How gay marriage supporters won this year: By changing their ad strategy
The surprise sweep for marriage equality efforts at the polls in 2012 came after a dramatic shift in the television ads their backers ran — a change that came about after a year-long research effort to crack the code of previously successful ads run by marriage equality opponents that focused on “gay marriage” being taught in schools.
Among the key changes: A shift away from talk of “rights” to a focus on committed relationships; a decision to address “values” directly as being learned at home; and an attempt to give voters “permission” to change their minds, according to elements of the research shared with BuzzFeed. …
The research was sponsored by Third Way — a centrist Democratic think tank — that conducted an extended round of surveys beginning in September 2010 “aimed at answering a single question: how do we most effectively persuade people in the middle to support relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples, including marriage?” …
Faith and, particularly in Maryland, black communities were engaged directly. Fund-raising and field operations were systematic and far outpaced past efforts of marriage equality supporters and this year’s efforts by opponents. President Obama and the Democratic Party, along with prominent Republicans and straight sports stars, were speaking out in support of marriage equality. And, it was the fifth federal election held in the country since some of its residents were legally able to marry someone of the same sex.
Blowback
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What’s going to happen when they do get marriage. What will they fight for next I wonder.
mrscullen on November 20, 2012 at 8:59 AM
Hey, let’s build a culture on Gomorrahism!
Akzed on November 20, 2012 at 9:01 AM
All In
faraway on November 20, 2012 at 9:02 AM
It isn’t equality, it’s the power to redefine marriage. Therefore, some animals are more equal than others.
Akzed on November 20, 2012 at 9:04 AM
Because they did it in a year in which they knew liberal turnout would be at an all-time high.
Wethal on November 20, 2012 at 9:04 AM
The messaging was better, but the three states involved this time were much more blue than some of the earlier ones, so it was an easier sell. At least in Minnesota, there were probably 3 ads for every one the Vote Yes people had on. You couldn’t watch a newscast without seeing at least one or two Vote No ads.
Mr. D on November 20, 2012 at 9:05 AM
Because the urban dumpholes were directly targeted for their low-info voters.
Bishop on November 20, 2012 at 9:09 AM
I wonder what they’ll go after next? The left never stops and is never satisfied. I’m pretty sure religious freedom is on the agenda.
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Guns and “gun culture”.
Bishop on November 20, 2012 at 9:14 AM
It wasn’t the ad strategy, it was the demographics. The same ads would have lost 10 years ago. As young voters continue to replace old, the trend in opinion will likely continue.
dedalus on November 20, 2012 at 9:16 AM
Don’t forget AIDSitis.
Bingo. They knew libtards would be coming out of the woodwork to re-elect 0bummer and acted accordingly.
No joke? Yikes. That’s ad saturation.
MelonCollie on November 20, 2012 at 9:17 AM
Hey, let’s build a culture on Gomorrahism!
Akzed on November 20, 2012 at 9:01 AM
Caligula’s horse approves.
kingsjester on November 20, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Nah, he couldn’t give informed consent – but that wouldn’t stop Peter Singer.
Akzed on November 20, 2012 at 9:27 AM
Akzed on November 20, 2012 at 9:27 AM
LOL! You’re right.
kingsjester on November 20, 2012 at 9:30 AM
Well, that’s just it. They’ll never really give them everything they want. Didn’t Obama say he wasn’t going to do anything else on gay marriage in his second term? Democrats have to have a way to make gays want to vote for the NEXT Democrat, or whomever runs after Obama.
I work in DC. Most gay males I know are pretty conservative, but only vote for Dems because of the gay marriage issue. So, once gay marriage becomes a reality across the country, there’d be no reason for a lot of gays to vote for Democrats anymore. I think Dems know this.
sydneyjane on November 20, 2012 at 9:47 AM
I hate that people are stupid enough to use an equality label on efforts to only give a certain type of people rights. What about all the other people that they are ignoring? Why don’t they deserve the same rights? Why is this question never answered by these bigoted activists?
blink on November 20, 2012 at 9:48 AM
Idiot social conservatives fall for this bait every 4 years like clockwork.
If two people love each and want to get married – LET THEM – who gives a damn?
Manage your own home – your own family – and leave others to manage theirs.
Good lord – every 4 years our party falls for this crap!
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 9:52 AM
An appropriate username; you’re full of $hit.
MelonCollie on November 20, 2012 at 9:55 AM
Great logic. Turn the US into a third world socialist state just to get married.
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Just my opinion.
Thanks for your considerate view – another tolerant member for our cause. Don’t forget the deck chairs -
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:01 AM
The only married gay couples I know are Republicans, including the ones who live next door to my 80 year old grandmother who came over to her house to let her use their generator after Sandy knocked trees onto her house and along with her power. God forbid they ever be part of their community, amiright?
Liberty 5-3001 on November 20, 2012 at 10:02 AM
OK … fine. But what comes next? You know the left never stops. Can you name any issue where the left has said “Hurray! we won. We are done!”
What other issues can democrats use to paint gays as victims? Religion? Maybe they’ll go after religion next. Free speech? Whatever it is you can bet they’ll use it.
You can pass a damn constituional amendment for gay marriage and it wouldn’t mean squat because they never stop.
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Sounds like they are part of the community. What’s your point?
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 10:06 AM
This is the long and short of the entire ‘debate’, which flakey-jakey doesn’t get. The liberals are forcing this fight on us. Otherwise we really would have more pressing issues on a national basis than a sliver of the population who’re confused about what body part goes in which orfice.
MelonCollie on November 20, 2012 at 10:10 AM
My point is that marriage encourages people to plan their lives together, settle down and buy homes, become productive members in their towns, help one another, and be free to be happy and who they are. They lived together for 35 years and finally got married last year. They’re not a threat to society in any way, despite all the slippery slope sodom & gomorrah fear mongering. I have gay friends, and I don’t think they should be any less able to have the same kind of happiness that I want some day with the person I love.
Liberty 5-3001 on November 20, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Perfect example – nice story – but we’re not supposed to be nice outside our fences
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:13 AM
You make a good point
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Why only two? Did you limit this to two because of your bigotry?
Why only people? Did you limit this to people because of your bigotry?
Did you add these constraints because you’re an idiot social conservative?
If it’s more than two and not necessarily people – who gives a damn? You?
blink on November 20, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Ahhh, thanks so much for the lulz this morning! Make sure to take a moment and calm down so you don’t choke on all the foam which I’m sure is coming out of your mouth from that.
Liberty 5-3001 on November 20, 2012 at 10:23 AM
You always come up with some inane nonsensical tripe to post on any teh ghey thread (cripes, you really love this topic, huh?) but “redefining marriage”, which by the way has already happened numerous times throughout history, is probably one of the dumbest points you make.
You feel free to keep whatever definition of marriage your little heart desires…especially when it includes no-fault divorce rate, prenuptial agreements, tacky wedding chapels in Vegas, countless abortions…basically a total mockery of any definition of marriage.
Heteros are doing just fine all on their own when it comes to degrading marriage.
JetBoy on November 20, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Well – right now we’re only talking about two –
I understand your argument – but no one is making that argument right now – and I don’t think the left (mainstream left) is talking about marrying monkeys – are they?
Again – I get your argument – but expanding it into a range not under discussion does not help.
How is the marriage of two men or two women – hurting you and your family – are you not the role model for your children?
I don’t mean to target you – I suspect you are a great role model – just saying – let people be – we to quit telling everyone how to live their lives – meaning gay people.
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:24 AM
The issue isn’t gay marriage. The issue is the left, by force of government, dictating to society. Society should police itself and settle it’s own issues. The gay marriage movement could have probably gotten what it wanted had it gone about it in an entirely different way. Instead, it became a blunt instrument of violence, intimidation and harrassment that attacked people … physically and verbally, attacked businesses for exercising free speech, had people fired from their jobs and basically calls anyone who doesn’t fall down on their knees to worship “gayness” a homophobe. Gays, whether they know it or not or being used.
Remember when this first started? Gays said they wanted the same legal rights as married people. They wanted civil unions that gave them that. Well, no one really objected so overnight it morphed into we demand to be married now.
If and when gay marriage becomes accepted attacks on the right using gays will continue. The left will concoct some other grievance that they’ll claim is oppressing gays.
It never stops. It will only stop when all our rights our gone and liberty is a distant memory. Again, this is not about gays per se … it’s about the left using people to accomplish their goals.
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 10:25 AM
You have passion
What right of yours has been taken away?
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:28 AM
The lulz just keep on coming
You know us Young Republicans will have the last laugh on this, right? Is that why you’re all freaked out on this?
Now now, children, let’s play nice
Liberty 5-3001 on November 20, 2012 at 10:30 AM
^ The real question.
How about free speech and religious freedom, birdbrain? You could google about what’s happened to Christians in Canada to see why. Or the photographer here in the USA sued for refusing to photograph a pervert play-pretend ‘wedding’.
MelonCollie on November 20, 2012 at 10:31 AM
But the left is the one telling peopole how to live their lives. They are the oppressors and distract by using various groups of people like minorities, women, and gays to paint the right as oppressors.
Who in the hell is really oppressed in America? Well the answer is everyone because when it comes to oppression the left oppresses equally. When people finally understand their game it will be to late.
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Well we do know young liberally-brainwashed ‘republicans’ are far more likely to sell out to gays on marriage and then face continued, ‘unexpected’ heat from the left every time they don’t agree with their agenda. If you can call THAT the ‘last laugh’.
MelonCollie on November 20, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Absolute tolerance eventually becomes absolute intolerance.
Ward Cleaver on November 20, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Yup, the gays are nothing if not violent. Matthew Shepherd had it coming, I mean what happened to him was only the result of people acting in self-defense, right?
Liberty 5-3001 on November 20, 2012 at 10:34 AM
So none of your rights have been lost – but someone in Canada?
Does calling me a birdbrain make you feel powerful somehow?
Oh well – I am sure your children love you and want to be like you – that’s what matters most.
Signed – Tweety Bird
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Are you serious?
Can you name any activity, product or service that isn’t regulated or taxed by the government?
Do you know I now need two permits to walk down to the beach and throw my line in the surf? I need a state saltwater fishing permit and a federal one from NOAA. I cannot feed myself from the sea with state and federal government approval.
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 10:34 AM
I remember as a kid hearing my Grandparents call a black man a Coon.
I thought they were idiots for saying and believing such a thing.
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Typical answer from a bigot that only supports rights for people that they like.
blink on November 20, 2012 at 10:36 AM
So gay marriage forces you to get a fishing permit?
I think your frustration with govt regulation is perfectly justified – 100% justified.
We just have to agree that we disagree on this issue we were discussing.
A permit to fish – you’re right – that is idiotic.
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:38 AM
And who won’t cherish the rights he has until the left comes after them in the name of ‘equality’ for gays.
MelonCollie on November 20, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Way to ignore the tactics the left uses in forcing people to comply to their demands. Distract.
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 10:39 AM
First off, the only way I’m ever voting for a liberal is if I die and a Democrat uses my vote fraudently. Second, we’re not “selling out” by wanting to extend the same freedoms we have to our friends who are gay. One of my best friends is a strong Republican and gay whose mother was elected to serve our district in 2010, and I’m glad that he will be able to have the same freedoms as me some day.
Liberty 5-3001 on November 20, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Freaked out? I’m trying to explain what the left is doing. All you can think about is gay marriage. You need to focus. I haven’t stated an opinion about gay marriage either way.
darwin on November 20, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Hey birdbrain, why don’t you ask this student about what rights she’s lost?
Or the pro-family organization sued for using a gay couple’s ‘engagement’ photo in a political mailer?
Or this business owner sued under the “Equality Act” for refusing to allow a homo couple a single room for their perverted acts?
MelonCollie on November 20, 2012 at 10:44 AM
You’ll be ok
jake-the-goose on November 20, 2012 at 10:46 AM
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