maine ways

August 27, 2009 12:20 AM

Maine Ways (SLYT)
posted by Anonymous (40 comments total)

Well way-to-go Maine!
A land of equality where, gay or straight, we all pronounce it "chow-dah"
Great commercial.
Simple. Pointed. And warm-fuzzyin'.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:32 AM on August 27, 2009

* promises of love and equality void in Derry, Salem's Lot and Castle Rock. Do not approach clowns while gay married.
posted by mightygodking at 12:56 AM on August 27, 2009 [4 favorites]

Ayuh.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:58 AM on August 27, 2009

Maine is pretty awesome. I was just there for a week with my parents and my wife. Acadia National Park is 100% awesome, no doubt about it. I suggest everyone play into this ad campaign and go spend their vacation dollars there. (I assume that's the point of this ad.)
posted by creasy boy at 1:03 AM on August 27, 2009

The celebration might be delayed: There is a move to overturn the law allowing gay marriages.

Here's a bit of perspective on the fight.
posted by SteveInMaine at 3:04 AM on August 27, 2009

Yes, this is one of the soon-to-be-many tv ads for and against gay marriage that will be airing before the vote in November. It's got nothing to do with tourism. And while it's a very nice ad, I can assure you there are just as many people in Maine telling other people how to live as there are in any other state.
posted by JanetLand at 3:24 AM on August 27, 2009

Hopefully just a few less, JanetLand.

I'm very optimistic about defeating the veto referendum. The campaign team is strong, the polls look good and I think the messaging so far is spot-on.

We have a good chance to be the first state to have equal marriage passed by both houses of the legislature, signed by the governor and now affirmed by a general referendum. It would be a huge step forward for gay rights. The only thing I'm worried about is NOM and the other out-of-state groups that will be pumping a ton of money into our little state.

If you'd like to contribute to the campaign and keep ads like this on the air, here's the PAC's act blue page.
posted by Vectorcon Systems at 4:12 AM on August 27, 2009

The Johnson family from Cape Elizabeth? Of course they're tolerant-- mom and dad are probably from Massachusetts or New York anyway. Here's a shot that should replace them:

Lucien Thiebault, Madawaska: Yuht. Whatevah, bro. Fuck do I cayuh?

Jeanette Thiebault: Don't mattah long as they don't butt fuck in owah yahd.
posted by Mayor Curley at 4:23 AM on August 27, 2009 [5 favorites]

95% of those featured are from what most Mainers call "Southern" Maine. Which is absolutely crazy... I mean, you think Augusta is way the hell up there, right? That's just the northern part of Southern Maine. You have to get all the way up into Bangor & Bar Harbor before you're in Middle-Maine-proper. Forget about Northern Maine. They'll eat you in Northern Maine.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:54 AM on August 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

What's a maine way?

$20, same as in town.
posted by DU at 4:55 AM on August 27, 2009

Who's there to eat you? There's no-one up there, just moose and a few empty bottles of Moxie and coffee-flavored brandy.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:15 AM on August 27, 2009

Okay, Maine, I'll head down to Portland this weekend and spend some money, but you didn't really have to go all out and establish marriage equality and make a video about it to get me to visit.

Really, a a small ad in the local paper reading "Come to Maine, the New Fall '09 Moose T-Shirts are In!" would have been enough to get me to visit Novare Res.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:23 AM on August 27, 2009

Of course the ad focuses on Southern Maine. That's where the PEOPLE live.
posted by gcbv at 6:15 AM on August 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

They'll eat you in Northern Maine.

I mean really, it's practically New Brunswick up there*!

*without the grossly over-taxed beer or social programs

Oh, yeah and they respond to your sentences with "ayuh" instead of saying "yeah, yeah" while inhaling like they are having a coronary.
posted by Pollomacho at 6:33 AM on August 27, 2009

Of course the ad focuses on Southern Maine. That's where the PEOPLE live.

Are you saying that the bulk of the population lives in Southern Maine? Or that people from Western/Northern Maine are C.H.U.D.s? Either way, I'll agree with you-- I grew up in the Midcoast.
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:38 AM on August 27, 2009

It's a great ad. It needs more Subaru Outback to be realistic though.
posted by machaus at 6:41 AM on August 27, 2009

It needs more Subaru Outback to be realistic though.

That would be Vermont. Maine's answer to a Subaru Outback would be a rusty washing machine sitting on the front lawn.
posted by bondcliff at 6:55 AM on August 27, 2009 [3 favorites]

The silver lining to the legal challenge to Maine's equality law is that we'll get a bunch of money from special interest groups advertising on teevee, radio and print.

The ad was sort of heavy on Cape Elizabeth, which I found peculiar; otherwise a nice ad.
posted by theora55 at 7:18 AM on August 27, 2009

Mayor, 1st comment from you in a Maine thread that doesn't mention Allen's Coffee Brandy. You feelin' okay?
posted by theora55 at 7:19 AM on August 27, 2009

The only thing I'm worried about is NOM and the other out-of-state groups that will be pumping a ton of money into our little state.

Yep. For example:

Religious groups play major role in campaign to repeal Maine marriage law.

Karger Warns Maine of Money Laundering by NOM, Mormons, Dobson, & Others.

Complaint filed against NOM and Diocese of Portland for alleged election law violations

posted by ericb at 7:26 AM on August 27, 2009

Mayor, 1st comment from you in a Maine thread that doesn't mention Allen's Coffee Brandy. You feelin' okay?

I replaced my morning coffee with morning Sombreros. Feelin' awesome, sistah!
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:35 AM on August 27, 2009

I just got back from a road trip up Route 1 to Lubec, Wild Blueberry Land represent!
posted by jessamyn at 7:50 AM on August 27, 2009

Prediction: The "people's veto" will not pass. This ad makes me more certain. If ever there was a message that will resonate with even the more conservative Mainers, it's "we don't tell other people how to live." The meddlesome conservatives are not as common here as the libertarian kind.

Also, that ad totally made me go "Squee! I love my state." I just wanted to share that.
posted by rusty at 7:54 AM on August 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

I just got back from a road trip up Route 1 to Lubec, Wild Blueberry Land represent!

Really? 'Cause so did I (except we kept going). My wife only let me bring back 10 lbs. of pebbles from Jasper Beach.
posted by Pollomacho at 8:05 AM on August 27, 2009

I am also optimistic that the veto will not pass, and I am in fact glad it made it onto the ballot, because otherwise the signature gatherers could have received an extension and then it wouldn't have made it on the ballot until June 2010, so the law would have been in limbo a long time.
posted by mikepop at 8:09 AM on August 27, 2009

Damn New Englanders, getting all uppity with their "we have marriage equality" stuff. While meanwhile millions languish in perpetual states of second-class citizenship.

(I kid. It's great that Maine is being proactive and fighting against the forces of darkness. I hope the side of justice and equality and the American way Maine ways triumphs!)
posted by hippybear at 8:18 AM on August 27, 2009

Pollomacho, I hope that was poetic license. The Park Service issued a caution about visitors helping themseves to rocks to the detriment of the shore. Maine's beaches are being denuded because everyone loves them so much and wants to bring some home.
posted by pentagoet at 8:19 AM on August 27, 2009

Hooray! My parents have a farmhouse on Hog Fat Hill (which is technically in the town of Sebago) and three houses down the road is a lovely old lesbian couple who, according to Hill Gossip, have naked paintings of each other, by each other, on the walls. Now I'm having idyllic fantasies about them getting hitched and having a picnic on my parents' front lawn and paddling a "Just Married" canoe festooned with white and rainbow ribbons around Barker Pond. Don't let me down, eventual future state of mine!
posted by Mizu at 8:35 AM on August 27, 2009

Maine is my home state. I was so proud when gay marriage went through, and if I know my home state, the referendum repealing it won't pass.

Now if there only were jobs up there, I'd move back happily.
posted by zizzle at 8:36 AM on August 27, 2009

What will eat you in northern Maine? BLACK FLIES. They don't just put in a little proboscis like some wimpy little mosquito would, they cut your flesh open with their mandibles until you start bleeding, and then lick some of it up, leaving you with an open bleeding itchy wound.
posted by idiopath at 8:38 AM on August 27, 2009

Maine's beaches are being denuded because everyone loves them so much and wants to bring some home.

And god knows we don't need any nude beaches in Maine.
posted by rusty at 8:45 AM on August 27, 2009

I was exaggerating with the 10 pounds (more like three or four extra shiny rocks, though it seems for some people that wouldn't be a stretch). For those who haven't been there, there is no sand, just a mile of tumbler-grade, polished rhyolite stones. The sound of the surf alone was worth the trip!
posted by Pollomacho at 8:54 AM on August 27, 2009

The black flies are Maine's natural defense mechanism. Like white blood cells or something. Not pleasant, but it keeps the place from being overrun by Bostonians.

Anyway, go Maine. Pity the economy's still shot, though. Someday I'll figure out a way to move back there and not be unemployed...too damn hot down here.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:05 AM on August 27, 2009

Well, to represent what they call "central Maine", I live in Bangor and while there are a fair amount of bigots of all stripes here, they are in the minority. An overwhelming sense of Live and Let Live has taken over my sweet little city, and I'm so proud of Maine.

Dirigo, indeed.

That ad is brilliant, and I went "Squee! I love my state!" too, Rusty.
posted by Grlnxtdr at 9:23 AM on August 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

Also, black flies totally go for the face and eyes. It's the thoughtful little details that really make the difference.
posted by rusty at 10:11 AM on August 27, 2009

Wow, that was awesome. I don't miss living in New England (I'm from NH, but my mom's from Maine and I spent more than a few summers there), but I'm proud when stuff like that happens.
posted by lumpenprole at 10:17 AM on August 27, 2009

I just got back from a road trip up Route 1 to Lubec, Wild Blueberry Land represent!

No need to go all the way to Lubec for wild blueberries. They grow in my back yard.
posted by SteveInMaine at 10:52 AM on August 27, 2009

Cool. We'll all be over around 7, ok Steve? And we like good beer, so you should have plenty on hand.
posted by rusty at 1:31 PM on August 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'll pick up a gallon of Allens for the picnic, and some red hots.
posted by Runcible Spoon at 5:40 PM on August 27, 2009

The waitress behind a counter mid-way through the ad? That's totally Becky's Dinah (nothing Finah).
posted by mbatch at 6:05 PM on August 27, 2009