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Thursday, April 27, 2006

Eyman’s Plea (Or is it Eyman’s Ploy?)

Posted by on April 27 at 12:49 PM

Tim Eyman prides himself on being a shrewd media manipulator, so I’m guessing there’s probably a self-serving reason for the email he fired off yesterday to every journalist he knows, an email in which he complained about how badly his campaign to repeal Washington’s gay civil rights bill is going.

In the last 43 days, Eyman reported, he was able to gather only 8,718 signatures in support of his anti-gay referendum. Meanwhile, he says, he needs to gather 112,440 signatures in the next 43 days in order for R-65 to be on the November ballot — a goal that seems like a long-shot given his progress so far.

What to think about this cry for help?

Maybe there won’t be an anti-gay referendum on the ballot after all. Or maybe Eyman’s trying to fake-out his opposition, as Ed Murray has suggested. Or maybe Eyman’s trying to use the media to scare conservatives into redoubling their lackluster signature-gathering efforts. Or maybe, just maybe, the referendum prospector is trying to squeeze a bit more income out of an investment that hasn’t generated much of a return so far:

Eyman said the campaign for the referendum has raised more than $13,000 — with most of the money coming from Eyman and co-sponsors Mike and Jack Fagan — but needed more money.

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If, indeed, he has only gathered 8,718 signatures, his email has garnered the free press attention he must be hoping for. I've seen the story picked up by at least three different media sources so far. I hope the attention doesn't work in his favor.

As an attentive Eyman watcher, it wouldn't surprise me if he's only collected 8,718 signature's thus far. But then, as an attentive Eyman watcher, I know that Tim is a pathological liar.

That said, if this is true, then I'm comfortable in saying that regardless of the free media he earns from this, he simply cannot qualify this dog for the ballot without a huge infusion of cash.

With a name like Fagan, it's a wonder to think they have an opinion on gay rights.

I didn't think about that, Burtdub, but now that you mention it, it does seem a bit suspicious to have "Mike and Jack," with a hyphenated last name no less "Fagan-but," as sponsors.

It's Eyeman - so we can be sure that whatever he's up to, it's deceptive, kaniving, and evil! I would love for one of these signature gatherers to approach me so i can give them an earful, but alas, they must have all been dispatched to sea of RED that surrounds our fair city.

The campaign's financials are public record. If they started with a mint and are down to a wad, Eyman's probably lying - they have a safe of sigs. But if their budget has always been trim, we can probably count the days 'till we pop the bubbly and have a gay old time.

But I'm not Holden my breath...

All he needs is money. His initiative has a comfortable and close to wide margin in state polling, I heard.

"Meanwhile, he says, he needs to gather 112,440 signatures in the next 43 days ..." ... or Jesus will call him home.

fill my pockets!

yeah, right, not gonna happen Eye boy.

That's the problem when you try to overturn legislation by referendum, and said referendum's target audience is MORONS. The text of this type of referendum is unavoidably convoluted and confusing, and the morons, being unable to parse it, will simply see someone trying to get signatures for something that says "gay rights" and refuse to sign.

Hoist on their own moronic petard!

Yay, if what Timmy E's saying is true.

Maybe he should try resigning? It has worked twice for the other side of this issue, thus far.

Ahhhhhh... there isn't nearly enough bigotry and hatred in Puget Sound for Eyman to get his initiative on the ballot.

Maybe he should visit Mariners slugger Carl Everett's house. He hates homosexuality, and I'm sure he knows a few people who agree with him.

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