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News & ArtsWednesday, November 26, 2008
Homo Speaking of the Utter Incompetence of the "No on 8" Campaign...
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 11:00 AM
The leaders of the "No on 8" campaign held a "virtual town-hall meeting" last night to discuss their botched, failed, miserable, incompetent efforts—but the organizers failed to let people know that the "proprietary software" they needed to download to participate was for Windows only, so Mac users—like, oh, Towleroad, Queerty, Sullivan, Slog, et al—were shit out of luck. "For a campaign that's been accused of being out of touch and needlessly hermetic," says Queerty, "this is—seriously, we're speechless."
Queerty managed to get patched in somehow and liveblog most of the meeting. One highlight...
What was the structure of the campaign? Committees upon committees is the short answer. "It was a two-tiered structure", says Lori Jean. "We needed everybody to raise money and organize their communities." The big committee then elected the Executive Committee: Oscar de la O, Bienestar; Maya Harris, ACLU of Northern California; Delores Jacobs, San Diego LGBT Community Center; Lorri L. Jean, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center; Kate Kendell, National Center for Lesbian Rights; Geoff Kors, Equality California and Andy Wong of Chinese for Affirmative Action.Lori Jean then states that you could basically buy your way into the Executive Committee with a big donation.
So, the EC became really unwieldy and the paid consultants complained that they needed a smaller, more nimble body to work with and so a "mini-EC" was created. Get all that
Ugh. And you gotta love this...
And we end this with a "How do we promote unity?" question and to his credit Geoff Kors says that "an important piece of doing that" is to reach out to new people and new communities.
Now they think of that? Now?
1
Time to consider the whole thing a wash, get rid of incompetent leadership, and put it on the ballot for the next election.
Wait, was this the gay marraige thing or the economy? Oh well, works for both.
Wait, was this the gay marraige thing or the economy? Oh well, works for both.
2
22 days later, and Dan starts talking about the people who really passed Prop H8....
Congrats.
What do we do now? What. Do. We. Do. Now?
Congrats.
What do we do now? What. Do. We. Do. Now?
3
I'm reading the history of ACT UP. Because I sort of remember similar frustration back then, and the creation of a new, hip, fearless group that would make a real difference. Then some screeching nuts threw used condoms at people and nothing much was accomplished. And that brings us up to today.
I mean, I know how fondly Dan Savage remembers ACT UP and he still uses their tactics today against TV news reporters and such. But it seems like going that route again will fail again.
I mean, I know how fondly Dan Savage remembers ACT UP and he still uses their tactics today against TV news reporters and such. But it seems like going that route again will fail again.
5
I'm a PC user, but seriously -- that's fucked up. I mean, who ever heard of a gay person who uses a Mac, right?
Did it require Internet Explorer, too? Was it called a "webinar"?
Did it require Internet Explorer, too? Was it called a "webinar"?
6
I'm starting to believe these people fall in line with the HRC crowd who don't really want to change things because they are so comfortable being doormats and punching bags. I'm really sorry I gave so much money to these dickwads. I just want to strangle them.
8
Thanks for calling these people out. It would be nice to find out what the money was spent on. It was quite a lot of money, millions right? I wonder if a lot of it was spent on general GOTV and canvassing for the Democrats thinking if you can elect Obama Prop 8 will fail. I think it would probably make us sick to see where all that money was spent.
9
According to wiki anti8 raised $2million more than pro8.
Seems like blaming the Mormons is just pathetically self deluding.
Seems like blaming the Mormons is just pathetically self deluding.
10
are you really that surprised that a GLBT organization was disorganized and prone to back-biting, in-fighting and general chaos?
That we've gotten ANYTHING accomplished continues to amaze me...
That we've gotten ANYTHING accomplished continues to amaze me...
11
I did listen in and was enlightened. I get the impression the "Gay Leadership" i.e. those that get off their asses and do the work, employed a lot of straight people to do the advertising and those straight people were not inclined to "offend" anyone with the No On Prop 8 ads. The Gay attitude to Live and Let Live just does not work when some one is coming at you with a Base Ball Bat. Just an observation.
I'm hoping Gay Americans here in Washington will grasp that little reality and get involved now, learn the FACTS about Civil Marriage (Not the I wish, we wish, it should be stuff) and then learn to fight smart.
In a real fight you generally have one opportunity to survive the fight. Don't play by the rules, don't be nice, sweet, kind, thoughtful, honest, or take the moral high ground. You'll lose.
And since Gay Civil Rights have never won a popularity contest, the concept of Out Reach is silly.
I'm hoping Gay Americans here in Washington will grasp that little reality and get involved now, learn the FACTS about Civil Marriage (Not the I wish, we wish, it should be stuff) and then learn to fight smart.
In a real fight you generally have one opportunity to survive the fight. Don't play by the rules, don't be nice, sweet, kind, thoughtful, honest, or take the moral high ground. You'll lose.
And since Gay Civil Rights have never won a popularity contest, the concept of Out Reach is silly.
12
@3--
I'm old enough to remember ACT-UP. They were mobilizing in a health crisis while folks were dropping dead all around them. They needed the action of federal, state, and local agencies, not to convince voters. It was the queers' Hurricane Katrina, only it lasted a decade and killed a whole lot more folks.
Marriage Equality is a much more complex situation, a mixture of judicial rulings and electoral politics. It's going to require a nuanced approach as we negotiate both the courts and the polls. ACT-UP might be a model for mobilization, but not necessarily for organization and tactics. Organizationally they were anarchic (literally--no leadership, and it was frenetic) and tactically they were dramatically confrontational in ways that are less likely to win over the folks we need to come over to our side now.
I'm old enough to remember ACT-UP. They were mobilizing in a health crisis while folks were dropping dead all around them. They needed the action of federal, state, and local agencies, not to convince voters. It was the queers' Hurricane Katrina, only it lasted a decade and killed a whole lot more folks.
Marriage Equality is a much more complex situation, a mixture of judicial rulings and electoral politics. It's going to require a nuanced approach as we negotiate both the courts and the polls. ACT-UP might be a model for mobilization, but not necessarily for organization and tactics. Organizationally they were anarchic (literally--no leadership, and it was frenetic) and tactically they were dramatically confrontational in ways that are less likely to win over the folks we need to come over to our side now.
13
Great, snub the company to the customers of a company that donated $100,000 to your campaign.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfga…
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfga…
14
If you want votes from various ethnic communities, you have to be involved in their issues and their events.
Not just show up at the last moment.
Not just show up at the last moment.
15
By the way, I enjoyed seeing all of the glowing white apples onstage at the Showbox on election night. I was behind the glowing white apple on the other side of the room. :D
16
You're absolutely right. If only the No on 8 leaders had pulled their heads out of their asses, we'd have gay marriage in California--just like you have up in Washington.
Oh wait...
Oh wait...
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