Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Maine will scrutinize anti-gay groups
The Maine campaign ethics committee voted 3 to 2 this morning to launch a formal investigation into the funding of an anti-gay ballot initiative in that state this year.
The vote rejected a recommendation, from the staff of the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, that it not investigate the campaign funding practices of the anti-gay Stand for Marriage Maine group, which is spearheading support for a ballot measure in November to overturn a newly passed law to provide same-sex couples with the same rights to marriage licenses and benefits as it does to straight couples.That staff recommendation, issued September 29, said there was not sufficient reason to believe that group, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), or any other group supporting Ballot Measure No. 1 had violated state campaign reporting laws.
California gay activist Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, requested the investigation. Karger’s group, founded just last year, studied public records to identify businesses and individuals who contributed to the anti-gay campaign in California. While doing similar work from public records in Maine, Karger told the commission he believes NOM and Stand for Marriage Maine are deliberately violating state campaign finance disclosure requirements.
Two Democrats and one Republican on the commission agreed, voting for an investigation. One Republican and one unaffiliated member, Chairman Michael Freidman of Bangor, voted against.
“I’m very pleased,” said Karger, in a phone interview following the vote. “The commission showed great courage today in agreeing to going ahead and launching an investigation.”
No spokesperson could be reached immediately following the vote for either the National Organization for Marriage or Stand for Marriage Maine.
Since when did the “right” care about lying, cheating, adultery, murder, or any of the ten commandments? They relish in them every day from the Congress on down to the lowliest right wing bible thumping ignoramous in America.
These groups love to flout the law. They are essentially money-laundering fronts for the Mormon and Roman Catholic Churches. I hope that they are fined to the fullest extent of the law, and if possible their leaders sent to jail.
From past shennanigans, these anti-gay groups have shown what underhanded tactics they’ll employ, like having voters sign sheets that have nothing to do with what they think they’re signing, to accomplish their dastardly deed. Trick, confuse, whatever, these are not honorable people who seek an honest way. How can one be honest and wish discrimination against other law abiding US citizens. So this investigation is a good thing, but I’d rather they look into using referendums to overturn civil rights laws passed by a legislature, and signed by the governor. Where are our checks and balances when legislatures are denied their work by referendum? Should taxpayers get rebates on salaries paid to representatives when the laws passed are overturned by referendum? For that matter, why pay for a legislature, if we can run our business by referendum?
The so-called “protect marriage” groups (which are actually groups to RESTRICT MARRIAGE) have deliberately engaged in rhetoric and spread misinformation that can only be classed as dishonest and desired to raise fear from people who may have honest questions. While those opposed to marriage equality have the right to make arguments to support their position, they must not be permitted to spread fear and lies to make their points as this misleads voters and upsets the democratic process. I am glad to see their actions will be investigated, but hopefully the investigation will be thorough enough to prove the dishonesty of groups such as the National Organization for Restricted Marriage or Stand for Denying Marriage Maine.
What will happen? Why nothing, as usual.
What will happen if they are found guilty of violating the law?