Barack Obama locks up supporters of same-sex marriage. Mitt Romney not so much.

In her losing presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton received lots of money from people who support same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage supporters have given Barack Obama tons of money, too.

John McCain has received a little from people who support same-sex marriage.

However, Republican also-ran Mitt Romney, perhaps the nation’s best-known Mormon after Harry Reid, got zero. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has led the drive to block same-sex marriage nationally and in California.

The Ticket comes to this conclusion after counting campaign donations from people who gave to the 2008 presidential candidates and comparing the list against contributors for and against California’s Proposition 8.

That’s the high-profile initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot that....

...would ban same-sex marriage by creating a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between a man and woman, overturning a court ruling that allows it.

Here’s what we found, with a major assist from Times researcher Maloy Moore:

Obama received $486,760 from foes of Proposition 8. Those individuals have given $1.462 million to defeat Proposition 8 and thus support same-sex marriage.

Obama received a mere $6,248 from people who have given $22,900 in support of Proposition 8.

There is no cap on donations to a California initiative. Obama donor Bruce Bastian of Utah gave $1 million to defeat Proposition 8. Bastian has given $2,300 to Obama for president, which is the per-election maximum under federal law.

Obama says he opposes the initiative but also says marriage should be between a man and woman.

McCain is somewhat more mixed. He received $9,635 from people who have given $54,450 to oppose the initiative, and $34,639 from individuals who have donated $72,565 in support of Proposition 8.

McCain has said he would vote for Proposition 8, but doesn't go as far as some foes of same-sex marriage. He has opposed a U.S. constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between a man and woman, saying it should be left up to the states.

Clinton's donors have given the most to defeat Proposition 8. In her primary campaign, Clinton received $308,000 from people who have given $2.437 million to kill the initiative, and thus support the concept of same-sex marriage.

Clinton collected $3,620 from supporters of Proposition 8. Those individuals gave only $11,050 to the measure.

Then there’s Romney.

People who donated $420,690 to his presidential campaign have given no less than $2.72 million in support of Proposition 8. We could find no donations to Romney for president from people who oppose the initiative.

Joe Biden, Obama's vice presidential pick, was barely a blip. In his short-lived run for the White House, Biden raised $6,900 from people who have donated $8,000 to defeat Proposition 8.

--Dan Morain

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[KB]

It's time for people to wake up to the reality of what homosexual behavior will bring them. The CDC in Atlanta is already sounding the alarm about the HIV/AIDS rate for boys as young as 13-14. What do you think will happen if we support homosexual behavior and marriages? Our children will think its ok only to find out they've pickup this and other diseases and die young. Is this the kind of society you want? And, who do you think will pickup the tab on this. You guessed it, the US tax payer. Our budget is already a mess to have this added to it. New York is dealing with this. They've had to cut back on their AIDS and health care funding. Of course, the homosexuals are screaming about this but they have no one to blame but themselves. If Obama backs homosexual marriage then I say he's not right for us.

[William H. Stoddard]

I must say, I find KB's argument about AIDS and same-sex marriage a bit eccentric. People are already engaging in homosexual acts, which are legal in every American state; in states where same-sex couples can't marry, they perform those acts outside of marriage. But one of the factors epidemiologically linked to AIDS and to STDs in general is promiscuity. Marriage as an institution serves, among other things, to build stable, long-term relationships and thus diminish promiscuity. If same-sex marriage has any effect on AIDS, I would expect it to be a favorable one. Not that I favor it for that reason—I think that it's a question of fundamental liberty, as the California Supreme Court said—but I think that in offering this argument against it, KB hasn't thought it through.

[Son]

Prop 8 isn't an issue about "rights". It is about preserving the definition of "marriage" as between a man and a woman. Gay people can do what they want, and they can even enjoy many civil benefits through civil unions and the such. But that isn't marriage. Gay people should be treated with kindness and respect, like anyone. Gay people aren't the issue here nor the problem. The problem is that 4 arrogant judges in black robes sitting in their ivory tower overturned the express will of a clear majority of California citizens when they ruled by fiat and illegally legislated from the bench when they unilaterally redefined marriage. Prop 8 allows the citizens of California to say no to Judicial Activism and Judicial Tyranny. There are elements of the judiciary that are way out of control and are endangering the balance of power in our republic by getting involved in "legislating". This has got to stop. Voting yes on Prop 8 will help put those elitist judges back in their place and let them know they cannot arrogantly overule the will of the people in a matter as fundamental to the future of civilization as the bedrock institution of marriage. That is something important enough that it should not be left to 4 elitist judges to impose by fiat.

[DNieman]

Obama says he's for gay marriage but thinks that marriage should be between a man and a woman??? Sounds absolutly spineless to me. why is it more important that we dont offend 5 million LGBT, by letting them define a gay relationship as being the exact same as a marriage, than offending the 295 million americans by saying their man-woman marriage is the same as a gay or lesbian relationship???

[Son]

Marriage is not just an institution for "limiting promiscuity" or as a way for two adults to show their love for each other. Marriage is about life, about children, about the future of society. The natural ability to procreate and raise those kids in a home where both a father and a mother are present, each bringing unique approach to the raising of the kids, that is why we as a society want to promote and preserve marriage as between a man and a woman. Men and women are different. Each gender has unique gifts and approaches that are needed for children to be raised well. There is value in the diversity of man/woman in this most basic of societal institutions. Gays can have all of what they want in civil unions, without having to redefine "marriage", which would undermine the promotion of those societal benefits I just mentioned.

May I speak a word to my gay friend, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow-countrymen. You are a minority and I'm sure you recognize that. And that is ok. But please show kindness and tolerance for the rest of us and vote with us to help preserve marriage as between a man and a woman. I know you may not have any personal parochial interest in voting yes on Prop 8. But as your friend and neighbor, I'm asking for your vote to help preserve the definition of this institution that is so important. Thank you.

[Sandy]

Obama is NOT for same sex marriage. Instead, he supports civil unions which provide the same benefits benefits as marriage for federal purposes. He is also against writing discrimination into the constitution.
It wasn't 'Judicial Activism or Judicial Tyranny' when the CA Supreme court ruled that the law was unconstitutional and allowed same sex marriage. It is their job to make certain that all laws are constitutional and that the minority are not subject to the tyranny of the majority.

Vote NO on Prop Hate!

[DNieman]

Sandy, Their is nothing hateful about proposition 8. You yourself said that Civil Unions provide the same benefits as marriage, so why the need to redefine marriage for the rest of us? I agree that minorities shouldn't be subject to the tryanny of the majority, but in our country we're more likely to see the opposite happen, minorities defining what is and is not acceptable for the majority. Should polygamists be able to redefine marriage as well? How large does their minority need to be before we have to change the law to accept them?

[Rachel]

I am absolutely ashamed at the ignorance, prejudice and hate displayed by my countrymen and women. Blame for HIV/AIDS is not the fault of homosexuals and the ones who are suffering to the largest degree from this disease at this time are heterosexual african-american women. But the sanctity of marraige, moral opinion of homosexuality and all that is not even the important stuff. We are living on a planet with finite resources and Americans are displaying nothing but selfishness and greed. People in Brazil are suffering from a drought which prevents families from giving their children anything but a cup of coffee some days and nobody is thinking about how our actions in the US might, just may be, contributing to this. History could teach us but we all think we know so much nobody bothers to pay attention. We send over enviromentalists and say we're doing our part but are we? NO! Everybody lives in a bubble in this country and our children (of whom we have too many for the planet to sustain) will be paying the price. There is nowhere to go. This planet is the last house on the block for all of us which kind of makes the issue of marraige and the morality of homosexuality miniscule in comparison!

[lia]

Son,

You are asking gays and lesbians to "show kindness and tolerance" by voting yes on 8? Do I have that right? To preserve the right of marriage for "the rest of us?" To vote against their own interest and happiness?

Well, I'm heterosexual, and I think much more kindness and tolerance, not to mention legal virtue is shown by extending equal treatment under the law. That's what the Supreme Court is there to ensure, even in the times when our ballot measures pass initiatives that have not been fully examined. Certainly you can see that there are times when "the will" of some people is not aligned with the law -desegregation of the south, reproductive choice, etc.

[Paul Benedict]

The law as it currently stands demands that people lie to children and tell them that people are married who are not married. It is tyranical and infringes on religious liberty. The right way to approach gay marriage was not through the Supreme Court. The law has become so horrendus, that if Prop. 8 does not pass, there will be a serious backlash. People who were "live and let live" will suddenly realize they've been lied to, that their most important liberties have been jeapordized. Gays gain no rights (virutally no rights) that were not available in civil unions.

It get worse. As any homosexual who is not a choric actor will admit, the orientation is a nightmare sceneriio. Homosexuality is being sold to the American people by actors and by televised mass media filled with laughs, smiles and comedy. The reality of the challenges that those who struggle with homosexuality are mind boggling. In the years to come we will recognize, if this proposition 8 does not pass, that fwe refused to tell people the truth, that we enabled people to do damage to themselves and to those that loved them. Homosexuality is not a race or a religion.

[Dro]

I want to marry my horse. I hope no one discriminates against me and that 4 judges in San Francisco allow me to do so. Perhaps I will then want to marry countless horses ...how dare you show your hatred if you stand up against me. I love my horse and I might end up loving multiple horses. You are all a bunch of horse-haters horse-a-phobs if you vote against this initiative. My horse and I (or my multiple horses) can raise a child just as good as a man and a wife. Who are you to tell me that I can't? If I can't marry my horse in your church, we will both sue you. If you the photography company refuses to take our pictures for our album, then we will sue them too.

VOTE NO ON PROP 8. Do it for me and my horse.

[Scott]

Preserving traditional marriage is vital. Confusing that god given institution can only bring harm to the world.

[Gil]

As I read all these comments that keep pouring in, I remembered one thing: that is we are trying to get unatural things-natural, unlikely things-likely and unpleasant things-pleasant. People, let's not insist on doing what seems our fleshly craving desires for rights. One can say all the things right here and another wrong, but let's thing about it. Is is natural or not? Is same sex marriage a good thing or not? Is protection of the original family component GOD or whatever divine being you thought to exist (or not)? Whatever we think about, we were born as what we are-not what we try to be.

[John]

Prop 8 is about MUCH more than marriage.

Through California's civil unions gays already share all the rights of those in a traditional marriage. Prop 8 is a back-door way of creating a legal way to promote the gay agenda. Unfortunately it will (and already has) come at the detriment of religious freedom.

A doctor in San Diego was sued (and lost) for not wanting to perform envitro fertiliaztion on a lesbian couple (even though his practice partner was happy to perform the procedure). A methodist churches was sued in Massachusets for not leasing their facilities for a same-sex marriage, wedding photographers have been sued (and lost) for exercisng their religious freedom to not shoot same-sex weddings.

Clergy who preach against same-sex marriage will be sued for hate crimes. Churches will risk losing their tax-exempt status if they don't perform same-sex marriages.

This country was settled by pilgrims seeking religious freedom. It is one of the founding principles of our nation. Stop activist judges and protect religious freedom by voting YES on prop 8.

[Chad]

It is disturbing to me that American citizens would oppose the right of everyone to uphold the constitution of the United States of America. We learn in school that the constitution is written for everyone, not just the majority. I am not sure why I am shocked by our society; history has supported the way society will act when the minority is trying to gain “equal” rights, not special rights. Our country has supported slavery, women not being able to vote, segregation, and not allowing interracial marriage just to name a few. It is completely ignorant to assume that not allowing gay marriage or any of the other issues that were once a part of our society would destroy the fabric of America. If marriage is so sacred then why is it that half of all “heterosexual” marriages end in divorce? If a person is divorced and finds love a second time and decides to marry again, they are twice as likely to divorce the second spouse. How sacred is this institution that ministers and preachers are even divorcing yet still preaching from the pulpit. When a person gets married, it is suppose to be till death do you part. Many Same-sex couples take this vow to each other without a piece of paper giving them the same rights as straight couples.

As long as the government does not support all its citizens, hate crimes will increase, STDs will increase, and ignorance will run ramped. This is not an issue that would lead to “marrying animals” or increase pedophilia. It demonstrates lack of education when someone compares marrying a “human” to marrying an animal. Those are two completely different issues. Humans already marry each other every day. Furthermore, the majority of pedophiles are heterosexual, as the American Psychology Association can tell you. Children that are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered are more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol, and also more likely to commit suicide. If young children can see health role models that are like them, they are more likely to become successful adults. As Americans, this should be our goal for everyone (to become taxpaying citizens living independently.) Gay marriage does not change heterosexual marriage at all. If you feel that it will, there are other issues working in your relationship that need to be taken care of.