The Debate Over Obama’s First “Broken Promise”

Huffington Post

The Obama team’s decision to drop the idea of forcing oil and natural gas companies to pay a tax on their windfall profits has caused a firestorm among liberals and small business coalitions.

As first reported in the Houston Chronicle, Obama’s reference to a windfall profits tax, which he articulated during the campaign at a time of skyrocketing gas prices, had been removed from the transition team’s Website, change.gov:

President-elect Barack Obama has quietly shelved a proposal to slap oil and natural gas companies with a new windfall profits tax.
An aide for the transition team acknowledged the policy shift Tuesday, after a small-business group discovered the proposal — touted throughout much of the campaign — had been dropped from the incoming administration’s Web site.

“President-elect Obama announced the policy during the campaign because oil prices were above $80 per barrel,” the aide said. “They are below that now and expected to stay below that.”

At liberal blog Campaign For America’s Future, David Sirota writes:

Between this move and the move to wait to repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, it seems like the Obama team is buying into the right-wing frame that raising any taxes – even those on the richest citizens and wealthiest corporations – is bad for the economy. Of course, that frame is debunked by history. And while sure, it’s OK to rack up deficits so as to spend our way out of the economic crisis, it’s sorta silly to ignore the tax moves that could be implemented to limit those deficits where possible.
Oh, and one last thing – if oil prices are down and oil industry profits are truly down, what’s the harm in passing a windfall profits tax? Even if you buy the right-wing nonsense about a windfall profits tax “hurting the industry” or “hurting the economy” when it is applied, if there really are no windfall profits to tax, then it won’t be applied.

 

On Mother Jones’ blog, Nick Baumann wrote a post asking, “Did Barack Obama just break his first camaign promise?”:

Obama talked about a windfall profits tax as early as April. As crude oil prices topped $110 a barrel, Obama promised to “put a windfall profits tax on oil companies and use it to help … families pay their heating and cooling bills and reduce energy costs.” And in August, the Democratic nominee issued a campaign ad that promised “a windfall profits tax on big oil to give families a thousand dollar rebate.” The windfall profits tax was a key point of contention between President-elect Obama and McCain in June, when McCain criticized Obama for the plan, calling it “dangerous”.

The removal was noticed by the American Small Business League which fumed in a press release:

The American Small Business League questions whether the sudden elimination of this issue is a further indication that large corporations are already demonstrating their ability to influence the Obama adminstration…
President-elect Obama owes the American people an explanation as to why these campaign promises have been pulled from his agenda.

Human Rights Contradictions Evident With Obama’s Attorney General Pick

Eric Holder, Jr.

From MAMA Radio in Colombia:

Holder’s Links to Chiquita Brands International Not a Good Sign for Justice For the Victims of Paramilitary Terror
By Mario A. Murillo

(Bogotá, Colombia)

First the good news: We’re two months away from President George W. Bush’s last full day in the White House. The countdown for the end of the nightmare has begun in earnest.

Now the bad news: As Barack Obama puts together his cabinet and eyes a slew of former Clinton officials for key staff positions, it is becoming ever more apparent that all those calls for change coming from progressive circles in the U.S. – and abroad – have fallen on deaf ears.

Most striking, at least for the time being, is the soon to be named position of the top law enforcement official of the country. It looks like the first African-American President will appoint the first African-American attorney general in the coming days, something that on the surface looks like an advance, but should actually sound alarm bells for anybody seeking true change in the way things are done in Washington, especially when it comes to bringing corporate criminals to justice.

Help Georgia and Minnesota Democrats

 

In Georgia, a run-off is scheduled for December 2nd between State Representative Jim Martin and Senator Saxby Chambliss.  We need to raise money for the run-off campaign.  Voting started today so we need to get busy.  Victory Fund limit is $12,300.  To contribute to this race, go to http://www.actblue.com/page/senatepostseason and click on Martin. 

Contributions to this race DO count against your federal limit.

 

In Minnesota, about 206 votes separate Norm Coleman and Al Franken out of 2.88 million cast.  We need money to pay for canvassers, lawyers and training recount volunteers.  They trained 1,000 people this weekend but still need more.  To contribute to the recount, go to http://www.actblue.com/page/senatepostseason and click on Franken.  The limit for the recount is $12,300 per person. 

Contributions to the Re-count do NOT count against your federal limit.  If you have maxed out federally you can still contribute to the recount. 

 

Who Passed Prop 8? Here’s the List

Thanks to Anna Matsen for passing along the list!

Californians Against Hate

We present the Californians Against Hate Dishonor Roll. We want the country to know who gave the $36 million to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign that ended same-sex marriage in California. We have posted all major donors on our web site who gave $5000.00 and more, many much more! We’ve taken public information from the California Secretary of State’s Office and added telephone numbers and web sites when available. We also included commentary on some of the more interesting and controversial donors. Individuals and businesses gave a vast amount of money to take away our equality, and we want you to know who they are.

Knights of Columbus, New Haven, CT
Headquarters: 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510 • Tel: 203.752.4000 • Web: www.kofc.org/un/index.cfm
California: 15808 Arrow Blvd, Suite A, Fontana, CA 92335 • Tel: 909.434.0460 • Web: www.kofc-california.org
$1,425,000
Knights of Columbus (Headquarters) gave: $250,000 on 2/4/08, $1,000,000 on 8/15/08 and $150,000 on 10/21/08
Knights of Columbus (California) gave: $25,000 on 4/18/08

Headquartered in New Haven, CT, the Knights of Columbus has 1.7 million members and is required to provide life insurance to its members. Founded in 1882, it acts as the political arm of the Catholic Church. It has given millions of dollars to fight stem cell research initiatives and to fund constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage across the United States. The Knights of Columbus is chartered as a fraternal benefit society, and is set up as a 501(c)8 corporation.

Howard Ahmanson, Jr., Irvine, CA
P.O. Box 19061, Irvine, CA 92623-9061
$1,395,000
Howard “Howie” Ahmanson, Jr.’s company Fieldstead & Co. gave: $100,000 on 2/22/08, $200,000 on 2/29/08, $100,000 on 3/24/08, $100,000 on 8/26/08, $100,000 on 8/28/08, $300,000 on 9/25/08, $95,000 on 10/18/08, $250,000 on 10/27/08 and $150,000 on 10/22/08.

Fieldstead & Co. is a company owned by the heir of the Home Savings & Loan fortune, Howard “Howie” Ahmanson, Jr. Ahmanson is a major contributor to numerous far right religious political causes. His past association with R.J. Rushdoony’s controversial Christian Reconstructionist movement was an early influence on Ahmanson’s political viewpoint. Ahmanson has stated that his “goal is the total integration of biblical law into our lives.”

Referring to his close friend Rashdoony, Ahmanson is reported to have “never supported his mentor’s calls for the death penalty for homosexuals,” rather, as the Orange County Register reported many years later in 2004, “he stops just short of condemning the idea”, saying that he “no longer consider[s] [it] essential” to stone people who are deemed to have committed certain immoral acts. Ahmanson and his wife Roberta completed a four part interview with the Orange County Register in 2004 in an attempt to clarify the rumors that swirled around them. Ahmanson has connections with three other major donors on this list: Roland Hinz, Robert Hurtt and Edward Atsinger III, who have pooled their money to support like-minded candidates and causes through the Capitol Commonwealth Group (CCG) and Allied Business PAC. They spent more than $3,600,000 back in the 1992 election cycle alone. [1]

John Templeton/Josephine Templeton, Bryn Mawr, PA
300 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 500, West Conshohocken, PA 19428 • Tel: 610.941.2828 • Web:www.templeton.org and www.letfreedomringusa.com
$1,100,000
John Templeton, Chairman and President of the John Templeton Foundation, gave: $450,000 on 8/19 (to NOM), $450,000 on 8/19 (to Protect Marriage), $100,000 on 10/8/08 and $100,000 on 10/29/08.

John Templeton, Jr. is the son of the late John Marks Templeton. John, Sr. was born in Winchester, Tennessee in 1912, and made his fortune through the Templeton Funds that he started and later sold in 1992 to Franklin Group for $440 million. John, Jr. is now the President of the John Templeton Foundation which has nearly $1.5 billion in assets, and gave away $70 million in grants in 2007. The Foundation funds research into “life’s biggest questions,” including science, religion, ultimate reality and wisdom.

John Templeton, Jr. founded and is Chairman of ‘Let Freedom Ring, Inc.’ (www.letfreedomringusa.com), a far right think-tank that he set up in 2004 with a $1 million donation. [14] He is a member of the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which made news when they were forced to leave their Philadelphia headquarters due to a conflict between Philadelphia’s non-discrimination policy, and that of the Boy Scouts, which allows discrimination of gays. Legal proceedings continue on the case. [12] [13]

National Organization for Marriage, Princeton, NJ
20 Nassau Street, Suite 242, Princeton, NJ 08542 • Tel: 609.688.0450 • Web: www.nomcalifornia.org andwww.nationformarriage.org
$1,041,134.80*
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) gave: $225,000 on 1/22/08, $38,132.50 on 2/1/08, $47,402.25 on 2/18/08, $172,500 on 2/21/08, $108,000 on 2/22/08, $105,000 on 3/7/08, $50,000 on 4/14/08, $25,000 on 4/18/08, $25,000 on 4/18/08, $100,100 on 4/24/08, $25,000 on 4/25/08, $20,000 on 7/30/08 and $100,000 on 10/21/08.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is headed by syndicated columnist Maggie Gallagher, President and Brian Brown, Executive Director. Gallagher has worked for several other organizations before founding NOM. She is best known for being in the center of a (George W.) Bush Administration scandal. She had a $21,500 contract with the Health and Human Services Department in 2002 to help promote the administration’s $300 million “healthy marriage” initiative, but did not disclose her contract and was using her column to promote the program. Gallagher attempted to withhold this information until she finally admitted the conflict four years later. [2]

Due to its sizeable early financial support of ProtectMarriage.com, NOM is chiefly responsible for the qualification of Proposition 8. Their funds made it possible to hire the signature gathering firm of Bader and Associates. Bader then was able to hire hundreds of professional petition circulators to collect the necessary signatures to qualify Proposition 8 for the November ballot. The Protect Marriage Campaign spent $1,227,263 with the Bader organization alone between January and June of 2008.

Terry Caster & Family, San Diego, CA
A-1 Self Storage–4607 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA 92120 • Tel: 800.219.4854 • Web: www.a1storage.comand www.castergrp.com and www.servinghands.com
$693,000
The Caster Family has given: Terry Caster–$100,000 on 1/5/08, $62,500 on 2/5/08 and $10,000 on 3/27/08; Barbara Caster–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Brian Caster–$10,000 on 1/28/08, $9,100 on 4/10/08 and $10,000 on 7/8/08; Candice Caster–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Cha Cha Caster–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Christina Caster–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Craig Caster–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Gary Davidson–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Justin Caster–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Kenneth Kremensky–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Mechele Kremensky–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Nick Caster–$9,100 on 4/10/08; Caster Family Trust–$400,000 on 10/30/08

The Caster Family owns A-1 Self Storage, with 40 locations throughout California. Terry Caster is quoted in the San Diego Union Tribune as saying “without solid marriage you are going to have a sick society.” Son Craig Caster is the Founder/Pastor of Family Discipleship Ministries in San Diego (www.familydiscipleshipmin.com). The Caster family has donated more to Proposition 8 than any other family in San Diego.

Robert Hurtt, Orange, CA
Container Supply Company–PO Box 5367, Garden Grove, CA 92846-0367 • Tel: 714.892.8321 • Web:www.containersupplycompany.com
$550,000
Robert Hurtt, President of Container Supply, gave: $25,000 on 4/18/08, $25,000 on 7/22/08 (from Container Supply), $250,000 on 9/5/08 and $250,000 on 10/17/08.

Former California State Senator Rob Hurtt owns Container Supply Company in Garden Grove. Hurtt had a quick rise to power when he spent $300,000 of his own money to win an Orange County State Senate seat in 1994. Hurt went on to overthrow the Republican leader Ken Maddy in 1995, and become the Minority leader. He was defeated 3 years later in 1998 by Democrat Joe Dunn.

Focus On the Family, Colorado Springs, CO
8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920 • Tel: 800.232.6459 • Web: www.focusonthefamily.com
$539,643.66*
Focus on the Family gave: $50,000 on 12/4/07, $22,259.46 on 1/22/08, $10,834 on 1/28/08, $50,000 on 4/7/08, $250,000 on 6/13/08, $20,000 on 7/24/08, $9,152.63 on 7/29/08, $1,669.37 on 8/6/08, $21,402 on 9/4/08, $4,306.83 on 9/4/08, $1,739.37 on 9/15/08 and $100,000 on 10/28/08.

Founded in 1977 by Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family is the most powerful evangelical ministry in the country. Focus on the Family is located in Colorado Springs, CO and is now run day-to-day by President & CEO, Jim Daly, but James Dobson is still the face and voice of Focus on the Family. Their 2005 budget was $129 million and they have 1,300 employees. They advocate creationism and have called same-sex marriage “the most radical human experiment.”

One of James Dobson’s more famous quotes: “Communities do not let prostitutes, pedophiles, voyeurs, adulterers, and those who sexually prefer animals to publicly celebrate their lifestyles, so why should homosexuals get such privileges?” Dobson receives lucrative royalties from the many books that he writes.

*Contributions to this organization also appear separately on this report.

American Family Association, Tupelo, MS
P.O. Drawer 2440, 107 Parkgate, Tupelo, MS 38803-2440 • Tel: 662.844.5036 • Web: www.afa.net
$500,000 on 7/22/08

The American Family Association (AFA) of Tupelo, Mississippi was founded in 1977 by Donald E. Wildmon. He serves as Chairman and his son Tim is President. According to its web site, “AFA exists to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth and traditional values.” They are established as a 501(c)(3) Corporation and according to their IRS Form 990 for 2007, brought in $22.5 million. AFA owns over 180 American Family Radio stations in 28 states across the country. [3] AFA has led several national boycotts against companies such as Walt Disney (1996–2005) www.afa.net/disney Ford (2005) www.boycottford.com and just launched a boycott against McDonalds Corporation www.boycottmcdonalds.com all due to their support of fairness and equality for gays and lesbians. AFA is currently targeting the Hallmark Card Company because it began selling a same-sex wedding cards.

Claire Reiss, La Jolla, CA
Reisung Enterprises 
$500,000 on 10/30/08

Elsa Prince, Holland, MI
Edgar & Elsa Prince Foundation–190 River Ave, Suite 300, Holland, MI 49423 • Web: www.frc.org
$450,000
Elsa Prince gave: $200,000 on 8/8/08 and $250,000 on 8/14/08

Elsa Prince of Holland, Michigan is a board member of James Dobson’s Focus on the Family and their lobbying operation, the Family Research Council (FRC). Her late husband, Edgar, founded Prince Automotive and invented the lighted sun visor mirror which made them billionaires. Prince Automotive was later bought out by Johnson Controls. Edgar Prince was instrumental in creating the FRC and upon his death, Elsa Prince provided the money to build their new headquarters in Washington D.C. [8] At Edgar’s funeral, he was eulogized by James Dobson and Gary Bauer.

Prince’s son Erik serves as Vice President of the Edgar & Elsa Prince Foundation, but is best-known as co-founder and CEO of Blackwater Worldwide www.blackwaterusa.com the highly controversial private security company with federal contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan worth a reported $500 million/year. The Princes have a sprawling ranch in Cody, Wyoming not far from Vice President Dick Cheney’s principal residence in Jackson, WY. Over the years, Blackwater has been represented by high-profile lawyer Ken Starr. [9]

The Edgar & Elsa Prince Foundation is a major donor to the Alliance Defense Fund, whose other major donors include Prince’s daughter and son-in-law, Richard and Betsy DeVos (Richard is the son of the Co-founder of Amway) and the Bolthouse Foundation, whose founder, William Bolthouse, also appears on this list. [10]

Concerned Women for America, Washington, DC
1015 Fifteenth Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005 • Tel: 202.488.7000 • Web: www.cwfa.org
$409,000 on 9/26/08

Concerned Women for America was founded in 1979 by Christian Beverly LaHaye, wife of Christian Coalition co-founder Timothy LaHaye. The organization is a conservative Christian political action group that focuses on six “core issues”, which they view as Biblically-based. LaHaye was quoted in a 1987 interview with Ms. Magazine, “Yes, religion and politics do mix. America is a nation based on biblical principles. Christian values dominate our government. The test of those values is the Bible. Politicians who do not use the Bible to guide their public and private lives do not beling in office.” [21]

Hartford Holdings, LLC, Provo, UT
$300,000 on 10/31/08

John Dalton, Yorba Linda, CA
J & L Consulting, Inc. 
$250,000 on 10/27/08

David Moon, Alpine, UT
Esnet, Ltd.
$200,000 on 10/28/08

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC
$200,000 on 10/27/08

The Vineyard Group, LLC, Mesa/Queen Creek, AZ
1223 S. Clearview Ave., Mesa, AZ 85209 • Tel: 480.222.5800
$160,000
The Vineyard Group gave: $25,000 on 6/23/08, $35,000 on 7/15/08 and $100,000 on 10/29/08.

The Vineyard Group is part of Cardon Hiatt Bowden, a real estate and investment company based in Mesa, AZ. Principals include Elijah and Craig Cardon, Broc Hiatt and Brent Bowden, many of whom were big financial backers of Mitt Romney for President. Broc Hiatt is a Director of the New York based Institute for American Values, where NOM founder Maggie Gallagher is an Affiliate Scholar.

Dorothy Nielson, La Verne, CA
$150,000
Dorothy Nielson, a retiree of La Verne, CA gave: $150,000 on 8/8/08

Doug Manchester, San Diego, CA
Manchester Financial Group–One Market Place, 33rd Floor, San Diego, CA 92101 • Tel: 619.231.3800 • Web:www.mresorts.com
$125,000
Doug Manchester, Chairman of Manchester Financial Group, LLC, gave: $125,000 on 1/22/08

Among Doug Manchester’s many holdings are The Manchester Grand Hyatt and the 1 year old Grand del Mar Hotel, both in San Diego. His $125,000 early contribution to qualify Proposition 8 is now possibly the most famous political contribution in America. When it became public on March, 15th there were cries for a boycott of his hotels. Californians Against Hate along with Unite Here, Local 30 and many other gay and lesbian leaders officially called for a boycott of Doug Manchester’s hotels on July 18, 2008. www.boycottmanchesterhotels.com. The boycott has been highly successful, resulting in several conventions and meetings being cancelled and moved to competing locations.

Pacific Shores Masonry, Corona, CA
Stephen Lang is owner of Pacific Shores Masonry. [11]–1369 Walker Ln., Corona, CA 92879 • Tel: 951.371.8550
$125,000 on 8/13/08

Mike Murray, Redmond, WA
Crystal Springs Foundation 
$100,000 on 10/27/08

Michele Adams Watterson, Cache, UT
Watermark Investments, LC 
$100,000 on 10/29/08

Roger Bayer, SCC, UT
The Byron Company 
$100,000 on 10/27/08

Katharine Garff, Bountiful, UT
$100,000 on 10/29/08

Belinda Vandersloot, Idaho Falls, ID
$100,000 on 10/28/08

Matthew S. Wheelwright, Bakersfield, CA
Wheelwright Consulting, Consultant
$100,000 on 9/11/08

Joseph Moran, Los Altos, CA
Retired
$100,000 on 9/24/08

ECCU, Brea, CA
$100,000 on 9/23/08

Kelvin H. Moss, Granite Bay, CA
KH Moss Company, Investor
$100,000 on 9/10/08

William Bolthouse, Bakersfield, CA
The Bolthouse Foundation–2000 Oak Street, Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301-3058 • Tel: 661.334.1915 • Web:www.thebolthousefoundation.org
$100,000 on 4/3/08

William Bolthouse, Jr. and his wife created the Bolthouse Foundation “to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by supporting charitable and religious organizations whose ministry, goals, and operating principles are consistent with evangelical Christianity as described in The Bolthouse Foundation Statement of Faith. [17] He was made wealthy through his family business, Bolthouse Farms, the 2nd largest producer of carrots in the world. He helped expand the business into beverages and salad dressings, and in 2005 sold 72% of the business to Madison Dearborn Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm. 28% of Bolthouse Farms is now owned by Bolthouse’s daughter and son-in-law, Andre Radandt, who is the company’s Chairman. Bolthouse Farms recently took significant steps to demonstrate that it is committed to diversity, including those in the LGBT community. They recently extended medical benefits to same sex partners of employees, and have given generously to several national and California LGBT organizations.

Donald G. Laws, Laguna Beach, CA
N. American Health Care, 3 Monarch Bay Plaza, Suite 203, Dana Point, CA 92629 • Tel: 949.240.2423 • Web:www.nahci.com
$100,000
Donald G. Laws, Director with North American Health Care Inc, gave: $100,000 on 8/13/08

North American Health Care, Inc. contracts on a formal and informal basis with health care providers in the Western United States. It owns nursing homes and long term health care facilities.

Steve Samuelian, Laguna Beach, CA
Generations Health Care Corporate Office–20371 Irvine Ave, Suite 210, Santa Ana Heights, CA 92707 • Tel: 724.241.5600 • Web: www.lifegen.net
$100,000
Stephen Samuelian, owner of Generations Health Care [15], gave: $100,000 on 8/20/08

Generations Health Care owns and operates nursing homes and long term health care facilities. Samuelian, a Mormon Bishop in Laguna Beach, CA, has also been involved in two court cases, one in which he was accused of fraudulently taking funds from Covenant Care, a home nursing company, and using them to build his Laguna Beach home. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount in January 1999. [20] His political donations include support of Mitt Romney for President in 2007.

Armour Properties CV, LLC, Newport Beach, CA
20320 Southwest Birch St, Newport Beach, CA 92660-1787 • Tel: 949.757.0505
$75,000
Armour Properties CV, LLC gave: $75,000 on 8/30/08; Jeffrey Armour also gave $20,000 in 1996 to Americans United to Preserve Marriage 527, in Virginia. [19]

Larry Smith, Newport Beach, CA
M H I Real Company–1601 Dove St., Newport Beach, CA 92660 • Tel: 949.955.1191
$67,000
Larry Smith, an Executive with M H I Real Co. in Newport Beach, CA gave: $25,000 on 4/24/08 and $42,000 on 7/25/08

MHI Real Co is a crude oil mining production/investment company.

Richard P. Spencer, Big Sur, CA
Dick Spencer & Associates, Investments
$60,000 on 9/19/08

Alejandro J. Martinez, Capistrano Beach, CA
Self Employed/Consultant
$50,000
Alejandro Martinez gave: $9,999 on 8/20/08 and $40,001 on 9/10/08

Don R. Flora, Laguna Niguel, CA
Alphadon, Accounting
$50,000 on 9/8/08

Judy Galorath, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$50,000 on 9/8/08

S. Lee Ross, Glendale, CA
American Energy Corporation, CEO
$50,000 on 9/10/08

Loretta R. Allred, Atherton, CA
Allerd Investors
$50,000 on 9/19/08

Wilde Investments SC, LLC, San Carlos, CA
$50,000 on 9/18/08

Peter Ochs, Corona del Mar, CA
The Fieldstone Corporation, Chairman
$50,000 on 9/10/08

Dale Brown, Midland, TX
Petroleum Strategies–303 W. Wall St., Suite 1500, Midland, Texas 79701 • Tel: 432.682.0292 • Web:www.petroleumstrategies.com and www.legacylp.com
$50,000
Dale Brown, President of Petroleum Strategies gave: $50,000 on 8/4/08

Dale Brown is President of Petroleum Strategies; a Texas based Qualified Intermediary for tax-deferred, like-kind exchanges. Brown is also on the Board of Legacy Reserves LP, a publicly traded oil company (NASDAQ: LGCY) where his son Cory is the CEO and Chairman of the Board. Dale Brown is a major contributor to the Campaign for Working Families, an organization headed by far right leader Gary Bauer.

Roger Orton, Sacramento, CA
$50,000
Roger Orton of Sacramento gave: $50,000 on 8/18/08

Roger Orton is generally unknown politically. His only other political contributions were $450 to Tom McClintock for CA Lt. Governor and $200 to Sacramento area Congressman John Doolittle (R-Roseville).

Roger Benson, La Jolla, CA
7550 Hillside Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037
$50,000
Roger Benson of La Jolla gave: $50,000 on 1/31/08

Joshua Baker, Manchester, MO
BioCold Environmental–239 Seebold Spur, Fenton, MO 63026 • Tel: 636.349.0300 • Web: www.biocold.com
$50,000
Joshua Baker, a Manager for BioCold Environmental, gave: $50,000 on 5/23/08

BioCold Environmental is a leading supplier of environmental rooms and environmental chambers, with products including walk-in cold rooms and stability rooms for pharmaceutical companies.

Gerald Simonsen, Poway, CA
RM Properties–14105 Biscayne Pl., Poway, CA 92064
$50,000
Gerald Simonsen, President of RM Properties gave: $50,000 on 4/12/08

Mr. Simonsen has previously given little money to other political campaigns except for $2100 to Mitt Romney for President in 2007 and $1400 to the San Diego Lincoln Club.

Claudia P. Quist, Sunnyvale, CA
$45,000
Claudia Quist gave: $5,000 on 8/29/08 and $40,000 on 9/5/08

R. Scott Jones, Riverside, CA
Bosco Legal Services–9455 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92503 • Tel: 951.353.8281 • Web: www.boscolegal.org
$45,000
R. Scott Jones, an Investigator with Bosco Legal Services, gave: $45,000 on 8/27

Bosco Legal Services include court document filing, document shredding, investigators and mobile photocopying.

Richard Patterson, Folsom, CA
Intel–2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054-1549 • Tel: 408.765.8080 • Web: www.intel.com
$40,000
Richard Patterson, Finance Specialist for Intel, gave: $40,000 on 8/25/08

Richard Patterson is a Finance Specialist for Intel. He attended Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, UT,www.byu.edu.

Law Offices of Charles S. LiMandri, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
P.O. Box 9120, 16236 San Dieguito Road Suite 3-15, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 • Tel: 858.759.9930 • Web:www.limandrilaw.com
$37,000
The Law Offices on Charles S. LiMandri gave: $10,000 on 1/28/08 and $27,000 on 4/28/08

Charles S. LiMandri is a self-described “car accident attorney” according to his web site www.limandrilaw.com. Among his many cases, Mr. LiMandri sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, AZ and on March 15, 2005 he won. His client was awarded $2,376,189 in damages. [6] LiMandri, who lives and works in Rancho Santa Fe, recently hosted a Yes on 8 fund-raiser at his estate. He is the general counsel to the Yes on 8 campaign, and was paid $10,000 through the campaign according the California Recipient Committee Campaign Statement (State Form 460) dated 4/1/08 – 6/30/08.

Sandra Loesch, Gilroy, CA
Retired
$35,000 on 9/9/08

Andrew Pugno, Folsom, CA
Law Offices of Andrew Pugno, 101 Parkshore Dr, #100, Folsom, CA 95630-4726 • Tel: 916.608.3065 • Web:www.pugnolaw.com
$35,000
Andrew Pugno, Attorney at the Law Offices of Andrew Pugno gave: $35,000 on 4/28/08

The Law Offices of Andrew Pugno have been paid over $88,000 for their services relating to the Yes on 8 campaign.

Adamo Construction Management, Lakeside, CA
11980 Woodside Ave, Suite 5, Lakeside, CA 92040 • Tel: 619.390.6706 or 800.554.6364 • Web:www.adamoconstruction.com
$35,000
Adamo Construction Management gave: $25,000 on 1/28/08 and $10,000 on 6/20/08

Adamo Construction Management is a very large commercial/industrial design, construction and general contractor firm located in San Diego. The current President/CEO is Michael Gaetke, and the company was founded by James Adamo, Jr. Their clients have included Qualcomm, Honeywell, ITT Industries, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, as well as several municipalities, religious organizations, and the Department of Defense.

Lee A. Whatcott, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
$34,999
Lee Whatcott gave: $9,999 on 8/25/08 and $25,000 on 9/4/08

Wilma Thomas, Dublin, CA
$32,500 on 9/10/08

Stephanie S. Sorensen, Laguna Niguel, CA
$30,000 on 9/15/08

Michael Minson, Modesto, CA
Minson Commercial Services, Real Estate
$30,000
Michael Minson gave: $5,000 on 8/28/08, $15,000 on 9/6/08 and $10,000 on 9/6/08

Cal Fruit International, Yuba City, CA
$30,000
Cal Fruit International gave: $5,000 on 9/3/08 and $25,000 on 9/8/08

Sharon Bogh, Yucaipa, CA
$30,000
Sharon Bogh gave: $25,000 on 9/4/08 and $5,000 on 9/4/08

David G. Nielson, Roseville, CA
The Alliance of Insurance Agents & Brokers, Executive Director
$30,000
David Nielson gave: $25,000 on 9/8/08 and $5,000 on 8/14/08

Bob Sundstrom, San Jose, CA
Intuitive Surgical, Director
$30,000 on 9/15

Nancy L. Saunders, Los Altos, CA
Netapp, HR Operations
$30,000
Nancy Saunders gave: $25,000 on 9/11/08 and $5,000 on 9/11/08

David Christensen, Alamo, CA
Nearon Enterprises, Executive–500 La Gonda Way, Suite 210, Danville, CA 94526 • Tel: 925.743.3300
$30,000
David Christensen gave: $5,000 on 8/11/08 and $25,000 on 9/2/08

David S. Christensen, an executive with Nearon Enterprises, has been with the company since May, 1993. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Planning from Brigham Young University, and serves as a trustee and is a member of the board of directors with Nearon.

San Diego Rock Church, San Diego, CA
2277 Rosecrans St., San Diego, CA 92106 • Tel: 619.226.7625 • Web: www.therocksandiego.org
$25,679.16 on 4/22/08

Pastor Miles McPherson leads the San Diego Rock Church located near Pt. Loma. According to their website: “The vision of the Rock Church is to be a powerful evangelistic force that engages every segment of society as a motivated army of believers in Jesus Christ. We are wholeheartedly committed to using our gifts anywhere at any time to share the gospel while influencing and transforming our society.”

Amy E. Johnson, Encinitas, CA
$25,500 on 8/29/08

Robert Hoehn, Carlsbad, CA
Hoehn Motors–5475 Car Country Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008 • Tel: 760.438.4454 • Web: www.hoehnmotors.com
$25,000
Robert Hoehn, President of Hoehn Motors in Carlsbad, CA gave: $25,000 on 2/8/08

Hoehn Motors has 6 large car dealerships located along the 5 freeway in Northern San Diego County: Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi, Infiniti, Acura and Honda. Mr. Hoehn was one of the earlier backers of Proposition 8, and has had a demonstration in front of his dealerships that was organized by the North County LGBT Coalition.www.northcountylgbtcoalitionforce.org

Willis Hamilton, Orange, CA
Hamilton Materials–345 West Meats Avenue, Orange, California 92865 • Tel: 714.637.2770 • Web:www.hamiltonmaterials.com
$25,000
Willis Hamilton, President of Hamilton Materials gave: $25,000 on 7/25/08

Hamilton Materials is a company specializing in drywall finishing products. Founded in 1959, Willis Hamilton was a professional applicator who slowly used his skills to build the business.

Mark Hobbins, Trabuco Canyon, CA
FamilyIQ.com–31441 Santa Margarita Parkway Suite A, Box# 314, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 • Tel: 888.249.9596 • Web: www.FamilyIQ.com
$25,000
Mark Hobbins, Founder of www.FamilyIQ.com, gave: $25,000 on 7/23/08

Mark Hobbins founded www.FamilyIQ.com in 1997. They offer e-learning courses for a variety of life improvement issues, including improving relationships with family, friends, partners/spouses and self-improvement.

Kenneth Eldred, Portola Valley, CA
Living Stones FDTN–3000 Sand Hill Rd., Building 1, Suite #145, Menlo Park, CA 94025 • Tel: 650.561.0003 • Web:www.lsfoundation.org
$25,000
Kenneth Eldred, CEO of Living Stones FDTN gave: $25,000 on 4/24/08

Kenneth Eldred is CEO of Living Stones Foundation. According to their website: The Living Stones Foundation Charitable Trust is said to exist to serve the Lord Jesus Christ by providing financial and strategic resources to projects that lead to self-sustaining Kingdom-building ministries, where support will leverage the success of the whole body of Christ. Areas of interest include Kingdom Business, Family Values, and regional, national, and global Transformation initiatives.

Dale Broome, Redlands, CA
Loma Linda Radiology Medical Group, Loma Linda University/Medical Center RAD–11234 Anderson St, Suite B6231, Loma Linda, CA 92354 • Tel: 909.558.4394 • Web:www.ucomparehealthcare.com/drs/california/radiology/Broome_Dale.html
$25,000
Dale Broome, Head of Radiology, Abdominal Imaging, Loma Linda University gave: $5,000 on 2/22/08 and $20,000 on 5/19/08

Alan H. Anderson, Laguna Beach, CA
South Coast Health Care, Bel Vista Convalescent Hospital–5001 East Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA 90804-3296 • Tel: 562.494.5001 • Web: www.belvista.com
$25,000
Alan H. Anderson with South Coast Health Care gave: $25,000 on 8/14/08

Alan H. Anderson is also Administrator for Bel Vista Convalescent Hospital in Long Beach, CA. His prior political contributions include $1,000 to Mitt Romney for President.

Richard & Doreen S. Kopf, Alamo, CA
Fremont Group Management, LP, Attorney
$25,000
Richard Kopf, Managing Director-Operations, General Counsel and Secretary with Fremont Group Management, LP gave: $12,500 on 8/29/08; Doreen Kopf gave: $12,500 on 8/29/08

Richard Kopf previously served as Assistant General Counsel at Santa Fe Southern Pacific Corporation and as a General Counsel at Sprint Communications.

David Zuniga, Riverside, CA
Fiberco General Construction, Inc.
$25,000
David Zuniga, a contractor from Fibercui General Construction, Inc., gave: $25,000 on 8/29/08

Robert N. Packer, Lafayette, CA
$25,000 on 8/15/08

Sarah P. Harris, Danville, CA
$25,000 on 8/8/08

Dran May-Reese, Escondido, CA
$25,000
Dran May-Reese, a Homemaker from Escondido, gave: $25,000 on 8/27/08

Sherrie Bell, Tulare, CA
$25,000 on 9/17/08

Maurice Lam, Rolling Hills, CA
Maurice Lam, MD & Associates, Physician
$25,000 on 9/11/08

Malinda Hansen, Pasadena, CA
$25,000 on 9/10/08

Joseph J. Grigg, La Canada, CA
American Energy Operations, CEO
$25,000
Joseph Grigg gave: $9,900 on 8/4/08 and $15,100 on 9/11/08

Edward Helvey, Gilroy, CA
NMHCS, Executive
$25,000 on 9/10/08

Bradford Renaissance Portraits Corporation, Costa Mesa, CA
Bradford Rowley, CEO
$25,000
Bradford Rowley gave: $5,000 on 9/10/08 and $20,000 on 9/10/08

Alan L. Olsen, Fremont, CA
Groco, CPA
$25,000 on 9/11/08

Anita S. Roundy, Saratoga, CA
$25,000 on 9/5/08

Sarah P. Harris, Danville, CA
$25,000 on 8/8/08

Firoz Husein, Pebble Beach, CA
Span Construction & Engineering, Inc., Engineer
$25,000 on 9/19/08

Alan H. Anderson, Laguna Beach, CA
South Coast Health Care, Administration
$25,000 on 8/14/08

Barbara Lamprecht, Laguna Niguel, CA
$25,000 on 9/8/08

Cheryl D. Smith, Saratoga, CA
$25,000 on 9/8/08

Christianne Danielson, Santa Monica, CA
$25,000 on 9/2/08

Chuck Schreiber, Laguna Hills, CA
KBS Realty Advisor, Investments
$25,000 on 9/9/08

Dalton Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
$25,000 on 9/5/08

David A. Nearon
Alta Leaseback Co., Attorney
$25,000 on 9/8/08

Emma Lou Beecroft, San Diego, CA
$25,000 on 9/4/08

Robert N. Packer, Lafayette, CA
$25,000 on 8/15/08

David G. Lindahl, San Clemente, CA
National Purchasing Corp, Vice President
$25,000 on 9/8/08

H.D. Perrett, Santa Maria, CA
Perrett Ranches, Rancher
$25,000 on 9/8/08

Fred L. Carpenter, La Crescenta, CA
Glenwood Financial Group, Inc., Real Estate
$25,000 on 9/8/08

J. Kirk Harns, Perris, CA
Pacific Hydrotech Corp., Engineer
$25,000 on 9/8/08

Jack R. Wheatley, Palo Alto, CA
$25,000 on 9/2/08

Jan L. Burch, Las Vegas, NV
$25,000 on 9/4/08

Richard D. Piquet, Perris, CA
Rooda, Piquet & Bessee, Accountant
$25,000 on 9/8/08

Kay A. Goodman, Tustin, CA
$25,000
Kay Goodman gave: $20,000 on 9/2/08 and $5,000 on 8/4/08

John D. Tanner, Granite Bay, CA
Tanner Industries, Owner
$25,000 on 9/2/08

John D. Tanner, is owner of Tanner Industries and Western Single Ply in California, Nevada and Arizona. Tanner graduated from Brigham Young University, and served within the LDS Church as manager of physical facilities and new construction within the Church’s welfare systems.

Pro-Tech Fire Protection, Sacramento, CA
8540 Younger Creek Dr. #2, Sacramento, CA 95828 • Tel: 916.388.0255
$25,000
Pro-Tech Fire Protection gave: $5,000 on 9/8/08 and $20,000 on 9/4/08

Pro-Tech Fire Protection was co-founded by Donald H. Gordon, President and Mark A. Whittaker, CEO.

Robert Cutler, San Diego, CA
$25,000 on 9/8/08

Robert E. Greene, Villa Park, CA
$25,000 on 9/4/08

Robert A., Bolingbroke, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
$25,000 on 9/5/08

Sherri Jackman, Whittier, CA
$25,000 on 9/4/08

SRS Insurance Services, Santa Ana, CA
$25,000
SRS Insurance Services gave: $5,000 on 8/8/08 and $20,000 on 9/5/08

Tulare County Investments, LLC, Camarillo, CA
$25,000
Tulare County Investments gave: $5,000 on 8/22/08 and $20,000 on 9/11/08

Sunstone Partners, LLC, Camarillo, CA
$25,000
Sunstone Partners gave: $5,000 on 8/29/08 and $20,000 on 9/5/08

Tammilee Woodhouse, La Canada, CA
$25,000 on 9/4/08

William C. Wilcox, Danville, CA
$25,000 on 9/5/08

Darlene Olson, Orland, CA
$25,000 on 9/11/08

Craig J. Faulkner, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Faulkner Development, Manager
$25,000 on 9/10/08

Cheryl H. Wilde, Ventura, CA
$25,000 on 9/17/08

Chuck Schreiber, Laguna Hills, CA
KBS Realty Advisors, Investments
$25,000 on 9/9/08

J. Robert West, Redlands, CA
West Dermatology, Dermatologist
$25,000 on 9/17/08

Ja Layne Pugmire, Yorba Linda, CA
$25,000 on 9/12/08

Laurie Jergensen, Poway, CA
$25,000 on 9/10/08

Jaquetia Zinn, San Jose, CA
$25,000 on 9/24/08

Jeanne Muhlestein, Whittier, CA
Realtor
$25,000 on 9/17/08

Nancy Schindler, Encinitas, CA
$25,000 on 9/17/08

Norman E. Crum, Stockton, CA
Valley Pacific Petroleum Services, Inc., Owner
$25,000 on 9/11/08

Oi Lin Chen, Palso Verdes Estates, CA
Sunrider International, Adminstration
$25,000 on 9/12/08

Ronald Lakey, Alta Loma, CA
JF Saca Company, CPA
$25,000 on 9/10/08

Rebecca Jones, Wilton, WY
$25,000
Rebecca Jones gave: $10,000 on 9/13/08 and $15,000 on 9/13/08

Parley J. Livingston, Atherton, CA
PJMB Commercial, Property Management
$25,000 on 9/24/08

Jana L. Mullen, Alamo, CA
$25,000 on 9/18/08

Joanne McColm, Pleasanton, CA
$25,000 on 9/10/08

Lassens Health Food, Ventura, CA
$25,000 on 9/15/08

Laura Armstrong, Irvine, CA
$25,000 on 9/24/08

Lonnie C. McCleve, Gilbert, AZ
Greenfield Land Development, Construction/Development
$25,000 on 9/10/08

Loren K. Carroll, Kingwood, TX
$25,000 on 9/10/08

Lorenzo N. Hoopes, Oakland, CA
$25,000 on 9/24/08

Michael G. Mullin, Lomita, CA
Pacific Maritime Association, Longshore Foreman
$25,000 on 9/11/08

Robert E. Culbertson, Pleasanton, CA
BAE Systems, Electrical Engineer
$25,000 on 9/17/08

Ronald Stone, Modesto, CA
Stone & Associates, Real Estate
$25,000 on 9/17/08

Rowland W. Day, Newport Beach, CA
Lawyer
$25,000 on 9/11/08

Stephen S. May, San Luis Obispo, CA
Magnet Media, Owner
$25,000 on 9/12/08

Steve G. Keithly, La Mirada, CA
Whittier Mailing Products, Vice President
$25,000 on 9/11/08

Susan P. Facer, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$25,000 on 9/24/08

Vicki Larson, Pleasanton, CA
$25,000 on 9/12/08

John Sorensen, Laguna Niguel, CA
North American Healthcare, Executive
$24,999.99 on 9/5/08

Sherie Samuelian, Laguna Niguel, CA
$24,999 on 9/19/08

Teri L. Jones, Saratoga, CA
$24,500 on 9/5/08

Eva Ruiz, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Homemaker
$24,000 on 9/12/08

Richard E. Nicholson, Newport Beach, CA
Consultant
$23,500 on 9/17/08

Marc Barkdull, Pleasanton, CA
PJMB Commercial, Inc., Real Estate
$22,500 on 9/15/08

Hardester Family Partnership, Investments, San Jose, CA
$22,500 on 9/24/08

Sandra M. Bertha, Olivenhaim, CA
$22,000 on 9/11/08

Whittier Family Foundation, Yorba Linda, CA
$21,500 on 9/18/08

Greggory R. Devore, MD, AMC, La Canada, CA
Greggory R. Devore, Physician
$20,000
Greggory Devore gave: $5,000 on 8/25/08 and $15,000 on 9/15/08

Steven L. Bush, La Crescenta, CA
Prestige Preschools, Inc., CEO
$20,000 on 9/15/08

Sherwood Capital, Inc., Agoura Hills, CA
$20,000 on 8/18/08

David L. Baker, Thousand Oaks, CA
David L. Baker, DDS, Oral Surgeon
$20,000 on 9/8/08

Rutherford Productions, Santa Monica, CA
$20,000 on 8/13/08

Dewitt Paul, Santa Ana, CA
Cotton Buds, Executive/Owner
$20,000 on 9/4/08

Dewitt Paul founded Cotton Buds in 1991, with the technology and equipment to manufacture cotton swabs. He has since partnered with Proctor & Gamble on various bath tissues, paper towels and detergents. Dewitt’s father was en Elder and addressed the student body at Brigham Young University on April 10, 1963.

Jennie L. Olsen, Laguna Niguel, CA
$20,000 on 9/8/08

Gail A. Sonne, Dublin, CA
$20,000 on 9/18/08

Brent W. Koch, Laguna Niguel, CA
Management Strategy, Financial Consultant
$20,000 on 9/24/08

Marilyn Allen, Stockton, CA
$20,000 on 9/18/08

T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc., San Diego, CA
9747 Olson Drive, San Diego, CA 92121 • Tel: 858.558.1800 • Web: www.tbpenick.com
$20,000
T.B. Penick & Sons gave: $20,000 on 1/31/08

T.B. Penick & Sons is a fourth generation construction company currently run by brothers Marc and Tim Penick that specializes in Structural Concrete, General Construction and Innovative Concrete Systems. They have completed projects all around the world.

Daniel Mulvihill, San Diego, CA
Pacific Southwest Mortgage/Realty–8840 Complex Drive, Suite 101, San Diego, California 92123 • Tel: 858.514.2100 • Web: www.psrs.com
$20,000
Daniel Mulvihill, President/Banker with Pacific Southwest Mortgage/Pacific Southwest Realty gave: $20,000 on 4/1/08

Pacific Southwest Realty is a commercial mortgage banking company based in San Diego, with offices in Orange County, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Margot Kyd, Poway, CA
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE)–P.O. Box 129831, San Diego, Ca 92112-9831 • Tel: 800.411.7343 • Web:www.sdge.com
$20,000
Margot Kyd, Sr. Vice President with San Diego Gas & Electric (and married to Tom Kyd [16], below) gave: $5,000 on 4/1/08 and $15,000 on 4/1/08 (may have been removed)

Margot Kyd is Senior Vice President, Business Solutions, for Sempra Energy Utilities, the umbrella for Sempra Energy’s regulated business units, including Southern California Gas and SDG&E. Kyd’s responsibilities include overseeing environmental services, safety and emergency services, supply management, fleet services, diverse business enterprises, and real estate and facilities.

J. Robert Wheatley, Palo Alto, CA
Robert Wheatley Properties, Property Manager
$19,000 on 9/18/08

Dwayne Nash, Lincoln, CA
Kodiak Roofing & Waterproofing Company, Contractor–1905 Aviation Blvd, Lincoln, CA 95648 • Tel: 866.530.2327
$18,000 on 8/14/08

Robert Samuelian, Laguna Niguel, CA
Lawyer
$15,001 on 9/5/08

Douglas McDermott, Sacramento, CA
McDermott Financial and Insurance– 8359 Elk Grove Florin Rd, #293, Sacramento, CA 95829 • Tel: 877.689.8251
$15,000 on 9/14/08

Douglas McDermott is the President and Owner of McDermott Financial and Insurance. He is also part owner/CFO of a company called At Home Personal Care, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Williamson General Contracting, La Mirada, CA
$15,000 on 9/12/08

Jay Bradford, Placentia, CA
Majesty Realty, CFO
$15,000 on 8/8/08

Jay Bradford is CFO/Executive VP/member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for Majestic Realty, and is also affiliated with Majestic Realty Retail, Commerce Construction Co, LP, CCC Rental LP, Majestic Management Company and Majestic Realty Foundation. Prior to this, he was with Ernst & Young for 18 years. Bradford graduated from Brigham Young University/B.S in Accounting, and currently serves on the National Advisory Council for the Marriott School of Management.

Marina Landscape, Inc., Anaheim, CA
$15,000 on 9/25/08

Leon J. Fairbanks, Paso Robles, CA
Red Caboose Manufacturing
$15,000 on 9/12/08

Michael R. Brand, Palo Alto, CA
Cornish & Carey, Realtor
$15,000 on 9/15/08

Richard L. Romney, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Investor
$15,000 on 9/15/08

Craig L. Gillespie, M.D., Fairfield, CA
$15,000 on 9/8/08

Joan N. Johnson, Los Osos, CA
$15,000 on 9/18/08

The Fourels Investment Company, Orange, CA
$15,000 on 9/15/08

Tom Kyd, Poway, CA
Catholic Exchange–P.O. Box 231820, Encinitas, CA 92023 • Web: www.catholicexchange.com
$15,000 on 4/23/08

The Catholic Exchange is a conservative portal with a significant web presence, which offers news, weekly Scripture study programs, articles and email programs.

Proposition 22 Legal Defense Fund, Sacramento, CA
$15,000 on 3/14/08

These are apparently left over funds from their unsuccessful court challenge to Proposition 22, The Knight Initiative.

Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, McLean, VA
Post Office Box 1231, Manassas, VA 20108 • Tel: 202.216.9430 • Web: www.marriagedebate.com
$15,000 on 1/28/08

NOM’s Maggie Gallagher also heads the Virginia-based Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, which is dedicated to efforts that define marriage between only a man and a woman.

Terri Basinger, Cottonwood, CA
Golden State Foot Clinic–923 Dana Drive, Redding, CA • Tel: 530.221.1666 • Web: www.goldenstatefootclinic.com
$14,985
Terri Basinger, a Bookkeeper at Golden State Foot Clinic, gave: $10,000 on 7/28/08 and $4,985 on 8/4/08

Terri Basinger is married to Dr. Robert G. Basinger of Golden State Foot Clinic. Golden State Foot Clinic serves the Northern Sacramento Valley near Red Bluff and Redding.

Richard McIntire, Porterville, CA
$13,500 on 8/29/08

Pamela Miles, Simi Valley, CA
Home Care Pharmacy, Clerk
$12,500 on 9/8/08

Roland Hinz, Valencia, CA
Hi-Torque Publications–25233 Anza Dr., Valencia, CA 91355 • Tel: 661.295.1910 • Web: www.hi-torque.com
$12,500
Roland Hinz, President of Hi-Torque Publications, gave: $12,500 on 4/7/08

Hi-Torque Publications is the world’s leading publisher of off-road, motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle magazines, with a readership of over 2 million per month.

Edward Atsinger, Camarillo, CA
Salem Communications–4880 Santa Rosa Road, Camarillo, CA 93012 • Tel: 805.987.0400 • Web: www.salem.cc
$12,500
Edward G. Atsinger III, CEO with Salem Communications gave: $12,500 on 4/3/08

Salem Communications is a leading US radio broadcaster, Internet content provider and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values. They own and operate nearly 100 radio stations across the country.

Allyson Weinberg, Santa Rosa Valley, CA
$12,500
Allyson Weinberg gave: $12,500 on 4/4/08

Allyson Weinberg has been in the limelight before. Back in 2004, Weinberg and her husband Denny (a senior executive for WellPoint, the nation’s second largest insurer at the time), sued the United Way of Ventura County, stating they were lied to about the United Way policy that forbade donations to any organization that discriminated against others. Due to the court ruling that allowed the Boy Scouts to discriminate against gays and atheists, the United Way chose to no longer support them as their own guidelines prohibited such support based on discrimination. The Weinberg’s had agreed to head a nationwide campaign for United Way to find donors, as well as match donations, but when United Way chose to change its donation policies towards the Boy Scouts, the Weinberg’s, for a number of different reasons, decided to sue. [7]

Paul A. Stahlman, Salinas, CA
$12,000 on 8/29/08

Kent Miles, Simi Valley, CA
Home Care Pharmacy, Pharmacist
$11,800 on 9/8/08

Charles C. Stoddard, Santa Rosa, CA
$10,500 on 9/25/08

James Pergrossi, Pleasanton, CA
$10,180 on 8/18/08

Peter Leparulo, San Diego, CA
Novatel–9645 Scranton Road, San Diego, CA 92121 • Tel: 858.812.3400 • Web: www.novatelwireless.com
$10,001
Peter Leparulo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer with Novatel gave: $10,001 on 1/24/08

Leparulo has served as Senior Vice President of Novatel, and became the CEO in April 2008. Novatel Wireless creates various wireless modems and computer accessories.

Kelly C. Olds, Huntington Beach, CA
$10,000 on 9/13/08

Carolyn Pann, Jamul, CA
Arctic Containers, Owner
$10,000 on 9/17/08

Kermit Corporation, Jamul, CA
$10,000 on 9/10/08

R. Jean Taylor, Alamo, CA
Retired
$10,000 on 9/9/08

Elisa Pulido, San Juan Capistrano, CA
$10,000 on 9/17/08

Cheryl A. Clarke, Moorpark, CA
$10,000 on 9/24/08

CS Concrete Solutions, Mission Viejo, CA
$10,000 on 9/8/08

Curtis B. Chandler, Sacramento, CA
Allstate Insurance
$10,000 on 8/29/08

Alma J. Kreutzkamp, El Cajon, CA
$10,000 on 9/3/08

Amanda Crane, San Diego, CA
Larsen Golden Spoon, Owner
$10,000 on 8/8/08

Melvin C. Bell, Wilton, CA
Bell Tasty Foods, Owner
$10,000 on 9/19/08

Anthony Ridd, San Clemente, CA
Lifestyle Settlements, Owner
$10,000 on 8/18/08

Barbara Lee, Walnut Creek, CA
$10,000 on 8/11/08

Blaine Bowman, Saratoga, CA
$10,000 on 8/14/08

Brian B. Blatter, DDS, Concord, CA
$10,000 on 8/8/08

Cynthia L. Kenney, Granite Bay, CA
$10,000 on 9/2/08

Earl E. Damitz, Santa Barbara, CA
$10,000 on 8/29/08

Dana Munkelt, San Diego, CA
GH Munkelt Trust, Buyer/Estate Adminstration
$10,000 on 8/22/08

David S. Sorensen, Santa Barbara, CA
Select Staffing, CEO
$10,000 on 8/18/08

Howard W. Bennion, Fairfield, CA
Pacific Coast Steel, Iron Worker
$10,000 on 9/8/08

Dawna J. Evans, Groveland, CA
$10,000 on 8/20/08

Dannee L. Clyne, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
$10,000 on 9/4/08

Darin Hazen, Ladera Ranch, CA
Songwriter
$10,000 on 8/20/08

Eliot Mason, Huntington Beach, CA
US Wheel Corp., President
$10,000 on 8/26/08

Garry Pace, Thousand Oaks, CA
Bernstein Global Wealth Mgmt., Financial Advisor
$10,000 on 8/4/08

Emaleti Mokofisi, Kaneohe, HI
Kaneohe General Ser., President
$10,000 on 8/8/08

First Global Marketing, Provo, Utah
$10,000 on 8/22/08

Gary D. Green, Fountain Valley, CA
Timec Company, Inc., Executive
$10,000 on 9/4/08

Gibson Jon, Cameron Park, CA
John Gibson Company, Owner
$10,000 on 8/21/08

Gwenn H. Webb, Pleasanton, CA
$10,000 on 8/29/08

Hal Renfro, Glendale, CA
Hal Renfro Realty, Realtor
$10,000 on 8/18/08

Hands On Billing, LLC, Huntington Beach, CA
$10,000 on 8/27/08

Jennifer Jackson, Corona del Mar, CA
$10,000 on 9/2/08

Jerome D. Teney, Yuba City, CA
Tenney & Co, CPA
$10,000
Jerome Teney gave: $5,000 on 8/27/08 and $5,000 on 8/14/08

Kelly C. Olds, Huntington Beach, CA
$10,000 on 8/15/08

Kenneth Baldwin, Newbury Park, CA
$10,000 on 8/8/08

Kevin Monson, Fountain Valley, CA
Kevin Monson Attorney At Law
$10,000 on 8/20/08

Neil Anderson, Lodi, CA
Self-Engineer
$10,000 on 8/8/08

Lois R. Bullard, Cerritos, CA
$10,000 on 8/29/08

Paul Sorensen, Santa Barbara, CA
Select Staffing, Manager
$10,000 on 8/8/08

Philip Carmack, Santa Clara, CA
Nvidia Corp, Executive
$10,000 on 8/20/08

R. Jean Taylor, Alamo, CA
Retired
$10,000 on 9/9/08

R. Dean Lang, DDS, Valencia, CA
$10,000 on 8/8/08

Matt Dalton, Los Angeles, CA
Dalton Enterprises, Recycling
$10,000 on 8/18/08

Thomas Busi, Sutter Creek, CA
Firstcard ATM, Inc., Owner
$10,000 on 9/5/08

Richard G. Olson, Agoura Hills, CA
Naoter Care Services, President
$10,000 on 8/8/08

Scott R. Flora, Laguna Hills, CA
Alliance Mechanical Corporation, Construction
$10,000 on 9/3/08

Robert Shepard, Corona, CA
Pacific Shores Masonry
$10,000 on 9/15/08

Mark R. Boud, San Clemente, CA
Real Estate Economics, Real Estate Economist
$10,000 on 9/4/08

Boud is a graduate of Brigham Young University, majoring in Economics and English.

Richard L. Thawley, Lodi, CA
Richard L, Thawley & Associates, SP, Sales/Marketing
$10,000 on 9/5/08

Brandon Ogden, Newport Coast, CA
MCA, Auto Broker
$10,000 on 9/10/08

Deborah S. Stapley, San Juan Capistrano, CA
$10,000 on 9/24/08

Dianne Olson, Thousand Oaks, CA
$10,000 on 9/11/08

Randall Huff, Altadena, CA
$10,000 on 9/25/08

Ivan V. Lauritzen, Riverside, CA
Green Vision Partners, Sales
$10,000 on 9/15/08

Karen Smith, Moorpark, CA
$10,000 on 9/11/08

Pamela Patterson, Folsom, CA
$10,000
Pamela Patterson gave: $10,000 on 7/24/08

Kenneth Payton, Garden Grove, CA
$10,000
Kenneth Payton gave: $10,000 on 6/30/08

Kelly Burt, San Diego, CA
Tres-Dac–9375 Customhouse Plz A-2, San Diego, CA 92154
$10,000
Kelly Burt, Developer with Tres-Dac gave: $10,000 on 4/23/08

Gretchen Kieding, Solvang, CA
$10,000
Gretchen Kieding gave: $10,000 on 6/27/08

Gary Pace, Thousand Oaks, CA
Bernstein Global Wealth Mgmt.–1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2150, Los Angeles, CA 90067-6123 • Tel: 310.286.6000 • Web: www.bernstein.com
$10,000
Gary Pace a Financial Advisor with Bernstein Global Wealth Management gave: $10,000 on 8/4/08

Bernstein Global Wealth Management is an investment management/research firm with 18 offices throughout the United States.

Stephen Ridinger, Camarillo, CA
Evets Corporation–PO Box 1327, Camarillo, CA 93011 • Tel: 949.361.2100 • Web: www.musicdistributors.org
$10,000
Stephen Ridinger, owner and President of Evets Corporation gave: $5,000 on 1/20/08 and $5,000 on 7/3/08

Evets Corporation is a distributor of musical equipment.

Francis Longstaff, Agoura Hills, CA
UCLA, Professor
$9,999 on 8/8/08

Frank J. Gaughan, Poway, CA
$9,999 on 8/25/08

David H. Vanslooten, La Canada, CA
Primecap Management, Investment Manager
$9,999 on 8/18/08

Carolu Wilson, Colfax, CA
$9,999 on 8/18/08

Jill Vanslooten, La Canada, CA
$9,999 on 8/18/08

Boyd Jensen, Riverside, CA
Garrett & Jensen, Attorney
$9,999 on 9/24/08

Michelle Robinson, Fountain Valley, CA
$9,999 on 8/13/08

Megan Thomason, San Diego, CA
$9,999 on 8/10/08

Byron G. Wilson, Colfax, CA
$9,999 on 9/25/08

Lin D. Whatcott, Maple Valley, CA
Da Vita, Accounting
$9,995 on 9/17/08

Lorraine S. Hulme, Los Gatos, CA
$9,977 on 9/17/08

Constancy Trust, Salt Lake City, UT
$9,950 on 9/11/08

Sarah Gould, Pacific Palisades, CA
$9,900 on 8/27/08

Susan Lathrop, Fremont, CA
$9,900 on 8/11/08

Prosol, Inc., Murietta, CA
$9,900 on 8/8/08

Jeffrey Wise, Atherton, CA
Pro Solutions, Real Estate
$9,900 on 9/2/08

Bruce A. Bitnoff, Rescue, CA
World Pass Travel, Tour Operator
$9,900 on 9/2/08

Kristin Corey, La Canada, CA
$9,900 on 8/8/08

John E. Brasher, Newcastle, CA
Brasher’s Sacramento Auto Auction, Manager
$9,900 on 9/2/08

Kathie Hansen, La Canada, CA
$9,900 on 8/13/08

Jeffrey D. Holt, Huntsville, UT
Goldman Sachs & Co., Investment Banker
$9,900 on 9/19/08

John Hansen, La Canada, CA
Glenwood Group, Investor
$9,900 on 8/13/08

Jay Mooreland, Folsom, CA
Merrill Lynch & Co, Global Headquarters–4 Financial Center, 250 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10080 • Tel: 212.449.1000 • Web: www.ml.com
$9,900
Jay Mooreland, a Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch, gave: $9,900 on 7/28/08

Joseph Grigg, La Canada, CA
American Energy Operations, President
American Energy Operations–550 N. Brand Blvd, Suite 1960, Glendale, CA 91203-3381 • Tel: 818.549.9993
$9,900
Joseph Grigg gave: $9,900 on 8/4/08

American Energy Operations is an energy and gas utility company.

Jeffrey Wise, Atherton, CA
Pro Solutions, Inc., Real Estate–901 Coleman Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025 • Tel: 650.326.8660
$9,900
Jeffrey Wise of Pro Solutions gave: $9,900 on 9/2/08.

Jeffrey Wise is also owner of Wise Building Co. His previous political contributions include $2,300 to Mitt Romney in 2007.

Nancy Chantry, Rancho Murietta, CA
$9,800 on 9/3/08

Gina A. Vincent, Pacific Palisades, CA
$9,800 on 9/5/08

Joy N. Hulme, Monte Sereno, CA
Author
$9,677 on 9/17/08

Kathryn C. Carter, Salt Lake City, CA
$9,500 on 9/11/08

Los Jardines, LLC, Yorba Linda, CA
$9,500 on 9/4/08

Louise Dalton, Yorba Linda, CA
J & L Consulting, Owner
$9,500 on 8/8/08

John Nagy, Newbury Park, CA
Andrews International Security Services, Security
$9,500 on 8/13/08

John Dalton, Yorba Linda, CA
J & L Consulting, Owner
$9,500 on 8/8/08

Noward Mankins, Arroyo Grande, CA
$9,500 on 8/14/08

R. Brooke Landscaping, Inc., Antioch, CA
$9,500 on 9/2/08

Rebecca Hawkins, Glendora, CA
$9,500 on 8/21/08

Debbie Crandall, Orange, CA
$9,000 on 9/25/08

Heather B. Callister, Martinez, CA
$9,000 on 9/2/08

Ryan Crandall, Orange, CA
Bio Medics, Manager
$9,000 on 9/25/08

L. Dean Forman, Colfax, CA
GFBB Benefits, Financial Advisor
$8,999 on 8/18/08

Linda M. Forman, Colfax, CA
$8,999 on 8/18/08

Scott Roybal, La Canada, CA
Sheppard Mullin, Attorney
$8,900 on 8/11/08

Pinson Erin, Billings, MT
Pechanga Resort, Gaming
$8,500 on 8/17/08

Jennifer McKay, Kaysville, UT
$8,000 on 8/21/08

James D. Powell, DDS, Palmdale, CA
$8,000 on 9/2/08

Samuel McKay, Kaysville, UT
$8,000 on 8/27/08

Gene Lamoreaux, Sunnyvale, CA
KLA Tencor, Engineer
$8,000 on 8/8/08

Jared D. McCune, DDS, Lompoc, CA
$8,000 on 8/21/08

V. Lance Littlejohn, Alamo, CA
West Coast Novelty Corporation, Manager
$8,000 on 9/8/08

C. Jim Elam, Santa Ynez, CA
Agricultural Technology, Inc.–1168 Oak Glen Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 • Tel: 805.688.6475
$8,000
C. Jim Elam, an Agricultural Consultant with Agricultural Technology, Inc., gave: $8,000 on 6/27/08

Wayne Baldwin, Newbury Park, CA
Pueblo Radiology Medical Group–415 Market Street, Building 1A, Ventura, CA 93003 • Tel: 888.678.3256 • Web:www.puebloradiology.com
$7,500
Wayne Baldwin, an Executive with Pueblo Radiology Medical Group, gave: $7,500 on 8/4/08

Wayne Baldwin is an executive at Pueblo Radiology, which operates out of locations in Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Jeremy Jergensen, Riverside, CA
Palm Terrace Care Center, Administrator
$7,500 on 8/27/08

Wayne Baldwin, Newbury Park, CA
Pueblo Radiology, Executive
$7,500 on 8/4/08

Fundet Foundation, Inc., Draper, UT
$7,500 on 9/8/08

Claudia Hamilton, Agoura Hills, CA
$7,500 on 8/8/08

Elizabeth Jergensen, Riverside, CA
$7,500 on 8/27/08

Lori Gollyer, La Canada, CA
$7,500 on 9/10/08

Arthur Burke, Santa Barbara, CA
Berman Development, CFO
$7,500 on 8/11/08

Kevin Hamilton, Agoura Hills, CA
American Holdings LLC, Executive
$7,500 on 8/8/08

Kirk P. Christ, Diamond Bar, CA
Hub International, Insurance Administration
$7,500 on 8/8/08

Steve F. Smilanick, Granite Bay, CA
S&S Commercial Fishing, Owner
$7,500 on 8/27/08

Zion Foundation, Draper, UT
$7,500 on 9/8/08

Christopher K. Thompson, Encino, CA
Investment Real Estate Association, Real Estate Agent
$7,200 on 8/25/08

Mary Barrus, Agoura, CA
Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital, Nurse
$7,000 on 8/22/08

Kenneth L. Virgin, Aliso Viejo, CA
Payables, Inc, CEO
$7,000 on 9/5/08

Margot B. Sayer, Santa Clarita, CA
$7,000 on 9/8/08

Mark E. Bean, Rancho Cordova, CA
Health Net, Actuary
$7,000
Mark Bean gave: $6,000 on 9/5/08 and $1,000 on 8/8/08

Elias Mancilla, Riverside, CA
Valley Recycling Center, Owner
$6,800 on 8/29/08

Christopher Dailey, Costa Mesa, CA
Advanced Joining Technologies–3030 Red Hill Avenue, Santa Ana, CA, 92705 • Tel: 949.756.8091 • Web: www.ajt-inc.com
$6,500
Christopher Dailey, welder with Advanced Joining Technologies gave: $6,500 on 8/4/08

Advanced Joining Technologies was created in 2000 as a subsidiary of Boeing, and later was purchased back by the original founders. They are responsible for Boeing’s world recognized development and production implementation with the friction stir welding process.

Treavor Hodson, Folsom, CA
Palmer, Kazanjian, Wohl, Perkins–520 Capitol Mall, Suite 600, Sacramento, California 95814 • Tel: 916.442.3552 • Web: www.pkwp-law.com
$6,025
Treavor Hodson, an Attorney with Palmer, Kazanjian, Wohl, Perkins, gave: $6,025 on 8/4/08

Treavor Hodson is an attorney with Palmer, Kazanjian, Wohl, Perkins in Folsom, CA. The firm specializes in all aspects of employment law litigation, including such areas of expertise as wrongful termination, unlawful discrimination and harassment and retaliation. Hodson also represents management in labor law cases before the National Labor Relations Board and similar state agencies including representation elections, unfair labor practice charges and hearings, collective bargaining negotiations, contract arbitrations and picketing and strikes.

Charles Stucki, Coto De Caza, CA
Cisco Systems, Executive
$6,000 on 8/8/08

Roland Spongberg, Long Beach, CA
WKS Restaurant Group, President
$6,000 on 8/21/08

Don D. Sessions, Coto De Caza, CA
Sessions & Kimball, Attorney
$6,000 on 9/22/08

Lisa Wheatley, Los Altos Hills, CA
$6,000 on 9/18/08

Robert Wheatley, Los Altos Hills, CA
Robert Wheatley Properties, Manager
$6,000 on 8/22/08

John Chandler, Allstate, Gold River, CA
$6,000 on 8/25/08

Christine Cooper, Dublin, CA
$6,000 on 9/8/08

C. Ray Carlson, Valencia, CA
C. Ray Carlson, Attorney
$6,000 on 8/29/08

Bryant Gold, Ramona, CA
Advanced Bionics, Attorney
$5,600 on 8/29/08

Paul A. Barney, Ridgecrest, CA
China Lake Department of Defense, Electrical Engineer
$5,500 on 9/3/08

Eric Loudon, Corona, CA
Western Water Works, Director
$5,500 on 8/27/08

U-Rent, Inc., Camarillo, CA
$5,200 on 8/13/08

Kelly Furniss, Yorba Linda, CA
$5,110 on 8/22/08

Robert D. Crockett, Newhall, CA
Latham & Watkins, Lawyer
$5,100 on 8/27/08

Chris Vaterlaus, Roseville, CA
Crescendo Properties, Real Estate
$5,075 on 8/15/08

The Rest

Prop 8: Let the Protests Begin

JOHN GIBBINS / Union-Tribune: Marchers stream down Sixth Avenue on their way to the San Diego County Administration Center on Harbor Drive.

Sign on San Diego

SAN DIEGO – A crowd estimated at 10,000 by police and 15,000 by organizers marched downtown Saturday to protest the passage of Proposition 8, with one arrest of a counter-protester reported during the otherwise peaceful event.

A man identified by police as a member of the anti-illegal immigration group San Diego Minutemen was arrested about 12:30 p.m. at Sixth Avenue and Ash Street following a fight, said San Diego police Capt. C.J. Ball.

The San Diego march was one of several held across the country Saturday – including one in Escondido – by same-sex marriage supporters angered over last week’s passage of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California, defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

The San Diego march got under way about 10:45 a.m. at Sixth Avenue and Upas Street in Hillcrest. The marchers went down Sixth, then west on Broadway, then north on Harbor Drive to the County Administration Center on the Embarcadero. A rally was held there at 1 p.m., and marchers formed a large rainbow sign, a symbol of the gay-rights movement.

Protesters are urging their supporters to keep fighting for the right to wed, and would like the California Supreme Court to invalidate Prop. 8.

Marchers carried signs with a myriad of statements, including “Let Mary marry Mary” and “Has anyone seen my civil rights?” Others said: “Don’t make love a battleground”; “It’s not anarchy, it’s equality”; and “My happiness will not hurt you.”Prior to the march, organizers handed out fliers with words for chants, including “Love is great, No on 8”; and “Gay, straights, black, white, marriage is a civil right.”

The marches were organized nationwide by Join the Impact. Sara Beth Brooks, 23, was the organizer of San Diego’s march. She said she read about Join the Impact online.

“This is amazing,” she said before the event got under way. “I cannot believe this came together in seven days. It’s fantastic. I’m looking forward to a peaceful, productive march.”

Police reported few problems, and there were few counter-protesters.

Representatives of Join the Impact had asked supporters to be respectful and refrain from attacking other groups during the rallies.

In San Diego, David Cruz was one of about four counter-protesters holding “Yes on 8” signs at one point along the march route. Cruz said he wanted to remind marchers that the majority of voters had spoken by passage of Prop. 8. The measure passed with 52 percent of the vote in the Nov. 4 election.

“They are not going to overturn the will of the majority,” said Cruz, 34, a College Area resident.

Just after he spoke, marcher David Gonzales pushed toward Cruz, screaming that he was a disgrace. March volunteers kept them separated and Gonzales moved on.

“He looks like he’s Hispanic, like me,” said Gonzales, 45, a La Jolla resident. “A lot of voters of my ethnicity voted for this. They don’t realize this is about civil rights.”

A few of the marchers were colorfully dressed, including two men dressed like nuns. Some Prop. 8 demonstrations have targeted faiths that supported the ban, including the Mormon church.

Michael Mangoian, 63, of City Heights, who said he had been a seminary student in Rome, was dressed like a priest.

“It lends a little credibility, because those who are trying to take rights away from others are being extremely un-Christian,” Mangoian said.

Sixty volunteers wearing yellow shirts showed up early Saturday and planned to monitor the march to defuse tension between marchers and possible counter-demonstrators. Some met Thursday night for-crowd control training.

Prior to the march, an organizer on a megaphone told participants they wanted the event to be peaceful.

Meanwhile, in Escondido, a crowd of about 250 people gathered at Escondido City Hall to march to Grape Day Park for a noon rally protesting Proposition 8. As in San Diego, they also chanted and carried signs.

One woman held a sign that read, “Together 26 years, married 6-20-2008. Support our marriage, repeal Prop. 8.” Another woman’s sign said, “I kissed a girl and my mom still loves me.”

Protests against Proposition 8 have been occurring all week, including a Nov. 8 march in San Diego that drew 8,000 to 10,000 people.

At UC San Diego in La Jolla on Friday, some students walked out of class and gathered at the campus’ Price Center to demand that the university take a stand on the issue.

Election Integrity Advocate Jailed

 

Brad Blog

A candidate for Supervisor of Elections in Broward County, FL, was arrested yesterday, following threats and orders from her opponent, the current Broward SOE, Dr. Brenda Snipes.

Ellen H. Brodsky, the county’s first non-partisan candidate for SOE, had previously been barred from public counting and oversight on a number of occasions, at the county’s official Canvassing Board site and voting machine warehouse in Lauderhill, Florida.

After being taken into custody yesterday afternoon by three uniformed police officers, Brodsky was held overnight at the Broward County Jail even though the $25 — that’s twenty-five dollar — bail had been posted for her by her son by 8pm last night. She was finally released well after 5am this morning.

(Note: An account of the arrest posted this morning on the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s blog incorrectly reported that Brodsky was “released on bail Thursday evening.” A report later filed on their website by the same reporter correctly noted that she “was released from jail at 5:40 a.m. Friday.”)

Brodsky is a longtime member of a number of election integrity advocacy groups in Florida, including the Broward Election Reform Coalition, which she also founded. Earlier this year, she determined to run against Snipes as a non-partisan candidate.

Brodsky is the latest in a string of election integrity advocates around the country who have been arrested in the course of attempting oversight of our election procedures — although she is the first, to our knowledge, who also happens to be a candidate on the ballot.

The action has brought condemnation from a number of other election watchdogs and even other election officials in Florida who have characterized the arrest to The BRAD BLOG as an outrage and an abuse of power by Snipes and her office…

“Outrageous”

“For a candidate, or a member of the public who wishes nothing more than to observe the process, to be taken into custody would be outrageous absent really extraordinary reasons — none of which I’ve heard articulated in this matter,” Leon County (Tallahassee) Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho told The BRAD BLOG this afternoon.

“I’ve been an election official for twenty years. Not even one time has it become necessary to even threaten someone’s removal by law enforcement at any kind of meeting that I’ve ever attended,” said Sancho who has spoken with Brodsky “on many occasions” and met her “a couple of times in face to face meetings.”

Ellen Theisen, of the non-partisan election integrity watchdog organization VotersUnite.org, was similarly troubled by the arrest.

“It’s outrageous that Ellen Brodsky was arrested and kept in jail overnight,” Theisen wrote via email today. “Her work toward election integrity in Broward County has been dedicated, creative, effective, and respectful to the law. The idea that she would be ‘disruptive’ is nonsense. I’m convinced that was fabricated by those who appear to be threatened by her requests for transparency and accountability in the Broward County election process.”

Filmmaker David Earnhardt, who earlier this year released the award-winning documentary Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections, calls Brodsky “a remarkable woman who has dedicated the better part of the decade to demanding fair and honest elections.”

He told us that she hosted a screening of his film in Fort Lauderdale in late September. “It’s offensive that she was arrested for this and kept in jail overnight. I have no doubt that she was assertive in demanding her rights – but it’s ridiculous they would have even called the police in the first place, much less arrest her,” he said.

Brodsky was arrested, according to the inmate summary she was given upon release (on which her name is misspelled as “Bordsky”), for “TRESPASS/STRUCTURE OR CONVEYANCE” and “DISORDERLY CONDUCT.” The bond for the trespass claim was set at $25, no bond amount was attached to the disorderly conduct charge, according to the summary.

“A total abuse of power”

“It was horrible,” Brodsky told us by phone today, concerning “the whole process of being in jail overnight.”

“The arrest was a total abuse of power on Brenda Snipes’ part. She had given the orders. The buck stops with her.”

“I didn’t do anything. They just want to eliminate any kind of critics,” she explained, following a number of weeks when she had occasionally been allowed to monitor testing, counting and recount processes by the county Canvassing Board.

“They wanted to eliminate me from the process, because I’m the only one who is on top of these things. I go out of my way to be an expert on this, to watch what’s going on,” she said in a detailed recounting of the problems she’s faced with Snipes and her deputies over the last several months.

At times she was barred from oversight of testing and counting, other times she was allowed in under strict rules, often accompanied by a number of armed guards, she told us. In the meantime, a number of public records requests she’s made have gone unanswered, including information she sought after noticing that voting machines had been opened for use beginning on October 1, even though early voting was not scheduled to begin until weeks later.

During her last visit to the Canvassing Board to monitor counting and the processing of ballots of November 7th, she was evicted after asking a number of questions to Canvassing Board judges, even though she raised her hand, as instructed, and even waited a full hour and a half before being allowed to ask her questions, according to her account.

“The first question I asked on the 7th,” she says, Lauderhills officer C.Y. Bell “jumped on me.” Literally, she says. “She was standing there the whole time ready to pounce on me. Her taser thing was right in front of my face. It was very scary. She jumped on me, grabbed my arm, she was ready to throw me out then and there.”

“Then I screamed ‘Help, canvassing board, I didn’t do anything.’ This was like that ‘Don’t tase me, bro’ thing.” she explained. “That got their attention. I then waited an hour and a half, and then they took a break and I reminded her [Judge Zeller, President of the canvassing board] that I was told I could ask a question.”

She asked three questions, the last of which concerned why she was not allowed in the building the night before, at 7pm, when she believes the counting board was in session, which should have required the ability for public oversight under Florida’s Sunshine Law.

She then says she was ejected from the counting room, and told by Officer Bell, “if If you ever come back here, we’ll have a warrant for you. If you ever come back to this voting machine warehouse or canvassing board, we’ll have you arrested.”

After discussing the matter with her attorney, Brodsky returned yesterday with a friend for a 1pm counting that was listed on the county’s website. She says she recorded much of what occurred on her cell phone’s recorder.

“We saw the notice on the door, proceeded to ask, ‘can we come in?’ because the Canvassing Board was supposed to meet at 1pm. But the first thing I was told was ‘we don’t want you in the building, you’re not allowed in the building.’ Next I was told the canvassing board is not meeting, even though it was posted on the door, and on the website.”

“While I’m trying to inquire about the canvassing board meeting,” she says, Snipes deputy Fred Bellis “is busy photographing me, calling on his cell phone to who knows where.”

Soon two officers arrived and suggested there was a warrant out for her arrest. But “after they researched, they said ‘yeah, there is no warrant out for your arrest.'”

Then Officer Bell arrived, met with the other officers, and “all three, in a concerted effort, handcuff me and throw me into the back of a police car.”

Latest in a string of such arrests

Brodsky’s arrest is the latest such detention of an election integrity advocate.

In September, activist John Brakey of AuditAZ was arrested during a mandatory post-election “audit” in Pima County (Tucson), AZ, after questioning officials about dozens of ballot bags that had missing or broken security seals.

In August, Phil Lindsey of ShowMeTheVote.org was arrested and thrown in jail in Jackson County, MO, when he refused to show a photo ID to pollworkers who had wrongly insisted he could not vote without one. The demand by the election officials was in violation of state law.

“I will tell you, my feeling from a lot of officials is they don’t like being questioned,” explained Tallahassee’s Sancho, who was chosen by the Florida Supreme Court to oversee the 2000 Presidential recount in the state.

“I would caution officials over the removal of any observer from the elections process, because only by keeping the process as open as possible can we maintain credibility within the elections process,” he says.

“Elections officials in Florida,” he continued, “really are uniquely placed, because of the power we have over the process — and it’s pretty immense — so there’s a tendency, a lot of times, for election officials to act in an autocratic manner. I’m not saying [Snipes] did, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”

“The power that we as elect officials have, has to be used very, very, veryjudiciously,” he added.

“What this has to be about is, fundamentally, the process. Quite frankly, I’ve never found the use of police powers an effective answer to people who are looking for the truth,” Sancho told us.

For Brodsky, she now wonders what will become of her ability to oversee her own election which, according to the results reported by officials, show that she lost in a landslide. “It was a difficult time to run as an independent, with Barack Obama on the ballot,” she noted. Her opponent, Snipes, ran as a Democrat.

But it’s now virtually impossible for Brodsky to know if her election was conducted fairly. “I’m gonna have a hard time auditing my own election if I’m not allowed to be there, and if my public records requests aren’t getting answered,” she said.

LATE UPDATE: Brodsky joined us for our weekly guest appearance on the Peter B. Collins Show today to discuss her ordeal. The interview (app. 16 mins) follows, or can be downloaded (MP3) here.

Additional note, it was too late this afternoon on the West Coast to contact Snipes for her point of view on all of this, but we refer you again to the Sun-Sentinel’s coverage for some of that here and here.

California Prop 8 Election Irregularities Surfacing

Velvet Revolution 
Exit Poll Shows DEFEAT of Same-Sex Marriage Ban!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED NOW TO MONITOR POST-ELECTION PROCEDURES
Link Below to Flyer: Please Print and Circulate at Tomorrow’s Protests!

The Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) Community and its supporters nationwide are mourning and organizing in the wake of last week’s announced 52-48% passage of Proposition 8, which eliminates the rights of same-sex couples to marry in the state of California. But an accurate count of the votes may not yet have occurred, according to early indications.

The integrity of an election takes time to investigate, and it’s far too early to draw conclusions. However, consider the following:

Around the world, exit polls are used to determine the need for investigation of elections. In the U.S., the National Exit Poll (NEP, also known as Edison/Mitofsky) now adjusts results to match vote counts before issuing its final polling numbers.Election Defense Alliance downloaded NEP numbers from the internet on election night, however, before poll results were changed to match the official vote count.

This is the exit poll from early in the evening of election night. There were 2,168 respondents, and they break down as follows (a “yes” vote is a vote againstsame-sex marriage):

Males:
Yes on Prop 8, 48%
No on Prop 8, 52%

Females:
Yes on Prop 8, 48%
No on Prop 8, 52%

View actual screen capture

This is the exit poll from later in the evening. There were 2,240 respondents — 72 more respondents than in the earlier poll — and they break down in a very different way:

Males:
Yes on Prop 8, 53%
No on Prop 8, 47%

Females:
Yes on Prop 8, 52%
No on Prop 8, 48%

View actual screen capture

This discrepancy should be ringing alarm bells. Something doesn’t add up.

Because exit polls adjusted to match election results are of limited usefulness, this year independent exit polls were conducted in several states by a group including Ken Warren of the Warren Poll, Jonathan Simon of Election Defense Alliance, and Steve Freeman of Election Integrity. This team is still analyzing results of their exit polls, but Simon told Velvet Revolution that their California exit polls, some of which were conducted by Judy Alter and Protect California Ballots, tend to corroborate the findings of the above exit poll that show a defeat of Prop. 8.

What is proven by discrepancies between exit poll results and official vote counts? That an investigation must be conducted to determine whether the vote count is accurate.

Further indications of problems with the vote count are already coming in from multiple sources, including incident reports from voters and election observers. Among these are indications that disenfranchisement targeting communities likely to have a high proportion of ‘no’ votes on Proposition 8 led to huge numbers of provisional ballots being cast. Because each provisional ballot must be individually determined to be qualified before counting, hundreds of thousands throughout the state remain uncounted to date.

Hundreds of thousands of vote-by-mail ballots also remain uncounted (see above link). When the initial counting is complete, it is certainly possible that the results of Proposition 8 will be reversed. But we can’t sit around waiting to find out.

Right now, in election offices in every county, procedures that affect the election results are underway. While the votes are tabulated by computers that have been shown again and again to be riggable and hackable, to drop votes, flip votes,break down and all in all produce untrustworthy election results, some of the election processes can and must be observed by the public. These include:

• Mandated 1% manual count of all paper ballots cast (this increases to 10% for any race that is within 0.5% of a tie in a given county)
• Mandated 100% manual count of ‘paper trails’ from DRE/touchscreen voting machines
• Reconciliation of number of votes with number of voters, and
• Auditing of other processes to determine accurate counting.

We at Velvet Revolution are recruiting volunteers to observe at county election offices beginning immediately. Volunteers will be trained via conference call this Sunday, November 16, at 4 p.m. To sign up for training, email us with your name, phone number, and county or counties where you would be willing to volunteer. We ask that all volunteers be prepared to give at least four hours over the next couple of weeks. We hope that most will be able to volunteer significantly more time. If you want to volunteer and are unable to attend Sunday’s telephone training session, give us your contact number so we can tell you if there is another training opportunity. The training will be conducted by Tom Courbat, founder of SAVE R VOTE (Riverside County) and Emily Levy of Velvet Revolution.

Please note that this training is specific to California and to observing many of the auditing processes set up here by Secretary of State Debra Bowen following herTop to Bottom Review of California’s voting systems. However, we encourage voters everywhere to flock to their local election offices and observe post-elections processes. Democracy cannot take care of itself. It needs us. It is us. In California and around the nation, our names are being called right now. Come on down!

Sign up for free volunteer training in California today! (Your long distance phone charges apply.)

• Print this flyer, copy it, cut it, and circulate it at tomorrow’s protests!
• Post a link to this blog item (http://www.velvetrevolution.us/electionstrikeforce/2008/11/exit_poll_showed_californias_p.html)on your MySpace page or wherever you go on the internet.
• Report problems you had voting in California immediately and confidentially to ALL of these election integrity/election protection efforts:
  www.WorkTheVoteLA.org
  1-866-OUR-VOTE
  1-866-MYVOTE1

Don’t Give Up — Give Time!

Join November5.org and Create Real Change

Join November5.org, the citizen group that serves as a Congressional watchdog.

Update from Nov5:

We are off to a great start. In the 5 days since we launched November5.org, nearly 10,000 of you have signed up for this effort!

Getting our country back on track by using the leverage we can exert over Congress is an approach that naturally fits with third party and independent voters, as well as many who voted for Democrats and Republicans. Millions of us realize that we must now put our shoulders to the wheel of justice and push harder than ever.

If we all move fast to get our friends and family involved, we could have 1000 active and organized citizens in each Congressional district in 2009. To do this, we need you to encourage people to sign up today by forwarding this link: www.november5.org.

Remember to emphasize to others that what will make November5 different from many other similar efforts is that we will have no allegiance to any political party. We want to create a non-partisan mechanism to get problems solved. Action will result when members of Congress hear loud and clear from their constituents back home. This will not be about raising big money for expensive television ads during the Super Bowl. It will involve using tried and true organizing techniques – and all the local creativity we can muster – to make sure that our Representatives respond to our voices, district by district, person by person.

We want to focus on the victories – big and small – that we can achieve. Too much citizen advocacy involves sending emails or letters to Washington, D.C. We need a return to raising our voices on the ground “back home,” where Congressional elections are decided.

High on our list is a plan to pass privately-delivered, publicly-funded health care. This approach would save hundreds of billions of dollars over the current for-profit system, enough to provide coverage for every American. After all, how can you be civically active if you are worried about your health care? Many organizations do great work on this issue (see Physicians for a National Health Program), but there is a need for much more citizen muscle behind it. That’s where we’ll come in.

Other issues we are looking at include: new regulation of Wall Street, a $10 living wage, the elimination of unnecessary weapons systems that cost tens of billions, a strong drive for investment in solar, wind, and conservation – against coal and nuclear – and a federal law requiring paper ballots and establishing uniform rules for ballot access for all candidates.

Soon, we will email you with more details on how this website will enable you to organize in your district, and on how we will keep building November5 in the coming weeks.

Now, though, it all comes down to getting all of the people who agree with the basic approach of shifting our focus to Congress in 2009 signed up for November5. This is the critical building phase and we all have to do everything we can to get the word out.
Onward for Justice, 

The November5 Team Five Things You Can Do Right Now:

• Join our Facebook/MySpace Group – Click Here
• Send our website to interested friends – http://www.november5.org
• Find out who your congressperson is – http://www.house.gov
• Blog about us! – Trackback to http://www.november5.org

Yes We Can ________

It’s a new day and a new slogan for Obama supporters. Overnight, the infamous “Yes We Can” transformed into “Yes We Did.” Voters proclaimed it from their Facebook statuses, their Twitter updates, and I even saw the affirmation branded across the chest of a baby’s jumper.

A strange thing happens when you ask an Obama supporter what the subject of their slogan entails. What did they do? Most reply that the “Did” means collectively supporting and electing the first African-American president. Anyone with a beating heart knows this is indeed a momentous occasion, and it’s very moving to see relatives of MLK celebrating the evolution in American society.

But by that definition of the “Did,” the journey is over. Yes We Did Elect A Black President. For some, the slogan means Yes We Did Elect Someone Better Than Bush. True, but by that definition, John McCain would have been better than George Bush, and I like to give Obama supports more credit than assuming they would vote for the lesser of two evils.

Other Obama supporters claim a massive overhaul of the executive agenda is their “Did.” And early signs are encouraging with the Obama camp claiming they’re ready to reverse the Bush administration’s stacks of ill-conceived executive orders. However, there is no collective citizen mandate rumbling from the people to help guide Obama’s fledgling White House.

If the people aren’t asking anything of Obama, then he owes them nothing in return. That’s like you right now being pissed at me for not having mailed you twenty dollars. You didn’t ask me for money, so why should I have sent you anything? (I’m not giving you money.)

Yes We Did What? Elect Barack Obama on good faith alone? It appears Obamanites think their journey is over, and that good people are at the helm, and all will be well.

But Obama is indebted to Wall Street for about $9.5 million. That amount of cash transforms into favors once your guy gets elected. Obama will be hesitant to strongly regulate the billions of bailout dollars if the people he’s dealing out the cash to are his donation buddies. On day one, Wall Street will thrust a litany of demands before president Obama, but the American people will not be represented in the Oval Office. Yes We Did Leave Our President with the Wolves.

Others claim the “Did” is a movement toward universal health care. It’s totally illogical to assume Obama will defy his insurance company friends and his past rhetoric, and suddenly adopt single-payer health care. Thousands of physicians have already gone on record to say that Obama’s idea for a hybrid of private health insurance plans and government subsidies will not work, and in fact has already failed in Oregon, Minnesota, Washington and several other states, including Massachusetts, whose second go-round at incremental reform is already failing.

It’s not enough to know in the warmest places of your little hearts that Obama really is a good man, and he wants to end Americans’ suffering. The American people have to swiftly demand single-payer health care, or the insurance companies will greet Obama at the White House and quickly neuter any plans for universal health care coverage.

Yes We Did Elect a Good Man. President-elect Obama does seem like a decent guy, and a good family man, but the government system doesn’t care if he’s a good man. It’s impossible for Obama to keep his fingers on the pulse of the nation when he’s living in a severed limb like Washington. It will take an engaged citizenry living in the real, breathing world to help him fight every step of the way.

Now is the time to outline a plan for the Big Four, four ultra-important demands that need to be addressed within the first 100 days. I would suggest something like: universal health care, strong regulation of the bailout cash, ending the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan (enough of this Afghanistan is the “good war” silliness,) and serious movements toward building a green economy and ending our dependency on foreign oil.

Google the issue nearest and dearest to your heart, find a local group that shares your agenda, and get together. Your strength is in numbers. If you’re not really the go-out-and-change-the-world type, just add your name as a contribution, or open your wallet to an already established Progressive group like November5.org.

It’s not enough to simply watch over president Obama, either. As director Eugene Jarecki explains, the three branches of government are like the stand-off in a Quentin Tarantino film with each body aiming a gun at someone else. It’s not enough to change one part. We have to change them all. Obamanites must also monitor the behavior of their Congressional representatives and put pressure on them to implement the Big Four.

If all of this sounds like a lot of work, it’s because it is. But that’s the point. Democracy is a constant battle to suppress the evil motives of corrupt politicians. Or, in the words of our beloved Dubya: “If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator.”

He will be missed.

Add your voice to the Yes We Are forces. Yes We Are Living Wage Warriors. Yes We Are Congress Watchdogs. Stay alert, engaged, and don’t be afraid to offer Obama some tough love. He can take it. He’s already asking for help with his Change.gov website, so get working.

This is an exciting time. Unlike the bullheaded asshole playing Snood in the White House for the past eight years, Barack Obama is an intelligent, reasonable, open politician that we have the chance of influencing if we are at the negotiation table alongside Big Business. But we have to demand our seat the table. No one is going to come hand it to us.

So I would suggest the Yes We Did camp change their slogan to Yes We Will Be, or Yes We Are, but they can’t quit yet.

Welcome?

I’m a bit of a statistics nerd, so I like to keep track of how people find my website. Recently, I’ve noticed disturbing patterns in the searches bringing people to my site.

Let me know if I’m being overly paranoid, or if I should officially greet my loyal following of clit-sucking racists.

PS: This is somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I’m sure they’ve come across my blog by accident or out of some angry desire to read what the enemy is writing. Still, WELCOME REDNECKS!