Yes on 8’s Appeal to Bigotry

Timothy Kincaid

October 30th, 2008

I saw the latest advertisement in favor of Proposition 8 on TV last night and was struck by the change in message. Perhaps tired of newspapers running editorials accusing them of lying in their ads, this one made no pretense of presenting facts. It appealed purely to homophobic emotion.

Yes on 8’s New Ad

Transcript:

Same-sex marriage… have you really thought about it?
What it means when gay marriage conflicts with our religious freedoms…
Why it was forced on us by San Francisco Judges when gay domestic partners already have the same legal rights…
What it means when our children are taught about it in schools…
Have you though about what same-sex marriage means…
(small girl:) to me?
Think about it.
Voting Yes restores traditional marriage.
Yes on Proposition 8.

This ad makes no argument as to why same-sex marriage is not desireable to society. It simply asks the listener to dredge up any misconceptions, stereotypes, or animus that may be buried in their subconscience and let fear – not fact or reason – be their guide. It is an appeal to bigotry in its most naked form.

Louie

October 30th, 2008

I found this latest AD quite disturbing. Especially with that little girl at the end saying “To me” What does that mean? That she can no longer get married by the State of California? Last I heard, straight people can and do still get married in California.

The ad finishes with:

Voting Yes restores traditional marriage.
Yes on Proposition 8.

Restores traditional marriage? Which version?

The one where the woman became the “property” of her husband?

The one where they were not allowed a divorce, except by death?

The one where they were not allowed to use contraception?

The one where they both had to be of the same race? I.E. white/white, black/black, asian/asian

Or the one where if you were a “slave” you weren’t considered human and were not allowed to “marry” by your slave owners. So you had to “jump the broom” and “pretend” to get married in the eyes of the other slaves.

Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!


California – Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!
Arizona – Vote “NO” on Prop. 102! AGAIN!
Florida – Vote “NO” on Amendment 2!
Connecticut – Vote “NO” on Question 1!

AJD

October 30th, 2008

Did you hear about the rally where one of the leaders of the campaign compared the fight against same-sex marriage to the fight against Hitler?

Perhaps they should be reminded that gay people were one of the groups targeted by the Nazis for extermination. And I highly doubt many Jews would find such trivialization of Hitler’s evil all that amusing.

Who are the real fascists?

a. mcewen

October 30th, 2008

repeating a lie even though it has been refuted – anti-gay industry tactic number 2

Louie

October 30th, 2008

AJD wrote:

Did you hear about the rally where one of the leaders of the campaign compared the fight against same-sex marriage to the fight against Hitler?

Here’s the link to that video:
Prop 8 spokesman says defeating same-sex marriage is like defeating Hitler


California – Vote “NO” on Prop. 8!
Arizona – Vote “NO” on Prop. 102! AGAIN!
Florida – Vote “NO” on Amendment 2!
Connecticut – Vote “NO” on Question 1!

Dave Hughes

October 30th, 2008

This just reeks of desperation.

This will not win over any undecideds. It’s not compelling at all. If any remaining undecided voters really think about gay marriage, they will realize that it won’t harm them in any way. I would think that the Yes on 8 side would not want people to think too much.

Oh, and doesn’t the guy standing in the office (“Why it was forced on us by San Francisco judges…”) seem a little bit lispy?

I’m surprised that they haven’t resorted to images of two leather bears in buttless chaps, or two dykes on bikes with their breasts hanging out, or flamboyant drag queens, with the line “Do you want marriage turned into this???”

Tavdy

October 30th, 2008

Louie, perhaps they meant the form of marriage practised by Abraham and other other great Patriarchs – where women were bought and sold; where their existence was primarily as breeding stock to provide heirs, servants and slaves; where women were used as sexual toys by their owners. You know, the good old bad old days before all this equality of the sexes nonsense.

Christopherâ„¢

October 30th, 2008

And what’s this about “San Francisco judges”? I highly doubt the four judges on the CA Supreme Court came from San Francisco.

Did they? Not that it matters, but I’m curious. I’m assuming it’s just another lie from Yes on 8, though.

Timothy Kincaid

October 30th, 2008

Christopher,

You are correct. That is just a lie.

They would like the voters to think that these are local judges with “San Francisco values” rather than the State Supreme Court. That the Court meets in San Francisco does not in any way make them “San Francisco judges”.

But it isn’t too surprising. ALL of the Yes on 8 positions are build on lies.

Lynn David

October 30th, 2008

I have seen nothing but the promotion of fear from “the other side” in the last couple of weeks. I should wish that this country would rise above its fears concerning our own citizens for this election; and eventually overcome them completely. But I fear…. that is rather naive.

Jason D

October 31st, 2008

and as per usual, the Yes on 8 crowd doesn’t allow comments on their video.
They don’t want anyone pointing out the flaws in their arguments.

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