Eyman’s Plea (Or is it Eyman’s Ploy?)
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.
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.