So I wrote the post “Don’t Do That” and reposted an email that I’d written to the organizers of a movement against the ballot measures that would overturn Washington State’s civil rights law. I got a nice note back from the main leader, saying how she was dismayed that in the media they basically cherry-picked the one little thing she said out of a ton of other stuff. (Which is just par for the course for the media, actually.)

I wrote her this email back, with more thoughts on what strategy should be used in this fight:

Thanks for the note back. Welcome to the wonderful world of the media, where the one little thing that you figured they won’t notice and that you’d rather they let go is the one thing they pick up on and will drive into the ground.

All I can do is urge you to ensure that everyone is on the same core message and no matter what, no matter WHAT, stay on it. I was reminded of a recent episode of The West Wing (sad that it’s going off the air) where John Spencer’s character, Leo McGarry, is running for VP. He’s being nagged by Kristin Chenowith’s character, Annabeth Schott, about not answering questions.

Basic advice? If you don’t accept the premise of the question, don’t even bother trying to answer it.

Stay on message, stay on message, stay on message. You can bet Eyman’s going to; the message is going to be “they don’t even want you to VOTE on it!” That’s why the reporter tubed you (and don’t forget THAT, either), because that’s the “debate”.

I know it’d be nice to re-run the “Hand Of Washington” campaign and try to keep the measures from even making the ballot, but I
think we have to be ready for the fact that the uber-right is going to be able to drag up enough signatures. Therefore, now is the time to start hitting people over and over and over again with the message that it’s not special rights; it’s basic human decency.

Heck, if I had the dough, I’d produce a series of ads featuring Gospel readings. Imagine an ad, with some choice quotes aimed at gays from your Falwells and Robertsons and that crackpot in Kansas with his whole “God hates fags” schtick… and then put up this quote: “11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (That’s Matthew 5.11-12)

Then close with the tagline: “Think Jesus would fire someone for being gay? Vote NO on Initiative blah-de-blah.”

Or perhaps:
“Tim Eyman and Ken Hutchison want to deny basic rights to someone just because that person is gay or lesbian. Two thousand years ago, Jesus said to us: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.”

“Think Jesus would refuse someone a place to live because they were gay? Vote no on Initiative blah-de-blah.”

Seriously. Clobber them where it hurts. If it gets to the ballot, their entire argument is going to be one based on two main things; first, that these are “special rights” that the “Seattle liberals” don’t want people to vote on, and that the homos are going to be coming for their children; and second,
that religious and moral imperatives demand that they treat gays like crap.

But with the vast majority of people calling themselves “Christians”, and with Jesus’ entire message being about, you know, hope and love and treating each other decently, even the people we don’t ordinarily like, it’s pretty hard to be “Christian” if you’re not acting like Christ. Hit ‘em where
they’re weakest! Sun Tzu!

I know I’m ranting a bit, which is a weakness of mine… but so be it. It’s important that this measure not be overturned, because the people of the state will be tired of the issue by the time this election is done; they won’t want to hear anything more about it for some time. So… better to be on the winning side than to have to put it off and have to wait several more years before getting the inevitable through.