guys! NOM just happens to be a little bit more measured in their delivery than this robo call group.

Here’s a TV report about these ridiculous calls:

The people who run NOM are such bigots that if a being presented itself, proving it was the ruler and creator of the universe, and then proceeded to make an “It Gets Better” video for bullied gay teens, they would still reject the message and continue the hard work of hating gays 24/7.

As it is, Simon & Schuster made an “It Gets Better” video in the form of a cartoon, wherein God is saying just that: It Gets Better. Also, in this video God is saying that he has a crush on Ryan Reynolds. [Who doesn't?]

Here is “It Getteth Better”:

If you’re bored, here’s NOM’s whiny blog post about it, and as always with wingnuts, the comments section is the funny part.

[h/t Towleroad]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Becker, Director of Communications and Development
Phone: 920-265-6023
Email: john@truthwinsout.org

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Truth Wins Out, the national nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism and the “ex-gay” myth, announced today that it is sending activist John Becker to the Call to Action National Conference at Milwaukee’s Frontier Airlines Center from November 4-6. Becker conducted a recent hidden-camera sting operation that proved that the clinic run by presidential candidate Michele Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, practices so-called “ex-gay” therapy.

“I’m thrilled to travel to the Call to Action conference and meet with progressive Catholics from around the country who are fed up with the aggressive anti-LGBT agenda of their religious leaders,” said Becker, Director of Communications and Development for Truth Wins Out. “In the face of unrelenting bigotry from the Catholic hierarchy, right-wing Catholic laypeople, and the Knights of Columbus, it’s critical for equality-minded Catholics to stand up for inclusive values and speak out against religious extremism.”

The Catholic Church and its affiliates vociferously push an insidious anti-gay agenda. New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan was the most outspoken opponent of that state’s marriage equality law. Minnesota’s Catholic bishops are currently leading the charge to add an anti-gay amendment to the state constitution, calling the denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples a “top priority” in 2012 and using tax-exempt church resources for political purposes. The Knights of Columbus bankrolls the National Organization for Marriage, a group that fights against the civil rights of LGBT people across the country. And the Catholic Church even has its own “apostolate” for gay people, called Courage, that counsels members to abandon their natural sexuality for a lifetime of celibacy and endorses the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, a leading proponent of “ex-gay” conversion therapy.

“This extremism is totally out of step with the values of the vast majority of American Catholics,” said Becker. “I look forward to introducing attendees at the Call to Action conference to the important work of Truth Wins Out and encouraging them to continue standing up for LGBT equality in their churches and dioceses.”

Truth Wins Out (TWO) is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to create a world where LGBT individuals can live openly, honestly and true to themselves. TWO monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their lies and exposes their leaders. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.

– 30 –

Oh, Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown, would either of you know the truth if it smacked you across the face and sang you a big gay showtune?

Rachel Maddow reported last night on NOM’s latest ruse, a pathetic effort to make it appear as if their campaign to repeal marriage rights in New Hampshire has broad popular support — as Rachel points out, supporters of the law outnumber those who want to rescind equal marriage rights by two to one. It seems that Jeremy discovered that, in a sad, sad attempt to make it look as if they have friends people are on their side, the NOMsters have resorted to photoshopping Barack Obama’s crowds to make them look like they’re watching Brian Brown speaking.

As grotesque as it is bitter, as lonely as it is hilarious, these are the actions of losers. Losers who lie a lot.

[h/t Joe]

This is typical behavior from the National Organization for Marriage, but should be pointed out nonetheless. As Joe points out, whoever’s manning NOM’s blog these days posted this piece a little earlier today:

It’s telling that an organization which claims to support children and families is personally attacking a new family with two loving, supportive parents with the means to give that child every opportunity in life. Meanwhile, there are still millions of kids around the world who lack basic things like food and shelter. But NOM’s concerned about scoring political points against Jared Polis.

They’re just such gross people.

Just popped up at Maggie and Brian’s Online Hate Emporium:

Washington, DC – The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) announced today that John Eastman, a distinguished Constitutional law scholar, is taking on the role of Chairman of the Board for NOM.

Dr. John Eastman is the former Dean of Chapman University Law School in California and is the Founding Director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, a public interest law firm associated with the Claremont Institute. He has participated in over 50 cases in our nation’s highest courts, including such landmark cases as the Pledge of Allegiance case, the Boy Scouts of America case, the Ohio school vouchers case, the Kelo case involving property takings, and the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act case. Dr. Eastman is a former clerk to United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He received his J.D. from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in government and political philosophy from Claremont Graduate School.

Brian Brown, President of NOM, stated, “John Eastman is one of America’s foremost constitutional scholars and has distinguished himself as a fierce advocate for families and religious liberty. As a legal scholar, he has participated in dozens of cases before our nation’s highest courts, including the United States Supreme Court. When important constitutional principles are on the line, people frequently turn to John Eastman to advocate a conservative, pro-family position. He will be a great asset to NOM.”

John Eastman stated, “Marriage has quite correctly been described as a bedrock of civilization. Protecting the institution of marriage is a critically important issue, and I’m honored to join such distinguished company on the Board of such a phenomenally effective organization as the National Organization for Marriage.”

Maggie Gallagher, the previous Chairman of the Board, stated, “My original intention in co-founding the National Organization for Marriage was to launch a politically sophisticated national activist organization to fight for the views of millions of Americans who believe that marriage is and should remain the union of husband and wife. I think it’s fair to say that NOM has been launched, and is now far more successful than even I dreamed (and I dreamed big!). I’m grateful to NOM’s President Brian Brown for leading this organization, and the addition of an eminent public intellectual like John Eastman to the NOM team is a great sign as we move forward to the battles ahead.”

“I will remain on the NOM board, and continue to work on specific projects for NOM, as well as taking on some additional outside projects I’ve long deferred, such as finishing my book Debating Same-Sex Marriage¸ which I’ve been working on for Oxford University Press with Prof. John Corvino,” Gallagher added.

She just wants to spend more time with her family, maybe. Does the new board chair appear in public without a wedding ring? Does he refuse to appear in public with his husband? Or is that just Maggie?

So last night there was a star-studded reading of Dustin Lance Black’s 8 on Broadway.  The play, of course, is a dramatization of the Prop 8 trial, based on the actual transcripts.  Andy Towle reports that Maggie Gallagher showed up for some unknown reason.  She, of course, was a part of the trial and knew what happened.  Perhaps she’s not aware how much she embarrassed herself during the real thing and wanted to see it play out again on stage.  Andy’s got a full report with tons more pictures, but this is the part that just made me laugh:

[S]he obviously knew she was coming for a show. My friends Phil and Ronald sat directly in front of her. You can see Ronald in the top photo. They had a hard time listening to the show because along with her nerve, Ms. Gallagher brought a large plastic bag of loud food, which she rustled and munched throughout the production (she’s still got it on the way out). Perhaps she thought it was a popcorn flick she was going to. In any case, someone should have told her that it’s rude, perhaps even against the rules, to eat in the theatre. But we already know what Gallagher and her organization think of rules.

The one bright spot is that Gallagher, who presumably purchased her ticket, is now officially a supporter of the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

I would never have expected any of our opponents to have any sense of decorum, so this is not really surprising. It still makes me laugh though. Maybe she’s just taking the acronym for her hate organization a little bit too literally.

Two things.  First of all, bigots in North Carolina are trying to push through a constitutional amendment banning marriage or any other legal arrangements for gay couples.  If you’ll remember from your geography classes, North Carolina is in the South.  Guess what?  A majority are opposed to said amendment:

According to a Public Policy Polling survey released on Wednesday, 55 percent of respondents would vote against the proposed amendment, 30 percent would vote for it, and 15 percent said they were not sure.

Oh crap. That’s gotta give some North Carolina wingnuts tremors.

Another recent poll shows how much ground the hate group set has lost among their own offspring:

The poll, released in late August by the Washington-based Public Religion Research Institute, found that nearly half (44 percent) of young evangelicals between the ages of 18 to 29 favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry.

By contrast, the white evangelical community as a whole (even counting those relatively liberal young adults) is solidly opposed to same-sex marriage, by slightly more than 80 percent.

More broadly, the poll found “at least a 20-point generation gap between millennials (age 18-29) and seniors (65 and over) on every public policy measure in the survey concerning rights for gay and lesbian people.”

The poll also found that a slight majority of all Catholics (52 percent) favor same-sex marriage, despite the energetic teaching of their church to the contrary.

Ouch. More pain for the wingnuts! A majority of Catholics support equality, which I’m sure chaps the behinds of the Catholic front group known as the National Organization for Marriage. But even more than that, this poll basically shows that among Evangelicals, the fight is lost as soon as the older generations hand the torch to the younger ones. Those younger Evangelicals are only going to get more liberal, and those who are not yet 18 will be more liberal than the current 18-29 set.

Wingnuts need to give it up and do something with the remainder of their lives, I think.