The truth can be the best defense against a smear. The truth can also be the best line of attack in a political contest. Demanding that an opponent repudiate the truth is self-defeating and foolhardy.
According to Metro Weekly ("Washington DC's GLBT Newsmagazine"), an LGBT activist on the Coakley campaign has been disseminating a report they received from a supporter:
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"Our household just got an automated call from the 'National Organization for Marriage,' with a 202 area code. The auto call features a male voice, which is clearly a recording, asking if you support marriage as being only between a man and a woman. If you say 'yes,' then the voice urges you to vote for Scott Brown as the only candidate with a proven record of supporting marriage as between a man and a woman. The call says that his opponent is a 'radical' supporter of same-sex marriage who has opposed letting the people decide and has used taxpayer dollars to support the agenda of same-sex marriage. The call ends by asking if 'we can count on you to vote for Scott Brown.' The quality of the recording is mediocre at best."
DC Agenda says the robocall smears and "attacks Coakley for her views on marriage".
Coakley supports same-sex marriage and as attorney general has been a proponent of federal recognition for married gay couples. Last year, she filed a lawsuit on behalf on the State of Massachusetts against the Defense of Marriage Act. She’s also called for the legislative repeal of DOMA.
My question: How is the truth a smear?
The report goes on to say that,
"NOM didn’t immediately respond to DC Agenda’s request to confirm whether the organization was indeed sending these calls to Massachusetts residents.
[...]
The Coakley campaign [has responded] to the robocalls, condemning NOM for the attacks and calling on Brown to repudiate them. [...] The Brown campaign hasn’t yet responded to DC Agenda’s request to comment on the issue.
Coakley campaign's statement:
“This is the usual last-minute attack by one of the biggest anti-equality organizations in the country,” said Representative Katherine Clark, Coakley Campaign Finance Committee Co-Chair. “This just reaffirms what we already knew — Scott Brown is the favorite candidate of ultra right-wing conservatives. Marriage equality has been the law of the land in Massachusetts for nearly six years, and it’s supported by a majority of voters who know first-hand that the sky hasn’t fallen just because we have marriage equality.”
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I left a comment at DCAgenda. I'll put it up here as another blogpost in just a moment.
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Footnote: DCAgenda.com is staffed by personnel from the now-defunct Washington Blade.
Return to "Race for MA Senate Seat: Conflict Over Marriage Issue."
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