"Yes on 8" Adopts Palin-Zombie Tactics
We've talked a time or two about California's Proposition 8, the proposed state constitutional amendment referendum that wants to deny same-sex couples the established right to marry in that state.
There is, of course, an organization advocating in favor of the amendment (largely with money contributed by mormons) with the inspiring name "Yes on 8".
In a story of rather breathtaking stupidity, it is revealed* that "Yes on 8" has sent letters to some 35 Caifornia businesses that are on record as contributors to "Equity California", an organization that advocates for same-sex marriage equality.
In this letter, signed by four members of the "Yes on 8" executive committee, the recipients are urged to make contributions to the "Yes on 8" campaign that matches their contributes to "Equity California", or else:
Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. You would leave us no other reasonable assumption. The names of any companies and organizations that chose not to donate in like manner to protectmarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published.
What a curious threat. The groups receiving the letters are already part of the public record and, generally quite proud of the fact that they have contributed in support of marriage equality.
In a campaign season that's seen lots of stupidity, surely this ranks high on the list. As an extortionate protection scheme it's not very well thought out, threatening to "tell" something that the recipients would be happy to publicize. It makes me think of the Monty Python routine about the Piranha Brothers.
And that's what put me in mind of the Palin-Zombie: Republicans Need Brains! Brains!
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*Virtually simultaneously in the blogs I read: "Yes on 8 Launches Blackmail Campaign", Box Turtle Bulletin; "Protect Marriage Blackmailing Businesses to Support Prop 8", Towleroad; "Yes On 8 Launches Blackmail Campaign", Joe.My.God; “Yes on 8″ Blackmailing Donors to the 'No' Side" firedoglake; all on 24 October 2008.
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I welcome comments -- even dissent -- but I will delete without notice irrelevant, rude, psychotic, or incomprehensible comments, particularly those that I deem homophobic, unless they are amusing. The same goes for commercial comments and trackbacks. Sorry, but it's my blog and my decisions are final.
on Friday, 24 October 2008 at 18.56
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As JESUS said on the cross: "גוייִש משוגעת" Visit Tactical Syntax for some effective NO ON 8 banner ads.
on Sunday, 26 October 2008 at 22.57
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I think you meant: . . . matches their contributions to "Equity California," or else, right?
The people behind this initiative are obviously bullies accustomed to forcing others to bend to their will. That they would engage in such blatant extortion tells me they've done it plenty before, were successful and got away with it.
on Monday, 27 October 2008 at 01.05
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Thanks, SW. I meant exactly that so I've made the change.
Whether they are experienced at this sort of tactic–I'm not so sure. It could be just that one of them had this remarkably stupid idea and thought at the time that it sounded good without thinking about it at all, at least from an adult perspective. We've seen a lot of that from Republicans in this campaign season.