No on Proposition 8 campaign official defends strategy

In the weeks since the election, those who ran the No on Prop. 8 campaign have come under criticism for what some considered the weaknesses of the effort. This week in the Advocate, Jim Key of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center responds to some of the critics. He argues that there is now a largely held but inaccurate impression that the campaign was slow off the mark, underestimated the opposition and didn't make the right arguments in favor of gay marriage. "A myth seems to have to taken hold that campaign leaders were lulled into complacency by early polls that showed the proposition failing by wide margins." In fact, he says organizers always thought Prop. 8 would be a tough fight. More:

There are legitimate questions to be raised about the advertising campaign, but two points are central here: First, the lack of early fund-raising success had a detrimental effect on the ability to set the tone for the campaign and combat the opposition’s early ads. Second, ads that focus on what is deemed important to one group tend to have adverse or unintended effects on other groups. The ads were targeted -- based on extensive research -- to persuadable “undecideds,” and this ultimately was where the election would be won or lost.

Marc, a comment poster at the Advocate, summed it up: As they say in the entertainment industry, it takes as much effort and money to make a flop as it does to make a blockbuster.

--Shelby Grad

Comments

[Becky Chandler]

The biggest problem was that Barak Obama chose to just pander and not lift a finger to get the proposition defeated. He brought out the African-American vote which overwhelmingly voted against it. If he had just done a little--like challenged the robot calls that used a recording of his voice to give the impression he endorsed prop 8, or just a couple of TV ads it would have been enough to ensure he defeat.

Leave the Mormons alone, and the strategy of the activists, and put the blame squarely where it belongs.

[Ella Porter]

And what a flop the no on 8 campaign produced. You almost pullled off the biggest fraud on Californians ever but they were smarter than you thought. In the aftermath of proposition 8 we see even more clearly that the no on 8 folks are suffering deep pain and, lacking proper focus they are lasing out against those who believe marriage is between a man and woman.

[Todd George]

This is called covering your behind. If anyone can give an example of anything done to give undecided voters a reason to oppose Prop 8 beyond a general call for fairness, please give an example. Also how about an example of an ad that tried to reach African American voters.

[fern]

Let's not cry over spilled milk! Pleease!
What may look like a curse often ends up being a blessing.
Retreating is also a move forward.