Hello There, Mark Montini, GOP Operative

If you think WV is the only state that’s going to be hit with the anti-gay dreck, you can think again. The GOP strategery is like the borg — they keep on trying to assimilate you with their recycled attack crapola. And, as Pam at Pam’s House Blend points out, it really is recycled.

Pam dug up a nugget on the anti-gay WV video front:

BTW, WVBlue notes that this effort by WV for Marriage is run by a guy in GA named Mark Montini. Who is he, and who are his running buddies? WVBlue notes that this effort by WV for Marriage is run by a guy in GA named Mark Montini. Who is he, and who are his running buddies? Surf back in the Blend timeline to this post.

Montini is a GOP strategist and chief executive officer of CampaignSecrets.com, a firm that produced a ridiculous ad to attempts to "discredit" AARP in 2005 that suggested to org supported marriage marriage equality and opposed the Iraquagmire. There was one problem – the ad contained a wedding photo of a gay couple to portray the Homosexual Agenda. Unfortunately M. Raymen and Steven P. Hansen had no idea their image was hijacked for GOP dirty tricks and sued USANext for $25 million in damages.

I’m sure folks remember this particular gem of an ad:

Coming to a 2010 campaign cycle near you, unfortunately. And potentially paid for by folks in your local churches.

Feel the love thy neighbor. Not.

For some background on USANext, see this from Sourcewatch. And the ad controversy? This from the Portland Tribune details things pretty well.

(H/T to Julia.)

diablesseblu | Monday February 16, 2009 08:29 am 1

Golly this fella sounds sleazy. Those after-the-fact moves highlighted in the Portland paper are just so…well, Rethuglican.

Christy Hardin Smith | Monday February 16, 2009 08:37 am 2

In response to diablesseblu @ 1

Real peach of a fella, isn’t he?

demi | Monday February 16, 2009 08:39 am 3

But, but, they said they were sorry! s/
And, an OT aside. We sometimes discuss the influence of Lefty Blogs on MSM. We have MSNBC on right now and Contessa Something just remarked about Lindsay Graham’s comments yesterday. She just said “If this is an example of bi-partisanship, We’re Screwed. Somebody out there is reading FDL. /s

Peterr | Monday February 16, 2009 08:53 am 4

Unfortunately for Raymen and Hansen, in Jan 2006 Judge Reggie Walton ruled against them in their lawsuit [pdf], concluding his opinion thusly:

While the defendants’ unauthorized use of the plaintiffs’ photograph cannot be considered the pinnacle of decency and good taste, this Court cannot conclude that it violated Oregon civil law. The plaintiffs have therefore failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted for any of the four claims alleged in their complaint. Accordingly, this case must be dismissed.

When it comes to Oregon law, Walton noted

Oregon courts have conclude [sic: concluded?] that “rude, boorish, tyrannical, [and] churlish” conduct does not satisfy this standard, nor do “insults, harsh or intimidating words, or rude behavior ordinarily.” Id. (citations omitted).

Boy, that was a close one for USANext. But how does WV law read, Christy? Is rude, boorish, churlish conduct acceptable for establishing a claim of emotional distress?

Funnydiva2002 | Monday February 16, 2009 09:29 am 5

Hi, again, Christy
Thanks for staying on top of this. But…
Is the guy’s name “Montoni” or “Montini”? Post title and excerpt from PHB don’t seem to agree. (/editor hat).

funnyDiva

msmolly | Monday February 16, 2009 11:21 am 6

Christy, there seems to be a duplicate sentence (bold) in the first paragraph of the Pam’s House Blend quote:

BTW, WVBlue notes that this effort by WV for Marriage is run by a guy in GA named Mark Montini. Who is he, and who are his running buddies? WVBlue notes that this effort by WV for Marriage is run by a guy in GA named Mark Montini. Who is he, and who are his running buddies? Surf back in the Blend timeline to this post.

(/editor hat) Can’t possibly have too many editors!

AZ Matt | Monday February 16, 2009 11:24 am 7

Typical sick GOP stuff, hate 24/7.

TheOtherWA | Tuesday February 17, 2009 07:21 pm 8

The YouTube video was slammed with negative comments, so now the comments are disabled. Every comment was negative. Every one. Sweet!

My guess is this video will disappear soon.