By Gibbons J. Cooney
Special to California Catholic Daily
In 32 out of 32 elections, proponents of same-sex “marriage” have lost at the ballot box. But as the November elections approach, those who would redefine humanity’s most basic institution are throwing unbelievable amounts of money into elections in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington. It remains to be seen whether pro-marriage forces will be able to weather the onslaught.
The marriage vote in Maine is called “Question 1.” Question 1 reads: “Do you favor a law allowing marriage licenses for same-sex couples that protects religious freedom by ensuring no religion or clergy be required to perform such a marriage in violation of their religious beliefs?”
According to the Portland Press Herald, as of July 31, financial reports filed with the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices show that supporters of the Maine Same-Sex Marriage question had raised nearly 21 times the amount of money raised by opponents. The pro same-sex “marriage” PAC’s, led by Mainers United for Marriage, have raised $1,646,353. Defenders of marriage, led by Protect Marriage Maine, have raised only $77,850.
Maryland’s marriage initiative is called “Question 6,” and is also known as the Same-Sex Marriage Referendum. It is a “veto referendum.” If passed, Question 6 would repeal the “Civil Marriage Protection Act,” passed by the Maryland legislature in March of 2012, which would permit same-sex “marriage” in the state beginning January 1, 2013.
Maryland’s campaign finance laws do not require the campaigns to publicly disclose the amount of money they have raised or spent until Oct. 12, followed by a second disclosure on Oct. 26, and a final disclosure after the election. Still, there are some indications of the amounts same-sex “marriage” proponents are raising. They have already received $250,000 from the Human Rights Campaign, and on Sept. 13 there will be fundraiser at New York’s James Hotel, attended by many Hollywood celebrities, with tickets as high as $25,000. The defenders of marriage are the Maryland Marriage Alliance.
In Minnesota, marriage defenders want to amend the state’s constitution. The referendum reads: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?” On June 19, the Associated Press reported that the main group promoting same-sex “marriage,” Minnesotans United for All Families, had raised $4.6 million, more than triple the $1.4 million raised by Minnesota for Marriage, the state’s defenders of natural marriage. That three-to-one ratio is actually the closest among the four states, and may be due to the foresight of Archbishop John Nienstadt of Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The Washington Same-Sex Marriage Referendum, also known as Referendum 74, is, as in Maryland, a “veto referendum.” Referendum 74 gives voters a “yes” or “no” choice on ratifying Senate Bill 6239, which legalized same-sex “marriage” and thus redefined marriage in Washington. SB 6239 passed on Feb. 19. A “yes” vote allows the redefinition of marriage to stand, a “no” vote repeals SB 6239, and restores the true definition of marriage to Washington law.
On July 27, The Associated Press reported that Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos had contributed $2.5 million in support of same-sex “marriage.” He thus joined Microsoft bigshots Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, who have already given $100,000 each. The most recent figures from the state’s Public Disclosure Commission show that the various pro same-sex “marriage” groups have raised $6,798,330. That dwarfs the $471,102 raised by the sole group supporting true marriage, Preserve Marriage Washington — a more than 14 to one differential.
Despite the massive expenditure differential all races are polling closely. Historically, support for true marriage is higher in the privacy of the voting booth than it is when speaking with pollsters, due to the counterproductive habit of some same-sex “marriage” advocates of labeling those who disagree with them as bigots.
This point was underscored in a June 20 article in the homosexualist Washington Blade: “California voters approved Proposition 8 by a margin of 52 to 48 percent following polling numbers showing the marriage equality side was ahead. Polls showed that Maine’s same-sex marriage law would survive the referendum vote shortly before voters rejected the law by a margin of 53 to 47 percent.”
The Blade quoted Andy Szekeres, a fundraiser hired by Equality Maryland: “‘We lose these things 52 to 48 percent across the country,’ said Szekeres. ‘I’ve been at these things and our polling showed we were much higher in Maine [in 2009] than we were. People lie to pollsters. They don’t want to be bigots to the pollsters but they are when they go vote.’”
In 2008, California’ bishops strongly encouraged Catholics to support Proposition 8 both financially and with volunteer efforts. To learn more about the four elections this November in other states or to donate to those campaigns, visit:
If one looks closer, one will always find the ugly hands of Soros also!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Homosexualists must be very worried about turnout to bring Gay marriage up in a presidential election.
In President Bush’s reelection they offered Proposition 71 awarding 3,000,000,000 taxpayer dollars for embryonic stem cell research. It worked for them, and it won by a large margin. Now they want to repeat that feat. I think it will not work this time, but the Commies never give up.
The computer age has given a tremendous advantage to a tiny handful of individuals who in the past wore glasses taped together over their noses and pens in inkstained pockets. They were not the athletes nor the ones voted most likely to succeed, nor were they one of the gang or the jokesters. They generally lurked behind lockers and were the ones who usually snitched on anyone breaking the rules. They’ve now become the ones in power because it’s the age of information and they’ve either become journalists or computer whizzes. Of course I’m exaggerating, but I really feel that people who would never have made it in the past have now been given inordinate power in society through ‘unnatural’ means. Many of those having vast sums of money made in communications have been given almost carte blanche in instituting immoral and unethical decisions that are totally unlawful and undemocratic. It’s no longer the majority who rule but this tiny virulent and spiteful minority who are intent on forcing pathological practices on a ‘dumbed down’ and rather passive population. God doesn’t exist in their formula…just self-gratification and pride rule. They’ve never understood what being human is all about, and now they’re trying to force everyone into their world view.
Hopefully this effort will help empty the coffers of those promoting homosexual activity and other immoral activity as a right.
Extending access to “humanity’s most basic institution” is not re-defining it. Opposite sex couples will still be able to marry.
Peter: marriage is a familial institution, made law for the benefit of the family. A same sex couple is not a family and cannot create a family and is a perversion of human sexuality as you in another post admitted that men and women make babies. Two people of the same sex engage in a distorted idea of sexual intimacy that is a gross misuse of the reproductive anatomy. This is not about rights, it is about making other people accept sodomy as moral and acceptable behavior and it is quite disturbing that anyone in their right mind would accept this. Peter, you have so much hatred in you that you not only fail to recognize the truth about human sexuality, but you seem to have no desire for anything that is right and true. I will continue to pray for your soul Peter that God can break the hardness of your heart.
Marriage is not possible for same sex couples. In that case the word “marriage” becomes an oxymoron, and those people become moronic oxen.
So, the one with the most money “wins”?
They far outspent us in California, but still did not win, and I said they are wasting their money.
The assault on the marriage and family is never ending, the Devil and his inverted cause never rests
A majority of Catholics that I know support Obama and the DNC platform. Doesn’t look hopeful when so many are NOT faithful to the Truth–Jesus Christ and His Church.
Sandra,
You can blame most of the bishops for that. I am sure God will.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Regardless of how much money is put into the promotion of same sex marriage, it is still a violation of Catholic teaching and God’s Law. Our leaders should just say that.
Same sex marriage seems to me to equal sodomy–a heinous sin!
If you believe Scripture the evidence is there..
We will win all four.
Minnesota is a cakewalk- we are up 15 points.
Admittedly only Minnesota has really taken full advantage of the brilliant political ads of Frank Shubert (maybe because the other states don’t have the money), but the Minnesota Marriage Minutes are so completely devastating that the SSM strategists have already written Minnesota (and their 4.6 million) off.
The tough fight will be in Washington.
Maryland has a tremendous grass roots program through the (primarily African American) churches, and Maine is going to show the SSM’ers that it is merely irritating to bring the same question up after it was decided in an exhaustive battle only two years ago.
So I would suggest financially helping the folks out everywhere, but Washington first and foremost.
Washington impressed me as being a state with a perverse political machine. I stopped once at a huge gas station complex, and when I walked into the men’s room, each urinal had a condom dispenser located on the wall above it at eye level. What does that say about that state other than its voters are disgusting creeps.
All this proves is that those who practice homosexual behavior DO NOT need “marriage benefits. They already have far too much money which they are wasting on this fiasco.
General Mills as well as Star Bucks are two companies funding the sodomites attempts to redefine marriage in these States. We are being encouraged to boycott these two companies. General Mills owns many food brands one wouldn’t even associate with General Mills, so check the label on everything you buy, or go to their website were all their products are listed.