NO on 1 Campaign Releases New Radio Ad, Blasts Anti-LGBT Yes on 1 Tactics

The newest NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality radio ad hitting the airwaves:



For context, check out Yes on 1 tv and radio ads and the most recent summary of news in Maine.

Recently, WMTW did a news report looking into the validity of the Yes on 1 tv ad, questioning the "doomsday" predictions brought on by marriage equality.

In the report, Marc Mutty of Yes on 1 all but admits that none of these predictions have actually happened but states there's no reason to believe it won't. The report also references the Yes on 1 tactic of releasing a letter by a University of Michigan law professor to Gov. Baldacci sent before the signing of the new marriage equality law warning of dire consequences. NO on 1 issued a response to this over the weekend.

NO on 1 Slams Latest Ploy by Proponents of Question 1

Calls last-minute appeal by Michigan lawyer "political gamesmanship"

Portland, Maine (Saturday, September 19, 2009)
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The NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign today slammed the latest attempt by the Yes campaign to distract voters from the real issues surrounding Question 1.

On Thursday, the Yes campaign produced -- for the first time -- a letter by University of Michigan law professor Douglas Laycock to Gov. John Baldacci urging him not to sign the bill unless it contained certain provisions Laycock claimed would address religious liberty.

The Laycock letter is dated April 30, 2009, just days before the Legislature passed and the Governor signed the bill on May 6, 2009.

Professor Laycock, who represents himself as a supporter of marriage equality, did not participate in what was a very public and open process that began early in 2009 when the bill's filing was announced.

On Friday (September 18, 2009), NO on 1 released a detailed memorandum by distinguished Maine legal experts that methodically refutes the claims in both Professor Laycock's letter and the Yes Campaign's television and radio ads.

"Unfortunately, the Yes Campaign is rolling out another out-of-state lawyer to set up a legal smoke screen in an attempt to divert attention away from the hallmarks of the legislation -- equality and fairness for all Mainers," said State Senator Barry J. Hobbins, a member of the Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary and a lawyer with 30 years experience practicing in the state.

"This bill was carefully and thoughtfully written to protect religious liberties. Opponents are spewing the same tired arguments to fight against civil rights."

"This is nothing more than political gamesmanship," said NO on 1 campaign manager Jesse Connolly.

"Professor Laycock did not participate in the public debate, never contacted the bill's sponsors and literally FEDEXed his letter to the governor in the final hours before passage."

Distributed to the Maine media and available to the public at this link, the NO on 1 memorandum is signed by Maine Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, former Maine Attorneys General Steve Rowe and James Tierney, House Chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee Representative Emily Cain, University of Maine School of Law Dean Peter Pitegoff* and University of Maine School of Law Professor David P. Cluchey*.

*University listed for identification purposes only, not endorsement

The amazing Louise at Pam's House Blend does a great job posting many of the recent local media responses to the ongoing campaigns surrounding marriage equality. Also, continue to check the "Recommended Reading" sidebar here on UTF for other Maine related articles.

Maine continues to need to our support. Go the the NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality website and find out how you can get involved from anywhere in the nation!