« Go back a post || Return to G-A-Y homepage || Haul tail to next post »
10/01/2009
Major Maine development!
WOW! By a 3-2 vote, the Maine Governmental Ethics & Election Practices has just voted to conduct an investigation into the Stand for Marriage Maine political action committee (PAC) and some of its contributors (namely the National Organization For Marriage)! [*background info here*]
It's gonna get interesting, kiddies.
*Here's the audio, in full
**UPDATE: Stand For Marriage Maine has released a predictable statement in which they try to paint Fred Karger as the leader of a "hate group." But honestly, it sounds to us (even through objective ears) like they are really spooked by this development:
"Stand for Marriage Maine is in complete compliance with Maine campaign disclosure laws. The decision today by the Maine Ethics Commission to open an inquiry based on frivolous allegations concerning the fundraising procedures of one of our allies, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), is an unfortunate abuse of power. It is yet another example of the harassment that follows supporters of traditional marriage. The split 3-2 vote overruled the independent professional recommendation of the Commission staff that an investigation was not warranted. Instead, a bare majority of Commissioners agreed with a California-based hate group that exists for the sole purpose of harassing marriage supporters that they should examine whether NOM has raised funds designated for the Question 1 campaign without disclosing the source of the funds.
"The complaint by Californians Against Hate - which is itself a hate group - is frivolous. The Commission's independent professional staff has reviewed the facts and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to launch an investigation. We are certain that the investigation will come to the same conclusion. However, the purpose of the complaint is not to lead to the truth, but to create an artificial and unwarranted political controversy in the final month of the Question 1 election. The Commission has even deferred until its meeting in November a decision of what alleged violations should even be investigated. By that time, the political damage that our opponents seek to inflict on supporters of traditional marriage will have already occurred. It is an abuse of power for the Commission to have allowed itself to be used as an instrument of politics in this fashion."
BANGOR, Maine, Oct. 1 ME-NOM-ethics-hearing [SFMM PRess Release via Earthtimes]
Your thoughts
this sounds great.
but just out of curiosity, what will happen if they're found to have done something wrong/unethical? will it have any effect on the actual vote?
Posted by: mikepgh | Oct 1, 2009 12:03:58 PM
One would hope the scandal would help... I'm always concerned though. The Ted Haggard thing in my own state back in 2006 seems to almost motivate people the wrong way. That could have been an unique situation though, with all the sex/drugs/prostitute connotations. Maybe finance violations will help our side?
Posted by: Joe P | Oct 1, 2009 5:59:49 PM
I still haven't received my copy of their Form 990. It has now been 34 days since they accepted my registered letter.
Posted by: Brian | Oct 1, 2009 6:09:00 PM
Oh wait, I mean 34 days since I sent it. They still have 15 days or so to send me the forms.
Posted by: Brian | Oct 1, 2009 6:10:14 PM
"Harassment" is when you set up shop in state after state and spend millions of dollars to corrupt state constitutions to take away the civil rights and religious liberty from law-abiding, taxpaying, gay Americans. Radical anti-gay activists are always quick to project whatever they are doing onto the opposition. The problem for them is that more and more Americans are catching on to their lies.
Posted by: Michael | Oct 1, 2009 8:41:04 PM
I love how they talk about "bare majority," "hate group," and "California" in the same sentence.
Everybody sing Freud's Projection song~
Ladies and Gentlemen it's "Cognitive Dissonance" by The Psykologysts
Posted by: Jake | Oct 2, 2009 1:03:42 AM
comments powered by Disqus
