By Joseph Amster

With a Nov. 3, 2009 election looming challenging the right of same-sex marriage, advocates in Maine are facing the same distortions by the opposition as Californians did during the successful campaign to pass Prop 8. 

The rhetoric on both sides of the issue is expected to heat up over the next six weeks; as a recent poll shows the election too close to call. A Research 2000/DailyKos.com poll of 600 likely Maine voters interviewed between Sept. 14-16 shows Question 1 leading by a margin of 48-46 percent. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

“These are the same old doomsday tactics that opponents of equality have been using not just in Maine, but in every state from California to Iowa to New York. They want to change the subject, to talk about anything else. But Question 1 is only about fairness and equality for Maine families,” said Jesse Connolly, campaign manager of No on 1. “We believe Maine people will see through this cynical strategy.”

As in the 2008 Yes on 8 Campaign in California, marriage equality opponents in Maine are running ads that make a series of claims, including imaginary changes in education. The No on 1 Campaign is running ads rebutting the distortions and make clear that Question 1 has nothing to do with schools, and that in Maine, decisions are made locally by parents and teachers who care about children. “Most Mainers know that marriage strengthens families, protects children and upholds traditional Maine values of fairness, equality and personal freedom,” said Connolly. “That’s what we’re talking about and that’s what Maine people are speaking out about in our ads.”

In a series of high-profile statements released by No on 1, Maine Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, former Maine Attorneys General Steve Rowe and James Tierney, House Chair of the Appropriations, Financial Affairs Committee Representative Emily Cain and others have signed a memorandum that examines and disputes the Yes on 1 Campaign’s claims regarding the so-called consequences of marriage equality.

“It’s not often that both the Speaker and I feel compelled to set the record straight, but this is one of them,” said Senate President Mitchell. Our public process around the marriage equality law was just that: open, accessible and deliberative.”

“To suggest that the very public debate on this issue, where thousands of Mainers on both sides were heard, was tainted in any way, is disrespectful — not just to our members, but more importantly, to the public who came to be heard,,” said Speaker Pingree.

“Maine people expect and deserve a campaign based on facts,” said former Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe. ”No on 1 has adhered to the type of honest, straightforward Maine-based campaign that serves the best interest of the voters as we head toward Nov. 3.”

“The Yes campaign has released two advertisements that are nothing more than an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink set of distortions,” said Connolly. “Frankly, we’re sick of these worn out prophecies of doom and cynical views of our Maine’s values. We hope this memorandum is used time and again over the next six weeks as Question 1 proponents spin out these false and misleading claims.”

For more information, go to www.protectmaineequality.com.