Scott Brown's 52-47 percent victory over democratic nominee Martha Coakley spun what should have been a political formality to fill the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat into a hefty Democratic defeat and another blow to the equal marriage campaign.
The issue of same-sex marriage was used by the New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage to influence voters. The anti-gay marriage organization delivered a series of "robo" calls to Mass. residents. If they believed marriage should be between "one man and one woman," the automated system asked voters, then Scott Brown was the most viable choice for the 60th Senate seat, it prompted. As simple as that. No other issues, the legacy of Sen. Ted Kennedy, or the future of health care considered.
NOM's campaign, however, was not met without opposition. LGBT activists including advocacy group MassEquality and openly gay state Rep. Carl Sciortino campaigned for Coakley, a vocal supporter of marriage equality. But, according to Windy City Times, "this election was not close enough for the LGBT vote to make a difference."
There were so many issues at hand—Scott Brown's health care promise, Coakley's lackluster campaigning, voter perceptions that 59 isn't a majority—that NOM's influence is hard to quantify. But, what is known is the depth of NOM's pockets and the power of their nationwide anti-gay marriage campaigns—the strength of which has been difficult to counter, to say the least.
So, what about legal same-sex marriage in Mass.?
LGBT community leader Elyse Cherry of Brookline believes that, "Despite Scott Brown's victory, people here have gotten quite used to equal marriage. It's hard for me to see that changing."
This is just the beginning. Republicans and convervatives in general have become masters and taking wedge issues, preying on people’s fears and usings deception to their poltical advantage. Because of his race and his desire to permanently alter the political landscape, President Obama frightens the bejeezus out of ignorant people in this country that fear life as they’ve known it is gone. President Obama will know have to face the sobering reality that come November and the mid-term elections, he’ll be faced with a Republican Senate and the liklihood that winning a second term will be by no means guaranteed – unless the Republican nominee is Sarah Palin!
The way i see it if every one who have big positions. . huge carreers and have lead our state some where would come out no one would see gays as such a new thing. the fear wasn’t set bye those in office noe yet the ones that where in office and gay who didn’t come out. Face it the longer everyone who is gay hides in fear of losen their position the less rights we that don’t fear lose. Cut us we all bleed red.