“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?
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Just like the people who ran the petition drive here in MA, these people are being less than truthful with voters. In MA, we had people from all around the country flood our state under the guise of having voters sign a petition to allow alcohol to be sold in supermarkets in addition to liquor and convenience stores.
The underhanded, lying, sneaky part came when the signature gatherer slipped the signer another petition that was really for banning gay marriage. We’re pretty smart here and figured out what was going on. I had it out with a guy from Nebraska who came to my tiny, rural town. I told him he and his bigotry weren’t welcome, and to mind his own business!
If their idea is so good, why don’t they tell voters the truth?
Here’s hoping right-minded people in Oregon have the good sense and the moral strength to make sure discrimination never becomes part of their state law.
Miss P is right; these people seem to lie almost compulsively.
“Give us the marriage ban, and we won’t oppose civil unions.”
“Our only objection is the ‘judicial activism.’ We won’t object if it happens legislatively.”
“We won’t go after anyone’s benefits.”
As we saw in Michigan, they’ll go so far as to strip health insurance from children in order to hurt the gays.
Vile, vile people.
Mad John, is the criminal suit against Arno Political Consultants still active in your state? This is the same group that used mercenaries from out of state to dupe voters in Massachusetts.
John: Where Arno goes, sleaze sure seems to follow. But I haven’t heard anything since the Lowes’ complaint in late ‘06. At the time, Arno said they were getting out of Oregon entirely, but another media outlet reported they’d work to comply with Oregon law.
Ahhh…someone fill me in here. There’s a lawsuit against Arno?
One of the things Arno is famous for is subcontracting to the point you can’t follow the trail back to them. Make sure you keep an eye on that Hydra.
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article s Anti-Gay Groups at Know Thy Neighbor Oregon, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.