"One Iowa and the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa filed the complaint Monday alleging that NOM, a New Jersey-based group that opposes same-sex marriage, violated Iowa campaign finance law in their Iowa House District 90 campaign. 'NOM has complete disregard of Iowa law as they engage in express advocacy in our state, while refusing to release the identity of their donors, as is legally required in Iowa law,' the complaint said. 'NOM has a history of funneling secret money throughout the country to engage in similar activity.' ... 'We request a thorough investigation into their activities, including
detailed accounting of any and all contributions and their sources, as
Iowans clearly deserve to know who is funding last minute advertising
to try and influence [Tuesday's] election,' the complaint said."
Starting with one candidate in elections today: "An out-of-state group working against gay marriage has spent more money
on television ads for a Sept. 1 Iowa House race than either candidate
has raised in cash, reports filed Thursday show. Democratic
House District 90 candidate Curt Hanson raised $42,882 to compete in
the special election, while GOP candidate Stephen Burgmeier raised
$63,101, the reports show. A disclosure report filed by the New
Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage, a group that opposes
marriage for same-sex couples, has spent $86,080 on television ads in
support of Burgmeier, according to a report filed Aug. 20."
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These assholes seem to have very flexible morals when it comes to standing up for they believe "is right and moral".
Posted by: John M | Sep 1, 2009 7:39:02 PM
Right now this election is up in the air. The democrat (Hanson is ahead by 111 votes (9:35pm)) with Wapello County still not reporting. Let us all hope that Hanson wins and it will discourage NOM from abusing their position in future elections. I fear that if Burgmeier - despite the state finding NOM violations, Iowa may find itself struggling to maintain marriage equality.
its looking good Wapello County with 2 of the 8 precincts reporting is showing strong support for Curtis. (339 votes for Curtis vs. 148 for Burgmeier) (9:40pm)
Posted by: Jim in MN | Sep 1, 2009 10:39:38 PM
So far so good, with those 6 precincts still out, Hanson has a sold 65% of the vote. Looking back historically, Wapello has typically voted heavily democrat (mid to upper 50's for democratic candidates) so I am very hopeful now that Hanson will win.
Posted by: Jim in MN | Sep 1, 2009 10:47:15 PM
CHRIS HANSON WINS!!!! 8046 total votes, 3932 go to hanson, 3825 go to Burgmeier. 49 % of the vote to Hanson, 48% to Burgmeier!
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WIN REP. HANSON! The Canvassing board needs to certify the results, but this is a HUGE win for us, folks. Nom way out advertised and outspent Hanson!
Posted by: Jim in MN | Sep 1, 2009 11:07:35 PM
Thanks for the updates, JIM IN MN!!
Posted by: JerzeeMike | Sep 2, 2009 12:59:48 AM
This is a HUGE win for us that actually live in this district!!! I was glad to cast my vote for Mr. Hanson today.
Posted by: Dennis McCoy | Sep 2, 2009 3:32:18 AM
Who are these people anyway? Who funds the National Organization for Marriage? And who is that big sloppy mess Maggie Gallagher? A very right-wing, anti-gay activist has already announced she is going to run against our current representative to the Iowa House, Mark Smith (D). He is your standard Dem, not for gay marriage but is against legal moves to overturn it. Jane Jech is the Republican who is trying to take his seat and I bet she's getting NOM support. I really want to stop her from getting any political power.
Posted by: Jim from Iowa | Sep 2, 2009 6:05:30 AM
To - Jim from IOWA... Seriously? You haven't heard of the F*cked up group called the National Organization for Marriage?
Do some light reading.
Here's a good start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Organization_for_Marriage
If you want to read all of their propaganda and lies you can check out their website.
Now go to youtube and watch their "A Gathering Storm" ad campaign... then watch the hilarious parody "A Gaythering Storm"...
Posted by: Ryan | Sep 2, 2009 12:40:12 PM
Ryan--thanks for the links. I should have been clearer. I've heard of NOM, but can't believe they're a genuine grassroots movement just trying to defend marriage. There have got to be some anti-gay organizations funding NOM, like the Mormons funding Prop 8 in CA, but not being upfront about it.
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
These assholes seem to have very flexible morals when it comes to standing up for they believe "is right and moral".
Posted by: John M | Sep 1, 2009 7:39:02 PM
Right now this election is up in the air. The democrat (Hanson is ahead by 111 votes (9:35pm)) with Wapello County still not reporting. Let us all hope that Hanson wins and it will discourage NOM from abusing their position in future elections. I fear that if Burgmeier - despite the state finding NOM violations, Iowa may find itself struggling to maintain marriage equality.
The latest election results can be found at:
https://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/results/09specialresults.html
Posted by: Jim in MN | Sep 1, 2009 10:37:57 PM
its looking good Wapello County with 2 of the 8 precincts reporting is showing strong support for Curtis. (339 votes for Curtis vs. 148 for Burgmeier) (9:40pm)
Posted by: Jim in MN | Sep 1, 2009 10:39:38 PM
So far so good, with those 6 precincts still out, Hanson has a sold 65% of the vote. Looking back historically, Wapello has typically voted heavily democrat (mid to upper 50's for democratic candidates) so I am very hopeful now that Hanson will win.
Posted by: Jim in MN | Sep 1, 2009 10:47:15 PM
CHRIS HANSON WINS!!!! 8046 total votes, 3932 go to hanson, 3825 go to Burgmeier. 49 % of the vote to Hanson, 48% to Burgmeier!
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WIN REP. HANSON! The Canvassing board needs to certify the results, but this is a HUGE win for us, folks. Nom way out advertised and outspent Hanson!
Posted by: Jim in MN | Sep 1, 2009 11:07:35 PM
Thanks for the updates, JIM IN MN!!
Posted by: JerzeeMike | Sep 2, 2009 12:59:48 AM
This is a HUGE win for us that actually live in this district!!! I was glad to cast my vote for Mr. Hanson today.
Posted by: Dennis McCoy | Sep 2, 2009 3:32:18 AM
Who are these people anyway? Who funds the National Organization for Marriage? And who is that big sloppy mess Maggie Gallagher? A very right-wing, anti-gay activist has already announced she is going to run against our current representative to the Iowa House, Mark Smith (D). He is your standard Dem, not for gay marriage but is against legal moves to overturn it. Jane Jech is the Republican who is trying to take his seat and I bet she's getting NOM support. I really want to stop her from getting any political power.
Posted by: Jim from Iowa | Sep 2, 2009 6:05:30 AM
To - Jim from IOWA... Seriously? You haven't heard of the F*cked up group called the National Organization for Marriage?
Do some light reading.
Here's a good start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Organization_for_Marriage
If you want to read all of their propaganda and lies you can check out their website.
Now go to youtube and watch their "A Gathering Storm" ad campaign... then watch the hilarious parody "A Gaythering Storm"...
Posted by: Ryan | Sep 2, 2009 12:40:12 PM
Ryan--thanks for the links. I should have been clearer. I've heard of NOM, but can't believe they're a genuine grassroots movement just trying to defend marriage. There have got to be some anti-gay organizations funding NOM, like the Mormons funding Prop 8 in CA, but not being upfront about it.
Posted by: Jim from Iowa | Sep 3, 2009 6:31:42 AM