NOM To GOP Senators: “We Pledge $2 Million to Reverse Same-Sex Marriage in New York”

[brooklynite]

Source: National Organization for Marriage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2011
Contact: Mary Beth Hutchins or Elizabeth Ray at 615-337-3710

NOM To GOP Senators: “We Pledge $2 Million to Reverse Same-Sex Marriage in New York”
“Politicians who campaign one way, and vote the other, can expect consequences come election time,” Brian Brown, president of NOM

NEW YORK – The National Organization for Marriage’s (NOM<http://www.nationformarriage.org/>) president, Brian Brown doubled his previous pledge, promising to commit "at least $2 million" in elections in 2012 to make sure Republicans understand that voting for gay marriage has consequences:

“The Republican party has torn up its contract with the voters who trusted them in order to facilitate Andrew Cuomo’s bid to be president of the U.S. Selling out your principles to get elected is wrong. Selling out your principles to get the other guy elected is just plain dumb.

Gay marriage has consequences for the next generation, for parents, and for religious people, institutions and small business owners. Politicians who campaign one way on marriage, and then vote the other, need to understand: betraying and misleading voters has consequences, too. We are not giving up, we will continue to fight to protect marriage in New York, as we are actively doing in New Hampshire and Iowa.”

NOM’s pledge to commit at least $2 million in the 2012 elections to hold politicians accountable for their vote includes independent expenditures as well as through NOM PAC New York.

Read more: http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=omL2KeN0LzH&b=5075189&ct=10885939

---

So, basically a win-win then....

[Not Me]

1. Fine, let them commit $2 Mil of their money for this

dumb move. The ship has left the dock in NY, and it ain't coming back.

Meanwhile, progressives need to focus, and finance, an all out assault on the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.
And the $2Mil that Maggie is spending trying to re-write history in NYS, is $2Mil that won't be available for the DOMA repeal stage.

[HockeyMom]

14. I was going to start a thread on DOMA

besides the issue of people traveling to states with Marriage Equality and then going back to other states where it is banned. This is why, just like what happened to the Lovings in the 50s, it will probably have to go to the Supremes to strike down all the state bans so gay marriage will be recognized across the country. Unlike NYS before this passed, many, many states (like Florida) will not recognize the legal gay marriages from other states. This was written into the state constitution 2 years ago.

The Federal Government has to recognize same sex marriage for federal benefits to kick in. Right now, unfortunately, Obama is too concerned about getting re-elected to touch this hot potato issue. That is why he tape danced around it the other night.

Someone legally married in one state, but not in another state, will just have to bring suit. I wonder if the ACLU would take this case?

[No Elephants]

73. This SCOTUS will never protect GLBT marriage, as the Loving court protected interracial marriage.

Scalia has already given us a preview of how he and his four accomplices will rule on it.

For that reason, I don't understand why anyone who supports gay marriage is trying to make a "federal case" out of it.

[buddysmellgood]

2. Sweet. Divide and conquer. I bet Rove didn't see this coming.

[LetTimmySmoke]

66. They are dividing and conquering themselves.

[Raven]

3. Gay marriage has "Implications for small business owners"????

And how, exactly, might that be? Why do we consistently allow these people to throw the shit against the wall in the hopes that it will stick?

[Turbineguy]

4. Teh Gays

are big tippers. So the story goes.

[BlueJazz]

11. I wondered about that myself....What the hell does THAT have to do with anything???

:)

[Drale]

12. Because there is no way to dispute them

because if you try they just scream louder until they pull a gun and just shoot you. You can not argue with the insane.

[totodeinhere]

21. There is no logical argument against gay marriage so all they have left is to try to make up things

like this.

[Unvanguard]

25. Because they'll be forced to treat same-sex couples who want to get married

the same way they treat all other couples who want to get married.

For NOM, this is a grave injustice because it infringes upon the right of people to discriminate against other people.

[calimary]

62. Hell, I remember when the first place my husband and I tried to rent after we got married

we were initially refused. Why? 'Cause I didn't change my name (husband's suggestion) and the rental office lady refused to accept that we might still be married. And we're (still) a straight couple. Man, if you don't fit into their narrow little mindset, they just don't want to deal with you.

[SPedigrees]

29. Bed & Breakfasts here in VT are reaping economic rewards

from our civil union law of a decade ago, and now from our marriage equality law. Small business owners have become strong advocates, and this lobby protects against any hypothetical attempts to repeal.

The wedding/honeymoon industry rakes in big bucks.

[MadMaddie]

48. Bingo! It's interesting when money is to be made for the big

industries these Repugs will do anything but when it comes to small businesses...not so much.

They do not want strong small businesses and they prove it every day.

[Auntie Bush]

64. Hi neighbor! I'm 20 min. south of you. In that little classy town starting with a D. .

[CarmanK]

30. REPUG extremists attach all their ideologies to Economics!

After all it is the way to justify their wrongful actions. According to the economic indicators: gay marriage will add millions to the NY state economy in marriages and new taxes. $ 2 million is chicken feed, so they must not be too serious about their threat to defeat the repugs who voted for the gay marriage act. I think as a matter of conscience the repugs did well. It seems that once again common sense and personal integrity is returning to a percent of the repug legislators.

[Lil Missy]

32. Because they'd have to cover same-sex spouses under insurance plans.

[No Elephants]

75. Sadlly, many mall business will probably stop providing insurance anyway.

Imagine if someone tried to use additional cost of adding a spouse to health insurance as a reason to deny African Americans or any other minority in the U.S. the right to marry?

[bluestateguy]

Yes, but not like they think

When all of these gays start planning their weddings, small businesses that are accepting of gay people will make a lot of money on the weddings accessories (limos, DJ's, dresses, suits, caterers, etc.). Business owners who hold bigoted views will get to sit on the sidelines as their competitors make all the money.

[Mz Pip]

35. The wedding industry should benefit

But the idea that people are opposed to businesses giving health insurance benefits to same sex couples is somehow an excuse for not allowing same sex marriage is appalling.

No one should be denied medical benefits for any reason.

[Chan790]

36. The assertion is...

that state legalization of gay marriage might require an employer to extend the same marital benefits to gay married couples as straight married couples and thus gay marriage is bad for small businesses that cannot afford to see a dramatic increase in benefits costs.

I think NOM and its ilk are grasping at absurd new claims to make at this point. The die is cast...generally once you get this kind of movement in a large state like NY, it tends to all roll downhill towards inevitability after that. It's over for NOM, they just don't know they're dead yet.

[demigoddess]

51. "might require an employer to extend the same marital benefits"

it has been years since I have seen any company give benefits to employees. But we have dental through hubby's company and a gay couple had the same benefits. How does it cost more for a gay couple than a hetero couple?

[Chan790]

53. It doesn't.

It costs more to cover more people. It has to do with those employers who offer benefits to married couples that were not extending those benefits to non-married gay couples who will now be getting married and thus have to be treated equally.

If the law says they have to treat both marriages equally...and it does, then a lot of employers will see the net cost of benefits increase because they're now obligated to cover more people as gay people can now marry their partners (spouses!) who would then be eligible for coverage as spouses of a covered individual where they were not eligible for coverage until now.

I may not be explaining this well and there is a doughnut hole in NOM's logic (There was nothing to keep gay couples from entering into paired arranged legal marriages with gay couples of the opposite sex to get those benefits up-to-now. In fact, I know several long-term gay couples who did just that. A&B were a committed couple of gay males. C&D were a long-term lesbian couple. A and C worked together. A married D. B married C. A, B, C and D all had health insurance through their job or that of their spouse.)

Edit: typo. A big "to do" of a typo.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

41. Yes, wedding planners are going to make a killing.

:D

[LynneSin]

44. Businesses BOOM when gay marriage/civil unions are passed

I know in Delaware everyone is planning their big weddings in 2012 (it becomes legal beginning of the year).

[Botany]

50. Look what it has done in the little Iowa town of ....

.... Decorah.

http://www.welcomeindecorah.com/?gclid=CO-4kdKH0qkCFQ7MKgodyH_3NA

[jmowreader]

55. He's right. It does.

Sales of grills large enough to cook two pigs at once are gonna skyrocket.

[yardwork]

56. Big implications for wedding planners, owners of B&Bs, clergy who marry gay couples, caterers....

Right now there is an enormous wave of money headed toward small business owners in New York state.

[No Elephants]

74. It does. Florists, reception halls, caterers, providers of formal wear, and on and on will make

more money.

Ain't love grand?

[ruggerson]

5. It's like watching a two year old screaming in frustration

except this is enjoyable.

[totodeinhere]

24. It is enjoyable but my joy is tempered by the realization that marriage rights do not yet exist in

44 states. And I don't see it happening anytime soon in red states like Idaho and Mississippi among others. That's why we need gay marriage on a national level and I disagree with Obama's assertion that the matter should be left up to the states.

[No Elephants]

76. And 30 of those 44 have constitutional amendments banning same gender marriage.

However, I'd rather leave it to the states. Congress of today does not have the spine to do the right thing and moving to a state that recognizes same gender marriage is easier than moving to a foreign nation.

[GodlessBiker]

6. Do they really think they have a hope of reversing this in the Assembly?

Go ahead. Spend the money. Weaken the Republican Party further.

[defendandprotect]

27. Sadly, the rw reversed ban on capital punishment at great expense to states .... and

RCC and Mormon Church funded the campaign against the ERA with tax

exempt dollars -- and stopped it --

Look at what the Mormons did re Prop 8 --


and overall what has happened to the right to abortion and birth control --

Roe vs Wade -- from the pro-life movement funded by white supremacist groups

and connections to religious believers willing to be violen and commit murder --

to the defunding of Planned Parenthood -- !!

Sadly -- I say, take it seriously!!


What we need to do is defund religion -- make only their church and surrounding

property and soup kitchen tax-exempt -- the rest -- land holdings, stock portfolios,

and real estate which has been on the books at old rates of appraisal should be

taxed as any othe rinvestment.


We also have the outrageous situation where we're subsidizing the "faith-based"

religious organization -- most of them belong to the RCC.

Haven't seen any figures on that lately -- but huge amounts -- and coincidentally

that subsidy came along via W who just happened to drop it in the lap of the

Vatican when they needed the money the most to pay for their pedophile lawsuits!


Up to then, Catholics were out in the street protesting the selling off of their

churches and schools!


Ugh!

[totodeinhere]

28. It's theoretically possible. If they could primary every Republican who voted for gay marriage

and defeat them with anti-gay bigots, then perhaps the law could reversed. But I would say that the chances of that happening are virtually non existent. But if they want to try, as others have already said, bring it on.

[GodlessBiker]

43. That's the Senate. The Assembly is largely dominated by NYC democrats.

[TheWraith]

45. Exactly, there is like an 80-60 margin in the Assembly in favor.

And anything, even a constitutional amendment, would have to go through the Assembly, where it would be dead on arrival.

[MsPithy]

46. But, virulent anti-gay Republicans, with all their other pernicious ideas will

be less and less palatable to the rest of the electorate.

[ruggerson]

54. not to mention a Dem Governor who would veto any repeal

It's not ever going to happen. The tide of history has swung.

[totodeinhere]

61. I agree it's not going to happen. Theoretically,

if they elected a right wing Governor next time and if anti gay politicians took control of both legislative chambers in the next election then they could repeal it. But yes with today's political climate it's not going to happen. Then we also have the possibility of an amendment to the US Constitution which would prohibit gay marriage nationwide including New York. But again, that won't happen either. If they couldn't pass that a few years ago when public opinion was much more anti-gay marriage than it is now, they certainly can't pass it now.

[No Elephants]

77. Not so fast. Remember Prop 8.

[yardwork]

80. New York doesn't have referendums like that.

[fredamae]

7. I hope they end up pledging $200,000,000---they will

not win this one like they did in CA, I'm betting.

Those who have All this money to "buy their way" need to be drained dry of every last cent.

The ads they ran Used to be frightening, but I, at least have been desensitized to their synthetic messenging..not because of the ads, but because of their actions.
Fuck them.

[totodeinhere]

8. Are they targeting GOP legislators who voted for gay marriage such as

putting up primary challenges? Or are they going to try to overturn the measure itself through the initiative process as was done in California?

I'm not sure how they get an initiative on the ballot in New York State. If it can be done independent of the legislature with signatures, watch out. The Mormons and other regressives might pour big money into the state looking for a repeat of California. I really hope that we don't have to go through that again.

On edit - Good news. Apparently they cannot get a measure on the ballot with signatures. The legislature has to do it and there is probably very little chance of that.

[customerserviceguy]

13. No initiative process in NY

So no chance of a Prop H8. However, the GOP gentlemen (yes, I'm in a charitable mood today) who voted for equality will certainly be primary targets for the Tea Party, which succeeded in sticking that horse's ass Palidino on the ballot last fall. Sure, they got shot down statewide, but they'll have an easier time in the districts where these men were from.

The best way to defeat this is to use some creative political activity. If it can be shown that tea partiers and other reich-wing church-controlled radicals cannot primary someone with courage on this issue, it might make them ultimately go the hell away. Would it be asking too very much of Democratic voters in those districts to re-register as Republican just for the next NY Senate election, and give a primary vote to those who courageously stood with us? Of course, such an individual would be free to vote for the Democratic candidate in the fall, and then re-register as a Democrat.

If the troglodytes get their way, it will not help us when we want to get marriage equality in the other states.

[Arkana]

9. Good, let 'em waste their money.

Support for marriage equality in NY is near 60%, and the number keeps going up.

They waste their money and their breath.

[Tempest]

10. 58% of New Yorkers support gay marriage

This will be money wasted.

So I'm all for them spending it.

[Lorien]

15. As my neighbor would say; "it's time for members of NOM to come out of

the closet already". Geez.

[Metta]

16. Let the games begin. Happy karma, thugs.

Just saying.

[Initech]

17. Can't we tell these bigots to go fuck themselves yet?

[BeyondGeography]

18. The problem, Mr. brown, is these Senators saw opposition to gay marriage

as a violation of their principles. Deal with that.

[onehandle]

19. Infighting-y. More of this please, GOP. nt

[idiotgardener]

20. How kind of them to include a phone number in the release

That will save me a little time.

And hopefully someone who is good at pranks will make liberal use of it.

[Unvanguard]

22. ROFLMAO.

Same-sex marriage in New York is not going anywhere.

[placton]

23. Say?

Aren't the GOOPERS always telling us to "let the states decide"? Guess that is another lie, eh?

[No Elephants]

78. Well, by "states," they mean right wing nuts. Unless the "states" decide their way, in which

case, they mean "states."

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tomm2thumbs]

33. welcome to DU!

Clever name and great first post

[Moonwalk]

38. They're pissed off because they live in terror that they won't be able to--

--maintain their bigotry. Remember, these people still believe that being gay is either a choice or a cross one has to bear, not something normal and natural as being left handed or blue-eyed. They *still* think that if you give gays rights you will encourage everyone (especially the children--their children, they fear) to engage in homosexuality, as if homosexuality was contagious. They just don't get that you can't influence someone to be gay the way you can influence them to take drugs or give up their virginity. They believe that selling a wedding cake to a gay couple is condoning something sinister, like celebrating theft, and they want, say, a Catholic baker to be able to refuse to make such a cake for gay couples. They fear that the baker won't be able to refuse if gay marriage is legal.

Actually, the baker couldn't refuse whether the marriage was legal or not. If he's selling wedding cakes to the public he can no more refuse the gay couple who wants to have one then he can the black-white couple that wants one. Or the divorced man and woman who wants one. But bigots and religious fanatics are never rational or fair minded. They want the world the way they want it.

[MadMaddie]

49. If the baker wants to refuse them let him

The Repug Free Market will take care of him. Gays spend a lot of money and his competitors will eat him out of business. I want these principles used to destroy these bigots.

[glowing]

68. BTW, that baker knows he won't throw away money. If they want to sell

wedding cakes, they don't care what the names on the top say. Those cakes are soooo expensive.

[Kurska]

31. Losing battle, even if they get the state senate back a repeal will never pass the assembly.

Especially not to a veto proof margin it would require.

[fantomas]

34. I pledge 2 million to reverse Newt's 3rd marriage

That serial fornicator is doing more to destroy in the institution of marriage than gays ever have.

[idiotgardener]

42. No, reverse his 1st divorce!

[SoapBox]

37. As Spock would say..."Specify"

"Gay marriage has consequences for the next generation, for parents, and for religious people, institutions and small business owners."

Dear NOMnuts:

Specify. Exactly.

HOW are two men or two women, getting married...and then just struggling to make ends meet, pay their taxes, mow their lawn, etc....going to create such horrific consequences for YOU?

Answer that!

Such a load of horse-shit that you try and peddle on America. You are SO full of Hate and Anger...go take it out on your own "lifestyle".

[No Elephants]

79. As if no one in the next generation will be gay. Teen suicides by gays have a big effect on

parents, too. And, if religious people cannot understand they are helping cause those suicides, they are, as my father used to say, "too dumb to live."

[smirkymonkey]

81. Correct. There is no logical argument. Straight people (and I am

straight and single) have done more to make a mockery of the "sacrament" of marraige and the family than gay people ever have.

[Renew Deal]

39. Yes, marriage has consequences

The next generation won't know the bigotry of the last.
Parents can see their children grow up to have a real family.
Religious people supported this bill and will continue to be supportive.
Institutions and small businesses will enjoy the new business.

The National Organization for Marriage is a haven of bigots.

[roody]

40. Someone has money.

[yardwork]

57. NOM is funded by the Catholic Church.

[NYC Liberal]

47. A whole organization dedicated to stopping people from marrying.

:wtf:

I don't know about anyone else here, but are there not better causes to fight for?! At least the anti-choicers believe they are trying to stop murder. These nuts want to stop something that has no effect on anyone but the two people involved.

[benld74]

52. NOM Contact info below

Contact Information
National Organization for Marriage
2029 K Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006

Toll-Free: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Contact us using our online form.

[fantomas]

58. Their sister organization is NOAM

National Org against Mollusks. The eating of non-finned fish is also an abomination according to Leviticus !!

http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/

[bemildred]

59. Win-win indeed.

:popcorn:

When you get them searching for scapegoats and pissing money away in futile enterprises, you've fundamentally won.

[and-justice-for-all]

60. " fight to protect marriage in New York..."

by trying to keep it exclusive? The liberty to marry who one chooses has no effect onthers, it simple is no ones damn business who some one marries. People get married everyday and I could careless.

NOM needs a lesson in 'mind-your-own-fucking-business', their concerns are insignificant and lack proof to support them.

[Politicub]

63. NOM is nuts

Of all of the things to worry about in the world, they chose to put their money towards fighting love.

What a waste. They may as well throw their money in a hole, douse it in gasoline and throw in a match. Hate will eventually lose.

[NYC_SKP]

65. NOM? What is that, National Organization of Morans?

Madmen?

Motherfuckers?

:shrug:

[COLGATE4]

67. Sorry, assholes. That ship has sailed.

[Capn Sunshine]

69. Sorry boys, there's already an agreement in place with WAY deeper pockets than yours.

Major donors to the republican party were contacted regarding this by Cuomo's office last week. These are Hedge Fund managers , worth hundreds of billions each.

In the 35th-floor conference room of a Manhattan high-rise, two of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s most trusted advisers held a secret meeting a few weeks ago with a group of super-rich Republican donors. Over tuna and turkey sandwiches, the advisers explained that New York’s Democratic governor was determined to legalize same-sex marriage and would deliver every possible Senate vote from his own party…the donors in the room — the billionaire Paul Singer, whose son is gay, joined by the hedge fund managers Cliff Asness and Daniel Loeb — had the influence and the money to insulate nervous senators from conservative backlash if they supported the marriage measure. And they were inclined to see the issue as one of personal freedom, consistent with their more libertarian views.

Within days, the wealthy Republicans sent back word: They were on board. Each of them cut six-figure checks to the lobbying campaign that eventually totaled more than $1 million. Steve Cohen, the No. 2 in Mr. Cuomo’s office and a participant in the meeting, began to see a path to victory, telling a colleague, “This might actually happen.”

source

[pnwmom]

70. One of my friends has already received several calls from them,

asking for money.

And if my friend is typical of the names on their list, they're not going to get very far. She's as progressive as they come.

[ButterflyBlood]

71. Go ahead and piss $2 million down the drain

It won't mean shit as long as Cuomo is Governor. Not that repeal would be possible otherwise.

[No Elephants]

72. Marriage seems to be more protected in Massachusetts than in many red states.

Our divorce rates are lower than those of many red states, anyway. Seems like a valid indicium.