Opinion: Gay marriage foes pray for money and pass the collection plate
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Backers of California’s Proposition 8 invoked a higher authority, as they ramped up their television advertising by an additional $1 million, and asked for more money.
In an e-mail appeal for more cash, campaign strategist Frank Schubert says foes of the initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot to ban same-sex marriage continue to outspend them.
Schubert had warned earlier this week that the ‘Yes’ side would lose unless it could raise millions more in the campaign’s closing days. The missive apparently is having its intended effect, given the new ad buys.
Still, high-dollar donations to both campaigns reflect the money disparity.
In a 72-hour period ending Friday, Proposition 8 foes disclosed raising $3.6 million in donations of $1,000 or more. Backers, primarily Mormons, conservative Christians and Catholics, raised $661,000.
Proposition 8 would ban same-sex unions by creating a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as being....
...between one man and one woman. Our latest Proposition 8 money article is here and our latest poll story is here.
Schubert noted foes raised almost $4 million at a gala Tuesday at billionaire Ron Burkle’s Green Acres estate that, the e-mail says, was attended by “Hollywood liberals.”
Schubert is seeking another $2 million to match the ‘No’ side, and offers this plea:
Through the grace of God, one of our most fervent supporters has agreed to make a sacrificial gift to match, dollar for dollar, whatever you and others can donate, up to a total of $1 million. That means that every dollar you give will buy two dollars in advertising time. Please help us buy more advertising time now. And if you can make a sacrificial gift yourself, we ask you to prayerfully consider doing so immediately. The institution of marriage which we so dearly love depends on what we do together over the next few days.
Schubert didn’t identify the big donor, except to describe her as a Southern California widow. There are several other big donors to the Yes-side. Howard Ahmanson Jr. gave another $150,000 this week to the ‘Yes on 8’ side.
Ahmanson is the wealthy Orange County philanthropist who has funded numerous conservative candidates and Christian causes over the years. He now has given $1.145 million to the ‘Yes’ side, making him the measure’s largest individual donor.
Steve Smith, managing the No-8 campaign, suggested the tactic reflected a bit of desperation.
“I hate to break the news, but I don’t think God has taken a stand on this one,” Smith said. “There are people of faith on both sides. But the reality is that the battle is taking place here, in this realm.’
On the ‘No’ side, San Franciscan James Hormel, who was the Clinton administration’s ambassador to Luxembourg, gave another $100,000 pushing his total to $350,000.
David Maltz, a Cleveland philanthropist who funds numerous gay rights and other organizations, also gave $100,000, pushing his total to $1.1 million.
You can search our database of Propositon 8 donors, updated regularly by Times Researcher Maloy Moore, here.
-- Dan Morain
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