The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend: "a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."
He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior."
(CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)
Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).
"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008
Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality heartily endorses the Blend, calling Pam:
A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist." (Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)
"A nutty lesbian blogger." (MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)
Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush
who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
With all of the talk regarding Maine's equal marriage law, I want to highlight again some of the voices that have come out very publicly in full support.
Like Chellie Pingree. Back in May, she spoke on the floor of the House, where she serves as Maine's 1st Congressional District's freshman representative:
Chellie also spoke with Stephen Colbert in some regards about the law.
Then there's her daughter Hannah Pingree, Maine's Speaker of the House:
THIS IS GREAT! A mother and daughter team, both important voices for Maine, speaking out publically in support of this law that allows Maine couples to be marrried.
That protects real, not imaginary Mainers, and their families.
That does NOTHING ELSE. No matter what the opposition may say in their lies ads.
And certainly there have been many others Maine voices, both names of note and regular folks who write letters to their local newspapers. I could list off hundreds and hundreds of them.
But some important voices are missing from the conversations. Whose, you ask?
Come to Maine for a vacation, but instead of climbing mountains or kayaking the coast, you can spend your free time working for the group that's campaigning against the ballot proposal to overturn the state's new same-sex marriage law.
Volunteer vacation week for the No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign began Sunday.
Volunteers from around the state and the country are being asked to serve as full-time campaign staffers during October.
Volunteers can stay on as long as they like, and may be offered housing or travel assistance.
"Our lives are in the balance here. We need to make sure we get our supporters out to vote," said Darlene Huntress, a No on 1 official.
Now don't get me started on talking about Darlene; if there is a native Mainer (8th or 10th generation; I forget which) who I trust 100% to always tell the truth, work harder than anyone else, do a fantastic job and keep a cheerful and upbeat attitude, it's Dar!
Hey, I gotta give shout-outs and credit where credit is due sometimes! ;)
More below the fold about the PPH No On 1 article...
Really good guest post from Dr Eric Steele this morning. Dr. Steele is the chief medical officer of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (Bangor's largest hospital system) and on staff at many other area hospitals.
Some excerpts:
We have been told that right would damage the institution of marriage, rock the foundations of the American family and runs contrary to the intentions of our Maker. But the clothing of rationality and God's word have been used forever to hide the naked truth of racism, sexism and other prejudices. The arguments against the right of gays to civil marriage is no different; if you peel off the clothing, what lies underneath most opposition to civil marriage rights for gays is just naked fear, ignorance and prejudice.
It is the same old stuff we have heard forever. We were told women were too emotional to vote and that giving them equality in the home would ruin the institution of marriage. Equality of women was once thought here to be against God's order. So was equality for African-Americans and Native Americans, who were too "ignorant" or "savage" to be allowed equal status. Many states banned marriage between whites and blacks for some of the same reasons we still ban gay marriage; bad for marriage, bad for children, bad for our values, yada yada.
Marriage does not need protection from gays; it needs protection from the things I see in my office every day that tear half of American marriages apart. Nothing, in my experience, corrodes love and marriage like the grind of existence on the margins of economic survival. Drug and alcohol addiction will ruin more marriages than gays' access to civil marriage ever will. With notable exceptions such as the Catholic Church, few of those who oppose gay marriage fight as hard against poverty, lack of access to good drug and alcohol treatment programs, or lack of social support for young parents, as they do against the right of gays to civil marriage.
This is what we need; real experiences and discussions from people in Maine communities TO others in the same communities...
As of 10am, we have $390 to go. We've hit $1000! :)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Last night I attended the Equality Maine Foundation's annual meeting in Augusta (about 30 people in attendance- board of directors, members and folks who wished to directly ask questions) and spoke with this couple, Jarad and Danny, for the first time since we met at the public hearing in April.
They told me that they had been contacted by a couple in South Korea, who upon reading the original Blend post, contacted Jarad and Danny as well as made a donation to ensure marriage equality in Maine!
I had just gotten through making the point in the meeting's open Q&A segment that millions of people around the world were reading, paying attention, and donating to No On 1 because of the combined efforts of bloggers. It was, well, pretty cool to hear! ;)
But for many in the room (an older crowd and not as computer savvy), it was surprising and eye-opening.
Jarad and Danny then related their story to the attendees, exactly as had been posted, and again it hit me just why we have to ensure Maine's marriage equality law stays on the books- that this couple and so many others need this law.
So below the fold, I am reposting Jarad and Danny's story.
I would also like to especially thank our friends from far away; we in Maine are all so grateful for the generosity of people from all parts of the country and the world.
On Thursday, the Yes campaign produced -- for the first time -- a letter by University of Michigan law professor Douglas Laycock to Gov. John Baldacci urging him not to sign the bill unless it contained certain provisions Laycock claimed would address religious liberty.
Professor Laycock, who represents himself as a supporter of marriage equality, did not participate in what was a very public and open process that began early in 2009 when the bill's filing was announced.
On Friday (September 18, 2009), NO on 1 released a detailed memorandum by distinguished Maine legal experts that methodically refutes the claims in both Professor Laycock's letter and the Yes Campaign's television and radio ads.
"Unfortunately, the Yes Campaign is rolling out another out-of-state lawyer to set up a legal smoke screen in an attempt to divert attention away from the hallmarks of the legislation -- equality and fairness for all Mainers," said State Senator Barry J. Hobbins, a member of the Maine Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary and a lawyer with 30 years experience practicing in the state.
"This bill was carefully and thoughtfully written to protect religious liberties. Opponents are spewing the same tired arguments to fight against civil rights."
"This is nothing more than political gamesmanship," said NO on 1 campaign manager Jesse Connolly.
"Professor Laycock did not participate in the public debate, never contacted the bill's sponsors and literally FEDEXed his letter to the governor in the final hours before passage."
Distributed to the Maine media and available to the public at this link,, the NO on 1 memorandum is signed by Maine Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, former Maine Attorneys General Steve Rowe and James Tierney, House Chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee Representative Emily Cain, University of Maine School of Law Dean Peter Pitegoff* and University of Maine School of Law Professor David P. Cluchey*.
*University listed for identification purposes only, not endorsement
I do wonder if anyone has thought to contact Dr. Laycock in Michigan and ask how he feels now, about being used as part of the opposition's attack plan...
Keep it up, Frank SchubertJeff Flint - Bishop Malone- Mike HeathBrian BrownTony PerkinsDaddy Dobson Marc Mutty!
Thanks to Dawn in Maine, for sharing these videos of her "favorite straight guy- EVER!!", Maine State Senator Dennis Damon.
These 2 videos taken recently are of Senator Damon explaining how LD 1020 came to be.
Quick note: when Damon discusses Madame President, he is referring to Senate President Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell. I will be blogging more about her; I adore Libby!
Dennis Damon is "just a regular Mainer" and a true credit to those of us who take pride in that title...
Below the fold, 2 other videos of Senator Damon- one taken at Southern Maine Pride in June and the other at the Augusta Civic Center public hearing for LD 1020 in April.
NO on 1 Calls on Opponents to Open the Doors to Their Augusta Rally
Marriage Equality Proponents to Host Community Conversations Statewide
Portland, Maine (Saturday, September 12, 2009)---
The NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign today challenged its opponents to allow the media into their Augusta rally tomorrow featuring several out-of-state, headline speakers opposed to marriage equality. At the same time, NO on 1 announced that it will hold a series of "community conversations" around the state to engage Mainers on this important question of fairness and equality.
"The contrast could not be clearer," said NO on 1 campaign manager Jesse Connolly. "While our opponents have speakers flown in from San Diego and Washington, DC to speak out against loving Maine couples and families, we're having real conversations, Mainer to Mainer, about the importance of marriage equality."
The opposition rally at the Augusta Civic Center features Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, Harry Jackson, Jr., of Hope Christian Church in Washington, D.C., Chris Clark from East Clairemont Baptist Church in San Diego, and a special message from James Dobson of Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs. The ticketed event is closed to the press.
While the opponents' rally at the Augusta Civic Center will be closed to the media and people without tickets, NO on 1's Augusta "community conversation," the first in a statewide series, will be open to the general public and the media. That conversation is happening tomorrow, Sunday, September 13th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at South Parish Congregational Church, 9 Church Street, Augusta.
"It makes no sense to hold a big rally and then deny access to the general public and ban coverage of the event by the Maine media," said Connolly. "If the organizers really want to show people that they are not alone, why would they close the doors to the general public, to television news viewers and to Maine newspaper readers?"
Members of the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine also spoke out today about the insinuation from the backers of Question 1 that their rally will demonstrate that religious leaders are united in opposition to marriage equality.
"It is simply not true to suggest that all people and leaders of faith are opposed to marriage equality," said Pastor Mike Gray of Old Orchard Beach United Methodist Church. "Many, many people of deep faith -- from the pulpit to the pews -- believe that only marriage truly honors and respects the livelong, loving commitment between two people. For many of us, it's a moral question of basic fairness for all Maine families."
"Marriage equality is a necessity from both a civil and moral standpoint," said Rev. Don Rudalevige a retired United Methodist Minister from Cape Elizabeth. "This is a civil matter and religions can continue to decide on their own, what marriages they will or will not perform. But it's important to remember that many faith communities want the ability to perform marriages for gay and lesbian couples."
Anne Underwood of Catholics for Marriage Equality also noted that many Catholics planned not to participate in the Diocese's special collection this Sunday to raise funds to repeal marriage equality.
"We believe many Catholics will either ignore the special collection altogether or hand in a note supporting the marriage equality law," Ms. Underwood said. "We believe that marriage equality is a matter of civil rights and social justice and, in fact, many Catholics feel compelled by conscience to support the effort to defeat Question 1."
This is so exciting, to read of the strong support of the Maine faith community! :)
Catholics for Marriage Equality Issues Statement in Response to Diocesan Fundraising for Campaign to Repeal Maine's Marriage Equality Law
Portland, Maine (Friday, September 11, 2009)---
Catholics for Marriage Equality (C4ME), an organization urging Catholics and all Mainers to vote no on Question 1 on the November 3rd ballot, today issued the following statement in response to the Diocese of Portland's fundraising for the campaign to repeal Maine's marriage equality law:
"Catholics for Marriage Equality calls on its members and all Catholics who share our support for marriage equality to take two peaceful but effective actions in our parishes this Sunday so that the diocese will know it is not speaking for all faithful Catholics.
"First, instead of money, we urge parishioners who support marriage equality to place a note in the special collection envelope stating that they do not support the bishop's stance to deprive same-sex couples of the right to civil marriage and will instead donate funds to NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality, which opposes Question 1, or to a charity that is inclusive of all families.
"Second, we ask supportive Catholics to sign our petition affirming that the Church can define marriage as it wishes for its members but that marriage as a civil right is the prerogative of the state to define.
"C4ME exists to give hope to those who are hurt and angry because of our bishop's determination to overturn the legislature's passage of marriage equality. We will disseminate information that is truthful and respectful stating why marriage equality is a matter of civil rights and social justice that Catholics are free to support-indeed, may feel compelled to support as a matter of social conscience and responsible citizenship."
Contact: Anne Underwood, Catholics for Marriage Equality, (207)650-1588
Unitarian Universalist Association Stands on the Side of Love in Maine, Opposes Question 1
Portland, Maine (Friday, September 11, 2009) ---NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) today jointly released the following statement from UUA President Rev. Peter Morales.
The UUA is a faith community of more than 1,000 self-governing congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance and social justice:
The May 2009 passage of marriage equality legislation in Maine was a historic step towards justice for same-sex couples and their families. We owe tremendous thanks to the citizens of Maine, including many Unitarian Universalists, and to their elected officials who supported this legislation.
But now marriage equality is in danger in Maine. I call upon supportive Mainers to reaffirm their commitment to fairness for all families by voting against repeal of the legislation recognizing same-sex marriage.
I know that Unitarian Universalists in Maine will continue to be at the forefront of the struggle for equality. Commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person is at the core of Unitarian Universalism, and Unitarian Universalists in Maine have a strong history of support for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender (BGLT) rights. In 1996, the Unitarian Universalist Association called for full legal recognition for same-sex couples nationwide, and our faith community has advocated in support of marriage equality ever since. We will continue this witness in Maine in the coming months.
Unitarian Universalists will stand on the side of love. I invite you to stand with us. The UUA has supported civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people for several decades. The denomination voted in 1996 to advocate for full legal marriage equality for same-sex couples. For more information on the UUA, including recent press releases and news articles, please visit our online press room.
Contact:
Shelby Meyerhoff, Public Witness Specialist
Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 948-6103
pw_specialist@uua.org
Mark Sullivan, Communications Director
NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality
550 Forest Avenue
Portland, Maine 04101
(207)899-1330
(207)671-0542 (cell)
mark@protectmaineequality.org
Rev. Emrich looks at marriage equality in Maine and sees "acres of clear-cut land." I look at marriage equality, and I see thousands of Maine couples whose lives are more secure, whose children have more protections under the law and whose rights are assured to love each other and to have the law acknowledge and honor their partnerships.
In Rev. Emrich's Maine, there is one set of rules for him and his supporters and another for those Mainers he disagrees with. In the Maine where my neighbors and I live, we believe that everyone should be treated fairly under the law.
For Rev. Emrich, marriage is a restrictive club guided by the rules he and his supporters make. Rev. Emrich totally ignores the most important facts about marriage and the rights, responsibilities and protections it confers on the two people who marry and on their children.
In his zeal to close the door to marriage for thousands of our neighbors, co-workers and family members, Rev. Emrich fails to address the injustice behind repealing Maine's marriage equality law in November.
Marriage equality strengthens Maine families, protects Maine children and reflects core Maine values of fairness and individual liberty.
Marriage equality upholds traditional Maine values of personal freedom and equality by respecting the right of every Mainer to marry the person he or she loves.
That's the Maine I live in. Those are the values I hold dear.
I'll be honest:this is perhaps one of the hardest columns I have yet to attempt to cut down to the most important statements.
What Bliss says about children is spot-on:
Marriage equality strengthens Maine families, protects Maine children and reflects core Maine values of fairness and individual liberty.
Marriage equality honors the commitment that thousands of loving same-sex couples in Maine have made to each other, often for decades.
These loving couples are not recognized as a legal pair and, therefore, cannot file taxes jointly; do not have access to health insurance as a family, and are not allowed to inherit property at the time of death without the hardship of crushing taxes.
In addition, their children are not entitled to all of the rights and protections marriage confers on a family headed by a married couple.
At the April 22 legislative hearing in Augusta on the marriage equality legislation, Dr. Daniel Summers of the American Academy of Pediatrics testified, "It is the quality of parenting that predicts children's psychological and social adjustment, not the parents' sexual orientation or gender."
He added that children raised by same-sex couples "do not differ in any important respect from those raised by heterosexual parents."
Parents, after all, are parents. And every parent wants their children to thrive, to succeed and be valued in society. Isn't that what we all want for Maine children?
Below the fold, a bonus- video of Senator Bliss on the floor of the Senate at the Statehouse, brilliantly addressing his colleagues during his chamber's LD 1020 marriage equality bill debate.
Please watch this very strong, emotional and stirring video from the Maine Augusta Civic Center public hearing, folks.
The speaker is a new friend of mine, Lew Alessio- fair warning, get a tissue:
I distinctly remember hearing Lew's testimony; Charlie has just arrived at the Civic Center and we were in the far back of the auditorium together, both listening to Lew speak. His story moved me to tears, as well as shocked and horrified us both.
We met Lew today at the Kennebec County Democratic picnic and with his kind permission, I was given the following letter to share with all of you:
My Name is Lew Alessio, and my husband is Jim Shaffer. We live in Greene, Maine. We've been together for 8 years. Before I met Jim, I was in a relationship for 30 years. My partner, Peter Lystad was a teacher in the Auburn, Maine school system for many years. I taught at Monmouth Academy, Leavitt High School and the University of Maine. During the last two years of his life, Peter battled pancreatic cancer. I gave up my career and during that time I was his full-time caregiver.
I know first-hand about the critical rights and protections legal marriage provides-and what can happen when you don't have them.
Peter died at home in 1999. We knew that day would come, and had drawn up legal documents we thought would make things easier after he was gone. But the local mortician at the time refused to remove Peter's body from our home. Because we weren't married, I wasn't considered a legal relative, and it was at that moment that I learned that our plans were worthless. Durable Power of Attorney ends at death. Peter's only living relative, his 96-year-old mother, was in a nursing home in Minnesota. She had Alzheimer's and did not know who she was.
So there I was, at the worst time in my life, unable to do anything. Our 30 years together and my two years of constant care-giving meant nothing in the legal world after Peter died. They meant nothing to the mortician. If we had been legally married, I would have had the same right as any spouse to sign for his body.
Years later, I found a second chance for happiness when I met Jim. We legally married in Massachusetts, as soon as we were able to. But leaving Maine to marry was bittersweet. The state of Maine does not recognize our marriage, and denies us marriage's rights and protections. Once again, the inequities of law treat our relationship differently from those of other citizens.
Ironically, Jim now is also battling cancer, and even after 18 surgeries the biopsy last week came back positive again. We have drawn up legal documents, and are hoping that will be enough to protect each other no matter what happens. We hope--but we worry. If being together though all of that isn't love and commitment, or isn't family or marriage, then I don't know what is.
Whatever time Jim and I have left together, we want to be married in Maine. We want what other committed couples have; no more, no less, not special not different... just the same freedoms as other citizens in Maine. The new marriage equality law allows any religion to deny marriage to anyone, but it doesn't force one religious belief on everyone. If you live in Maine, we ask that you vote No on 1 to keep marriage equality in Maine.
Thank you so very much, Lew, and I will see you in a few weeks, my friend! :)
Got word today of this 4 page letter sent to SFMM and NOM- with an additional 61 pages of correspondence and evidence- from Jonathan Wayne, Executive Director of Maine's Ethics Commission and had to share it here... all emphasis mine.
By E-Mail and Federal Express
Joseph A. Keaney, Treasurer
Stand for Marriage Maine PAC
One Monument Way, Second Floor
Portland, Maine 04101
By E-Mail and Federal Express
Brian S. Brown, Executive Director
National Organization for Marriage
20 Nassau Street, Suite 242
Princeton, NJ 08542
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION
As explained below, the Commission is statutorily required to consider Mr. Karger's request. The Commission will consider the request at its meeting on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in Room 208 of the Burton M. Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street in Augusta. At that meeting, I anticipate that the Commissioners will decide whether to conduct any investigation regarding the compliance issues listed below.
Your Opportunity to Respond to Mr. Karger's Request
The Commission would welcome written responses from the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC and the National Organization for Marriage no later than Thursday, September 17, 2009 concerning whether the Commission should conduct an investigation. You are welcome to attend the meeting to comment to the Commission in person and to answer questions. This is a regular meeting, not a formal hearing.
Commission's Standards for Requests for Investigation
Under 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1003(2), a person may apply to the Commission to investigate a PAC's reporting of campaign finance activity. Under this provision, the Commission "shall review the application and shall make the investigation if the reasons stated for the request show sufficient grounds for believing that a violation may have occurred."
Compliance Issues Raised by Fred Karger's Request
Mr. Karger does not specify which provisions of Maine's campaign finance laws were violated by the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC or its contributors. To assist the Commission in deciding whether to conduct any investigation, the Commission staff has identified the following compliance issues that are implicated by Mr. Karger's factual allegations. By discussing these legal issues, the staff does not mean to imply at this time that any investigation is merited.
Stand for Marriage Maine PAC
All PACs are required to report the names and addresses of contributors who have given more than $50 to the PAC. (21-A M.R.S.A. § 1060(6))
In addition, under 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1004(3) and 1004-A(3), it is illegal for a PAC to knowingly accept a contribution made by one person in the name of another person.
Mr. Karger alleges that "the four funders of Stand for Marriage Maine are merely conduits for those wishing to hide their contributions. These entities are laundering money to evade the disclosure of the actual contributors to Stand for Marriage Maine." (Aug. 24, 2009 letter, at 1) If true, these allegations might constitute violations of 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1060(6), 1004(3) and 1004-A(3).
National Organization for Marriage
Mr. Karger alleges that the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has raised funds for the purpose of initiating or promoting the people's veto referendum to repeal P.L. 2009, Ch. 82, and has donated those funds to the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC. His allegations, if true, may indicate that NOM was required to file campaign finance reports with the Commission as a ballot question committee under 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1056-B or was required to register and file reports as a PAC under 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1052(5)(A), 1053, and 1058.
Mr. Karger points to a few factual circumstances which could be relevant to whether a violation has occurred:
• NOM is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization that is roughly two years old. Based on the information that is presently available to the Commission staff, it appears that NOM has contributed at least $250,000 to the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC. This is a large amount of funding, which could suggest that NOM solicited and received funds for the purpose of initiating the referendum.
• In 2008, NOM formed a committee in California to raise and spend money in support of an amendment to the California State Constitution (Proposition 8) stating that only marriage between a man and a woman would be recognized by the California state government. According to the California Secretary of State, NOM's California committee raised $1,870,134 and contributed $1,561,134 to a larger PAC supporting Proposition 8. So, NOM has demonstrated the capability to raise a significant amount of funds to support a referendum on same sex marriage.
• Mr. Karger has provided the Commission with some fundraising solicitations from NOM stating to potential donors that the funds would be used to oppose the legalization of same sex marriage in New England. The two most relevant are the communications dated March 13 and 31, 2009, which mention Maine specifically.
The March 31st communication refers to "a hard-hitting new radio ad that we're launching today as part of our 2009 Northeast Action Plan ..." and makes the following solicitation: "We're excited about this new ad, but we need your help to keep these ads on the air, especially in states like Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and New Jersey, where coordinated grassroots opposition to pending gay marriage legislation is urgently needed."
The ad was apparently intended to run while the marriage legislation was under consideration by the Maine Legislature (March or April 2009). Nevertheless, the solicitation does seem to look forward to more communications to voters later in the year: "Throughout the year, we'll be rolling out new ads as we work to identify and motivate marriage activists throughout the Northeast." (italics added) This could easily be a reference to communications to voters in support of a referendum petition drive in Maine, which was actively discussed during the 2009 legislative session.
• As Mr. Karger has noted, the March 2009 solicitations from NOM promise its donors anonymity: "[P]lease make the most generous donation you can to help us keep these important ads on the air. Use this hyperlink to make a secure online donation. And unlike in California, every dollar you give to NOM's Northeast Action Plan today is private, with no risk of harassment from gay marriage protestors."
Because of these factual considerations, the staff of the Maine Ethics Commission would welcome a written response by NOM regarding whether there are sufficient grounds to warrant a Commission investigation or fact-finding to determine if NOM was required to file campaign finance reports as a ballot question committee under 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1056-B or to register and file reports as a PAC under 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1052(5)(A), 1053, and 1058.
Other Contributors
Mr. Karger has alleged that three other contributors to the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC "laundered money." Because the information provided with regard to these contributors is less specific, the Commission staff is not inviting responses from them. Nevertheless, they are copied on this letter so that they are aware of this matter and have an opportunity to submit comments if they wish.
Thank you for considering this invitation. If you have any questions, please feel free to telephone me at (207) 287-4179 or the Commission's Counsel, Assistant Attorney General Phyllis Gardiner, at (207) 626-8830.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Wayne
Executive Director
Below the fold, a letter from Justin of OneIowa, regarding NOM's activities there and a request.
The more the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland shutters its churches and puts them on the real estate market, the larger the question looms: Should Maine's bishop still be living in a million-dollar mansion?
It's on Portland's tony Western Promenade. According to city tax records, the 6,970-square-foot, three-story "mansion" has six bedrooms, 4 baths, an 840-square-foot garage and an assessed value of $1,126,000.
In short, pretty nice digs by anyone's standards. Too nice, according to at least one perennial thorn in the side of Bishop Richard Malone.
"It's not about Richard Malone," said Paul Kendrick, a Roman Catholic who for years has publicly decried the church's handling of the sexual abuse of children by priests. "It's about 'What kind of church is this?'"
Kendrick fired off a mass-distribution e-mail this week after hearing that five churches - Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in Saco, St. Mary of the Assumption and St. Andre churches in Biddeford, and St. Joseph and St. Patrick churches in Lewiston - will close this year and next because of shrinking congregations, growing costs to maintain the buildings and the need to protect religious programs and services from ever-increasing parish deficits.
Nemitz continues:
Malone's charge to the parishes, (Diocese spokeperson Sue) Bernard noted, has been to determine "What do you need? Take a look at what you need and see if there's an excess there."
But might the same challenge be put to the bishop? Considering that he lives alone, does he truly need six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage?
Bernard noted that the mansion, which has served as the bishop's residence since Bishop Joseph McCarthy purchased it for the diocese back in 1939, is used to entertain visitors to the diocese and for other social functions.
"He lives there by himself," she said, "but he isn't the only one who uses it."
What's more, Bernard said, while it's in a "lovely neighborhood," the interior could use some work. "There's wallpaper coming off in some places, peeling paint."
Oh. Bummer. Yeah, my mansion's got some interior issues, too... (eyeroll)
Still seems that a pretty penny could be made from selling this mansion...
One smart reader posted the city's tax information and property description in comments:
FYI -- The Church owns two, adjacent property lots on the Western Promenade.
Here's the description of the second lot. It is comprised of 7797 sq.ft. of land area and includes the bishop's 3 car garage.
Property Taxes:
Mansion and surrounding property - $16,409.50
Garage and surrounding property - $ 3,210.94
Total Tax - $19,620.44
Card Number 1 of 1
Parcel ID 069 B011001
Location 193 WESTERN PROMENADE
Land Use GARAGES, SHEDS, AUX, ETC.
Owner Address ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF PORTLAND
PO BOX 11559
PORTLAND ME 04104
Book/Page
Legal 69-B-11
WESTERN PROMENADE 193-195
7797SF
LAND VALUE $150,300.00
BUILDING VALUE $30,700.00
NET TAXABLE - REAL ESTATE $181,000.00
Casting Director James Stiles is putting out the word that he’s looking for two “real Maine” women to appear in a television ad produced by supporters of traditional marriage.
Stiles is looking for a “teacher type” and a “working waitress type,” both in the 35-45 age range. If you want to try out, he’s holding auditions from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 2) at the Howard Johnson in South Portland.
If you’re hired, it’s a three day gig that pays $500 a day.
More than 100,000 of Maine's citizen voters have signed the people's veto petitions to send the "gay marriage" law to the voting booth. We anti-gay-marriage people have, for the most part, bent over backwards to assure that gays and lesbians in Maine will not be discriminated against.
Now the governor and a handful of legislators in Augusta have slammed our backs against the wall over legalizing gay marriage.
We have been peaceful and rational about obtaining the needed signatures to bring this to a people's vote. These high-powered, money-laden groups spilling into the state to help us hayseeds understand about the progressiveness of the 21st century will no doubt backfire on their cause.
They will make us even more determined in the voting booth.
Why call those who support traditional marriage as "foes" as if they somehow are "un-American" for holding opinions that are unpopular with some, despite being plausible and well-grounded?
The bill to end discrimination discriminates (against single homosexuals, against people "not in a relationship"). That seems hypocritical as well as being unethical - misleading many with a false promise. It deserved not to pass, but it did anyway.
I attended the entire hearing. It was a circus. The supporters of this legislation dissed the Judiciary Committee and many of those testifying with back-turning and jeering. We were treated to many sad stories of end-of-life scenarios (I thought this was about gay marriage, not hospice). The needs of those who are dying, however, whether gay or straight, absolutely must be addressed - justice does not discriminate.
But Mainers deserve better than to be the social laboratory for those who, while not living here, want to experiment with our future.
Our legislators should protect us from undue influence by special interest groups which are both out of step with Mainers and out-of-state with their funding. The Legislature's Judiciary Committee failed us all badly.
I agree with every word that M.D. Harmon wrote in his editorial on the mistake that the Maine legislators made when they circumvented the voters and yielded to proponents of same-sex marriage.
The standing bill is a sad commentary on Maine. It's important for those who oppose same-sex marriage, yet aren't paying attention to what's going on, to wake up and realize the irreversible damage that will ensue if this law isn't reversed.
People are inherently valuable and worthy of dignity.
They are not a collection of interchangeable pixels on some computer screen or data points in some government report. They are unique individuals worthy of respect.
Part of what makes individuals unique is that some are male and some are female. Women and men are equally valuable and equally worthy of respect, but they are not interchangeable, much like a violinist is not interchangeable with a baseball pitcher.
To try to make them so is to deny them their inherent dignity as humans.
The concept of same-sex marriage says to society that male and female are interchangeable, as least in terms of marriage. It seeks to reduce the complex interaction of male and female to just another interaction among "generic humans."
M.D. Harmon is right - children need a mother and a father. These roles have successfully nurtured children in a nuclear family for generations.
The whole idea of "Parent A" and "Parent B" is like a bad science-fiction movie. The dignity of individual men and women is stripped away by a genderless, machine-like noun.
Same-ex marriage means that parents will no longer nurture "boys" and "girls." Why teach gender roles at all if you are raising a Parent A or Parent B? Parent A and Parent B will raise genderless automatons that will be less human.
That the compromise offered by Rep. Leslie Fossel, R-Alna, regarding a domestic partner registry that offered protections and benefits similar to those obtained in marriage "sank without a trace" reveals yet again that this isn't even about so-called equal rights but about transforming society in all the wrong ways.
At least there is one rational and civil voice in the print media able to clear the air about what is at stake in the whole homosexual "marriage" debate. Thank you, Mr. Harmon.
I don't- I know how very deeply she, her fiancee and so many others in Maine appreciate every effort, every dollar, every bit of help and advice, and I want to thank everyone who has helped as well.
We need to do what we can- that's all we can do.
But as you can see in these few letters, this is not just a discussion about weddings and rings- this goes far deeper.
The opposition is making this a referendum on ALL within the LGBTQ community- not just those who wish to be legally married.
This involves ALL of us- to stand up for our rights to BE equal, as ourselves, with legal recognition.
The opposition knows that Maine is a critical and crucial step towards national equality- not in just regarding marriage and its hundreds of recognitions and rights, but is defeating DOMA, DADT and finally getting an inclusive ENDA.
Why else are they so secretive about their affiliations, their intrinsic money trails with protection of their donors? They're running scared, in a panic. And that is when a trapped animal is at its most dangerous.
We cannot back down- we must hold hands, lock arms, and work together. NOW. NOW IS OUR TIME, and we must do all we can, TOGETHER.
I've been thinking about what we need to do to win this battle for marriage equality come November 3. We're 69 days away from that date. I think that calls for something inspirational. Or inspired. Or maybe just a kick in the ass.
When I talk to people about the marriage vote coming up, I get lots of support. Good luck, they say. I'll donate. And they toss in $20 or $50. At a house party the other night, several people wrote checks for $100. That felt pretty cool, particularly since I gave the pitch and it was my first time doing so.
But now what? We raised $700 from that room. Good for us, certainly, but is that all we can hope for?
I guess the question I need to ask is "how much does this matter to us?"
Really.
How much are we willing to give up to achieve marriage equality in Maine?
Fifty bucks? A hundred?
Let's do some math.
Suppose one of the $100 check-writers at that party has an annual income of $30,000. In Maine, that's pretty typical, particularly of retirees and folks not in stuffy offices. Besides, it makes for easy math. $100 is what portion of that total?
.00333
one third of one percent.
Not to discredit the donors - I felt pretty good getting those checks for the campaign, but honestly, is that a gift or a bone?
How much should we be willing to give up to achieve this goal?
Is this a cause worth a one-time, feels-kinda-big donation, or is this a cause worth actual work?
Is this a cause worth being uncomfortable for? And what does that kind of discomfort look like?
I am not advocating that people sign over their entire paychecks between now and November 3, but let's consider giving up some portion of that paycheck every week.
How much is appropriate? I guess that depends on a lot of things. How much we make, what our expenses are, and what kind of value we put on being able to get married.
Is it worth 10 percent of my income between now and November 3 (call it 10 weeks) to to be able to get married? What about 10 percent of my income for the year?
My aunt is devout and she tithes to her church. This is the same church, coincidentally, that has pledged $2MILLION to keep Laura and I (and others like us, of course) from getting married.
Years ago, I used to make a donation to Planned Parenthood every time I heard her talk about giving to one right-to-life organization or another. Am I willing to try to counter her effort again?
Is it worth giving up 10 percent of my income for me to be able to get married? Of course it is. Getting married is what I want to do. I want the security of it, I want the dignity of it. I don't want to be a woman in my mid-40s still referring to my partner as my "girlfriend." People either look at me as though I am no more emotionally developed than a teenager or they think I'm talking about someone I get together with each morning to drink coffee and watch The View.
The rest of Dawn's spot-on and brilliant post below the fold...
Despite raising more than $300,000 in about a month, Stand for Maine Marriage had about $50,000 in cash on hand at the end of the reporting period, according to state records. The records also show more than $140,000 in unpaid obligations for the group.
Most of the spending, nearly $200,000, went to a national signature-gathering firm to expedite the petition process. More than $40,000 has been spent on campaign consultants, including the firm that worked successfully to overturn a similar law in California last year. Other money has been spent on campaign literature and office space, which has been rented on Route 1 in Yarmouth, according to the reports.
Oh dear, they better tighten the spending belt and collect some $$$ just to balance the books, eh?
===================================
Or do they? Is it "smoke and mirrors" time?
Stand for Marriage Maine - the coalition leading the fight against allowing same-sex couples to marry - raised $346,690 between June 3 and July 3.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland contributed $100,000 of that total, although a campaign spokesman pointed out that the money was from a special fund for that purpose, not church collections.
The National Organization for Marriage in New Jersey, which helped defeat a gay marriage movement in California, chipped in another $160,000.
"It's a long haul, but we've got a good start," said Mark Mutty, one of Stand for Marriage Maine's campaign leaders.
Mutty predicted Wednesday that they will file "a very significant amount of signatures well in excess of the minimum" by early August. In addition to the Roman Catholic Diocese and the National Organization for Marriage, the organization also received $50,000 from the Knights of Columbus in Washington, D.C., and $31,000 from the Focus on the Family Maine Marriage Committee but only $400 from individuals.
Mutty pointed out that his organization's Web site has only been up for less than two weeks and he predicted that the number of individual donations will increase dramatically as the campaign ramps up.
Mutty noted that the professional signature-gathering firm, National Petition Management Inc. of Michigan, was expensive but necessary in order to get enough signatures collected by mid-August so the veto question would appear on the ballot this fall.
According to the filings, the Stand for Marriage PAC has paid National Petition $193,629 and still owes the firm $52,000. Overall, the PAC has spent $293,231 to date.
Oh my, that's alot of scratch. What's the matter, Mutty- can't find any LOCAL UNEMPLOYED MAINERS TO DO THE WORK???
Plus the $400 pocket change. That still leaves some monies ($5290) as not accounted for...
But here's the bigger point: for all of the large monies being discussed, not even $10,000 of it is from the very people who will be voting this fall- registered Maine voters.
So very little Maine money is going to Michigan after all- it's money from NOM, the Roman Catholic Church and others.
Now, as the campaign to repeal Maine's same-sex marriage law shifts into high gear, fear is once again in the air. Only this time it's not the homosexual community that's quaking.
It's their opponents.
"I know what you're saying - there is some irony there," agreed Marc Mutty, now on leave from his job as public affairs director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland to run Stand for Marriage Maine.
Still, Mutty said, "We feel like the minority that's being discriminated against. We are being treated like pariahs everywhere we go."
A recent e-mail to the staff at the Portland diocese, forwarded to me this week by someone using the pseudonym "M. Luther," offers this advice to the diocesan staff:
"For security reasons, please do not give the physical location of the SFMM (Stand for Marriage Maine) office to anyone. It's imperative that no one else know the location."
Have a steaming cup of paranoia, folks?
Doesn't a 501c3 like SFMM have to disclose information to the public, like their physical location and such?
The e-mail also instructed staff members, should they receive any "marriage" calls, to "direct the angry mobs to the toll-free number or invite them to visit the SFMM website."
Sitting Monday afternoon inside Stand for Marriage Maine's headquarters, an unmarked office in Yarmouth, Mutty said he authorized the e-mail. The "angry mobs" reference, he said, was tongue-in-cheek and not meant for public consumption.
Asked why repeal proponents are so worried about their safety, Mutty cited "what happened in California."
To be clear, Mutty said, it's not the "organized opposition" here in Maine that has Stand for Marriage Maine on alert. Rather, he said, it's the "fringe groups" from away.
PORTLAND, Me., July 8 PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Looking to overturn a bill signed by Governor John Baldacci in May approving same sex marriage, Stand For Marriage Maine announced today that they have collected more than the 55,087 signatures needed to place a People's Veto on the November ballot and are collecting additional signatures as insurance to meet the deadline to qualify the measure for the 2009 statewide election.
"In just four weeks, we've gathered more than 55,000 signatures from Mainers who believe they, not the legislature and governor, should have the final say on the definition of marriage," said Marc Mutty, Chairman of the coalition. "There has been an extraordinary outpouring of support from voters across the state. This response gives us momentum that will lift us over the first hurdle of putting the issue before the people and, ultimately, carry us to victory in November."
All signatures must be certified by the Secretary of State for validity. Once certified, the issue is cleared to appear on the November 2009 ballot.
Most visitors to our state are considered by the natives to be "folks from away"- they are nice, are attracted to and come here to enjoy Maine as it is, with no desire whatsoever to change her or any of us.
Apparently NOM doesn't know, understand or give a rat's ass about Maine's state motto of DIRIGO- "I Lead", or that our highways are festooned with signs like this.
Check out this recent and desperate email (h/t Orion45):
Stand for Marriage Maine!
July 8, 2009
Dear Orion45,
This spring, [out-of-touch politicians in Maine pushed a same-sex marriage bill through the legislaturehttp://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/10828/breaking-maine-gov-baldacci-will-announce-decision-on-signing-marriage-equality-bill -- ignoring the will of their constituents.
Fortunately, under the Maine Constitution, legislators can't pull a stunt like that and get away with it. With a "people's veto," the people of Maine can have the final say on any bill passed by the legislature.
And that people's veto effort is well underway on the same-sex marriage bill. With your help, the people of Maine will have the chance to vote up or down on the same-sex marriage bill this November.
Stand for Marriage Maine!
Leading the charge is Stand for Marriage Maine, a coalition of grassroots activists and pro-family groups (including NOM) formed to allow Maine voters to restore the definition of marriage under Maine law.
Visit StandforMarriageMaine.com for the latest campaign updates and to see how you can join the effort to save marriage in Maine.
Your help is needed as we take our pro-marriage message to every corner of the state. Right now, we're in the signature-gathering phase of the campaign, and with your help we'll far exceed the 55,000 signatures needed to put the same-sex marriage issue on the November ballot.
But time is short. Here's what I need you to do today:
1) Visit StandforMarriageMaine.com, and consider how you can help protect marriage in Maine! Join the Facebook group, or follow Maine4Marriage on Twitter!
2) Make an online donation at StandforMarriageMaine.com to make sure we have the resources needed for collecting tens of thousands of signatures in a short window of time. Your donation of $20, $35, or $50 or more will help ensure success!
3) Forward this message to everyone you know that lives in Maine! We're reaching out to voters all across the state, and we need your help to spread the word! Do it right now!
God bless,
Brian S. Brown
Executive Director
National Organization for Marriage
20 Nassau Street, Suite 242
Princeton, NJ 08542
bbrown@nationformarriage.org
I especially like the title; it strikes a particularly desperate tone. And as usual, some of the comments are mind-boggling.
Move to reject gay marriage seeks allies
John Neal's excellent book "Portland Illustrated" gives a fascinating account of the great fire that leveled much of Portland in 1866.
Neal describes how the fire quickly consumed some building materials, leaving other materials intact. Marble columns proved the weakest, fracturing into large, heavy pieces, and collapsing. The most durable was Kennebunk granite, a lighter shade of granite that resisted the hottest flame.
One thing endures longer than Kennebec granite and that is a true idea. The harder men try to cover an idea with falsehood and error, the brighter it shines.
The truth about marriage is just such an idea. The notion that homosexual marriage is normal, and even desirable, has spread quickly, striking deep roots in our society. I note that the greatest writers and thinkers have compared sexual immorality and intemperance to a ravaging fire.
That is why I am confident we will win our battle for the traditional definition of marriage.
Oh, he does like the "fire and brimstone" stuff, huh?
More below the fold, including Heath's attempt at a take-down of a female high school student. Not just any student- the graduating class's VALEDICTORIAN.
