COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. » A Colorado Springs-based evangelical group spent more than three times the amount spent by the Mormon church to support a California ballot initiative that outlawed gay marriage.
Data released this week by the California secretary of state's office show Focus on the Family donated $657,000 in money and services to ProtectMarriage.com, a California coalition that supported Proposition 8.
A September report indicated Focus on the Family had contributed $448,406. Focus vice president of media relations Gary Schneeberger says the most recent figure includes the value of non-cash contributions such as mailing costs and time on radio programs.
The data also indicate Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated $189,000 to support Proposition 8.
2 comments:
I'm sitting back to watch the backlash against the Focus on the Family group, but I guess I'll be waiting a while. It's much more fun to bash the Mormons than some obscure non-denominational group.
Also, I'd like to see some boycotts against the people who voted "No" by the evangelicals. Fair's fair, right?
"obscure non-denominational group"?
Focus on the Family has been openly waging campaigns against gay rights for years now. They're not at all obscure.
That's why it's not news when Focus on the Family involves itself in a campaign like Prop 8. It's totally expected.
The reason that Mormon involvement is newsworthy is because until the summer of 2008, most people had no idea that the Mormons cared so much about this issue.
And then when the Mormons go and provide over 50% of the funds for the Yes on 8 side, well, then it becomes a major story.
If it makes you feel any better, Jon, I can assure you that plenty of us have been criticizing and fighting Focus on the Family for years now.
This contest didn't start on June 29th when the Mormon church decided to get involved. You stepped into an ongoing struggle, and if you're gonna join the fray, you're gonna have to take your lumps.
As far as boycotts are concerned, all of us who donated to the No side have our names listed online for public view just like everybody else. Boycott us all. You have every right to do so.
And I mean that last part sincerely. Nobody on the No side expects you to forfeit any of your rights to participate in our country's democratic process. That said, it'd be great if y'all understood a little bit more about how the process actually works and had a little more experience with the rough-and-tumble of electoral politics. Not to be rude, but your side whines about stuff that we've already experienced for years now: stolen yard signs, boycotts, public outing of donors ... welcome to politics.
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