Comments on: Boies and Olson to go after ‘Yes on 8′ Campaign

By: Warren

Warren — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:17:37 +0000

I didn’t want to imply that they should lie, just fight fire with fire. No On 8 had pathetic counter arguments in all but one ad (the one with the Schools Superintendent). That was the only time they got close to calling out the lies from the other side. ALL or at least most of the ads should have been drubbing the theme that is was shameful, unAmerican and bigoted to take away rights, and unmask the entire Yes on 8 campaign as ‘motivated by anti-gay bias’. Unfortunately I saw no such fire or backbone in the CA case either. It’s clear that being nice and meek is going to get us no-where. I hope the Maine campaign is much more forceful.

By: lurker

lurker — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:27:33 +0000

and the times also has some interesting related commentary . . .

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/ted-olsons-supreme-court-adventure/

By: lurkere

lurkere — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:08:23 +0000

Did you see this frontpage NYTimes bio on Olson?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/us/19olson.html?hp

pretty nice piece.

By: Penguinsaur

Penguinsaur — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:12:37 +0000

“Crucially, the plaintiffs plan to go after the Yes on 8 Campaign to show that they were motivated by anti-gay animus. This will involve having the Yes on 8 people testify and hand over documents relevant to the campaign.”

Wait, they’re actually gonna make these bigots stand before a judge, hand on the bible, and explain how they don’t hate gays but spent truckloads of money taking rights away from them?
I’d pay to watch that.

By: Priya Lynn

Priya Lynn — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:10:21 +0000

They’re fearless and not afraid to play just as dirty as the other side.

So, you want them to lie left, right, and centre to achieve this?

It is to our org’s credit that they all too often take the high road, but as we saw in Prop. 8 being right doesn’t get you very far in the face of lies and distortions. We have yet to craft a forceful answer to these bigots, and the strategy of calling them out, putting them on the stand and holding them accountable is what’s needed.

Taking the high road doesn’t mean we can’t craft a forceful answer, call them out, or put them on the stand and hold them accountable.

By: Warren

Warren — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:25:37 +0000

I would prefer Lambda et al. stay out of it. I support many of these groups financially and think they do terrific work with excellent motivations for the most part. But I think they lack the experience, tenacity and toughness that Olson and Boies bring. These guys are probably the two most succesful, toughest and smartest lawyers in the country. If anyone can bring a successful suit they can. After watching Ken Starr destroy our side in the CA case, it was clear that we just don’t have the firepower in our groups that we need. Olson and Boies will demolish the Liberty Counsel, Pretence, Schubert and the rest. They’re fearless and not afraid to play just as dirty as the other side. It is to our org’s credit that they all too often take the high road, but as we saw in Prop. 8 being right doesn’t get you very far in the face of lies and distortions. We have yet to craft a forceful answer to these bigots, and the strategy of calling them out, putting them on the stand and holding them accountable is what’s needed. This team is far better equipped than the traditional gay org’s to achieve this.

By: Gabriel Arana

Gabriel Arana — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:11:44 +0000

No worries, Tim. I will let you all know what happens tomorrow.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:06:49 +0000

Gabe,

Thanks for the update.