Leave a Comment Sagesse
More web site scrubbing by NOM: “Welcome to 404 error page!”
October 9, 2010
By HRC
The Ruth Institute– a project of NOM’s Marriage Education Fund—took down a document from its web site that would place the Ruth Institute’s founder and president at an event supporting the campaign of Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina. This document was included as support material in our request earlier this week calling on the National Organization for Marriage to explain why its tax-exempt charitable organization, the Ruth Institute –is violating federal laws by intervening on behalf of a candidate for elected office.
The scrubbed blog post written by the Ruth Institute’s founder, Jennifer Roback Morse, (see image below) reads in part:
I will be in LA this morning, representing NOM at a press conference for the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles. From their press release:
The Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, an organization of conservative Hispanics, will announce the details of a $1 million campaign in support of California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 27 at 11:00am Pacific Time.
NOM was asked to provide a speaker in support of this effort. When I became acquainted with their views, I was eager to help…The Partnership supports Carly Fiorina because she believes in the right to life, from the moment of conception, and opposes same-sex marriage. I am happy to stand in solidarity with my Latino sisters and brothers who share these views. See you in LA!
This is the second communication that NOM has tried to hide from public view. Yesterday, the organization took down from the internet a September 28 press release titled “National Organization for Marriage and Ruth Institute Join Bus Tour Supporting Carly Fiorina in California.” The release states that “Brian Brown, president of NOM, and Jennifer Roback Morse, president of The Ruth Institute, a project of NOM’s Marriage Education Fund, will both be supporting the bus tour as it makes its way around California.”
Federal tax code says that a charitable organization may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates. Federal and state election laws also require organizations to disclose their campaign expenditures.
Filed under: NOM Exposed,Right-wing
Having technical problems? E-mail prop8trial AT couragecampaign DOT org for assistance!
62 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Sagesse | October 9, 2010 at 5:42 am
So much light shining in corners where NOM and Ruth would prefer to hide. Keep up the good work
.
and subscriging.
2.
Kathleen | October 9, 2010 at 5:44 am
Hoping someone is making a complaint to the IRS.
3.
Ronnie | October 9, 2010 at 5:45 am
Oh silly NOM…Tricks are for kids…& so is hide & seek….BOO!!!!….. ; ) …Ronnie
4.
Ann S. | October 9, 2010 at 5:45 am
Me, too.
5.
Felyx | October 9, 2010 at 6:04 am
Does anyone know if a state or federal government agency can be sued to enforce the law?
I am not thrilled with the LDS results. What is the point of threat to terminate status is it is not carried out? If anyone violated that law it was the Mormon Church, and not on just one occasion! So here is NOM and Ruth Instigators doing the same thing with no serious repercussions… yet.
Wasn't it the Church of Scientology that got revoked at one time?
Anyway, I was just wondering…
6.
Chris in Lathrop | October 9, 2010 at 6:10 am
So much light shining in corners where NOM and Ruth would prefer to hide.
And under rocks! >:)
7.
Chris in Lathrop | October 9, 2010 at 6:14 am
Tricks may be for kids, but I will hand out Halloween candy to anyone still young enough at heart to put on an actual costume and go trick-or-treating! @Maggie, et al: childishness does not count!
8.
Paulie | October 9, 2010 at 6:44 am
Don't you think Nom has the "obligation" to mitigate damages?
I don't know that I would call this hiding as much as correcting mistakes, no?
9.
Kate | October 9, 2010 at 6:45 am
Except that they can't correct the fact that they already participated in an illegal manner.
10.
Jeff | October 9, 2010 at 6:46 am
Churches/non-profits can campaign on issues (prop 8/gambling etc) but cant endorse candidates – that's the difference here.
11.
Bob Barnes | October 9, 2010 at 6:49 am
There is one thing to say about the Ruth Institute, they allow participation on their blogs. Like a hearty debate, be civil and have at it.
http://www.ruthblog.org/
12.
AndrewPDX | October 9, 2010 at 6:52 am
ooo, now there is a truly scary Halloween costume idea: dress up as Brian or Maggie… seeing that face at my door would make my already-sugar-upset stomach heave.
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Andrew
13.
Rhie | October 9, 2010 at 7:01 am
Scribing
14.
JonT | October 9, 2010 at 7:58 am
…And in various crevasses where the sun doesn't typically shine.
15.
grod | October 9, 2010 at 8:29 am
@ Kathleen
Would it be more advantageous that a complaint come from an individual like yourself or an organization like Courage Institute? Or both?
16.
Eric | October 9, 2010 at 8:37 am
Prop 8 Defender Flees Televised Discussion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-davidson/prop-8…
17.
Kathleen | October 9, 2010 at 8:49 am
I know nothing about how the IRS responds to these complaints. Sorry I can't help.
18.
Tomato | October 9, 2010 at 9:02 am
"The Ruth Institute. One Man, One Woman, For Life"
Umm, no. The biblical Ruth was ONE WOMAN, ANOTHER WOMAN, FOR LIFE.
These freaks have named themselves after one member of a devoted lesbian couple, honored and cherished and immortalized in the Word of God. Ruth 1:16-17
19.
Kate | October 9, 2010 at 9:08 am
Maybe they mean Babe Ruth.
20.
Chris in Lathrop | October 9, 2010 at 9:34 am
The GWB masks are scary enough for me as it is with out Brian the Bigot Brown or Maggie showing up at my door. Yeesh! :
21.
Elizabeth Oakes | October 9, 2010 at 9:58 am
Is this something that should be brought to the attention of AFER? I mean, they've got the legal talent that might know what to do with this….
22.
Elizabeth Oakes | October 9, 2010 at 10:00 am
I pity the fool who comes dressed up like a NOMbie to MY door….
23.
Phil L | October 9, 2010 at 10:04 am
Yeah, the fact that they removed the blogs and online information doesn't change the fact that they spent untold amounts of money on a bus with their logos all over it, parading around California campaigning for Fiorina.
The damage has been done already and it can't be "corrected".
24.
truthspew | October 9, 2010 at 10:22 am
Keep dogging them. Keep on doing it, expose them as the hypocrites that they are.
And hopefully the FEC will take a look now.
25.
alaneckert | October 9, 2010 at 10:27 am
If someone knows where and how, then I'm sure many people would be on their way right now to file a complaint.
26.
Tomato | October 9, 2010 at 10:57 am
I really think these people just don't READ the bible. They have no clue. Look at that study all over the news last week that showed atheists and agnostics knew more about religion and the bible than CINOs. I can completely believe that.
27.
Ann S. | October 9, 2010 at 10:59 am
Elizabeth is channeling Mr. T!!
28.
Kate | October 9, 2010 at 11:11 am
I must be the only one who has never had a trick-or-treater at my door.
29.
Jim | October 9, 2010 at 11:38 am
Here's information from the Federal Election Commission for reporting illegal activities such as those done by Ruth Institute:
http://fec.gov/pages/brochures/complain.shtml
30.
Tony Douglass in Ca | October 9, 2010 at 11:53 am
Bet they think they can hide on the Dark Side Of the Moon!!
31.
Richard A. Walter (s | October 9, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Looks as though NOM is going to Shakespeare for their tactics. "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." I don't remember which of Shakespeare's works this is from, but I am sure someone here will.
32.
Papa Foma | October 9, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Speaking of errors – this is off topic but regarding a continuing error:
I keep reading about Judge Walker ignoring the will of the people by overriding 7 million votes of Californians.
These are the stats I found on the vote on Prop 8.
Can anyone elucidate?
5,388,939 million for prop 8
4,883,460 million against prop 8
Papa Foma
33.
grod | October 9, 2010 at 12:41 pm
@ Richard A. Walter
Apparently not Shakespear but Walter Scott , in Canto VI, Stanza 17 of "Marmion" (1808) an epic poem about the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513.
34.
Kathleen | October 9, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Not sure where those numbers came from, but according to the official numbers at the state's website. Look at the link:
"Votes For and Against State Ballot Measures"
7,001,084 for Prop 8
6,401,482 against
35.
Kathleen | October 9, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Here's the link: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general/
36.
grod | October 9, 2010 at 12:56 pm
@ Jim
That is a very helpful link. Yesterday Sagesse , who leads of the comments on today's thread, suggested that Courage Campaign and HRC could find an ally in Americans United for Separation of Church and State in making a complaint. S/he gave their link as http://www.au.org/ I am sure the idea would equally apply to FEC.
37.
grod | October 9, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Indeed, here is the link to submitting a report of a violation to The Seperation group: http://www.au.org/take-action/report-a-violation/
38.
Paul in Minneapolis | October 9, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Katherine Kersten has written another one of her lame anti-same-sex marriage columns in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/104…
39.
Michelle Evans | October 9, 2010 at 1:57 pm
I posted this on a different P8TT thread with concern to the voters in 2008:
In the 2008 election, there were 17.3 million registered voters in California. So if 7 million voted for Prop 8 and over 6 million voted against it, there is still 4 million registered voters who did not vote in the election, or did not specifically vote for or against Prop 8.
Even taking into account that 7 million people in our state voted to take away our right to marriage equality, that means that they were only 41 percent of the eligible voters. Thus their continued argument that they represent the will of the majority of Californians is simply wrong. Of course NOM and the Prop 8 idiots would never be wrong about anything…
Guess that’s why they go in and scrub their web site so they can say with their christian clear consciences that they would never do such a thing, since the evidence supposedly no longer exists. Sort of like Rick Warren from Saddleback Church, just down the street from me, scrubbed the web of all the hateful things he said about LGBT people, so that now he can say he loves us all.
40.
Ronnie | October 9, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Hey Trackers…I got home from the March on Stonewall @ 12:30am (ET)…It was great…I met Lt. Dan Choi…my mom went all celebrity shocked…like a teenage girl at a Tennie-Bopper concert…that was cute..ran into some new friends we met in DC at the Big Commit who live here in NJ….. I know there were a lot of photographers…not sure if there was video…I hope there was….I got some great photos…I'll try to upload them tomorrow….I'm exhausted…so I'm going to lay down, watch Tu Wong Fu then sleep….EQUALITY NOW!!!….<3…Ronnie
41.
Mark M. (Seattle) | October 9, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Oh cool!!
Can't wait to see the pix Ronnie
42.
Straight Ally #3008 | October 9, 2010 at 3:48 pm
We have always been at war with Eastasia.
43.
Sheryl, Mormon Mothe | October 9, 2010 at 3:48 pm
It is nice that they do differing views.
However, that home party kit they sell for one to encourage one's friends, neighbors, and families to become bigots bothers me big time.
Sheryl, Mormon Mother
44.
Straight Ally #3008 | October 9, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Good for you, Ronnie! I met Lt. Choi earlier this year – really inspiring speaker.
45.
Straight Ally #3008 | October 9, 2010 at 3:51 pm
These people think the universe is 6,000 years old, they're not big on getting facts straight.
46.
Kathleen | October 9, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Looking forward to the picts!
47.
Michael | October 9, 2010 at 6:03 pm
After the shrill anti-gay pressure group NOM spends millions bullying judges, the Legislature and the Governor in Iowa; pro-equality citizens of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, California and New York, and half of America with their Hate Tour this past summer, I hope this latest illegal abomination is being reported to the proper authorities? If not, we should have a protest outside the building that houses the entity we report this to (IRS?) with lots and lots of noise and signs saying, "Why Is NOM ABOVE The Law?"
48.
Chad | October 9, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Bullies always make war against new things. They seem to think they can make it all go away if they simply burn IT out of existence. Over the ages, these types have burned scrolls, temples, art, witches, heretics, and even razed entire civilizations into obscurity. The painful futility of their efforts has given way to pathetic desparation. I just hope that we won't allow them to get away with it this time (again). We have them backed into a corner, and now is the time to strike. They must be shown as much mercy as their vicitims received (none).
49.
Sagesse | October 9, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Katherine Kersten,,,, haven't heard that name in a while. Don't miss her in the least. The comments seem to lean to the positive, tho.
Minnesota has flirted with passing marriage equality before. Paul, how close is the race, can you tell?
50.
Sagesse | October 9, 2010 at 11:02 pm
@ Michelle Evans
One thing that is never questioned (remember Bush v Gore?) is that the 'will of the people' is unequivocally understood as 50% +1 of the actual voters. It is still true to say that 6.4 million Californians voted No on 8, but the rest of the 17 million registered voters who stayed home allowed the 13.4 million who voted to speak for them. That's why it is so important to get-out-the-vote.
51.
Paul in Minneapolis | October 10, 2010 at 12:39 am
The last poll I saw shows democrat Mark Dayton with a solid lead (11 points, if I remember correctly) over republican Tom Emmer. Independent Tom Horner is running behind Emmer but is gaining on him — he was approaching 20% support a week or two ago.
Horner, who along with Dayton favors marriage equality, seems to be splitting the republican vote! Emmer is way, way right-wing — too far right for most Minnesota republicans. Dayton is considered far left-wing, but my take is that Emmer is farther right than Dayton is left.
Centrist democrats seem to be supporting Dayton more than centrist republicans are supporting Emmer. This is important, because in Minnesota most elections require the winning candidate to win a mere plurality (not majority) vote. Our current "governor," Tim Pawlenty, won both of his terms with non-majority pluralities; more people voted against him than for him.
(An aside: Minnesota is experimenting with instant runoff voting, which would solve the problem of candidates winning elections without majority support. We used IRV in Minneapolis elections last year, and it was very well received. I'm hopeful that we will eventually expand IRV to all races in Minnesota.)
Once Horner reaches 20% support in the polls, he is likely to be seen as a truly viable candidate for whom a vote would not be "wasted" — and will likely pull even more support from republicans. (Horner himself is a former republican.) Even if he pulls votes from democrats, he probably wouldn't pull enough to give Emmer the lead.
So it's looking very good here for marriage equality! Both Dayton and Horner have said they will sign a marriage equality bill — and with Emmer polling so poorly, it looks like Dayton or Horner will win and get the chance to do just that.
Personally, I'd be happy with either Dayton or Horner. I'm firmly in the "anyone but Emmer" crowd!
52.
Kate | October 10, 2010 at 12:41 am
I hope you have a photo of your mom with Lt. Choi to post!
53.
Ronnie | October 10, 2010 at 12:58 am
I took a picture with him…my mom really doesn't like getting her picture taken…I should have though… <3…Ronnie
54.
Sagesse | October 10, 2010 at 1:19 am
Excellent. I have ties to Minnesota… both my maternal grandparents were born in Minneapolis/St Paul, although they moved west to Montana. Minnesotans, like most mid-westerners are such nice people.
55.
Lesbians Love Boies | October 10, 2010 at 2:23 am
Late to the Scribe Party…better late than never!
56.
Michael Herman | October 10, 2010 at 4:49 am
Report them to the authorities.
57.
Gregory in SLC | October 11, 2010 at 10:21 am
Awesome Ronnie
I love the feeling when we come together for a great cause!
58.
Kathlene | October 12, 2010 at 6:49 pm
If you believe that the activities or operations of a tax-exempt organization are inconsistent with its tax-exempt status, you may file a complaint with the Exempt Organizations Examination Division:
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=139029…
Everyone feel free to do this! Maybe HRC and/or the Courage Campaign should too?
59.
Kathlene | October 12, 2010 at 6:50 pm
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=139029…
60.
fiona64 | October 13, 2010 at 3:31 am
Yep. All of it.
One of the most amazing Christian groups, in terms of equality (many women held leadership positions for example), was the Cathars of Languedoc (a region of Southern France).
They were wiped out by the Catholic church.
Interesting article about them here: http://www.ancientquest.com/embark/cathars.html
/sidetracking the conversation with historical trivia about religious-based bullying
Love,
Fiona
61.
fiona64 | October 13, 2010 at 3:32 am
PS: To my "yep, all of it," I have one exception.
I think that I would rather show mercy to people whom I pity than violence. I will call them out on their hatred, yes, but I will not show them the same violence that has been shown to me and others.
Love,
Fiona
62.
Rhie | October 13, 2010 at 6:50 am
I agree with you. Well, sometimes, for a few minutes, I would RATHER hurt them very badly. However, I believe that one of the difference between humans and animals is that humans can take a look at such impulses and decide not to act on them.
In the end, I prefer reactions like those of Feed Equality: return good for violence. Show, with actions, that LGBT people are simply people trying to live, to help, to love.
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