Leave a Comment Sagesse
Definition of insanity: A 3rd NOM bus tour
October 20, 2010
By Adam Bink
Right? I mean, it doesn’t get any crazier than this.
FRC Action Announces Iowa Judge Bus Tour Urging ‘No Retention’ on Activist Judges
Rick Santorum, U.S. Rep. Steve King to Join State-wide Bus Tour
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Family Research Council Action and the National Organization for Marriage today announced the “Judge Bus Tour” that next week will make 20 stops, travel over 1,300 miles, and pass through 45 of Iowa’s 99 counties.
Former Senator Rick Santorum, U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins, National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown and other state and national leaders will urge Iowans to restore the constitution by voting “no retention” on activist judges who last year forced same-sex “marriage” on the state. The tour will kick off on Monday, October 25 at the state capitol and conclude at a Thursday evening rally in front of the Iowa Supreme Court building.
In other words, doing the same thing over again and expecting different results. And the part that really gets me is that they have had no measurable impact.
Let’s look at some potential measurements of impact. Have Iowa elected officials been bullied to pass a constitutional amendment that was already defeated earlier this year? Has the New Hampshire legislature been bullied into bringing up the constitutional amendment they already defeated earlier this year? Has the issue turned scores of voters away from Mark Dayton in the Minnesota gubernatorial race? Did Andrew Cuomo, Democratic gubernatorial candidate in New York, somehow not deliver a resounding statement in support of the freedom to marry and opposition to homophobia at the Empire State Pride Agenda reception recently? Have polling numbers on this issue in a NOM-targeted state with a tour stop significantly moved? Has Carly Fiorina been elected U.S. Senator on the backs of widespread Latino motivation around this issue? No, no, no, no, no and no.
So aside from both of the first two tours being embarrassed at every turn, if you want to look at the value of doing this again with a critical eye, you’d be hard-pressed to tell me that this is a tactic that is worth the cost, not to mention the embarrassment they will undoubtedly receive. The full tour schedule o’ FAIL can be found here.
But hey, at least Santorum, Perkins and King are along for entertainment this time.
Filed under: NOM Exposed,Right-wing
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68 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Alan E. | October 20, 2010 at 12:12 am
Back on the bus. Toot toot!
2.
Sagesse | October 20, 2010 at 12:21 am
For what it's worth, I consistently fail to find Perkins entertaining. Wishing he would get voted off the island.
3.
bJason | October 20, 2010 at 12:25 am
Yep, the VERY definition of insanity!
4.
Anonygrl | October 20, 2010 at 12:41 am
On the up side, if those folks are toodling along on a bus tour of the back end of beyond, they are not bothering the REST of us for at least a few days.
No offense intended to rural Iowa, which is, I am given to understand, a lovely, picturesque land with fine, upstanding citizenry. Thanks for helping the rest of us out by ignoring the bus as it wanders through your countryside.
The sad part, however, is that if they are using these bus tours to justify their 501 (c)4 status, as I suspect they are, you can start to see how much money they are actually spending nationwide on campaigning. These bus tours count as the "educational and social blah blah blah…" that they have to spend the MAJORITY of their funding on… because according to their own charter, they cannot spend the majority on campaigning. Since they obviously don't care whether the bus tours have any impact or not, and can afford to throw that much away (but in a big public way, to SHOW that they are fulfilling their charter) simply to justify the campaign spending, it shows where their real focus lies.
Lies being the operative word.
5.
Freddy | October 20, 2010 at 12:45 am
So 375 miles per day with 5 stops each. Lets see, average 50mph for the bus on state roads in IA, that would be 7.5 hrs traveling from place to place, figure 30 min per stop to talk to the people and promote their agenda, that's another 2.5 hrs so now were up to 11 hrs, add in the stops for the pork rinds and beer, typical start time would be after 9am, more likely 10am so that would end the day around 10pm with no time allotted for lunch and dinner. OK, if we eliminate the 2.5 hrs for the stops or pare that down to 30 min they would be done by 8pm and could have a late dinner. Sounds like a plan to me!
And checking the box.
6.
Freddy | October 20, 2010 at 12:49 am
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
7.
Richard A. Walter (s | October 20, 2010 at 12:55 am
Perhaps we will get lucky and this latest tour will cause all of the supporters of the judges to come out and vote so that they are retained. I would really like to see this one backfire on NOM in the biggest way that it can backfire on them, up to and including the loss of their tax-exempt status for violating separation of church and state.
8.
Ed Cortes | October 20, 2010 at 1:19 am
I think they just want a change from Mexican food day in and day out!
and +.
9.
Bennett | October 20, 2010 at 1:23 am
Over at the NOM blog, Pilot is again trying to wash his hands of the blood of GLBT teen suicides.
10.
Ericinsandiego | October 20, 2010 at 1:33 am
Just wondering…is it possible that they're doing this as a diversion for us and are actually doing something else somewhere else? Just a thought…..although I may be giving them too much credit for intelligence…
11.
Ed | October 20, 2010 at 1:38 am
Yes, but if u click on the "read more" button on the NOM blog, it brings u to yahoo news….read the comments there. Much more uplifting, and honest…
Ed in South Bend
12.
Em | October 20, 2010 at 1:38 am
PLEASE tell me we're following them again. It so makes my day when I get to a computer every afternoon and read all about NOM's latest embarrassment.
13.
fiona64 | October 20, 2010 at 1:47 am
Rick Santorum and Tony Perkins? Really?
Honestly, I am beginning to think these people have taken complete leave of their senses.
Love,
Fiona
14.
fiona64 | October 20, 2010 at 1:49 am
Pilate.
/nitpick
Love,
Fiona
15.
Justin | October 20, 2010 at 1:51 am
NOM and FRC lunacy aside, the fact that the slimy Brian Brown and his flock managed to get three of the justices on the ballot is actually really, really scary. I don't know what Iowa's laws are regarding its judiciary (i.e. if the governor appoints them and they're approved by the legislature or whatever), but this could set a dangerous precedent that makes the courts (in Iowa and other states) afraid to do its job. Stephen Breyer said it wonderfully: the courts exist to affirm the law when it's NOT popular to do so. That the Iowa justices are subject to a vote by the general public because a ruling bothered some people threatens the very concept of a fair and impartial judiciary. Very, very frightening indeed.
And ugh! Santorum. I'm embarrassed that my home state ever elected him to Senate! Hopefully, the same mistake won't be made this time around with that psycho Toomey, but I digress. (P.S. if you live in the Keystone State, vote Sestak!)
16.
Bill | October 20, 2010 at 1:54 am
Here's the latest big-bag-of-bullshit from Maggie Gallagher:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnis…
Looks like she's trying to wipe her conscience.
And here's a response to her drivel from New York Magazine:
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/10/national_org…
17.
Bill | October 20, 2010 at 1:56 am
Here's the latest big-bag-o-bullshit from Maggie Gallagher:
(http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/don_blame_me_for_gay_teen_suicides_l1Wt32kEJFFve2SzkjbpYP?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=)
Looks like she is trying to wipe her conscience clean.
And here's a response to her from New York Magazine:
(http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/10/national_organization_for_marr.html)
18.
Paul | October 20, 2010 at 1:58 am
Personally I think all these tours aren't really expecting results, but are to show their supporters that they are doing good things, so they will send more money.
19.
Alan E. | October 20, 2010 at 2:04 am
Justin, the judges were up automatically based on their time spent on the bench. It should also be noted that it wasn't just these 3 judges that made the marriage decision; it was every judge on the bench deciding unanimously
20.
Linda | October 20, 2010 at 2:18 am
I agree; it's just to have something to put in the appropriate slot when they're documenting their expendentures.
21.
Anonygrl | October 20, 2010 at 2:18 am
The very fact that she asks the question "Do I have blood on my hands?" means that she knows she does, and will spend the rest of the article trying to mount a case to prove herself innocent.
EVERYTHING she lists as being causes of LGBT teen suicide can be laid at her feet. Because all of it stems from prejudice, and despite any claims she makes to the contrary, that is the platform she pushes.
She asks if allowing gay marriage is the solution to all these problems? In a very real way, it is. If you take away the LEGALIZED discrimination, society's attitudes toward things change.
Maggie wants to claim that her discrimination is limited so not the only cause. Certainly, there are other causes. But "not the only cause" is not a good enough reason to absolve her. That it is a cause at all leaves her hands bloody. That she knows it leaves her BATHED in blood. That she still continues, knowing the harm she is doing, is simply evil.
22.
Justin | October 20, 2010 at 2:20 am
Thanks for clarifying, Alan. Wow, I totally freaked out. I was seriously worried about the future of our judicial process. It's a relief to know that they would have been up for vote anyway; that way, if any of them aren't retained, it can't be directly attributed to NOM (even though they'll undoubtedly give themselves full credit for it).
23.
Ann S. | October 20, 2010 at 2:38 am
If you hadn't said that, I would have.
Love,
Your friendly neighborhood agnostic
24.
adambink | October 20, 2010 at 2:40 am
Oh, absolutely.
Rick, Arisha and I were on SameSexSunday, and I made the comment that sometimes organizations do things that aren't as effective but impress people. Taking out a gigantic expensive NYTimes ad to spur action when targeted blog ads might be more effective, speaking re cost-per-action.
25.
Craig | October 20, 2010 at 2:54 am
As far as the bus tour, they have to know how ineffective it has been. But, since that's not the only purpose – changing the vote – the bus tour still fulfills them.
I am sure a big part of the agenda is for themselves: for the massive satisfaction and self-pats-on-the-back for being Out There, making Sacrifices, doing the Lord's Bidding. When you look at it from this angle, the tour is very much a success whether it sways one vote or not. This is Brian Brown filling his calling as God's Messenger, going out there on the front lines for God's Cause, being a Martyr for all that he holds so dear. (And, I deeply suspect, salving his own inner self-homophobic soul, because we all know every one of the most anti-gay fighters turns out later to have been a sad self-hating closet-case acting out their own self-loathing. But I digress.)
For fundamentalists, it is every bit as much for the EFFORT as it is for the effect. It does not matter whether Brian gets new converts to his cause: the point is that he's out there every day proving his devotion to his God and his cause, both of whom will reward him mightily for his efforts.
The bottom line is this: it's about ego. Brian's ego. Maggie's ego. While the majority of the country may never pay attention to the little bus tours, the only really important audience will: their fellow fundamentalists, who will keep getting out their checkbooks and sending money so Brian and Maggie can stoke their egos and their pocketbooks and continue to be their self-appointed Messengers of Righteousness. It does not matter whether it's a lost cause or a waste of money. The fact that they have DONE SOMETHING!!! in the anti-gay-marriage war is what counts for them, and for their ardent supporters.
26.
Ronnie | October 20, 2010 at 3:07 am
"who last year forced same-sex “marriage” on the state."
I'm sorry they forced you to get same-sex married?….NO!!!…not really….
NOM & Family Ruination Council….they state told you to STFU…mind your own god-damn business…& stop putting your repugnant, un-American, benighted, Fascist, control addicted noses into other people's personal lives…..<3…Ronnie
27.
Michael | October 20, 2010 at 3:09 am
Shrill anti-gay activist Fiorina will not win in California, so paying all those expensive lunch, dinner, snack and hotel bills was a waste of money that should have been spent on helping the poor and needy as Christ commands.
But the thing that makes the hair stand up on the neck of all these militant anti-gay activists and strident anti-gay pressure groups in Iowa is the slow, but continual, trend toward the majority of Americans supporting the idea that marriage rights should not be solely based on sleeping with the opposite sex. Drip, drip, drip, the rock is being worn away. And all the spin and dollars they can frantically pour into stopping it can't change that ultimately. We shall overcome.
28.
nightshayde | October 20, 2010 at 3:11 am
I think you're giving them too much credit for intelligence. With all the sharp minds we have around here (along with the people who can stomach the idea of subscribing to their side's e-mail feeds), I'm sure our people would find whatever activities they would be trying to hide.
29.
Juli | October 20, 2010 at 3:34 am
The judges are appointed, but then are subject to a retention vote. Generally there is no campaigning, and voters just approve their retention. I have faith in Iowa voters that after decades of caucuses, they know when they are being bought. Rural Iowa voters did not elect an anti-gay conservative to the state legislature despite a huge money dump from NOM last year. I think they will know better about this "campaign" as well.
30.
JonT | October 20, 2010 at 3:38 am
A bus with santorum on it?
Eew.
31.
Straight Ally #3008 | October 20, 2010 at 4:24 am
Is it wrong that I would really love to see those guys caught on the bus in a Ted Haggard moment? >;-D
32.
Bob Barnes | October 20, 2010 at 4:36 am
Partnering with the FRC, the very much let's make homosexuality a criminal offense bunch? Does this not cement the hate-group status for NOM?
33.
Episcopal Bear | October 20, 2010 at 4:43 am
A bus full of Santorum? Or santorum?
34.
yelocab | October 20, 2010 at 5:15 am
Funny thing: In Iowa, NOM decries "unelected judges" for overturning the law. Meanwhile, in Buffalo, NOM is asking a Federal Judge to overturn campaign law so they don't have to disclose their donors.
So, it's a horrible miscarriage of justice and the legislative process if a judge to overturns a law you like, but it's OK if a judge overturns a law you DON'T like? Hmmmm.
35.
Buffy | October 20, 2010 at 5:23 am
They always whine about "activist judges" but use those same judges any time they want something.
Likewise they love to demand one new law after another to oppress us. Meanwhile they whine about how oppressed they are any time they have to follow the laws everyone else has to follow. Laws are bad when they have to follow them, but good when we do.
They're nothing if not hypocritical to the core.
36.
AndrewPDX | October 20, 2010 at 5:45 am
Agreed. EVERYTHING she lists can be attributed to her homophobia:
Early sexual experimentation: why wait for marriage if you're not allowed to get married?
Drug abuse: life sucks and you're going to Hell anyways, so who cares?
Even being sexually abused and raped: you're not equal to a full human, so I can do what I want with you.
This is what her bigotry and inner ugliness are saying to our youth, and why we need to shout her down.
Maggie, yes, you do have blood on your hands.
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Andrew
37.
Regan DuCasse | October 20, 2010 at 5:46 am
But they ARE campaigning. They have been emphasizing that they have a right to vote, and that it's being taken away by judges and courts.
So in whatever state where either there have been ONLY marriage equality or anti marriage candidates up, that's where NOM is.
Their tour of CA directly endorsed Carly Fiorina based solely on her anti abortion, anti marriage equality stances.
And their bus had the slogan 'vote your values' all over it.
This was a POLITICAL tour, and now they have specifically targeted the justices in the only state in the middle of the country that upheld the 1st, 10th and 14th amendment to protect gay citizens.
Their charter deserves to be pulled as a charity, because this IS outright electioneering. NOM is more like a pac, and not what they say they are.
Otherwise, why WOULD they need a tour, to address strictly political issues?
38.
Sapphocrat | October 20, 2010 at 6:06 am
I think it's certainly possible, as I wouldn't put anything past these people — but I really think what's going on is that they've run out of anything productive/meaningful to do — they're (literally) spinning their wheels.
Even if successful, what could this "punish the judges" tour really accomplish? As memory serves (somebody please correct me if I'm mistaken), in order to overturn marriage in Iowa, the state legislature would have to vote to repeal it in two consecutive terms, only after which it could go to the voters (i.e., we're talking what? at least four years? six? eight? more?). What's their point in ousting these judges, especially now?
It may also be, as someone here said recently, that they feel under pressure to spend some money, in order to justify the need for an equal or higher budget next year.
May they spend themselves right into bankruptcy, soon. And may this current Hate Tour be as successful as the California "Better Courts Now" campaign (which was a resounding failure).
39.
Mackenzie | October 20, 2010 at 6:24 am
this is perf! I love these tours of theirs. It gives me some entertainment to look forward too. I so hope that we are following this tour as well. The good people of Iowa will not support this nonsense.
40.
Rhie | October 20, 2010 at 7:15 am
I agree, but just can't turn away. I have to see how this goes.
41.
Ronnie | October 20, 2010 at 7:24 am
Maggie Gallagher is the most grotesque, heartless, soulless, vile, thing on the face of the Earth……Shame on you, you Mary Tudor wannabe…..Yes you do have blood on your hands… >( ….Ronnie
42.
Bennett | October 20, 2010 at 7:33 am
I am am confused, is Maggie playing nice? Is my Pilate comment unfair? I thanked Maggie for her words about the true difficulties experienced by gay youth (not sure how sincere I was because I dont know how sincere she is. I can see some heartfelt concern as she is human after all). But I still see it as handwashing and it conveniently works to further her goal of whitewashing her agenda.
43.
Rhie | October 20, 2010 at 8:01 am
The plan is public humiliation. They want others to see this as a warning to anyone who wants to support LGBT. Support the "gay agenda" and you lose everything sort of idea. They are counting on that fear to create a backlash that encompasses all LGBT and supporters.
The really scary thing is such a plan might have worked 10-20 years ago. Now, the social tide is turning. Even supporting an anti-LGBT candidate caused a huge PR problem for Target. They said candidly that they underestimated the LGBT support in the country.
So are NOM, to their destruction, hopefully.
44.
Rhie | October 20, 2010 at 8:02 am
Santorum DOES know what his name stands for now, yes?
45.
Mark M | October 20, 2010 at 8:23 am
I don't seem to be able to find the actual tour details on the judge bus website.
We have a great many friends and relatives in Iowa (we were both born there) and would love to alert them to any stops near them.
Is there an actual list of these stops?
http://www.judgebus.com/
46.
Ginger | October 20, 2010 at 9:24 am
Has anyone read the actual text on the new bus tour website? The grammar just makes me want to cry.
In one sweeping decision unelected judges decided that it is all right to purposefully deny a child a mother and a father and that millennia of tradition and the views of a large majority of Iowans, that marriage is and always should be between one man and one woman, is irrelevant.
Millennia and views is irrelevant? Though with the number of ideas that they tried to cram into one sentence, I'm not surprised that they couldn't follow their own convoluted logic by the time they got to the end.
Nothing undermines an organization's credibility like horrible run-on sentences and subject-verb disagreement.
47.
Ann S. | October 20, 2010 at 9:26 am
Hear, hear!
48.
JonT | October 20, 2010 at 9:29 am
Yes, that and the fact that the statement: 'In one sweeping decision unelected judges decided that it is all right to purposefully deny a child a mother and a father…' is just an outright lie.
I wasn't aware that that is what the 'unelected judges' had decided. What a POS.
49.
Ann S. | October 20, 2010 at 9:30 am
Lies, distortions, and bad grammar all rolled up in one ugly package.
50.
Ronnie | October 20, 2010 at 9:33 am
The problem is that the vest majority of their sheeple don't care about grammar or sentence structure or even the articles & statements themselves..on their Facebook pages hundreds hit "like" on the article posted with in 5 seconds of it being posted….Now you know they didn't read it that quick….lol…..
But i love this part…..
"In one sweeping decision unelected judges decided that it is all right to purposefully deny a child a mother and a father "
1) Like it has been said before, Federal Judges are appointed not elected. More evidence that NOM & its sheeple FAILED Civics…..2) NOM & the like are under the delusional impression that if we can't get married in that state, or whatever, that we are just going to stop being LGBT….sorry Maggie "Shoe Flinger" honey….it doesn't work that way…nice try though…ROTFLMGAYAO.
<3…Ronnie
51.
Mark M | October 20, 2010 at 10:11 am
Where is the schedule of tour stops? I am not seeing it on the web site.
Anyone have a direct link?
52.
Rhie | October 20, 2010 at 10:58 am
LOL I know right? No one is forcing any two straight people of the same sex to get married!
53.
Rhie | October 20, 2010 at 11:00 am
Wait they are trying to criminalize "gay sex" (whatever that means since straight couples do the exact same things)? haven't they heard of Lawrence v Texas?
54.
Elizabeth Oakes | October 20, 2010 at 11:16 am
Tony: "Rick, lift that piece of luggage onto the bus for me, will you?"
55.
Elizabeth Oakes | October 20, 2010 at 11:17 am
Still, we need to get supporters out there to counter-protest and talk to media. How's the weather in Iowa these days?
56.
Elizabeth Oakes | October 20, 2010 at 11:28 am
You remind me of Burroughs and his description of "mean, bitter, evil, church-goin' women"….not you personally, Ronnie, I mean your post.
57.
Laura O. | October 20, 2010 at 11:55 am
Click on the box with the words "View the Judge Bus Stop Schedule" and it will open in a new window. They are calling them "Whistle Stops".
58.
Kauai Guy | October 20, 2010 at 1:06 pm
"What’s their point in ousting these judges, especially now?"
Retaliation… nothing more.
59.
the lone ranger | October 20, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Santorum is probably going to try to run for the Republican presidential nomination again. He's obviously not a very bright guy… getting mixed up with this hate group NOM (not that he's a shining example of tolerance anyway) isn't going to help him win the support of the vast moderate majority of the country. For the pro-equality trackers that follow this "tour", be sure to get every crazy Santorum moment on film, because they'll undoubtedly be gems come campaign season.
60.
JACK gILES | October 21, 2010 at 1:57 am
And the 2012 Presidential Campaign begins Oct. 25th, with the NOM tour of Iowa. Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum will be receiving a large campaign contribution from the National Organization "for" Marriage as they are paying for the bus tour. (albeit that supposedly the tour is a political campaign against the retetion of State Supreme Court Judges) Hopefully, it will produce additional evidence to submit to the IRS to remove NOM's tax exempt status!
61.
Alan E. | October 21, 2010 at 2:08 am
It's the Ruth Institute that was at fault, but they are a part of NOM. NOM is officially a 510 (c) 4 and Ruth Institute is a 501 (c) 3. 501 (c) 3 groups cannot put their hat into a campaign for any politician, but they can for issues. Where NOM is at fault is that they are not following the campaign laws in individual states by failing to list donors. They have been ruled against many times, but they have yet to produce a list. It's a wonder they have not been held in contempt of court.
62.
Felyx | October 21, 2010 at 8:59 am
All that money… what?
Such a phenomenal argument for transition to a near moneyless society. (Not one without cash per se, but one based on rational resource management.)
Felyx
63.
Papa Foma | October 21, 2010 at 9:56 am
I don't really think it is all that likely that any of them will be dismissed. Only if all three get dismissed would I consider giving NOM credit. (The snake in the grass that tricked Adam and (St)Eve gets credit for taking people down… that kind of credit.)
64.
Felyx | October 21, 2010 at 10:05 am
BTW, that big list of donors that they are trying to hide?
Try not to be shocked when you see LDS and the Catholic Church heavily represented (especially the KOC).
Somehow, at the thirteenth hour, they managed to meet their dollar for dollar matching goal. I can't say who gave the money obviously but there is no way in NOM… sorry, in Hell that a mass rush of donations came in overnight. It doesn't matter whether it was rigged or they are lying, it is still a waste of human dignity.
Felyx
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