The ongoing decline of the National Organization for Marriage just sped up a little. The Maine Supreme Court has ruled that NOM can’t hide its donors from the state election oversight commission.
NOM likes to operate under cover of darkness by hiding the sources of its money. In the case of Maine, NOM contributed $1.9 million to the $2.5 million campaign to ban marriage equality but decided normal election rules didn’t apply to it and failed to register as a political action committee. Under Maine law, if NOM asked for money specifically for the Maine ballot measure it would have to reveal the names of its donors.
The Supreme Court ruling upholds a lower court ruling appealed by NOM and its president Brian Brown. Federal court rulings have also told NOM that political donors need to be revealed by name publicly. Sunshine being the best disinfectant, NOM has done its best to skirt the law. It gave the election commission a list of donors, identifying all individual donors as “John Doe.”
NOM’s troubles in Maine are far from over. The elections commission is conducting an investigation as to whether NOM has broken state law. Apparently for NOM, ethics are something only gay people violate.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Taliaferro
All hate groups should be forced to publicly name those who give them money. People should be aware that their support of such groups will be public and available for all to see. If an individual or business does not want that, he or she or it can keep the money instead of funding hate.
Dionte
That’s not very surprising.
DickGreenleaf
I thought Chris Farley had died.
MikeE
@DickGreenleaf: as you can see from the photo, he still suffers from rigor mortis.
Dakotahgeo
This jus’ tickles m’ gizzard! Just imagining NOM spinning out of control at this news is worth the time we have all wrestled with their hateful rhetoric! The “List” will be interesting!
Cam
Something like 85% – 90% of NOM’s money came from 2 donors. I’m sure the Mormon and Catholic Church are flipping out since NOM was a way for them to hide the fact that they were directly participating in the political process.
1EqualityUSA
Why did it take so long? NOM is nearly extinct, and they are just now getting around to this?
Caleb in SC
@Cam: Be nice! @1EqualityUSA: The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but they eventually turn in the correct manner.
2eo
If he was on fire and someone was trying to piss on him, I’d slit the throat of the person trying to piss on him.
AxelDC
Lock them up in a contempt of court until they comply. I can’t wait to see how much the LDS and Catholic Churches spent fighting gay rights.
2eo
@AxelDC: I’m really looking forward to getting the names of the people who are paying for these monsters.
Not nearly as much as another group [whom I know nothing about, or what they’re going to do *cough*] who are US based.
dugout
This was so impossible to anticipate. I thought “we” were the “cowards” hiding on our anonymous LGBT internets, and needed to have our content mined for sale to the highest bidding haters in the land? I’m stunned to find the pot calling the kettle black, why how could that happen? I wonder who’s spouses get outed just in time for the GOProvd fire sale? Yeah, I’m hanging my head in shame at what I did during the culture wars now, aren’t I NOM?
Pfffft. The list, please. And take my c%ck pick off of your mistresses phone while you’re at it, creeps.
Scooteroo
The people of NOM already sold their souls. What do they have left to sell?