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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Politics Focus on the Family Affiliate Donates $200,000 to Reject R-71

Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 3:55 PM

The Family Policy Institute of Washington, the state affiliate of anti-gay Focus on the Family, contributed $200,000 last Thursday to a recently filed PAC campaigning to reject Referendum 71, records from the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission show. Rejecting 71 would repeal the domestic-partnership expansion law.

The PAC, called Vote Reject R-71, has already spent half its haul radio ads (you can listen here), the expenditure reports show. The commercials are playing on KIRO, KRWM, KWJZ, KMPS, KOM AM/FM, KPLZ, and KING.

But the campaign to approve R-71, which would maintain the rights of gay partners, has reported a flood of last-minute contributions. Washington Families Standing Together now reports $1,184,806 in contributions—more than $400,000 more than the group had last Friday. The donors include Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates, who each gave $25,000.

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I have heard these ads sometimes played hourly and it's infuriating. I'm just wondering when are we going to hear the ads for Approve Ref 71???

Posted by Grad on October 13, 2009 at 4:13 PM

Fun fact: The loss of $200,000 is going to affect all of those people a lot more than civil unions between gays ever would.

Posted by Zebes

on October 13, 2009 at 4:22 PM

Ballots hit mailboxes starting this Friday. The name of the game is motivating our voters to cast their ballots to APPROVE.

Please sign up to phone bank - they're happening any night of the week or you can make calls from home!

More the active type? Join the door-to-door canvass Saturday!

Check out ApproveReferendum71.org for details and sign-up.

Posted by Lurleen on October 13, 2009 at 4:30 PM

I'm pretty sure that's Bill Gates the third, as in the founder of Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, not Bill Gates Sr., who gave 25K.

Posted by charliesierra on October 13, 2009 at 4:52 PM

As a pro-family group, they should be spending that $200,000 to help out all of the parents who are out of work and having trouble buying food for their kids, or paying their rent. But apparently taking civil rights away from gay people is far more important.

Posted by very bad homo on October 13, 2009 at 5:02 PM

Call from home?? Lurleen, are you sure?? - have asked several times and told NO. Will call again.

I bought stamps today - and will give stamps to friends and then make sure it gets in the mailbox.

We must turn out Seattle. The mayors race is stagnated, Ref: 71 is the engine....feed the get out vote effort with your own personal effort. The time is now, and it is up to you.

$200,000 is a dribble state wide for the other side - hope that is all.

APPROVE REF 71 - VOTE AND GET FRIENDS TO VOTE - CARRY STAMPS

Posted by Mike Approve Anderson on October 13, 2009 at 5:33 PM

@charliesierra: why would you think that? Bill Gates Sr. is alive and well and quite active in charitable circles. He speaks up on social issues quite a bit. (I'm sure his son will also be donating, if he hasn't already).

Posted by kpt on October 13, 2009 at 5:34 PM

@7 for one thing, the PDC lists the $25,000 donor's name as Gates, William H III.

Though: a 'Gates, William' whose employ is also listed as co-chair, B&M Gates Found., but whose residence is listed as 98105 (laurelhurst) rather than 98083 (kirkland?) also donated.

Posted by samiaint on October 13, 2009 at 5:50 PM

Their ads don't make any logical sense: Vote to Reject 71 because the legislature should have only been focused on the economy this year.

WTF!!!!

So we should vote down any laws not dealing with the economy, including laws that grant basic civil rights to gays and senior citizens???

That's just odd thinking.

But guess what? It's working!

It's the excuse I got last night from a woman voting against 71 while I was phone banking.

Jeez. This is nutso! Spock would be very angry!

Oh and go phone bank if you haven't already done so.

Posted by passionate_jus on October 13, 2009 at 5:51 PM

@8 fair enough :)

Posted by kpt on October 13, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Focus on the Family really need to fuck right off and focus on their own damn families for once, instead of focusing on everyone else's.

Posted by balderdash

on October 13, 2009 at 6:51 PM

I have only heard Reject R-71 ads, WHERE are the Approve R-71 ads? Take notice WFST the other side is in this to WIN the vote, NOT to take the moral high ground. You can't do both in a fight. Choose what you're gunna do; Win the Vote or Take the moral High ground.

Posted by Sargon Bighorn on October 13, 2009 at 7:12 PM

Please read the ballot before you vote and don't take the rejects word for it. R-71 is about granting protection to THOUSANDS of Washington Families. There is nothing in the bill about public education, gay marriage, or against Christianity.

You see, The Christian Church used to preach slavery, they used to preach that women should not be treated equal, they couldn't even have voted on this subject in 1919 because the Christian Church was working hard to deny women the right to vote . The bottom line is, Christianity has a horrible track record when it comes to human rights issues. Our forefathers agreed that there should be a separation of church and state because of historical events like the Spanish Inquisition. Don't be duped by prophetic claims that the world will go to hell if you allow THOUSANDS of Washington Families equal protection under the law. It is a fairy tale. Washingtonians should know better that to buy a load of garbage like that. If you can, please donate to help keep the domestic partnership bill and VOTE TO APPROVE 71!

Posted by Capitol Guy on October 13, 2009 at 7:32 PM

What is the Approve 71 campaign doing? Phone banking is good, but all I ever hear about otherwise is fundraising. I hope they're planning some sort of saturation campaign that hits soon.

Posted by Steven Bradford

on October 13, 2009 at 8:46 PM

Even though I'm an atheist, I feel compelled to point out there is no such thing as "The Christian Church". There are christian churches though, and a great many of them were involved in the abolitionist movement, and the civil rights movement of the sixties. (I don't know about the suffrage movement, sorry.) Not so many involved in the gay rights movement, but many are supportive while others are conflicted.

Posted by Steven Bradford

on October 13, 2009 at 8:49 PM

Alright, I'm signed up to canvass on Saturday. Easy peasy.

http://fusewashington.org/page/event/det…

Posted by leek on October 13, 2009 at 9:13 PM

I did phone banking tonight. SO simple... two to three hours of you time... snacks provided (I brought a couple beers). Calling all sloggers!
http://approvereferendum71.org/volunteer…

Posted by mammal on October 13, 2009 at 9:23 PM

Steven @14 the Approve 71 tv ad campaign went on the air today. Last week Equal Rights Washington Education Fund started airing an excellent ad also. It couldn't mention the referendum because of the org's 501(c)3 tax status, but it helps educate the public on the importance of the protections afforded by domestic partnerships. I believe Approve 71 also has radio ads.

ApproveReferendum71.org

Posted by Lurleen on October 13, 2009 at 9:27 PM

I feel really proud to be a Microsoft employee in this fight. Not only am I able to give money earned through them, but my company is standing up for me and giving hugely disproportionate amounts, as is our senior leadership.

I know we all like to bash (well, make fun of our nerdom, evil empire) the microsofties in Seattle, but seriously. What other corporation is being this vocally supportive?

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Microsoft.

Posted by miradu on October 13, 2009 at 9:30 PM

The Family Policy Institute of Washington is an arm of the KKK.

Posted by tiddlewinks on October 13, 2009 at 9:38 PM

Thanks for the info Lurieen!

Posted by Steven Bradford

on October 13, 2009 at 10:01 PM

There is actually quite a history of the Mormons getting run out of their homes and lynched back in the 19th century, but that probably has more to do with their penchant for counterfeiting and thievery than anything having to do with their faith.

They don't do that anymore, of course.

But they did.

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay

on October 13, 2009 at 10:23 PM

oops, posted that in the wrong thread. That's what I get for not drinking.

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay

on October 13, 2009 at 10:24 PM

@7 The check came from Bill Gates, III. Trust me. I know..:)

Posted by quickerpickerupper on October 13, 2009 at 10:36 PM

OK, I gave $100. But I would really have rather given it to the food bank. Stupid right-wing fuckheads.

Posted by kk in seattle on October 13, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Why is the entire country oblivious to the cruelty and inhumanity of having a family's constitutionally-guaranteed EQUAL RIGHTS placed on a state ballot?

People may criticize me for aggressively wanting to self-defend and "confront" those who vote to HURT my family, but they must be oblivious to what is at stake, or the pain and suffering that result when rights are not in place.
WE WILL HAVE A PROBLEM if America continues to think that my RIGHT to see my dying partner in a hospital equates with a vote on:

Tax limits
Transportation
Estate taxes
Car tabs
Gas tax
Performance audits
Property tax limits
Transportation funding

Having my family and children's safety and security decided by a public vote is reason enough to bear arms and confront those who think they can bully and harm my family at the ballot box without serious repercussions. If the LGBT community were doing the same to their families I would expect a similar response....but guess what?

We do no harm.

We didn't start this war, but some of us WILL resort to defending ourselves, especially since government refuses to protect us while it empowers the religious bullies and haters by allowing these ballot measures.

Posted by Queer Equality Revolution

on October 13, 2009 at 11:28 PM

Call the radio stations and tell them to stop playing the reject ads because your family will be hurt if the domestic partnership law is not approved by voters. Tell them you will stop listening until they stop playing the ads.

KIRO 97.3 FM (206) 728-7777
KRWM 106.9 FM (425)373-5545
KWJZ 98.9 FM (425) 373-5536
KMPS 94.1 FM (206) 805-0941
KOMO 97.7FM 1000AM (206) 404-4000
KPLZ 101.5 FM (206) 404-4000
KING 98.1 FM (206)691-2981

Posted by Call the radio stations now on October 13, 2009 at 11:50 PM

Let us hope this bankrupts Focus on the Family - aren't they suffering from financial problems?

Posted by Theo Magyar

on October 14, 2009 at 8:19 AM

UGH. I hate Focus on the Family (or Focus on the Wallet as we liked to call them in Colorado Springs). I freaking moved away from Colorado to get away from those jackasses. Hands off my State!!!!

Posted by scharrera on October 14, 2009 at 9:33 AM