Stand For Marriage Maine

Religious Right Preparing to Fight For Repeal of Gay Marriage in New Hampshire

Submitted by Brian Tashman on Tuesday, 1/4/2011 6:00 pm

While New Hampshire’s Democratic Governor John Lynch survived his reelection race despite a barrage of attack ads from anti-equality groups like the National Organization for Marriage, Republicans won veto-proof majorities in both the State House and Senate. As a result, Religious Right groups such as the Family Research Council have committed to do “whatever it takes” to repeal New Hampshire’s law legalizing gay marriage, which passed in 2009 and went into effect last year. In 2009, Religious Right groups succeeded in overturning a Maine law legalizing gay marriage that was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor by flooding the state with anti-gay activists and misleading ads, and now they have set their sights on New Hampshire. While the Republican majorities in both chambers have the votes to pass a repeal bill, it will require 2/3 majorities to override the governor’s veto. The Concord Monitor reports on how organizations are gearing-up for a major battle over the future of marriage equality in the Granite State:

The lead organizations in the fight are likely to be Cornerstone Action and New Hampshire Freedom to Marry. Cornerstone is affiliated with a national organization - CitizenLink (formerly Focus on the Family) - which could support state efforts. But both sides are also attracting attention from other groups.

On the side of repealing gay marriage, the National Organization for Marriage spent nearly $1.5 million on campaign ads against Lynch. The day after the November election, National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown said in a press release that the organization is "poised to start taking back territory where (gay marriage) was wrongly enacted in places like New Hampshire and Iowa. That will be the next battleground, and we are confident of victory."

Brown said last week that the organization will continue to work closely with Cornerstone "to make sure that the wrong of forcing same-sex marriage on New Hampshire is corrected."

The Family Research Council also has a presence in New Hampshire, which it plans to continue. It contributed the legal maximum donation of $5,000 to Cornerstone's PAC during the elections. Tom McClusky, senior vice president of the group's policy wing, said the group has invested in making New Hampshire's Legislature more friendly to traditional marriage. "We don't want to see that go to waste," McClusky said.

…

How much money and effort will be poured into the New Hampshire campaign depends on what type of bill is ultimately proposed. In Maine, which held a statewide referendum that ultimately vetoed the state's gay marriage bill, local and national activists spent more than $6 million to sway public opinion.

The anti gay marriage group there, Stand for Marriage Maine, was led by a local pastor, Bob Emrich, and representatives from the Catholic Diocese in Maine and the National Organization for Marriage. It spent between $2 million and $3 million. The group hired the same public relations firm that worked on a California referendum and got help from the Family Research Council and Family Watch International. Emrich said the National Organization for Marriage was the largest financial contributor, donating around $1.5 million that helped with TV and radio ads, staff, mailings and public relations. The Family Research Council organized rallies and helped with communications and training activists.

…

For now, there are at least two proposed repeal bills in the Legislature and one constitutional amendment. Only the constitutional amendment has the potential to go on a statewide ballot, but not until 2012. Rep. David Bates, a Windham Republican who proposed two of the bills, said he anticipates moving forward with a repeal bill this session but perhaps not pursuing the constitutional amendment until 2012. A constitutional amendment would require a majority vote of 60 percent in the House and Senate, and a two-thirds' majority of the state's voters. The governor would not have a role.

Bates said it may not make sense to go ahead with a constitutional amendment this year, when it would not appear until 2012, and the goal of repealing gay marriage could be accomplished sooner by a law change. "This legislation is intended to restore the marriage law, to put it back where we were four years ago," Bates said.

Three Degrees of Separation: LaBarbera, Gallagher, and Stand for Marriage Maine

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 10/29/2009 10:47 am

Yesterday, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, Brian Camenker of Mass Resistance, and Paul Madore from the Maine Grassroots Coalition hosted a press conference in Maine designed to "expose the hidden aspects of the radical homosexual agenda" at work in the state.

Since their message did not correspond with Stand for Marriage Maine's efforts to appear tolerant, the group quickly denounced the press conference and those involved:

Opponents of same-sex marriage on Wednesday warned that “radical homosexual” groups concealing their true agendas were behind efforts to keep Maine’s gay marriage law on the books.

Those charges were denounced as “hate-filled speech” by the campaign defending gay marriage in Maine, however. And leaders from Stand for Marriage Maine, the organization behind the Nov. 3 ballot initiative to overturn Maine’s same-sex marriage law, quickly distanced themselves from the event.

“We disavow anything said today as being in any way connected to the Stand for Marriage Maine campaign,” said spokesman Scott Fish. “Whatever was said today was simply the words of the people speaking at the press conference.”

In a wide-ranging media event in the State House, three representatives from the Maine Grassroots Coalition, Americans for Truth About Homosexuality and Mass Resistance charged that “extreme groups” with agendas far outside the mainstream were supporting the No on 1 campaign. A small group of supporters also attended the event.

Speakers suggested that enactment of Maine’s gay marriage law will lead to “homosexual indoctrination” in schools as part of a bigger agenda that threatens families and society.

Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth, described the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force — one of the nation’s most active gay rights groups — as having “one of the most radical sexual agendas ever conceived.” He also sought to link the group to efforts to legalize public sex and prostitution, claiming this is part of a larger agenda.

“Very clearly there is already a very aggressive agenda in the schools,” said LaBarbera when discussing a news report of a teacher answering a student’s question about her relationship with her partner. “Homosexual so-called marriage only fuels that agenda. It institutionalizes it so that there can be no difference in how this aber-rant form of ‘marriage’ is compared to the real thing.”

Interesting, because on Tuesday LaBarbera was on Janet Porter's radio program along with Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage.  

NOM is Stand for Marriage Maine's largest donor and has "bankrolled more than 60 percent of the campaign to ban same-sex marriages in Maine," so why is Stand for Marriage Maine so eager to distance itself from LaBarbera and his associates even though Gallagher is appearing with him on right-wing radio programs? 

Focus on the Family Pumps Neary $100 K into Maine

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Wednesday, 10/21/2009 8:43 am

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that Focus on the Family has donated nearly $100,000 to fight marriage equality in Maine, while the Roman Catholic Diocese has pumped in nearly $390,000:

Last year, Focus on the Family donated nearly $450,000 to support a California proposition outlawing gay marriage. This year, the Colorado Springs-based organization is setting its sights on Maine, but the outlay is a lot smaller — both because Maine is a lot smaller, and because of the economy.

As of Sept. 30, Focus had donated $98,500 to Stand for Marriage Maine, a coalition supporting an initiative on the Nov. 3 ballot to overturn the state Legislature’s legalization of gay marriage. Efforts began in May to collect signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Jenny Tyree, marriage analyst for Focus Action, the political arm of the Colorado Springs family group, said the creation of the measure shows that people, not politicians, should decide the parameters of marriage.

“Marriage is the safest in the hands of the people,” Tyree said. “Politicians are swayed by a lot of things.”

...

The leading donor to Stand for Marriage Maine is the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, which has given nearly $390,000, Maine records show.

Update: David Hart double checked the numbers and puts FOF's contributions at $83,584.

Right Wing Round-Up

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Friday, 10/16/2009 5:26 pm

Right Wing Round-Up

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 10/15/2009 5:29 pm
  • Media Matters: Fox trumpets CAIR conspiracy theory charges made by author with anti-Islam history.

  • TPM: RNC Web Site Pays Tribute To Ronaldus Magnus. (See also "Meet The Writer Steele Used To Buff Party's Image.)

  • Steve Benen: Shadegg's "Soviet-Style" Stupidity.

  • Why does every endorsement in which Mike Huckabee is involved seem to carry a massive price tag?

  • Orly Taitz is not happy with the $20,000 fine she is facing.

  • SF Appeal: Stand For Marriage Maine complains that the opposition to the marriage ban now on the ballot in Maine comes from "mostly from the gay activist political elite from all corners of the nation, including Hollywood, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts" but the group displays a different attitude when it comes to sending its money out of state.

Right Wing Round-Up

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Monday, 10/5/2009 5:38 pm
  • David Weigel: National Organization for Marriage Chairman Takes On Kevin Jennings.

  • The New Republic: The never-ending lunacy of Betsy McCaughey.

  • Why do right-wingers hate America?

  • Texas Freedom Network: Could the Republican Party of Texas move even farther to the extreme right? Apparently, yes.

  • Why is Stand For Marriage Maine linking marriage equality to an increase in AIDS infections?

  • Why is Mike Huckabee using his position with Fox News to bolster his PAC?

Is This What The Right Is Buying With All Its Maine Money?

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Tuesday, 9/15/2009 10:14 am

Outside right-wing interest groups have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Stand for Marriage Maine's campaign which have accounted for more than 99% of all its donations.

So what is Stand for Marrige Maine doing with all that money? I have no idea, but they certainly don't appear to be spending it on ads, judging by this truly awful frist attempt:

Good As You has more on the "substance" of the ad's claims.

Maine: Religious Right Barring the Media From Their Anti-Marriage Rally

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Thursday, 9/10/2009 12:04 pm

The other day, Jeremy at Good As You noticed that Religious Right groups organizing behind the anti-marriage equality effort in Maine were suddenly distancing themselves from Mike Heath of the Maine Family Policy Council.

I assumed these groups were trying to avoid being seen in public with Heath because of the rabidly anti-gay insanity he's been spreading recently.  But, as it turns out, these groups just trying to avoid being seen in public period:

The Stand for Marriage Rally is being organized by Focus on the Family, The Maine Jeremiah Project, Family Research Council and Stand for Marriage Maine, which includes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

Bishop Richard Malone is expected to address the crowd, along with religious leaders from Maryland and California.

James Dobson of Focus on the Family will provide a video message, [Rev. Bob Emrich] said.

The event is free, but tickets are required. Emrich said members of the media will not be allowed inside the event.

The most recent campaign finance reports from Main showed that of the money raised by the Religious Right groups fighting marriage equality in the state, the amount that came from actual residents of Maine constituted a mere .1%, whereas the amount donated by national Religious Right groups like the National Organization for Marriage and Focus on the Family made up the other 99.9%.

These groups sure do seem to be dumping a lot of time, money, and effort into this campaign while simultaneously trying to keep the people of Maine in the dark about it.

Catholic Church Steps Up Anti-Marriage Effort in Maine

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on Tuesday, 9/8/2009 10:37 am

From the Associated Press:

The Catholic church in Maine is stepping up its effort to defeat a gay marriage law in November.

The WBLZ News Center reports that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is asking its parishes to take a special second collection next weekend to help pay for a campaign to use a statewide referendum to reverse a gay marriage law passed by the state Legislature.

Money raised in the effort will go to Stand for Marriage Maine, which is leading the effort to repeal the law allowing same-sex marriage.

Stand for Marriage also is planning a rally next Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

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Stand For Marriage Maine Posts Archive

Religious Right Preparing to Fight For Repeal of Gay Marriage in New Hampshire
SUBMITTED BY: Brian Tashman, Tuesday 01/04/2011, 6:00pm
While New Hampshire’s Democratic Governor John Lynch survived his reelection race despite a barrage of attack ads from anti-equality groups like the National Organization for Marriage, Republicans won veto-proof majorities in both the State House and Senate. As a result, Religious Right groups such as the Family Research Council have committed to do “whatever it takes” to repeal New Hampshire’s law legalizing gay marriage, which passed in 2009 and went into effect last year. In 2009, Religious Right groups succeeded in overturning a Maine law legalizing gay marriage... MORE >
Three Degrees of Separation: LaBarbera, Gallagher, and Stand for Marriage Maine
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Thursday 10/29/2009, 10:47am
Yesterday, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, Brian Camenker of Mass Resistance, and Paul Madore from the Maine Grassroots Coalition hosted a press conference in Maine designed to "expose the hidden aspects of the radical homosexual agenda" at work in the state. Since their message did not correspond with Stand for Marriage Maine's efforts to appear tolerant, the group quickly denounced the press conference and those involved: Opponents of same-sex marriage on Wednesday warned that “radical homosexual” groups concealing their true agendas were... MORE >
Focus on the Family Pumps Neary $100 K into Maine
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Wednesday 10/21/2009, 8:43am
The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that Focus on the Family has donated nearly $100,000 to fight marriage equality in Maine, while the Roman Catholic Diocese has pumped in nearly $390,000: Last year, Focus on the Family donated nearly $450,000 to support a California proposition outlawing gay marriage. This year, the Colorado Springs-based organization is setting its sights on Maine, but the outlay is a lot smaller — both because Maine is a lot smaller, and because of the economy. As of Sept. 30, Focus had donated $98,500 to Stand for Marriage Maine, a coalition supporting an... MORE >
Right Wing Round-Up
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Friday 10/16/2009, 5:26pm
CAIR: TPM on the man behind the intern spy wars and Think Progress on whether the authors of the book stole documents from the organization. Alex Koppelman: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the man who gave the country the Contract with America and led the Republican Revolution of 1994, is actually a liberal. Good As You takes issue with the latest Stand For Marriage Maine ad. Texas Freedom Network: David Barton’s Vision of America. Seriously, Glenn Beck needs some sort of intervention because he is completely losing it. Finally, there's a Rep.... MORE >
Right Wing Round-Up
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Thursday 10/15/2009, 5:29pm
Media Matters: Fox trumpets CAIR conspiracy theory charges made by author with anti-Islam history. TPM: RNC Web Site Pays Tribute To Ronaldus Magnus. (See also "Meet The Writer Steele Used To Buff Party's Image.) Steve Benen: Shadegg's "Soviet-Style" Stupidity. Why does every endorsement in which Mike Huckabee is involved seem to carry a massive price tag? Orly Taitz is not happy with the $20,000 fine she is facing. SF Appeal: Stand For Marriage Maine complains that the opposition to the marriage ban now on the ballot in Maine comes... MORE >
Right Wing Round-Up
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Monday 10/05/2009, 5:38pm
David Weigel: National Organization for Marriage Chairman Takes On Kevin Jennings. The New Republic: The never-ending lunacy of Betsy McCaughey. Why do right-wingers hate America? Texas Freedom Network: Could the Republican Party of Texas move even farther to the extreme right? Apparently, yes. Why is Stand For Marriage Maine linking marriage equality to an increase in AIDS infections? Why is Mike Huckabee using his position with Fox News to bolster his PAC? MORE >
Is This What The Right Is Buying With All Its Maine Money?
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Tuesday 09/15/2009, 10:14am
Outside right-wing interest groups have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Stand for Marriage Maine's campaign which have accounted for more than 99% of all its donations. So what is Stand for Marrige Maine doing with all that money? I have no idea, but they certainly don't appear to be spending it on ads, judging by this truly awful frist attempt: Good As You has more on the "substance" of the ad's claims. MORE >
Maine: Religious Right Barring the Media From Their Anti-Marriage Rally
SUBMITTED BY: Kyle Mantyla, Thursday 09/10/2009, 12:04pm
The other day, Jeremy at Good As You noticed that Religious Right groups organizing behind the anti-marriage equality effort in Maine were suddenly distancing themselves from Mike Heath of the Maine Family Policy Council. I assumed these groups were trying to avoid being seen in public with Heath because of the rabidly anti-gay insanity he's been spreading recently.  But, as it turns out, these groups just trying to avoid being seen in public period: The Stand for Marriage Rally is being organized by Focus on the Family, The Maine Jeremiah Project, Family Research Council and Stand... MORE >