Calif. gay marriage foes want donors anonymous

[FreeState]

Source: SFGate.com

upporters of the November ballot measure that banned gay marriages in California have filed a lawsuit seeking to block their campaign finance records from public view, saying the reports have led to harassment of donors.

"No one should have to worry about getting a death threat because of the way he or she votes," said James Bopp Jr., an attorney representing two groups that supported Proposition 8, Protect Marriage.com and the National Organization for Marriage California.

"This lawsuit will protect the right of all people to help support causes they agree with, without having to worry about harassment or threats."

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Sacramento, asks the court to order the secretary of state's office to remove all donations for the proposition from its Web site. The groups announced the lawsuit Thursday.

It also asks the court to relieve the two groups and "all similarly situated persons" from having to meet the state's campaign disclosure requirements. That would include having to file a final report on Proposition 8 contributions at the end of January, as well as reports for any future campaigns the groups undertake.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/08/state/n172303S97.DTL&type=politics

[donco6]

1. Wow. What a bunch of pansy-asses.

They can dish it out, but just can't take it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Man, the rightwing really loves to have its cake and eat it, too.

Such hypocrites.

"No one should have to worry about getting a death threat because of the way he or she votes," - yeah, and no one should be allowed to influence politics, other than an actual vote, anonymously.

We The People have a right to know who and by how much are influencing our politics.

[Jamastiene]

3. HEP HEP, weer bein persekuted.

They are worse than rats.
:eyes:

[Idealism]

4. Damn those uppity gays for caring about their civil rights

:sarcasm:

[No Elephants]

20. It's not only gays who care about the rights of gays. Plenty of heteros support them.

[AndrewP]

47. I'm one of those peeps

[Idealism]

49. I put the sarcasm thingy for a reason!

lol.

[No Elephants]

57. I knew it was there for a reason, but sarcasm usually indicates only

that you do not mean what you just posted. In your case, it indicated that gays are justified in caring about their own rights. Your post did not say or imply anything about heteros caring about gay rights.

[Idealism]

65. That was why it was sarcastic

To imply that only gays cared about civil rights :)

[No Elephants]

66. We seem to be going in circles. Please see my prior response.

[JerseygirlCT]

59. The nerve. nt

[Vektor]

5. Cowards. Not unlike the KKK wearing hoods over their heads.

Ashamed of their hatefulness enough to know it's wrong and want to conceal it, but still not human enough to just stop hating, so they can be proud of who they are.

PATHETIC.

[No Elephants]

21. I think they are proud of their hatefulness, but just don't want the consequences.

[Starry Messenger]

6. James Bopp Jr. is into it up to his eyebrows.

http://www.muckety.com/James-Bopp-Jr/8539.muckety

He was a special adviser to Mitt Romney's campaign and was general counsel for Focus on the Family and the National Right to Life Committee. An "activist lawyer". I guess all that reaching out is really working, huh?

[LiberalFighter]

29. He was involved in the Florida 2000 recount too.

He was Indiana Republican state party treasurer. He is Vice Chair of RNC.

[defendandprotect]

7. Messages to Mormons and WARREN must have reached them -- !!!

[Retrograde]

8. Nothing like standing up for one's beliefs

I don't think death threats are in order for anyone, but if one feels strongly enough about an issue to support it financially one should be willing to make a public statement.

[DeSwiss]

9. What a bunch of cowards...

Not only do they want to take away liberties they have no right to deny anyone, but they want to do so anonymously. While simultaneously asking the "activist courts" to exempt them from the very public policies and process and laws, they have used to achieve the ignominy they so richly deserve with their anti-Constitutional Prop.8 crappola. Its no wonder why they fear harassment. They would too, if someone did to them what they're trying to do -- to others.

- So in addition to being bigots, they're morons as well....

K&R

[Trillo]

10. so we're to believe that not only is money speech,

but also votes?

Seems preposterous... ridiculous even. But isn't where we are today equally so?

[No Elephants]

18. Not only is money speech (e.g., economic boycotts), but money buys speech (e.g., advertising), but

we make contributors to political candidates identify themselves. This is no different.

Is this a surprise to them? Didn't they realize their names would be public if they donated? Is this the first time they ever contributed to anything political? If so, what creeps they must be. Imagine if your only political contribution was to restrict the rights of others. How shameful!

[EFerrari]

11. LOL! Cowards. n/t

[pinniped]

12. Hey, stand up for what you believe!

.

[ima_sinnic]

13. a quick Google search

reveals this a-hole's e-mail address. Be sure to let the moron know how you feel.

[radfringe]

14. if donations are considered free speech

then shouldn't we know who is "Free speeching"?

[tularetom]

15. A lawsuit should be between one man and one lawyer

All these lawsuits n behalf of groups will just lead to man on dog lawsuits.

[No Elephants]

23. You're bad. I love it.

[robinlynne]

44. !

[XemaSab]

63. Which will lead to man-on-box turtle

and that's just sick.

[BR_Parkway]

16. This is the same group who used the No on Prop 8 info to pressure

businesses to withdraw their support? Blackmailed them even - but if we use the info to boycott their businesses, then we're the intolerant ones? Get the fuck outta here and take your rank hypocrisy with you!

[No Elephants]

24. As always, there's no hypocrite like a Republicrite.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

17. The same folks who bleated 'What do you have to hide?'

When condoning warrantless wiretapping want privacy now? Get the flockowta here.

Double your standards, double your fun.

[No Elephants]

19. Bopp is bs'ing. If they are getting death threats, it not bc of their secret vote, but bc of their

contribution. The vote is secret, the contribution should NOT bd.

I would prefer my name not be out there for donating to Obama. Not bc I am ashamed of donating to him, but bc I just feel how much I gave, is nobody's business. Not of my finances should be anyone's business. However, my feelings are not the law. I don't have a choice but to be public about certain expenditures I make and neither should they.

[WVRICK13]

22. Donations Are Lobbying

and therefore subject to disclosure.

[No Elephants]

25. Do I get to "hide" my contributions to HRC, too, or, as usual, is this a one way street?

[GinaMaria]

36. I suspect it's one way and very very narrow eom

[tanyev]

26. Oh, they want to keep their donations in the closet.

If you can't stand the heat, don't donate any money.

[Blue_Tires]

27. lowlife cowards...n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

28. They feel shame and wish to hide

They have no pride in what they do. Disgusting people. Vile hypocrites. Running from the light of day.

[Jefferson23]

30. Pathetic people, they know it will weaken them, exposure usually does just that.

[mikelgb]

31. So, They want a RIGHT TO PRIVACY? HNNNM?

[Hepburn]

32. Fuck the H8 supporters!

Gee Whiz...imagine not having the balls or ovaries to stand up for what one believes?

If they cannot take the heat for financially supporting hate, then they need to STFU by keeping their money to themselves.

JMHO

[tandot]

33. Remember that gem: Calif. gay marriage ban backers target businesses:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/23/state/n145556D05.DTL&tsp=1

Calif. gay marriage ban backers target businesses

Leaders of the campaign to outlaw same-sex marriage in California are warning businesses that have given money to the state's largest gay rights group they will be publicly identified as opponents of traditional unions unless they contribute to the gay marriage ban, too.

ProtectMarriage.com, the umbrella group behind a ballot initiative that would overturn the California Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage, sent a certified letter this week asking companies to withdraw their support of Equality California, a nonprofit organization that is helping lead the campaign against Proposition 8.

"Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error," reads the letter. "Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage. ... The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published."

The letter was signed by four members of the group's executive committee: campaign chairman Ron Prentice; Edward Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference; Mark Jansson, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and Andrew Pugno, the lawyer for ProtectMarriage.com. A donation form was attached. The letter did not say where the names would be published.

----------------

So, it is totally okay to use the same list to blackmail businesses who donated to No on 8 but we are not allowed to use it to boycott those businesses who supported Prop 8?

Wow. Unf*ckingbelievable

[Hepburn]

35. Well, yeah, if one chose Jesus for his/her side...

...I guess the Bible says then it is OK to blackmail.

:sarcasm:

Can anyone get me the Biblical citation for this?

[Morning Dew]

42. good catch ! nm

[redqueen]

45. Seems par for the course really...

they want to deny for others what they claim for themselves. Pathetic but hardly surprising.

[Realityhack]

54. Nice catch. n/t

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

61. great find

:thumbsup:

[GinaMaria]

34. death threats?

possible, but I would think financial loss would be a bigger motivator here. Boycotts of businesses that supported Prop 8 and professionals who did the same. I appreciate knowing where my money goes. I like to support those who share my same values. That being said, those that opposed Prop 8 and donated money to the cause are listed as well and those that falsly claim to protect marriage can boycott businesses or professionals on that list too.

[marshall]

37. Do they think they're donating to a Presidential Library?

What is it with donors wanting to be anonymous. If they're going to cough up the money they ought to be willing to stand up and be counted.

[GinaMaria]

41. put your mouth where your money is? eom

[radfringe]

38. well, when I can go outside

well, when I can go outside, hold my partner's hand without fear of menacing e-mails, phone calls, postcards, harassment, threats, etc. then come ask me about anonymity

[originalpckelly]

39. Meanwhile gays are actually still getting harassed and killed.

SUPPORT BIGOT RIGHTS!

[JerseygirlCT]

60. Yes, please let's keep in mind who the real victims are here

Civil rights certainly take a back seat to the right to support bigoted propositions in private.

[The Doctor.]

40. ROFL!

Then watch when they turn around and claim how 'unfair' it is that their opponents are raking in more dough than they could have dreamed.

Nonetheless, it's wrong to let people with the money hide which groups they are harming or helping by influencing public policy.

[Mari333]

43. *cache* it while you can

http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/prop8/?appSession=33459050872357

[AndrewP]

46. Every one of those fuckers should be made public

[Bombero1956]

48. let me see if I have this right,

They want the court to make them anonymous bigots? If you're so proud of your bigotry then knowing your identity shouldn't bother you.

[foxfeet]

50. Scattering like cockroaches when the lights are turned on.

:nopity: And stupid cockroaches, at that.

[marshall]

51. Didn't the Rick Warren business put a damper on all this?

Boycotts and marches and protests, mostly against the Mormon church, were being reported daily. Obama choosing for his invocation Rick Warren, one of the principal bastions of Proposition 8, sort of took the wind out of those sails and I haven't heard much since. All the vitriol is directed at Rick Warren and lots of confused harrumphing at Obama.

[Zhade]

53. No. It just changed the media's reporting of the actions.

NT!

[IndianaGreen]

52. Screw the American Taleban!

This is like asking for the right to cover their faces while at a Klan rally.

[MattBaggins]

55. Well that is just too bad for them

They are not getting blowback for the votes, they are being held to account for engagement in the shaping of public policy. They have nothing to fear as voting is still, and will continue to be, a matter of secret ballot.

The act of publicly shaping policy is, and should be, a matter of public knowledge with full sunlight shining down on it.

[BrklynLiberal]

56. they want to play..but they do not want to pay....nice. Very brave of them..

[JerseygirlCT]

58. No, no one should receive death threats

Beyond that, however, if you're willing to put your money into something, you should be willing to have that known. You are making a public announcement with that check. Unpopular? Be ready for it, or don't give the money -- that simple.

I suspect the LDS church's big push for donations on this caught a great many people unaware - people who had no idea that political donations were going to be public record. Maybe they'll have learned something from the experience.

[RCinBrooklyn]

62. So, they want the law changed so that their bigotted actions will be hidden.

[DainBramaged]

64. Fuck 'em, they reap what they sow, they want to hinder equal rights, step up to the plate

take responsibility. Repukelicans, accepting responsibility is like giving to charity, they pass it off on someone else.

[CreekDog]

67. The same people that threatened to expose supporters of gay marriage?

If those same people didn't donate against gay marriage?

I don't think so.

[Elidor]

68. People in hell want ice water n/t