Mormon front NOM kicks in $1.1 million to Yes on 1 in last two weeks

NO on 1 bascially matched (0.00 / 0)

the Yes campaign in fundraising, bringing in $1.3 million dollars over the last two weeks. Of course, this came mostly in the form of small contributions, with $64,000 coming from the National Gay/Lesbian Task Force, and another $25,000 from philanthropist Jon Stryker (fellow architect and Michigander!). Otherwise, no extraordinarily large contributions to the NO on 1 side.

So compare that to the $1.25 million donated to the Yes campaign from NOM and the Portland Diocese.

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by: Gerald Weinand @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 19:11:00 PM CDT

NO on 1's Jesse Connolly had this (4.00 / 1)

to say via a press release:

"These two filings starkly illustrate the difference between the two campaigns. The NO on 1 campaign has been fueled largely by individuals, people in Maine and across the country who believe deeply in equality. By contrast, the Question 1 campaign would scarcely exist without the deep pockets of the New Jersey-based NOM [National Organization for Marriage] which continues to hide its donor base from voters and the public.  We simply don't believe NOM can buy the votes this late in the game."

I'll remind you that the Maine Ethics Commission has decided to investigate NOM to see if it has violated Maine's political action committee laws.

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by: Gerald Weinand @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 19:28:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bigoted (0.00 / 0)

Calling NOM a "Mormon front group" plays on bigotry against a minority religion.  It is offensive and adds nothing to the debate.  Why is any contributor's religion, or lack of religion, relevant to a political debate?    

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by: Dan Billings @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 20:30:53 PM CDT

Because the Mormon Church played a more than (0.00 / 0)

significant role in the Prop 8 campaign in California last year, and are doing so again here. If the NO on one side had received 63% of its funding from any one group - you pick `em - the Yes side would be crying foul.

And yest somehow, since NOM is front for a specific religious group, we're supposed to be all nice about it?

Bullshit.

The Mormon Church/NOM has its fingerprints and money all over S4MM; NOM has refused to produce records even when required to do so by law; as I've argued before, without the early money from NOM which helped pay for the signature gathering, Question 1 would likely never have made it on the ballot.

Karen Ocamb spelled it all out in her piece special to Dirigo Blue, Swiftboating Same-Sex Marriage in Maine. Read it Dan - it's enlightening.

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by: Gerald Weinand @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 21:08:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It is legitimate to point out (0.00 / 0)

that the Yes campaign is getting so much money from one source.  It is also legitimate to raise the disclosure issue, though groups contributing to the No side have the same issue.

But bringing a particular religion into it -- particularly a religion that is a small minority in this State and nation -- is simply playing on bigotry.  It is offensive.  It is similar tactic to those who insist on always mentioning the President's middle name when referring to him.  It is true that the President's middle name is Hussien, but we all know what people are up to when they insist on mentioning it again and again.  You are doing the same thing by calling NOM a Mormon Front Group.  

You could make your legitimate points about NOM without bringing religion into it.  

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by: Dan Billings @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 21:26:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dan: I've also noted that (4.00 / 1)

the Catholic Diocese of Portland is a major contributor - why isn't that a problem? Oh - because they are not making contributions through a front group. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic organization that has contributed tens of thousands to the Yes campaign, and I've identified their religious affiliation - should I have not done that?

Likewise, the Log Cabins have contributed a small amount to the NO campaign, and I've identified them as a gay Republican group. Likewise, I've identified the Human Rights Campaign as a gay rights group, because their name doesn't imply that that is their major purpose.

A ore pertinent thing for you to wonder about is why the Mormon Church is trying to hide its contributions to S4MM and other groups throughout the U.S. trying to stop equal marriage. Why are they hiding behind NOM?

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by: Gerald Weinand @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 21:59:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I should add - and I've wrote this before (0.00 / 0)

here and elsewhere, including AMG: I really don't care how people choose to practice their faith, or if they have no faith. It's their personal choice, and I'll defend their right to practice that faith to my last breath.

I'll just fight against them attempting to force their personal faith practice on others.

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by: Gerald Weinand @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 22:04:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You are trying to have it both ways (0.00 / 0)

You complain that NOM hides it contributors and then say it is front group for the Mormon Church.  How do you know the money comes from the Mormon Church if NOM hides its contributors?  

A major theme of the pro-gay marriage campaign in California was anti-Mormon bigotry.  You are carrying forward that theme here.

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by: Dan Billings @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 at 22:08:51 PM CDT

Dan, the LDS church owns a seat on the NOM board (0.00 / 0)

When Utah Valley University President Matthew Holland left the NOM board, he was replaced by Mormon sci-fi author Orson Scott Card.

Here's what Orson has to say on the subject of marriage equality:

"How long before married people answer the dictators thus: Regardless of law, marriage has only one definition, and any government that attempts to change it is my mortal enemy. I will act to destroy that government and bring it down, so it can be replaced with a government that will respect and support marriage, and help me raise my children in a society where they will expect to marry in their turn."

Is it wrong to be concerned about folks like Orson who've apparently been driven insane by their homophobia?

Anyways, anti-Mormon bigotry was not a major theme of the Prop 8 contest.  What a ridiculous characterization.

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by: Chino Blanco @ Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 00:30:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The BDN notes NOM's influence (0.00 / 0)

in this article about how money is fueling battle over gay marriage, money given to both sides:

But $1.1 million of the $1.4 million raised by Stand for Marriage Maine in October came from a single source: the National Organization for Marriage. In fact, the Washington, D.C., organization has bankrolled more than 60 percent of the campaign to ban same-sex marriages in Maine.

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NOM's financial role in the Maine campaign will be discussed in federal court in Portland on Monday when a judge hears arguments in a complaint the group filed against the state.

Earlier this month, the Maine Ethics Commission voted 3-2 to investigate whether NOM was skirting campaign finance laws in order to avoid disclosing the identities of contributors. A complaint against NOM alleges the organization, which played a key role in overturning California's gay marriage law last November, funnels money to Stand for Marriage Maine while promising donors confidentiality.

NOM responded earlier this week by challenging the constitutionality of Maine's law requiring "ballot question committees" to file detailed campaign finance reports.

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by: Gerald Weinand @ Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 06:33:31 AM CDT