We’re generally skeptical of famous persons getting involved in causes, because all too often, they do it to generate positive branding for themselves. See: PETA ads. But Cynthia Nixon, in teaming with Tim Gill’s Fight Back NY, is the real deal. She’s personally affected by New York’s lawmakers bailing on their promise to pass gay marriage legislation. And she’s joined the one organization that’s going to use every dollar donated to forcibly remove anti-gay legislators from office.
The mission of Fight Back PAC isn’t terribly revolutionary. Activists have long held the belief that in order to effect change, you need representatives in office who will take the lead on, well, change. But with funding from Tim Gill’s Gill Action Fund, Fight Back is going after the very seats held by state senators and representatives voting against equality. Like Hiram Monserrate, for starters.
We love this spot because it is human, and it is forceful. None of this “look at our loving families and see how cute our kids are” nonsense. Now if some publicity wonks could just tie Nixon’s involvement to a certain movie’s release date in May, all would be right with the world.
AndrewW
At least Cynthia (and by extension Tim Gill) admitted that the “carrot,” lobbying didn’t work. Now, they resort to expressions of anger and revenge. This only strengthens the Monster-ette.
We would have been better off ignoring the self-destructing NY Senator. By attacking him we have resuscitated his career. Nobody thought he had a chance of winning UNTIL this campaign came along. Now, portions of the community are rallying.
Anger begets anger. The Monster’s allies will “get out the vote,” we won’t. When you shoot to kill, you always risk it backfiring.
benlayvey
This MUST be our next frontier in the fight for equality. We all know talk is now cheap and HRC [though I still have their sticker on my Lexus] is useless so EVERYONE MUST endeavor to support this initiative.
[img]http://aftermathnews.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/nazi_rad_we-build-body-and-soul.jpg[/img]
Cam
No. 1 · AndrewW said…
At least Cynthia (and by extension Tim Gill) admitted that the “carrot,” lobbying didn’t work. Now, they resort to expressions of anger and revenge. This only strengthens the Monster-ette.
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So Andrew, I’m curious. If Lobbying (i.e. being all warm and cosy with the Congressmen and Senators) didn’t work, and now you are saying that we shouldn’t target the people opposing our rights…..just what is YOUR recomendation. I see you attacking everything else, but what I don’t see is any suggestion. And lastly, targeting a Senator who is voting against you is exactly what has always been done. There is NOTHING in this ad that says that they are going to be calling them names or throwing eggs at their house. As for Anger Begeting Anger…just who gets angry? The Senators who are targeted? Well they’re already voting against us so who cares. Politicians are cowards. They will do whatever they think they need to do to get elected. If this group ends up taking out a few who are opposed to us, then the others will think twice.
Lukas P.
The ad is well done. Too long, perhaps.
I think that the bigger message here is that the pols who don’t support G/L equality are being targeted directly. I don’t know if it’ll work, but sure beats whatever we’ve been trying. Gill is a savvy guy and when he makes a move, it very often gets results.
@CAM: Hi you! Remember that AndrewW, (a.k.a. Brian a.k.a. other screen names) has a gift for being ANTI every strategy, and PRO….well, he’s not really too clear what he’s for. He has an amazing ability to Copy and Paste the same sentences over and over again, as if they constituted a coherent argument. To spot him, look for the word WIN, usually capitalized. Other greatest hits include the phrase “NOT working.” He does ask good questions though.
AndrewW
@Cam: I haven’t attacked anyone or anything. I have pointed out that Lobbying is ineffective. People are finally understanding that. Cynthia called it the “carrot.” Now, she is supporting using the “stick” or anger and revenge.
You replace this Monster by supporting the alternative, not by promoting him with attacks that will only motivate his supporters. His base is in evangelical churches – they “get out the vote.” We’re helping him do that with these attacks. If we just ignored him, we would have been better off.
@Lukas P.: It’s very simple. I’m for honest, objective accountability and finding a strategy to actually win. (Brian uses ALL CAPS).
This effort in NY confirms that lobbying is useless. Yet, as a movement, we spend 70% of our resources lobbying.
We can do better. “Angry campaigns to punish people” isn’t progress – it is simply lowering ourselves to their level. That’s not smart, or clever or even creative. It’s also dangerous. We won’t beat our opponents by imitating them.
terrwill
What needs to be done with Monster-rat is simply cull stills from the easily accessible video of him dragging his girlfriend across the lobby by the hair and post those posters all over the entire district. Simply ask would you rather have a representive who engages in this type of behaviour or one who accepts support from one of thousands of groups and invividuals who contribute to political campaigns?? They should call out each and every scumbag pastor who recently stood by this ass and ask how then can endorse a person who violates a woman physically………….
Politico NY
@terrwill: These are the same people that believe in forgiveness and make stopping homosexuality their divine calling. The more you attack one of them (persecution), the more it makes sense to them. We, the homes, are “Satan”, not a fellow Christian that made a forgivable mistake.
Cam
No. 5 · AndrewW said…
@Cam: I haven’t attacked anyone or anything. I have pointed out that Lobbying is ineffective. People are finally understanding that. Cynthia called it the “carrot.” Now, she is supporting using the “stick” or anger and revenge.
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How is it “Revenge” to hold a politician repsonsible for their votes? You have this weird New Agey Kum Baya thing going on. Politicians are ALWAYS held responsible for their votes, whether it be on Taxes, Health Care, immigration, Trade, or gay rights. All these folks are doing is pointing out that it isn’t enough to just vote for the party that claims to support gay rights, we have to make sure that the individuals got the memo.
What an odd world you live in that you think if we just send out flyers with rainbows and butterflies on them it will be more effective than spending money targeting certain politicians for removal. Where do you get your facts that doing this has never worked?
Lukas P.
@Cam</Please note the very similar aguments, vocab/ways of highlighting between AndrewW and Politico NY. He has several aliases but an identical agenda. He, laughably, rarely even replies back and forth between his monickers because they all say the same thing! P.s. hi Brian,NYC!
AndrewW
@Cam: The Monster was thrown out of office. A LGBT-support replacement was chosen and by ALL accounts it looked like an easy win for us.
Now, after the attack on someone who didn’t have a chance, he has a very real chance. The attack inspired the churches to combat the gay agenda – before the attack they would have been only marginally involved.
So, the attack campaign serves no purpose except revenge.
There is nothing “new agey” or “kumbaya” (your words) about being smart enough to not let the emotional bitch-slapping of someone cause us to lose a race.
soul_erosion
@AndrewW:I certainly think you have valid points in your arguments, however, I think no matter what candidate that Tim Gill & his organization decided to take on, you’d feel the same way and no matter what that strategy happen to entail. Those very same arguments, i.e.,”stooping to their level,”will energize their base & get out the vote,” were the same ones Gill heard in Colorado when Marilyn Musgrave was running for her 4th term. And yes, guess what? it energized her pentecostal base alright, but NOT enough!! She lost by the second largest margin of any incumbent Republican in the history of the House of Representatives. Wasn’t it you that accused Tim Gill of “grandstanding?” Nothing could be further from the truth. This creep in New York is small potatoes, but it’s still going to send a message whether or not he was destined to lose anyway. Sally Kern in Oklahoma is going to be looking over her shoulder as we pick them off, one by one. Is it the best strategy? Well, of course not! Don’t you think Tim Gill & Jared Polis & the other multi-millionaires that on our side are racking their brains everyday to come up with the very new strategies that you so desperately seek? Unfortunately, just like the rest of us, including you, they haven’t been successful in that desperate endeavor thus far. The Action Fund and Lambda Legal are the only organizations getting my donations and it may not be progress in your eyes, but the most vehement opposition to our equality no longer will get a pass, they will have to dig deeper into their coffers and by God, they’d better energize their base because we’re coming after them and until there’s something better than the stick, then that’s what they’re going to get. Will we lose some? Indeed we will. I’m not asking you to stop your diatribes, I actually believe you are right, but for now, join us and then perhaps our creativity & our intelligence will get their chance.
AndrewW
@soul_erosion: I agree with much of what you’ve said including your observation that we don’t have a winning strategy, and only a few organizations are worthy of our support.
My problem with the Monster-ette campaign is that is wasn’t necessary. This guy was thrown out of office and disgraced. He didn’t have a chance of winning. By attacking him, we’ve revitalized his campaign. The attack wasn’t necessary and in that sense it IS grandstanding.
If a bunch of smart people got together to determine whether or not this campaign is effective – at least in the Monster case – they would have concluded it was not.
We should spend money to replace anti-gay politicians by SUPPORTING alternatives, not by beating a dead horse.
Cam
No. 10 · AndrewW
@Cam: The Monster was thrown out of office. A LGBT-support replacement was chosen and by ALL accounts it looked like an easy win for us.
Now, after the attack on someone who didn’t have a chance, he has a very real chance. The attack inspired the churches to combat the gay agenda – before the attack they would have been only marginally involved.
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You have the same problem that the Democratic party has with the republicans. They are so terrified that somebody will get mad. The fact of the matter, if we want to win, we need powerful organizing efforts and money. Gill has that. I’d rather have that anyday than the “Feel Good” police on my side.
AndrewW
@Cam: “Feel Good Police?” What the Hell are you talking about?
Like a previous comment pointed out, there are many for us to attack vigorously (Musgrave in CO), but this isn’t anything like that case. Tim Gill did a fine job of replacing her by exposing her and championing her opponent. We have an endorsed candidate in NY that appeared to be an easy win – until this campaign.
“Powerful organizing efforts and money” are what we just handed the probable loser Monster-ette, by attacking him. He didn’t have a chance. You self-defined “getting mad,” gave him a chance.
We’ll see next Tuesday.
Lukas P.
Didn’t Cynthia Nixon play Eleanor Roosevelt?
@Cam: @soul_erosion: Well said, both of you. If Gill’s campaign were a one time, one person strategy I’d possibly agree with AndrewW and his alter egos, but as part of an overall strategy I think it’s smart. Gill won the battle against Musgrave and I’m neither proud nor ashamed to admit I thought he was wasting his time. I learned from that mistake. The guy is a strategic thinker — he didn’t make billions just by being right once, but by pursing an aggressive strategy, and *adapting* it when needed. The symbolism of what he’s doing speaks loud and clear to the people he’s targeting. They know — or will learn –that he and us are not going to fade away and behave like submissive victims.
Playing “nice” hasn’t been working too well for us. Playing smarter may work better.
Don’t underestimate Mr Gill.
Cam
No. 14 · AndrewW said…
@Cam: “Feel Good Police?” What the Hell are you talking about?
Like a previous comment pointed out, there are many for us to attack vigorously (Musgrave in CO), but this isn’t anything like that case. Tim Gill did a fine job of replacing her by exposing her and championing her opponent. We have an endorsed candidate in NY that appeared to be an easy win – until this campaign.
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That isn’t true, his numbers were climbing before this campaign every started. Again, you seem to prefer to cower rather than to actually politic. That is fine, and in customer service oriented businesses etc… that is good. But there has never been a political race where a candidate didn’t take the other candidate to task for their voting record or history. The way you are phrasing things it’s almost self hating..i.e. “Don’t let the voters know that the icky gays are out there or they will turn on us and stomp us into the ground because they are wonderful powerful hetros.”
AndrewW
@Lukas P.: Thank-you for referring to Tim Gill’s anger campaign as “symbolic.”
@Cam: Let the candidate that is endorsed and LGBT-friendly wage an aggressive campaign. Support that candidate.
FightBackPac has resurrected Monserrate’s political career.
Jose
I was a little disturbed throughout the video how she kept smiling, even when she was talking about being treated like a second-class citizen.
Then when she’s all “it looks like they didn’t get the message”… “I’m not okay with that, that’s why I’ve decided to fight back” I thought she was going to lift up an automatic rifle on-screen or something. 😀
Lukas P.
@Jose: A colleague of mine had the same reaction–she said that they were trying to make Ms Nixon appear “rational and thoughtful” as opposed to “angry.” She thought maybe the ad overplayed the “nice lesbian” aspect. I encouraged my colleague to post here about that, because she’s a much better writer than I am, but I doubt she will. Here’s hoping I got her words right!
Cam
No. 18 · Jose said..
I was a little disturbed throughout the video how she kept smiling, even when she was talking about being treated like a second-class citizen.
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Me too! It was like somebody told her “Don’t look like an angry lesbian, smile”
Lukas P.
“Does this purse make my arse look big?”
@Cam: Whenever I get my photo taken, they always say: “Don’t look like an angry lesbian; smile!”
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My “gay card” may get revoked for saying this, but I never really liked “Sex & The City” that much. A little too much SJP for my taste. Some major male-bashin’ going on there. And the obsession with the shoes wore thin after the 85th episode.
Cynthia Nixon’s career, post SATC, has been interesting to watch. She really is a good, versatile actor. Her coming out came as a big surprise to many str8 women I know, but I don’t think she lost many fans, and probably gained some new ones.
We talked about this on the train yesterday: it’s interesting to think about.
Who else would be good as a spokesperson for LGB rights?
Thoughts?
Used to Be Lukas
I got a message saying I’m banned from Queerty, so g’bye all!