Late Wednesday, with 30 minutes until their 5 o’clock deadline, anti-gay groups attempting to force a referendum on the domestic partnership and anti-discrimination laws turned in what they claim to be “63,000″ signatures. As we know they only need 55,179 to accomplish their hateful mission.
So what now? The verification process has begun. If they qualify our side will be voting YES to keep the laws.
Obviously our hope would be that they in fact do not qualify for the ballot - although they have already announced plans for an initiative that would be on the 2008 ballot should these ones not qualify.
How would the initiative process work?
Anti-gay groups would have until July 3rd, 2008 to collect just over 82,000 signatures. If successful, it would be put on the November 2008 ballot. The difference this time is that our side would be voting NO against the repeal.
We’ll keep you updated on the verification process as we learn more. We cannot stress the importance of donations. Without about $3000, we will not be able to afford to make all of the copies at the Secretary of State’s office.
Please help us raise these essential funds. Please click here to give what you can, even if it is $20. Everything will help us reach our goal.
With only ten days left until anti-family, pro-discrimination groups turn in their signatures to overturn Oregon’s Domestic Partnership law and Anti-Discrimination law we’ve got to ramp up our fundraising to prepare for the entry of well over 120,000 (at least 55,179 for each referendum).
Help us prepare for this massive task. If you believe that Oregonians should be responsible for their actions, please consider making a contribution today. Click here and give.
We cannot do this without your financial assistance.
“Concerned Oregonians”, one of the groups collecting signatures for the two anti-gay petitions have a pretty serious complaint filed against them with the Secretary of States office. The group, a spawn of the right-wing fringe group Restore America has been claiming for months that people can contribute to what they call “Concerned Oregonians PAC” and take advantage of Oregon’s Political Tax Credit. Another group collecting signatures is also doing this same thing.
What’s the problem you ask? They are in fact not a PAC (Political Action Committee), yet they are calling themselves a PAC and therefore have been misleading donors and using illegal tactics to fundraise. This means that each and every donor who is going to claim their donation as an Oregon Political Tax Credit, could also potentially get in trouble with the Oregon Department of Revenue come tax time.
“Concerned Oregonians” has been getting assistance from Donna Butler, a long-time accountant and treasurer for Republican candidates and conservative causes who herself has seen her fair share of fines, violations and shady dealings–but now this?
The complaint also notes that Concerned Oregonians claims to be a co-sponsor of the referenda, and is collecting donations based upon that assertion, when it is not, which is also against the law.
Here is a link to a copy of the complaint filed this week.
Will the groups continue to break the law by misrepresenting themselves to voters and using false information to solicit campaign contributions?
When you sign a petition to take basic rights and protections away from a class of citizens, you are engaging in direct democracy. You are choosing to bypass your elected representatives and take on the role of legislator yourself — a citizen legislator. It is a great privilege to live in a democracy and have such power!
But if you are going to take advantage of the benefits of democracy, you must also assume the responsibilities.
That means if you don’t feel strongly enough about a petition to sign it publicly, then you shouldn’t sign it! That tension you feel over knowing that your signature will be public is intended. It’s what makes a petition have value. It’s part of the normal system of checks and balances that underlies our form of government.
Should your state senator be allowed to sponsor legislation in secret? Of course not. Then why should you?
And let’s be honest. It’s the petition sponsors and those signing who are doing the intimidating here. If you try to deny basic rights and protections to gay individuals, couples, and their children… don’t those people have a right, if not an obligation, to do everything they can within the law to protect their families? Wouldn’t you want to protect your family?
This list of names is being compiled by the petition sponsors and those signing. Through the petition, they are asking to be recognized publicly for their stance against basic rights and protections for Oregon families. If you are not willing to take on the responsibility of a being a signer, don’t sign. And if you do sign… don’t whine. Just be responsible.
Recently we’ve received some emails from those who are supportive of denying Oregon families of any rights. We here at Know Thy Neighbor Oregon want to ensure that the dialog remains positive and non-threatening, after all this is a big part of our mission.
To give you an example of one of these emails:
[I] have been Patiently waiting for hunting season to try out my new high powered rifle on a live target.
As Know Thy Neighbor Oregon forges on, we want to remind people of this part of our mission:
KnowThyNeighborOregon.com hopes to inspire respectful, civil, and honest community discourse and discourages with its fullest conviction the actions by anyone to harm a person or their property in retribution for exercising their democratic right to sign the petition.
You can read more about the project, our goals and mission on the about page.
Yesterday “Restore America”, the most extreme group set out to destroy Oregon families, sent out an email to their supporters claiming one of the most laughable, yet repulsive, things I have seen from them in a long time. They have yet again proven their complete and utter disregard for what it means to be “pro-family”.
Their email said…
“[in] order to complete the first and most important phase of our efforts to deliver Oregonians from two of the most culturally devastating bills in American history!”
First, David Crowe at “Restore America” is completely out of touch with reality, severely misleading Oregonians and has obviously never taken a high school history class.
David Crowe, it is frightening to think you sincerely believe the poison that you’ve put forth. However, the filth that you spew is disingenuous, deceitful and distinctly hypocritical and you know this. You take the facts to suit divisive cause to advance your hateful agenda.
For instance, you made the following statement that is offensive to any fair-minded Oregonian:
“[a]cceptance of special rights for homosexuals and those who claim gender confusion as an excuse for sexual exploitation of women and children … all without our permission!”
Absurd, preposterous and downright deceitful.
We need you financial assistance to make our effort possible. Please donate today - we cannot do this without you.
Please help us accomplish our mission of protecting families and the rights of ALL Oregonians.
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