Why Reed Cowan is wrong.

Earlier this week we went to a screening of 8: The Mormon Proposition at the Sundance Film festival in Park City. Overall I thought the film was well-done and it renewed my anger about this massive injustice and the pivotal role the LDS church had in bringing it about, which is what it was supposed to do.
At the screening, filmmaker Reed Cowan called for the resignation of famed bigot and Utah State Senator Chris Buttars, calling him a liar. Buttars, who was seen making a grand ass of himself in the film, claims he was decieved by Cowan and his crew wearing BYU t shirts and talking about serving LDS missions, which made him feel "pretty comfortable talking to them." Cowan shot back that he was wearing no such thing and released pictures to prove it - although he soon admitted his photographer (a BYU grad) was wearing a BYU jacket (I'm assuming the same one he had on that night).
I'm not one to jump to the defense of Chris Buttars. I think he's a standard bearer for religious bigotry and should step down, but I think in this case his rotten brain is just confused. I do not believe that Cowan and his crew were dishonest or deceptive in their interview. I also do not believe they went out of their way to disclose their intentions for the film. Several, including Cowan, are LDS or former LDS, and co-director Steven Greenstreet spoke honestly and positively about his experience as a missionary to the audience, so it's no stretch to think he would answer honestly and positively if asked about it. By standing on neutral ground, they allowed Sen. Buttars to believe what he wanted to believe about them - that they were good Mormon boys and he could candidly talk to them about how the gays are "probably the greatest threat to America".
By calling for Buttars' resignation on account of his lie, Cowan has shifted focus to a battle of who-said-what-and-what-were-they-wearing, rather than where it should be: Chris Buttars thinks it's okay to be a bigot if he's surrounded by fellow churchmembers.
I'm fully on Reed Cowan's side on this issue, but I think a more cool-handed approach to the hot-headed Buttars would serve him better.