Comments on: NOM’s Tour of Mostly-Empty City Plazas finds one in Madison WI that is overflowing… with counter-protesters

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:11:47 +0000

Timothy,

Yes, it is speculation, but might I suggest that the courts might not be the only group they are hoping to sway. I agree with you that it seems unlikely that any court would consider counter protests as proof of them being in physical danger. But it has also appeared to me that they have gone out of their way to “poke at” the counter protestors, making an angry response more likely. It does seem unlikely that they would get any footage that would serve them well in a court of law. The court of public opinion is a different matter. How many seconds of an angry face does it take to showcase in an ad? Is the donor base apt to be more impressed by the size of the counter protest or the fact that it has been nonviolent?

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:27:28 +0000

So, Timothy, who is paying for it do you think? And why?

By: Regan DuCasse

Regan DuCasse — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:54:46 +0000

Hardy har har!
Now THAT is a Pride parade to get behind!
LOVE it!

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:24:43 +0000

Those thinking “well, it’s just Madison, no wonder there were no NOM supporters”, a few months ago a Tea Party group got about 10,000 to show up in Madison for a rally.

By: Timothy Kincaid

Timothy Kincaid — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:58:05 +0000

Johnson, that is based on the opinion of HRC’s VP of Communications. Or, I should say, on his speculation.

While it’s an interesting idea, I doubt that this was the sole reason. It’s a pretty expensive trip to plan for no reason other than hoping to be harassed.

And few courts would consider counter-protests to be evidence that those who sign signatures are in physical danger from gay people. Counter protests are a traditional part of our political theater.

By: Johnson

Johnson — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:22:22 +0000

Over at Joe.My.God, there is a story running that the whole NOM Bus tour is phony, a ruse designed to show just how “mean and nasty” the pro-marriage equality people are in prep for a legal battle later on (something akin to “ratf*cking” during the Nixon era). Props to the Pro Marriage Equality folks for not giving them any ammunition.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:04:42 +0000

Something tells me the Washington DC NOM stop on August 15th is going to be a doozie.

By: Lymis

Lymis — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:47:51 +0000

I think Iowa may surprise you. Marriage Equality is going over pretty well there – that’s a whole lot of folks with direct and personal stakes in making sure NOM doesn’t win the day, and a whole lot of other people who have made it pretty clear they don’t give a particular darn about it.

By: Lar

Lar — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:32:15 +0000

And just think, they will be soon heading for Saint Paul, Minnesota and Des Moines, Iowa on the 1st of August, I have been to both of these cities and I can imagine that they have the ability to out show the counter-protest groups for the last two stops, it this whole movement steam rolling or what?

By: Soren456

Soren456 — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:01:14 +0000

I’m curious: What sort of publicity is NOM using for this tour? Anything at all?

Personally, I could assess the small turnouts more accurately if I knew what efforts were made to get a crowd in the first place.

Just asking . . . .