A sorry development in Springfield

I'll be happy to take on task #1 (0.00 / 0)

Not sure I understand the point of task #2?  A general defense of free speech?  The sense that the ad will backfire against the forces of discrimination and hate?

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody." -Longfellow

---

by: Bean in the 'Burbs @ Sat Oct 06, 2007 at 21:25:54 PM CDT

From New Jersey, huh? (0.00 / 0)

I wonder if this happened with the blessings of the local anti-equality groups, or if the NJ love muffins are making a territorial move.  If it's the first, then the anti-equality groups are strapped for cash (=good!).  If the latter, I'll bring the popcorn - this will be a fun turf war to watch! 

Either way, as people in his district learn that this message was brought to them by people several states away (NJ, no less!), i'll wager the anti-carpet-bagger sentiments negate any interest the ad might have generated.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

---

by: Laurel @ Sat Oct 06, 2007 at 23:23:26 PM CDT

there's definitely local support, if not direct involvement (6.00 / 1)

MassResistance held a protest against Puppolo back in June.  Pictures here:

http://www.massresis...

and today's MassResistance blog crows about Puppolo paying the  price for "lying to voters":

http://massresistanc...

Going back a bit, Vote On Marriage/Mass. Family Institute were the first to call the Republicans who switched "Benedict Arnolds" - the signs messaging is straight out of their press release.

VOM/MFI refer to themselves as an affiliate of both Focus on the Family (Dobson) and the Family Research Council (Perkins).

The full text of their letter is here:

http://takemassactio...

It's worth remembering that Vote On Marriage's Robert Wellington is now Executive Director for the Mass. GOP.

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

---

by: huh @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 12:22:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

small correction (5.00 / 1)

They actually are targeting ALL the legislators that switched, not just the Republican ones.

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

---

by: huh @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 12:33:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

good info. (0.00 / 0)

and i don't doubt that at least one faction of the local gay-obsessed nutcases could be involved.  but i still don't understand what they think they might gain by appearing to be from out of state.  unless, of course, they realize that they have lost all local credibility and have to put up a false front to get taken seriously. 

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

---

by: Laurel @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 12:33:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm baffled, too (0.00 / 0)

I know EaBo is hoping that Rob Willington will help the party energize the anti-gay marriage petition signers to shake up the party, but that doesn't explain why they'd use outside people to do the energizing:

http://redmassgroup....

MassResitanceWatch says David Parker spoke at the "Americans for Truth About Homosexuality" banquet Friday night.  Maybe there's some sort of homophobe exchange program?

http://massresistanc...

A real long shot, but it could also be part of the GOP infrastructure Rob Willington talks about (and PP lauds) here:

http://www.hubpoliti...

Again, bringing in New Jersey folks doesn't make much sense.  But neither does appointing Willington.

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

---

by: huh @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 14:43:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

ooops (0.00 / 0)

Make that:

EaBo is hoping that Rob Willington will energize the anti-gay marriage petition signers and shake up the party

should know better than to type and watch the Red Sox...

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

---

by: huh @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 14:45:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It really does appear to Focus on the Family (0.00 / 0)

Courtesy Daily Kos and Frederick Clarkson (not sure who that is)

First, more on the Focus on the Family "affiliates" (e.g. VOM/MFI).

http://www.frederick...

Then more on the NJ organization... it's a spinoff of the Connecticut affiliate.

http://www.dailykos....

Earlier this year, the religious right and the Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts failed in their effort to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. At issue, was marriage equality for same sex couples which has been legal in Massachusetts since 2004. The long arm of Dobson reached into the state via his Bay State proxy, the Massachusetts Family Institute, which led the effort to get the amendment on the ballot. The effort came up five votes short in the state legislature, in part because a number of legislators changed their minds -- including Puppolo. And now a national organization has been formed to attack pro marriage equality state legislators in what they term "difficult states." (By this we may mean at least Connecticut, Vermont, Massachussetts, California, New York and New Jersey.)

Puppolo is the first of eleven MA state legisltors expected to be targeted by a new New Jersey-based national group called the National Organization for Marriage. It is headed by Brian S. Brown, the former head of the James Dobson's Connecticut political affiliate, the Family Institute of Connecticut. 

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

---

by: huh @ Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 11:12:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Fred's awesome (0.00 / 0)

And wicked, wicked smart. You can trust his reporting.

Man, I miss Fred's other regular blog!

--Lynne, who is posting with hubby's nick cuz she's too lazy to log out and log in.

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

---

by: Mr Lynne @ Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 20:47:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

OK here's another thing I'm wondering: (0.00 / 0)

why bother dropping money in MA?  Marriage equality is secure in MA.  Their tactic makes no sense to me.  That said, I'm happy they're wasting precious pennies in a place where they'll make no meaningful difference.  But I'm am curious.

I should say that I will still call Rep Puppolo's office tuesday to voice my support for him, and also make a campaign contribution, just in case.  It is the promise we all made to legislators who did the right thing.  But really, this whole gambit by the Dobsonites has me kinda grinning.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

---

by: Laurel @ Sat Oct 06, 2007 at 23:35:53 PM CDT

The Dobsonians are hurting for money... (6.00 / 1)

...they have just announced a relatively large lay-off.  Maybe this is a ploy to raise revenues.

---

by: raj @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 06:08:34 AM CDT

Representative Angelo Puppolo (0.00 / 0)

The Good News is Angelo is reaching out for support and  people are answering the call.  There was advance notice of the BillBoard going up last week and local activists were already organizing.

Just an FYI, Rep. Puppolo (D-Springfield), not Wilbraham.  His district office is in Wilbraham, he is a Springfield resident and former City Councilor [http://www.mass.gov/...]

Toll free and fax numbers for Lamar Advertising (shame on them, let's keep this move on file):

Phone: 1-800-235-2627
Fax: (225) 928-1034

---

by: HeartlandDem @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 07:04:45 AM CDT

These are sad, pathetic people (0.00 / 0)

who can't and won't understand that Angelo stood up for the Constitution and human rights with his vote.  They must have a motive for coming into this area and targeting four (I think) of our outstanding representatives.  I actually think it will backfire and will ensure another win for Angelo.  Their hatred and anger is almost comical.  While everyone else has moved on to important issues for Springfield, these carpetbaggers can't accept the outcome of that vote.  I think the term monomaniacal is appropriate. 

---

by: lolorb @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 07:38:30 AM CDT

"Get Over It" (0.00 / 0)

It's time we started using this phrase! 

---

by: lolorb @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 08:07:18 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

backfire (0.00 / 0)

That apparently happened in Medford a few years ago when pro-equality Carl Sciortino was running against the anti-gay incumbent.  One of the local anti-gay hate groups sent out mail on behalf of the incumbent.  It was so nasty that people were really disgusted.  The incumbent lost votes, and Carl won.  SOmething similar happened at the primary level in Sen Fargo's district.  These people never learn.  They do indeed seem to be obsessed with other people's lives.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

---

by: Laurel @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 10:51:59 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And when you're thanking Rep. Puppolo... (6.00 / 5)

just think of how many billboards as bad as this (and worse) we'd have to deal with if he, and a few other Reps, hadn't done the right thing.

---

by: eury13 @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 10:26:17 AM CDT

I'm probably going to catch Hell for this (PUNNN) (6.00 / 1)

but isn't it ironic they chose a picture of Jesus and Judas where it looks like they're kissing?

---

by: JoeTS @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 15:28:48 PM CDT

for those who care (probably nobody) (0.00 / 0)

it's a famous picture. 

The Betrayal of Christ

---

by: JoeTS @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 15:32:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

LOL (0.00 / 0)

Yeah, and under the title "friend" no less.  As in: Jesus and Judas, sittin in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!  I hadn't looked closely enough to catch that.  Too hilarious.

All I could think of when seeing Benedict Arnold on an egg yolk yellow background was "Eggs Benedict, Arnold?"

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

---

by: Laurel @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 16:23:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

They are kissing... (0.00 / 0)

It's actually an integral part of the story.

Judas brings a bunch of Roman soldiers with him to arrest Jesus (and only Jesus, not any of his followers). The Romans (who are probably Celts or Germans or Iberians) wouldn't know Jesus from Peter or Andrew or James or John.

So Judas tells them, "Arrest the one that I kiss." So when they get there, Judas walks up to Jesus, who knows what's going down. In the words of one of the old bible translations, he says to Judas, "Dost thou betray me with a kiss?"

---

by: PatrickA @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 17:34:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

sure, but you have to admit (6.00 / 1)

that the context the anti-gay people are using the picture in is hilarious.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

---

by: Laurel @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 17:43:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm well aware of the story (0.00 / 0)

I can also tell you it was in the garden of Gastheneme or some spelling, and Peter also took a legionnaire's ear off with a sword. 

See Laurel below...

---

by: JoeTS @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 18:10:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Above...rather...heh (0.00 / 0)

---

by: JoeTS @ Sun Oct 07, 2007 at 18:10:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's not what betrayal of marriage means (6.00 / 1)

My thought when I saw that billboard was that he must have cheated on his wife in a very public way. It didn't occur to me that someone could consider anything else to be betraying marriage.

---

by: jkw @ Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 11:53:41 AM CDT

Dude, haven't you heard? (0.00 / 0)

If the gays can get married, then all the straight marriages automatically fall apart!

---

by: David @ Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 14:18:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

and! (0.00 / 0)

the heteros will stop procreating.  at least, that's what some evangelicals promised me would be one of the repercussions.  so, you heteros out there, are you still gettin any (assuming you were before)?  i still see pregnant women and people with babies walking about.  are they all gay?  or has the sky not fallen in the way promised?

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

---

by: Laurel @ Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 16:05:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]