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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Homo / News Special Rights for Bigots Watch

Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 4:10 PM

This is really getting ridiculous...

A Lynnwood-based organization that opposes the state's domestic partnership law and is working to defeat Referendum 71 has filed suit in U.S. District Court in Tacoma seeking to circumvent campaign contribution limits of $5,000 and to keep secret the names of those who make smaller donations.... The attorney for the Family Policy Institute of Washington, which filed the lawsuit through its newly formed Family PAC late Wednesday, acknowledged that there are substantial contributions in the offing that the campaign wants to accept but can't because of the limits.

So... the rules shouldn't apply when bigots want to write their bigotry into law. People who want to finance a political campaign to strip other people of their civil rights deserve a special right to anonymity. Jesus Fucking Christ, fuck these assholes.

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Comments (23) RSS

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If these guys could get all those petition signers to contribute they wouldn't be trying to circumvent the law. But they can't, so now they need the big bucks from the out-of-state haters. Pathetic, sad and revolting.

Posted by crazycatguy on October 22, 2009 at 4:19 PM

It's amazing what happens when those who wear white hoods and sheets have to face the possibility of their membership in a certain fraternal organization being exposed to the light of day ...

Posted by Will in Seattle

on October 22, 2009 at 4:23 PM

Danger - in recent years Federal Courts have not restricted money from flowing into campaigns - and Washington law seems complicated and old fashioned in the modern money machine political wars.

Politcal money = political speech seems to be the refrain.

Shit.

Remember to VOTE.

Posted by Clyde Ronson on October 22, 2009 at 4:27 PM

So now they want a special exemption to campaign contribution rules too? What the fuck is up with these people? I just...their whole schtick about gay equality being "special rights", then so flagrantly trying to get special exemptions and treatment for themselves...my head wants to explode.

And what's up with Lynnwood? First there was that Watchment on the Walls event, then the reject R-71 protest, now this group that's working out of there...was Lynnwood declared Bigot Central and I just never got the memo?

Posted by Hernandez

on October 22, 2009 at 4:35 PM

Also, the 9th Circuit (finally) released their opinion on the preliminary injunction appeal.

They held that the injunction shouldn't have been granted (and the names should be released) because the district court shouldn't have used strict scrutiny. Signing a petition is not anonymous political speech and the Public Records Act is only incidentally limits speech and the limitations further a legitimate government purpose.

Posted by "incorrect legal standard" on October 22, 2009 at 4:35 PM

Shorter Fundies: "It's not a 'special right' when we want it. It's a 'God-given right'."

Posted by COMTE

on October 22, 2009 at 4:37 PM

We better all pony up. If you want to defeat these fuckers, pay-up -- dig deep. Contribute to approve 71. If you're sitting on a wad of cash get ready to give.

Posted by Simply Me on October 22, 2009 at 4:40 PM

Hernandez, Lynnwood and above is worse than the deep south -- the homophobia and racism up there is unbelievable.

Posted by Parker on October 22, 2009 at 4:54 PM

Man, the wool really got pulled over the American people's eyes when it was decided money equaled speech. If you want to speak loudly with money, then we should be able to tell openly where the noise is coming from.

Posted by jimmy

on October 22, 2009 at 5:11 PM

Time to allow us to dissolve corporations for moral terpitude.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on October 22, 2009 at 5:27 PM

If we cannot get the names of R-71 signers so we can politely confront them, and burn their houses down in the middle of the night, can we just burn down the entirety of Lynnwood?

Posted by Special Rights For Arsonists! on October 22, 2009 at 5:57 PM

Gosh, I wonder who might want to give a large sum of money to the defeat Referendum 71 campaign?

(cough)LDS(cough)...

Posted by Ima Sean on October 22, 2009 at 6:11 PM

This same thing happened here in Cali after Prop 8 was passed. Pre-election, they were threatening everyone that if they donated money to "No on Prop 8", they would expose them for the homo-loving freaks they are. Once Prop 8, and our side went, "Ok, we're now going to expose you for the bigoted assholes you are", and released the names of their contributors, they started screaming about discrimination and a need for campaign reform. Assholes.

Posted by aeonopolis

on October 22, 2009 at 6:59 PM

@4 Hey, not everyone in Lynnwood or Snohomish County is a bigot -- unfortunately, though, the minority here tends to be the loudest.

Posted by themillertest on October 22, 2009 at 7:15 PM

#12

Not Mormons - they on the sideline in this one.

Watch for evangelicals and Catholics - national right wing money. Election is close, they are going for the win.

Sorry to tell you dears, MAKE SURE YOU FUCKING VOTE AND ALL YOUR FUCKING FRIENDS AND FUCLING FAMILY MEMBERS VOTE - YEAH, FUCKING VOTE.

Posted by Bill in Seattle on October 22, 2009 at 7:45 PM

What's really amazing is that gay lobby groups think that they are the only ones who have a right to solicit limitless campaign contributions, and that they are the only ones with a right to call on the people to take political action in a pressing issue.

When people of faith and traditional marriage people do it they have to be "ridiculous..." or "assholes")

But when some gay lobby groups openly ask routinely for financial support form wherever they can get it and instigate with persistent demands veiled as "disclosure" and make their intentions clear by phoning signers and confronting them, like Dom has done, when they openly state that they will publish the names and addresses on billboards, then its "equality" even when that "equality" not only infringes on the rights of others but causing discomfort or distress to those who become their targets.

Posted by Loveschild

on October 22, 2009 at 8:34 PM

shorter @ 16:
"Smell my finger"

Posted by pissy mcslogbot on October 22, 2009 at 9:04 PM

16: Yes, raising tons of money to take people's rights away DOES make you an asshole. How about raising money to help feed the homeless or something?

Posted by very bad homo on October 22, 2009 at 9:34 PM

@16 Your side had just as much time to raise large contributions as the good guys. You just couldn't do it because Gary Randall and Larry Stickney were pocketing all the cash. No one wants to give to wife beaters and tax evaders. Not even homophobes.

Posted by Simply Me on October 22, 2009 at 10:16 PM

"When people of faith..." - Loveschild

STOP insulting those people that are truly doing the work Jesus did. You are not a fisher of men you are hunter of witches. HOW DARE you suggest that dehumanizing another is what "people of faith" do. HOW DARE you.

Posted by Sargon Bighorn on October 23, 2009 at 1:18 AM

Sargon Bighorn,

Don't waste your breath, you can not reach an entrenched individual(s). You out live them.

Posted by kim in portland

on October 23, 2009 at 6:48 AM

21
as long as HIV or anal cancer or penile cancer don't get you first

Posted by Lifestyle Choices on October 23, 2009 at 8:16 AM

Just how large are the donations to this campaign that they must circumvent these contribution laws? It seems ridiculous to donate such a large amount of money to any campaign, much less one that takes away civil rights.

Posted by cheerio on October 23, 2009 at 9:00 AM