Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, October 27, 2009
Politics Colorado-Based Focus on the Family Dumps Money Into Rejecting R-71
Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 7:01 PM
A glossy mailer arrived at The Stranger offices with this message printed on one side: "Protect the innocence of Washington's kids. Vote to Reject Referendum 71." It says it's paid for by Focus on the Family Action, the Colorado-based conservative organization under the leadership of anti-gay James Dobson. The group has a educational nonprofit, but this is the PAC, which can donate to influence elections. Here's what the mailer says on the other side:
So what's an out-of-state organization doing campaigning—using disengenuous arguments, no less—on a measure in Washington? Focus on the Family Action hasn't registered to work on a specific ballot measure, according to the state's Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). Nor have any of the campaigns that are designated to advocate around R-71 reported a contribution from FOTFA. But, it turns out, state laws allow FOTFA to register as an independent expenditure campaign to spend money on any issue as it sees fit. The PDC records of the group—which I could only find by using an advanced search box and running a query for organizations located in "Colorado Springs"—show that between October 12 and October 20, the group spent $91,790 in Washington.
"If they already have money and they don’t have to go out and raise it and they want to spend it to share their message, there are no limits," says Lori Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission.
FOTF made it's largest expenditure in Washington on October 20—a total of $80,000 to buy radio ads (.pdf). That could make a difference in a campaign where only 50 percent of voters say they will vote to approve the measure, thereby voting to uphold the state's domestic partnership law.
Let's look at the dates: October 20 is one week after the deadline for campaigns in Washington to accept donations over $5,000. It's also one day after the Family PAC sued the state to accept donations over $5,000 and keep donation anonymous. And what is Family PAC? Its the campaigning wing of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, which is—wait for it—the Washington state affiliate of Focus on the Family.
But even though the Family PAC lawsuit was delayed yesterday, Focus on the Family Action doesn't need to wait to spend big money here. It also doesn't have to report how much money it has, where its money came from, or how much it plans to spend. "They get to spend as much as they want whenever they want. Their only requirement is that they report what they spend and report it within 24 hours," she says.
How much does the organization have? That's unclear. But to give you a sense, the annual report for Focus on the Family Action shows the group raised $10,544,226 last year.
And here's what the group believes. On the back of that mailer they sent us, the group writes that if Referendum 71 is passed, "public schools will be required to teach kids as young as kindergartners that domestic partnerships are the equivalent to marriage. ... Do you want your kids or grandkids to be taught about gay partnerships?"
So anti-gay campaigns in Washington don't need to accept large, out-of-state donations to push expensive propaganda campaigns that claim R-71 will change the curriculum of public schools. (For the record, R-71 doesn't say anything about curriculum, and even if it were rejected, two other domestic partnership bills would remain on the books, and those haven't changed curriculum.) Focus on the Family Action can spend as much as it wants from afar. It's already started. And that's perfectly legal.
do you remember that one,
Dom,
you hypocritical hysterical pussy?
Usually, 'our' side tries to tell the truth, so, in-state, out-of-state, we're not lying sacks-o-shit.
This crap is pure and utter bullshit from the most evil of them all, James Dobson and crew.
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Also, if you oppose a bill, but have nothing relevant to say about what's actually in the bill, then maybe you shouldn't oppose it. If you oppose domestic partner benefits, create mailers that at least tangentially involve domestic partner benefits.
R-71 isn't about schools, and has no mention of what schools teach. And is the religious right really implying that learning of the existence of gay marriage will somehow turn kids gay? Is that what is so scary about kids learning about gay marriage?
The many ways in which this advertisement is stupid, are simply mind blowing.
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I can't see how that would come up against any sorts of 1st Amendment issues, since you, states rights. This shit is absurd.
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They won't be remembered as martyrs losing a just cause, but rather as the stubborn, the homophobes, the lost.
The KKK thought they'd be remembered as vigilantes, bravely standing up for what others were afraid to do... how wrong they were. It will be the same with the anti-gay protesters. They'll be remembered in embarassment rather than bravery.
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Good catch B Strand.
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I don't think it costs much to fund that sort of thing.
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my good friend and I were on the same thought.
oh, god, help us to endure this last week.
And good planning will include a grand party drunk and stoner evening if we win.
or, mercy fuck if we loose.
is that good sexual stuff Dan? it beats crying all night.
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Glad to say I mailed my ballot in support of R-71, even though it cost me more than $2 and I'm not sure it will even arrive in time from West Africa and I had to endure the evil Poste women yelling at me in French, but come what may I was going to mail that ballot!
Hey chicky,
Our side tells the truth, so, in-state, out-of-state, we're not lying sacks-o-shit.
Your crap is pure and utter bullshit from the most evil of them all, Dan Savage and crew.
you're wrong.
the queers outspent the pro-Prop 8 side-
and still lost.
your money won't save you this time either...
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http://approvereferendum71.org/
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Ah, no, because that would be directly addressing the logical holes in the argument...Sorry I asked!
Interestingly, DH, I think the only way you'd know about Dominic's Adam4Adam adventures is if you'd seen him on there yourself.
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Or do they think that kids will see examples now and then—in books, in their worksheets, etc.—of two men or two women together, and not always a mommy and a daddy? If that were to happen, so what?
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ALL TEACHERS put their heart and souls (and ridiculous amounts of time and often their own money) into working effectively with this age-group; it's not just punching in - it is nurturing, love, child care, social work, and education, etc.....
But the LGBTQ teachers of America feel an extra nasty sting when we are assaulted with these sick sick ads.
If there really is a Hell (and there IS NOT!) the men who sink to this level of lies will be sucking cocks in it...well, except for Haggard. He'll be heroically muching box and pretending he likes it just like he is right now.
My guess is that there are a lot of people who are involved in Christian mythology who actually believe that load of crap (though, obviously, anyone with two brain cells to rub toghether can point out the myriad logical inconsistencies with the text itself and the way that Xtians live that text) about the homos going to Hell...and naturally a healthy percentage of them are gay...and naturally, if it were legal for some of these dudes to smoke the pole that they crave so badly (and appearantly get on the 'low down' once in a while) in an honest, open, and commited relationship, then their chances of going to Hell would be that much greater because the barrier of Man's law would not stand in the way of them damning themselves. So to all of you FotF'ers out there, all I can say is this: Honey, we are working for you just as hard as we can so that you can stuff that cock everywhere you need it. We are doing it because we love you.
So yeah, marriage bigots are basically closeted nob-gobblers.
**I used only male gender here because I assume that the little women who work on these campaigns don't do anything their sissy-boy husbands don't want them to.
You can file complaints with the FTC about the false content.
If Mormon funding on Prop 8 had been limited to what they could raise within California, the finances would have been very different...
Lemme tell you -- it's worse if we win tomorrow, if R-71 passes, because then the judiciary will say "see ya later (cock)suckers, you obviously don't need our help anymore since you have enough political clout to get civil rights for Domestic Partners." This is what the Supremes said in killing gay marriage by 5-4 in 2006.
So THEN how we supposed ta get marriage? Ask the electorate again? You shitting me?? They will never go for gay marriage, and as for any other additional civil rights for single GLBTs -- expect to raise millions and slog through the electoral process. This is what "our leaders" have us up for.
And I understand - they're the elected ones. But that doesn't make them leaders. This is America! Civil rights are civil rights. Rights that are granted by the electorate can be rescinded or compromised by the electorate. That's why the argument must be settled by the indelible constitution. Where's a leader with vision? Where's our Harvey Milk?
206-736-9688
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTy_5rKNU… part 1
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHcDu5iUO… part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjZUV0dUT… part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx4qV30Jz… part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uvsm0eCA… part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KncbRsUgm… part 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwfPH9SyV… part 8
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