Stop SB48's surprising failure: TVC staffer's 'wake up call' is my reason to sleep more soundly

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10/18/2011

by Jeremy Hooper

If we're being honest: I always expect the anti-LGBT opposition to meet whatever petition signature-gathering goal laid before them. With their vast church networks and ability to hyper-motivate by evoking fears pertaining to God, kids, and apple pie, I almost consider the petition drive itself a fait accompli whenever I hear of one getting the preliminary go-ahead.

So when I heard the anti-LGBT "Stop SB48" effort had failed in California, I was almost as astounded as I was overjoyed. For weeks on end, all I heard was promotion of that petition-gathering effort, with just about every single outlet in the conserva-mediasphere lending ink and/or capital to the cause. There were instructions for Californians to pass the petitions around the pews. Mega-groups like the Family Research Council nationalized the campaign, making ads for the cause. Some on that side were even positioning it as a new Prop 8, in hopes of keeping that psychological momentum going. I was sure that they would succeed at getting it on the ballot, even if to ultimately lose at referendum.

That's why I find this face-saving effort from TVC's Benjamin Lopez so comical:

Benjamin Lopez, chief legislative analyst for Traditional Values Coalition, says the figures are a "wake-up call to the liberal left."

"Here were three organizations that were facing an uphill battle from the start -- not just with money, not just with a 90-day time frame -- and they almost forced this issue to a vote," he shares.
Stop SB 48 campaign: Lessons learned [One News Now]

Their loss at this, the first, should've-been-easy-ish step was some sort of "wake up call"? Really? Because I'm quite the light sleeper with a particular sensitivity to "culture war" alarms, yet I can tell you in all honesty that this development is in no way need of a snooze button. In fact, when considering my potential to rest, this development much more like a sweet lullaby than it is jarring racket.

But then again, figures like Lopez have to say something. And besides, now that the world they've spent their adult lives cultivating is rapidly slipping through their fingers, their hands are much freer to grasp at straws.

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