Aravosis v. Tobias on AmericaBlog

John Aravosis of AmericaBlog was not happy with how the Democrats handled -- or didn't handle -- the unsuccessful effort to preserve marriage equality in Maine. So the blogger wrote a post about it and ended up launching a mini war with a high-ranking gay member of Obama's party.

Aravosis's post centered on an e-mail blast he heard the Democratic National Committee sent out shortly before Tuesday's election. The missive reminded Maine Democrats to vote, but there was no mention of Question 1 or the same-sex marriage issue. Apparently, another e-mail was sent to Maine Dems urging them to contact five people in New Jersey and ask them to support Jon Corzine's reelection (Corzine lost). Among other things, Aravosis took umbrage at the Democratic Party for presenting Corzine as a priority but not marriage equality.

Then a DNC representative told Aravosis that those messages were not sent. Later, DNC treasurer Andy Tobias admitted that the messages were indeed sent, which infuriated Aravosis because he believed that the DNC rep -- who spoke off the record -- had lied to him.

Aravosis's post on the matter sparked hundreds of comments, including 11 from Tobias. While many AmericaBlog readers spoke of cutting off money to the Democrats, Tobias defended his party.

"As these comments show, you are being quite effective in turning people against support of the Democrats," Tobias wrote to Aravosis. "That, by definition, helps the Republicans. Can that serve the interest of the equality we are all working towards? Do you, too, see only a 'hair' of difference between Obama and Bush? Pelosi and Boehner? Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell? Tim Kaine and Michael Steele? Really?"

The folks at AmericaBlog were unconvinced. In a follow-up post on Friday, blogger Joe Sudbay wrote, "The DNC and the White House see the gay community as an ATM. Well, the GayTM just ran dry."