New York Times Editorial Supports FPPC Investigation of Mormon Church

Below is the link to today's NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL in support of the investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) of the Mormon Church re Prop 8. I filed the complaint on November 13th and the FPPC agreed to launch an investigation this week.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/opinion/29sat2.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Fred Karger
Founder
Californians Against Hate
http://californiansagainsthate.com
619-592-2008

Full Story:

Editorial
The Prop 8 Campaign Money
Published: November 29, 2008
California’s fair-elections commission is investigating a complaint against the Mormon Church’s role in campaigning for Proposition 8, which made marriage illegal between people of the same sex. Based on the facts that have come out so far, the state is right to look into whether the church broke state laws by failing to report campaign-related expenditures.

Proposition 8, which California voters passed on Nov. 4, overturned a ruling by the California Supreme Court and wrote discrimination against one particular group of people into the State Constitution. After it passed, tens of thousands of people rallied in cities across the country in support of same-sex marriage. The California Supreme Court said recently that it would review whether Proposition 8 was constitutional.

Mormons were a major force behind the ballot measure. Individual church members contributed millions of dollars and acted as campaign foot soldiers. The church itself also played an unusually large role. Michael R. Otterson, the managing director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — the full name of the Mormons’ church — said that while the church speaks out on other issues, like abortion, “we don’t get involved to the degree we did on this.”

Fred Karger, the founder of a group called Californians Against Hate, who filed the complaint, contends that the Mormon Church provided significant contributions to the pro-Proposition 8 campaign that it did not report, as state law requires. The Fair Political Practices Commission of California is investigating, among other things, commercials, out-of-state phone banks and a Web site sponsored by the church.

If the commission finds that the church violated state reporting laws, it could impose penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and sue for additional amounts. The Mormon Church, which says it is sending information to the commission, says it did nothing wrong.

Churches, which risk their tax-exempt status if they endorse candidates, have more leeway in referendum campaigns. Still, when they enter the political fray, they have the same obligation to follow the rules that nonreligious groups do.

-- end --

All the News on Californians Against Hate - Read All About It!

New York Times -- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/us/politics/26marriage.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=mormon%20investigation&st=cse

Fox News -- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,457086,00.html

Salt Lake Tribune -- http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11064769

Sacramento Bee -- http://www.sacbee.com/749/story/1425404.html

Los Angeles Times -- http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2008/11/proposition-8-2.html

San Francisco Chronicle -- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=33015

San Diego Union-Tribune -- http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2008/11/prop_8_opponents_announce_new.html

San Jose Mercury News -- http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11071952

San Jose Mercury News -- http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11065696?nclick_check=1

San Francisco Sentinel -- http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17624

GLT San Diego -- http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13533

GLT San Diego -- http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13504

GLT San Diego -- http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13535

Desert Sun -- http://www.mydesert.com/article/20081121/NEWS01/811210343/1026/news12

Huffington Post -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-karger/boycott-a-1-self-storage_b_145103.html

The Daily Princetonian -- http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/11/19/22161/

Les Get Real -- http://lezgetreal.com/2008/11/where-do-we-go-from-here.html

Mother Talker -- http://www.mothertalkers.com/storyonly/2008/11/16/185426/35

Political Correctness Site -- http://pcwatch.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html#7105213593601224553

Square State -- http://www.squarestate.net/diary/7220/focus-on-the-family-cuts-200-jobs

Life in the Avenues -- http://horseychicken.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is/

DigiActive -- http://www.digiactive.org/2008/11/24/campaign-protests-against-proposition-8

Lavender Newswire -- http://news.lavenderliberal.com/2008/11/24/ceos-hiding-proposition-8-donations-behind-wives-skirts/

Gateway Pundit -- http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/11/unreal-california-courts-will.html

Out Impact - http://www.outimpact.com/gay-rights/californians-against-hate-who-were-the-top-12-contributors-for-prop-8

The Campaign Silo -- http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2008/11/24/probe-of-mormon-church-underway

Out Impact -- http://www.inlookout.com/2008/11/24/california-commission-to-investigate-mormon-involvement-in-prop-8

Inside Looking Out -- http://www.inlookout.com/2008/11/24/california-commission-to-investigate-mormon-involvement-in-prop-8

ALO News -- http://news.aol.com/article/california-to-investigate-mormon-aid-to/205955

Lesbians of Color -- http://lesbianofcolor.blogspot.com/2008/11/ongoing-1-storage-boycott.html

Pride and Shame -- http://prideandshame.blogspot.com/2008/11/shame-alert-1-storage.html

America Blog -- http://www.americablog.com

Pam’s House Blend -- http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8398

Catholic On Line -- http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=30738

2015place.com ¬¬-- http://www.2015place.com/2008/11/combined-gay-news-headlines-t5t-1_1503.html

ECCO -- http://www.eccopac.org/2008/11/california-fair-political-practices.html

BGay.com -- http://www.bgay.com/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=694&Itemid=23

Towleroad -- http://www.bgay.com/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=694&Itemid=23

Godless Liberal Homo -- http://godlessliberalhomo.blogspot.com/2008/11/mormon-church-under-investigation.html

Shakesville -- http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/11/california-to-investigate-mormons.html

The Soap Box -- http://theesoapbox.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-happens-if-youre-on-gay-enemies.html

Three Legged Stool -- http://threelegedstool.blogspot.com/2008/11/mormons-to-be-investigated-over-prop-8.html

Daily Kos -- http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/26/125059/17?detail=f

Queer Click -- http://sticky.queerclick.com/post/12752?goto#12752

Freep.com -- http://www.freep.com/article/20081125/NEWS07/81125096/1009

On Top -- http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=2786&MediaType=1&Category=26

FPPC To Investigate Mormon Church Involvement in Prop 8

NEWS RELEASE November, 24, 2008


California Fair Political Practices Commission to
Investigate Mormon Church Involvement in Prop 8

LOS ANGELES, CA – Fred Karger, Founder of Californians Against Hate received a letter today from the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) regarding the sworn complaint that he filed on November 13, 2008. The complaint requested the FPPC investigate the alleged lack of reporting of numerous non monetary contributions to ProtectMarriage.com / Yes on 8, A Project of California Renewal I.D. #1302592 by the Mormon Church. The letter from FPPC Executive Director, Roman Porter, dated November 21, 2008 was received by fax. Below is the text of the letter from Mr. Porter.

Fair Political Practices Commission
428 J Street, Suite 629, Sacramento, CA 95814-2329
(916)322-5660 Fax (916)322-0886

November 21, 2008

Fred Karger
1278 Glenneyre, #20
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Re; FPPC File No. 08/735; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aka the Mormon Church of Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Mr. Karger:

This letter is to notify you that the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission (the FPPC) will investigate the allegation(s), under the jurisdiction of the FPPC, of the sworn complaint you submitted in the above-referenced matter. You will next receive notification from us upon final disposition of the case. However, please be advised that at this time we have not made any determination about the validity of the allegation(s) you made or about the culpability, if any, of the person(s) you identify in your complaint.

Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention.

Sincerely,

Roman G. Porter
Executive Director

cc: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aka the Mormon Church of Salt Lake City, Utah

“We are very pleased that the FPPC has agreed to launch an investigation based on our complaint,” said Fred Karger. “My 4 page letter to Chairman Ross Johnson and California and Utah Attorneys General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and Mark Shurtleff with all of the alleged unreported activities is available on our blog at: http://californiansagainsthate.blogspot.com/ We’re hopeful the Mormon Church will fully cooperate with the investigation, and that we will find out the full extent of their involvement in the Yes on 8 campaign.”

-- end --

Secret Mormon Memo From 1997

We just came across this internal memo and commentary that was posted on Daily Kos detailing the Mormon Plan to pull the Catholic Church into their campaign to stop same-sex marrige going back over 11 years. Check it out at this link:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/3/15369/3779/711/651188

Discrimination at Princeton?

Check out this wonderful video on YouTube:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/11/princetons-prop.html

News Update

Mormons Don't Like to be Singled Out

Last Friday, in a highly unusual move, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) issued a press release out of the Church’s Newsroom in Salt Lake City, Utah. President Thomas S. Monson called for "Respect, Civility in Public Discourse" www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng The very next day the New York Times broke a story on the Church’s involvement in the campaign entitled "Mormons Tipped Scale in Ban on Gay Marriage." It detailed church campaign plans from a leaked memo. The memo discussed training and guidelines for Church members to follow in order to pass California’s Proposition 8. It's quite a story by Jesse McKinley and Kirk Johnson http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/us/politics/15marriage.html?pagewanted=1&sq=mormon%20church&st=nyt&scp=3

President Monson asks demonstrators to respect their places of worship. These places of worship were serving as campaign headquarters just two weeks ago. We have heard that this is where Mormon Church members would go to get lawn signs, campaign materials, and voter lists for walking and calling registered voters. All summer and fall they were using these places of worship to actively campaign against Prop 8, and often directly from the pulpit.

They produced 14 campaign commercials, 2 web sites, ran phone banks from Utah and Idaho, sent direct mail, ran a speakers bureau, printed campaign literature, organized thousands of precinct walks and even transported people to California to work on their behalf.

In a weekend newspaper interview, Yes on 8 campaign manager, Frank Schubert said that Mormons contributed $15 to $20 million to the Yes on 8 campaign. If that’s what he’s admitting, we’re sure that it’s way more. Mormon Church leaders know to the penny how much their members gave to Yes on 8. The Wall Street Journal reported that they had church members send their donations to a post office box so they could track how much LDS money was coming in. It was then bundled and sent directly to the campaign. That was spelled out in Mark Schoof’s Wall Street Journal story of September 20, 2008. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122186063716658279.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

So with all these memos and admissions and all the evidence that we presented in our filing of last week, we are hopeful that the California Fair Political Practices Commission will launch an investigation to determine why the Mormon Church did not file reports of their numerous non monetary contributions to Yes on 8. A Church spokesman said that they filed four reports with the California Secretary of State detailing all these non-monetary expenditures. We could only find one. It was filed 4 days before the election on November 1, 2008 for $2,864.21. They did an awful lot of campaigning for only $2,864.21.

Demonstrations, Rallies and More Demonstrations

Last Saturday, there were hundreds of demonstrations held in cities and towns all over the county in support of full equality for gays and lesbians. This was the largest outpouring of support in our long civil rights movement. Many of these cities had never had demonstrations on LGBT equality before. From the coverage we saw and the demonstrations that we attended, they were very mixed with gay and straight supporters of same-sex marriage all standing side by side. At the San Jose Rally, a speaker told everyone to go to the web site of Californians against Hate http://www.californiansagainsthate.com to view our Dishonor Roll of over 800 contributors to Yes on 8 who gave a minimum of $5,000. We will continue to update the list as we get more information, and we have received quite a bit of new information via email from many supporters. Thank you for the tips. Our web site, which averaged about 350 visitors a day, has jumped to up to over 13,000 visitors per day! That keeps us very busy around here.

National Media Converage of our FPPC Filing

It was the filing heard ‘round the world. We’ve seen over 100 television, radio, magazine, newspaper and blog reports on the sworn complaint that Californians Against Hate filed against the LDS Church last week. The coverage included; NPR, Time Magazine, USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Salt lake City Tribune, The Deseret News and lots more. We have most of the links up on our Blog http://californiansagainsthate.blogspot.com

Here are links to some of the magazine and newspaper coverage:

Time Magazine -- http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1859323,00.html?iid=tsmodule

Los Angeles Times - http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-boycott14-2008nov14,0,4880904.story

New York Times -- http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Gay-Marriage-Mormons.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Salt Lake Tribune -- http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10982571

Deseret News -- http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705262980,00.html

USA Today -- http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-13-backlash_N.htm

Washington Post -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/14/AR2008111403508_pf.html


San Diego Union-Tribune -- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20081115-9999-1n15prop8.html

Mormons Are Resigning the LDS Church Over Prop 8

There is a new web site that began in July that allows Mormons to quiet the Church publically over all its support for Prop 8. It’s called Signing for Something http://signingforsomething.org/blog It is very interesting. Check it out.

More Reporting Questions on Yes on 8 Donors

One of our crack researchers discovered that several major contributors to Yes on 8 had put down "retired" or "homemaker" under occupation when in fact they appear to be employed. In many instances these contributors show up as owners or CEO’s of their companies. Also, when checking more closely there is an unusually high number of homemakers making 5 and 6 figure contributions to Yes on 8. Could it be that their husbands did not want their names connected to the Yes on 8 campaign?

Steve Largent’s Wife Contributed $2,000 to Yes on 8

A good example of spouses contributing is the $2,000 contribution of Terry Largent. She is the wife of former Congressman and Seattle Seahawks football star, Steve Largent. Steve Largent is now the President & CEO of CTIA The Wireless Association http://www.ctia.org CTIA is the Washington, DC based international lobbying and trade association for all the major wireless phone companies. The Largents live in Arlington, Virginia, and Steve joined the Board of Directors of James Dobson’s Focus on the Family in 2003 after he left Congress.

Wife of Sharp Healthcare’s CEO Gave $2,350 to Yes on 8

Mike Murphy heads San Diego’s largest hospital and biggest employer. His wife Sandra gave 4 separate contributions to Yes on 8 between March 10 and October 24, 2008 totaling $2,350. She listed her occupation and employer as "none." Maybe this was done in order to not draw any attention to her husband.

James Dobson’s Focus on the Family Lays Off 202

Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado was one of the leaders in the qualification of Prop 8 last winter and spring. They gave $539,643.66 and another $83,000 in non monetary contributions. They just cut 20% of their workforce. There is an excellent story on what is happening with this mega-ministry in today’s Colorado Independent by Cara Degette http://coloradoindependent.com/15287/after-pumping-money-into-prop-8-focus-on-the-family-announcing-layoffs?disqus_reply=3867526#disqus-claim

Please Support Our Crusade

We have never asked for financial support since our inception in July of this year. I pledged that we would self fund our small volunteer operation, and not take any resources away from the No on 8 campaign. And we did just that. Utilizing volunteers, we accomplished much. We certainly drew a lot of attention to all the major donors to Yes on 8. We conducted demonstrations in San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, DC. We called a few boycotts, continuously maintained our now famous Dishonor Roll of all contributors to Yes on 8 of $5,000 and over, and talked bluntly about the hate that was coming our way from so many of these big contributors. We tracked all the money coming in every day for 4 months, and were the first to discover the Mormon money pouring into the campaign coffers of Yes on 8 to the tune of $514,000 per day during most of August and September. Now we need your help to pursue our activities, including our filing before the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

We hope to continue our efforts and act as a truth squad to track the organizations and individuals who are out to deny us our civil rights and full equality.

Now, for the very first time, we turn to you for financial help. Please visit our web site http://www.californiansagainsthate.com and on the top right hand corner is a red DONATE button. Just click on that, and you will be taken directly to pay pal. It’s so easy to help us, and 100% of your contribution will go to direct action. We are all volunteers working out of our homes.

Won’t you please send $10, $25, $50, $100 or more to help us with all the expenses that we face? I promise you that we will work hard and continue to expose those who are out to hurt us.

Thank you in advance, and stay tuned for lots more from Californians Against Hate!

Boycott A-1 Self Storage - Owner Gave $693,000 to Yes on 8

NEWS RELEASE

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Californians Against Hate officially kicks off its Boycott of A-1 Self Storage Company today because of owner Terry Caster’s enormous contribution to the Yes on 8 campaign.

Fred Karger, Founder of Californians Against Hate announced the start of a virtually organized boycott of A-1 Self Storage today in his column on the Huffington Post. A new boycott web site was launched: http://www.BoycottA-1SelfStorage.com “We believe that the gay community and our millions of friends will support this Boycott of A-1 Self Storage,” said Karger.

From the Huffington Post Column:

Why would someone contribute $693,000 to take away the rights of an entire minority group in California? Terry Caster and his family did just that. Caster, his 8 children and many of their spouses gave a total of $293,000 to help qualify Proposition 8 for the ballot earlier this year. Then when the plea went out for more money from the Yes on 8 campaign in late October, Caster opened up his checkbook and gave an additional $400,000 to take away same-sex marriage in California. That’s $693,000 to Yes on 8! Terry Caster was the 2nd largest contributor in California to the Yes on 8 campaign.

Caster told the San Diego Union-Tribune in May that marriage equality threatens society. "Without solid marriage, you are going to have a sick society," he said.

Terry Caster owns San Diego based A-1 Self Storage Company http://a1storage.com which has 30 locations all over California.

If you are a current customer of A-1, we hope that you will move your belongings to another company. There are hundred of other self storage business to choose from in California. Those who are looking to rent a new storage unit, we encourage you to go to any one the many other options available.

This will be the third boycott called by Californians Against Hate over the last four months, and we are determined to make this our most successful.

Of the other two boycotts, one is ongoing and the other was settled. On July 18, 2008 Californians Against Hate announced its first boycott at the March on Manchester, a demonstration and rally in San Diego against Doug Manchester. Manchester owns two hotels in San Diego, The Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Grand del Mar Resort http://www.boycottmanchesterhotels.com/ Manchester gave $125,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Many groups and individuals have honored this boycott, and it has reciceved a tremendous amount of media coverage.

On September 19th our “Don’t Buy Bolthouse” campaign was kicked-off at a demonstration in front of Ralph’s Supermarket in Hollywood. At that time we asked consumers not to buy products produced by Bakersfield, CA based Bolthouse Farms. William Bolthouse, Jr. the company’s former CEO had made a personal contribution of $100,000 to Yes on 8. On October 9th “Don’t Buy Bolthouse” was ended after 3 weeks when an agreement was reached with new Bolthouse CEO, Jeff Dunn. Bolthouse Farms embarked on a comprehensive diversity program designed to support inclusiveness in its dealings with all stakeholders including the LGBT community. Additionally, they agreed to financially support several LGBT organizations.

Californians Against Hate began a “Call Terry Caster” campaign complete with its own web site on August 8th. The campaign asked people to call Caster personally to ask him why he gave so much money. The 800 numbers to his personal office and to A-1 Self Storage were posted on our site. This campaign continued through yesterday, and will now be replaced by the Boycott of A-1 Self Storage.

We will be primarily conducting the Boycott of A-1 Self Storage virtually. It will be done through web sites, social and business networking sites and through the blogosphere. We have a link on the Boycott web site to www.Yelp.com and will be asking people to go to Yelp and leave a comment next to the A-1 Self Storage facility near them.

Boycotts have had a place in civil rights movements for a long time. In the last 20 years they have mostly been done by conservative Christians. There was a wonderful story written by Bill Ainsworth of the San Diego Union-Tribune on July 28th on the history of boycotts and their effects:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080728/news_1n28boyside.html

The King of Boycotts has been the American Family Association (AFA) headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi http://www.afa.net/ Their web site includes a whole page on the “Homosexual Agenda.” AFA is headed by the father and son team of Don and Tim Wildmon. They own 190 radio stations and have an annual budget of $24 million. AFA began targeting big companies that had any connection to gay or lesbian activities in the early 90’s.

AFA ran an 8 year boycott against Disney because it dared to rent out its Disney World Theme Park for an annual gay party, and they offered benefits to same-sex partners of employees. In 2003 AFA boycotted Abercrombie & Fitch, calling on it to stop using pornography in its quarterly catalog. In 2005 the AFA boycotted the company American Girl, the maker of dolls and accessories, because the company supported the charity Girls, Inc., which the AFA called "a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group.” Also in 2005, AFA boycotted Kraft Foods for being a sponsor of the 2005 Gay Games in Chicago. In spring 2005 the AFA launched a boycott of Ford for advertising in gay magazines, donating to gay-rights organizations, and sponsoring gay pride celebrations. In 2006 the AFA urged its members to condemn Sears for running commercials on Logo, an LGBT cable channel.

Then by no coincidence, on Memorial Day this year, AFA announced a world- wide boycott of McDonalds for contributing a mere $20,000 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The timing was intentional. It came as soon as it was known that Proposition 8 had qualified for the November ballot. The boycott of McDonalds was sent as a warning to corporate American that you better not contribute to the No on 8 campaign or we will boycott you, too.
And then the most ridiculous of them all, on August 25th, AFA called for a boycott of Hallmark Cards, because they now sold same-sex wedding cards.

AFA has boycotted over 25 companies for their support of issues and organizations in which they believe.

Well, Californians Against Hate strongly believes that we should boycott Terry Caster’s A-1 Self Storage Company because of his $693,000 contribution to take away equality from an entire class of people in California. And we will.

Liveblog Thursday Night

Just got his from Bil Browning who heads the incredible Bilerico Web Site. Be sure and tune in tomorrow night, Thursday, November 20th.

I'm lucky enough to host a Liveblog with Kate Kendell, Nadine Smith, and Barbara McCullough-Jones. As you know, these three women led the anti-amendment charge in California, Florida, and Arizona.

They'll be answering questions and taking comments live about the amendment battles. Topics will range from "What went wrong?" to "Where do we go from here?" It's an amazing opportunity for the average Joe/Jane to directly ask questions to these leaders - something I don't think has ever been done before to such a large scale. Pam Spaulding will be my co-host for the evening's chat.

Pam, Kate and Nadine are Bilerico Project contributors and Barbara is a frequent guest blogger.
The Liveblog is scheduled for Thursday evening at 7pm EST. We have a post up now about it to drum up interest that includes this cool little box that lets people sign up for an e-mail reminder about the Liveblog. We're also soliciting questions in the comment section of my announcement post at: http://www.bilerico.com/2008/11/liveblog_with_anti-amendment_leaders_kat.php

News Coverage From Around the World

Californians Against Hate has been receiving a lot of media coverage on our camaping to tell the world who is contributing the vast amount of money to take away the rights of a minority.

We are on to somethig and will continue with our efforts.

Time Magazine -- http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1859323,00.html?iid=tsmodule

CBS Network News -- http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/13/eveningnews/main4601227.shtml

Los Angeles Times - http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-boycott14-2008nov14,0,4880904.story

New York Times -- http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Gay-Marriage-Mormons.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Salt Lake Tribune -- http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10982571

Deseret News -- http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705262980,00.html

USA Today -- http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-13-backlash_N.htm

Washington Post -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/14/AR2008111403508_pf.html

San Diego Union-Tribune -- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20081115-9999-1n15prop8.html

Sacramento Bee -- http://sacbee.com/749/story/1403293.html

Colorado Independent -- http://coloradoindependent.com/15287/after-pumping-money-into-prop-8-focus-on-the-family-announcing-layoffs

San Francisco Sentinel -- http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17477

KTVU – TV -- http://www.ktvu.com/politics/17975719/detail.html?rss=fran&psp=news

Blogs

2015 Place -- http://www.2015place.com/2008/11/combined-gay-news-headlines-t5t-1_8193.html

The Campaign Silo -- http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2008/11/13/did-the-mormon-church-cheat/

Catholic Culture - http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=1144

On Top Magazine -- http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=2723&MediaType=1&Category=26

Revoke LDS Church Status -- http://lds501c3.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/californians-against-hate-files-official-complaint/

The Political Carnival -- http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2008/11/californians-against-hate-file-suit.html

Obscanity -- http://www.obscanity.com/?p=814

Live Journal -- http://community.livejournal.com/_2008_repubpres/86910.html

San Diego News Service -- http://blogbythelion.blogspot.com/

Red State Impressions -- http://red-state.blogspot.com/2008/11/good-for-prop-8-boycotts.html

News for Mormons -- http://newsformormons.com/2008/11/14/what-happens-if-youre-on-the-gay-enemies-list/

Live Journal -- http://rogueplanet.livejournal.com/21847.html

Out Gay Life -- http://outgaylife.com/gay-community/gay-rights/mormon-aid-gay-marriage-ban-generates-complaint/

Gayagenda.com -- http://www.gayagenda.com/2008/11/are-mormons-hiding-prop-8-contributions/

SFist -- http://sacbee.com/749/story/1403293.html

The Konformist Blog -- http://robalini.blogspot.com/2008/11/after-prop-8-gay-marriage-support-grows.html

More Coverage

Associated Press -- http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GAY_MARRIAGE_DONATION_DISPUTE?SITE=OHRAV&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

San Francisco Chronicle -- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/31/MN0V13QHQF.DTL

The Salt Lake Tribune -- http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_10879061

Boston Globe -- http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/11/12/playing_the_race_card_on_gay_marriage/?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed6

The Atlantic / Andrew Sullivan -- http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/the-mormon-fact.html

National Review Online -- http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MWY4OTAwYTBjMjYwMzk5Yjg5OWM4NjdmOWU5NjE5NmU=

Grand Rapids Press -- http://www.mlive.com/grpress/news/index.ssf/2008/11/polpourri_for_november_2.html

Alter News -- http://www.alternet.org/sex/105620/marriage_equality_hangs_in_the_balance:_prop._8_in_a_dead_heat/
Catholic Exchange -- http://catholicexchange.com/2008/11/03/114308/

Vox -- http://noonprop8.vox.com/library/post/californians-against-hate---fighting-for-marriage-equality---proposition-8.html

KCW Gallery -- http://kcwgallery.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/the-mormon-church-funding-hatred-fear-and-evil/
Respect Authority -- http://www.respect-authority.com/2008/11/let-andrew-sullivan-be/

Inside Looking Out -- http://www.inlookout.com/2008/11/03/out-of-state-mormons-donate-3-million-more-to-prop-8/

AlterNet -- http://www.alternet.org/sex/105961/surprising_last_minute_religious_rallies_for_both_sides_of_ca's_proposition_8/
Jennifer Roback Morse -- http://jennifer-roback-morse.blogspot.com/2008/11/8-is-not-hate-meaning-of-proposition.html

Montreal Simon -- http://montrealsimon.blogspot.com/2008/11/mormon-war-on-gay-marriage.html

America Blog -- http://boremetotears.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/whos-bankrolling-your-hate/

Bore Me To Tears -- http://boremetotears.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/whos-bankrolling-your-hate/
The World Has Not Ended -- http://silveradept.livejournal.com/426964.html

Obscanity -- http://www.obscanity.com/?p=763

BLIGBI -- http://bligbi.com/2008/11/07/boycott-the-mormons/

Gay City News -- http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20183083&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568857&rfi=6

Lavender Newswire -- http://news.lavenderliberal.com/2008/10/30/top-yes-on-8-donors-written-up-in-hometown-papers-john-templeton-jr-1-million-elsa-prince-450000/

LiveJournal -- http://blackwingbear.livejournal.com/282474.html

NGBlog -- http://nlsngrc.blogspot.com/2008/11/plausible-deniability-mormon-style.html

All Facts and Opinions -- http://gratefuldread.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/boycotting-bigoted-california/

GDLMT -- http://guydads.blogspot.com/2008/11/lies-money-and-tyranny.html
That is so Queer -- http://soqueer.blogspot.com/2008/11/boycotts-begin-damnit.html

San Diego Weekly Reeder -- http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/ive-got-issues/2008/nov/09/proposition-8-indecent-proposal/

QueerTwoCents -- http://queertwocents.blogspot.com/2008/11/californians-against-hate-dishonor-roll.html

San Diego City Beat -- http://lastblogonearth.com/2008/11/10/after-the-rage-what-next-for-prop-8-opponents/

Kevin Hunter - http://kevinhuntersblog.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/prop-8-dishonor-roll/

Progressive Mews -- http://theleftpaw.blogspot.com/2008/11/stop-h8-campaign.html

Chasing Cornfields -- http://www.chasingcornfields.com/?p=116

Philadelphia Daily Bulletin -- http://www.thebulletin.us/site/index.cfm?newsid=20195191&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=8

Daily News & Opinion -- http://allisonkilkenny.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/who-passed-prop-8-heres-the-list/

Political Activity Law -- http://politicalactivitylaw.com/?p=997

Media Matters -- http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200811150002

The Donnablog -- http://donnarose.com/MyBlog/?p=217

News Record -- http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/11/14/article/charles_davenport_jr_voters_reject_hollywood_gay_marriage
Puma By Design 001’s -- http://pumabydesign001.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/weekend-of-proposition-8-protests/

Ima Blog -- http://californiansagainsthate.com/dishonorRoll.html

Secret 1997 Mormon Memo on Gay Marriage Plan Revealed

1997 Mormon memo on banning same-sex marriage receives wide exposure

by: Pam Spaulding

Last week it was revealed that the LDS church has been thinking about efforts to ban same-sex marriage in California for more than a decade, and was well aware of the church's PR problem if it were to lead the charge on a referendum.
What the late LDS leader Gordon Hinckley knew at the time was that he needed to hook up a church with a better rep (ha!) to front for it - the Catholic church. Here is a report on the strategy memo:

In the above report, the church doesn't question the memo's validity, in fact, the sources said there are other related documents that could surface. One snippet of the LDS memo underscores the level of hate the church has for gays (HLM refers to "homosexual legal marriage"):

Mormon Church: It's Tearing Families Apart

Son of Prominent Yes on 8 Leader Quits Mormon Church Over Prop 8

by: Andrew Callahan

Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 11:54:02 AM EST

Matthew Lawrence, 28, of Santa Ana, California is just one of approximately 500 people who have contacted Signing for Something ( http://www.signingforsomething... )in the last few days to announce his resignation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of the Mormon Church's handling of and involvement in the gay marriage issue. Matthew is gay and is the son of Gary Lawrence, 67, who is the "State LDS Grassroots Director" for the state of California. (See http://yesonprop8.blogspot.com... ).

Matthew Lawrence, in an e-mail interview with this diarist, said that although he is "extremely upset and frustrated" with his family and that he has "cut off communication with them," that "at the end of the day, I do love them." The elder Lawrence was also the Mormon Church's point man for the Prop 22 campaign in 2000. Matt says, "I love my family so much, but it's hard to not take this personally. We had a brief falling-out over Prop. 22, but that got mended. But two anti-gay initiatives in eight years, it's impossible not to feel attacked."

Sworn Complaint Filed Against Mormon Church with California FPPC and 2 State Attorneys General

LOS ANGELES, CA – Fred Karger, Founder of Californians Against Hate, today filed a Sworn Complaint with the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). In the complaint he accused The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) of not reporting numerous non monetary contributions to ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8, A Project of California Renewal I.D. # 1302592.

Karger contends that The Mormon Church organized phone banks from Utah and Idaho, sent direct mail to voters, transported people to California over several weekends, used the LDS NewsRoom to send out News Releases to promote their activities, walked precincts, ran a speakers bureau, distributed thousands of lawn signs and other campaign material, organized a “surge to election day,” had Church leaders travel to California, set up very elaborate web sites, produced at least 9 commercials and 4 other video broadcasts and conducted at least 2 satellite simulcasts over 5 Western states. All of these actions were geared toward nonmembers.

In addition to the formal FPPC complaint, a letter was also sent today to FPPC Chairman Ross Johnson, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff expanding on the complaint.

In the letter, a copy of which is below, Karger stated that 2 other organizations that were also involved in the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, reported substantial non monetary contributions to ProtectMarriage.com. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) of Princeton, New Jersey reported $210,634,75 and James Dobson’s Focus on the Family of Colorado Springs, Colorado reported $83,790.00. No non monetary contributions could be found from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Here is the full text of the letter:

November 13, 2008

Chairman Ross Johnson
Fair Political Practices Commission
428 J Street, Suite 800
Sacramento, CA 95814

Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
California Department of Justice
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff
Office of the Attorney General
Utah State Capitol Complex
350 North State Street Suite 230
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2320

Dear Chairman Johnson, Generals Brown & Shurtleff:

Today we filed a formal complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) aka the Mormon Church of Salt Lake City, Utah for not reporting various non monetary contributions to ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8, A Project of California Renewal I.D. # 1302592. The Mormon Church has been highly secretive about its massive involvement in the campaign, but we managed to piece together evidence of some of their more visible activities done directly to communicate with California voters, including:

· Church organized phone banks from Utah and Idaho
· Sending direct mail to voters
· Transported people to California over several weekends
· Used the LDS Press Office to send out multiple News Releases to promote their activities to nonmembers
· Walked precincts
· Ran a speakers bureau
· Distributed thousands of lawn signs and other campaign material
· Organized a “surge to election day”
· Church leaders travel to California
· Set up of very elaborate web sites
· Produced at least 9 commercials and 4 other video broadcasts all in support of Prop 8
· Conducted at least 2 satellite simulcasts over 5 Western states.

All of these unreported contributions by the Mormon Church were on top of its massive fund-raising effort; the largest ever undertaken on a social issue ballot initiative.

Under California Election Law organizations such as the Mormon Church are not required to report activities if they strictly constitute “member communication.” We will explain why we feel that the activities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints went far beyond “member communication,” and were instead specifically targeted at California’s 17 million voters. By not reporting any of these non monetary contributions, the Mormon Church violated the Political Reform Act.

The only mention of compliance was a news story stating that the Mormon Church reported a single non monetary contribution of $2078.00 for Church Elder L. Whitney Clayton’s travel expenses for one trip to California. Was there only one trip? Were no other Church officials traveling to California for such an important campaign?

The Mormon Church made the Yes on Prop 8 campaign a national priority beginning on June 20,, 2008 when Church President Thomas S. Monson sent his now famous letter to be read in every church building, where he said, “We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment (Prop 8) by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman.” http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/california-and-same-sex-marriage This was their call to action, and was undoubtedly designed to get members to begin the outreach to nonmembers.

Two other organizations that were also involved in the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, reported substantial non monetary contributions. The National Organization for Marriage of Princeton, New Jersey reported 49 separate non monetary contributions between 02/01/08 and 4/16/08 totaling $210,634,75. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family of Colorado Springs, Colorado reported non monetary contributions between 12/7/07 and 10/15/08 of $83,790.00.

Phone Banks

On October 8, 2008 the Associated Press reported that “Mormons Recruit Out-of-State for Gay Marriage Ban. Mormons living outside California have been asked to volunteer for a telephone campaign to help pass a ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage in the state.”

The Mormon Church announced one week before the November 4, 2008 election that it was canceling its phone centers in Utah established to call California voters. Were these in operation before they were canceled? What were the costs of these phone centers? How many calls were made to California voters from these massive call centers?

News reports said that students at BYU – Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho were using a call center in that town every Thursday evening to call voters in California. This type of interstate phone network requires a lot of setup, supervision, voter sheets, scripts, training and the price of the calls. Call centers are used to communicate with
nonmembers. Phone centers in place to contact nonmembers would constitute a contribution. No contribution was reported.

Gary Lawrence – State LDS Grassroots Director

Veteran political operative Gary Lawrence http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/CompanyDetail.aspx?CompanyID=55969576&cs=QHDVgcoxQ was based in Orange County, California. His title was State LDS Grassroots Director. Lawrence’s mission was to direct all Mormon activities in California (attached). He had a web site set up expressly for this purpose: http://yesonprop8.blogspot.com/2008/08/gary-lawrence-grass-roots-coordinator.html

Gary Lawrence’s operation had a timeline beginning on August 16, 2008 though election day of 12 Saturday precinct walks. All walkers were to be Mormons leading up to the election day surge of 100,000 Mormon volunteers and they went door-to-door to canvass nonmember voters. Was the Church actively involved in this massive recruitment? Here is a copy of the Mormon Organizational memo: http://wikileaks.org/leak/lds-proposition8-notes-2008.pdf This directive from Church Elders Ballard, Christopheron & Clayton detail Church plans for yard signs, schedule, volunteers, out of state calling teams, speakers bureau and voter registration. More internet communications are available on this site: http://www.p8california.com/Job.html Did the Church participate financially in this massive voter outreach? If so, all of these voter communication activities to nonmembers constitute a contribution. No contribution was reported.

Saturday Rallies

These took place throughout California on the 3 Saturdays prior to the election. Thousands of yellow T-shirt clad Yes on 8 supporters were lined up for miles with signs in targeted areas of the state yelling, chanting and screaming at passing motorists. There were reports that these demonstrators were mostly Mormons, and that many were bussed in from Utah and surrounding states. We have heard that some of the busses had out of state license plates. Who paid for the buses, travel costs, meals and other expenses of all the Mormon participants? No contributions were reported.

Satellite Broadcasts

It appears that the first satellite simulcast was on October 8, 2008 and was beamed to 5 Western states. Apostle Robert D. Hales led this broadcast on various aspects of the campaign, including how to deal with the issues and how to conduct yourself. http://www.meridianmagazine.com/churchupdate/081010prop8.html

Another satellite broadcast took place at a later date, and was led by Church Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton. It addressed the Church's doctrine of marriage and participation in the Protect Marriage Coalition. Then the Newsroom of the Mormon Church issued a Press Release (attached) about this broadcast making it available to California voters and anyone with internet access. This video was not password protected and was promoted by the Church and available to nonmembers. Here is the press release about it as well as other Mormon activities: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/same-sex-marriage-and-proposition-8 Satellite broadcasts to hundreds of locations are very expensive, and by making it available to nonmembers, it is a contribution. No contribution was reported.

Multi-media Program

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appeared to have done a tremendous amount of work in this area. A very slick web site (attached) http://www.preservingmarriage.org/ was developed specifically for the Yes on Prop 8 campaign. The title is “Preserving the Divine Institution of Marriage.” This web site states that it is “An Official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” c 2008 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

PreservingMarriage.com is primarily a showcase for 9 separate Yes on Prop 8 commercials that are very professionally produced. They feature mostly young people talking about why same-sex marriage is wrong. There is an email update request box, and another to send feedback. The viewer is encouraged to share this site and “spread the word.” Site visits are not limited to just Mormons, and everyone is “invited to share these videos with others.” There is even a very prominent “Vote Yes on Prop 8, Support Traditional Marriage” banner on the home page. Certainly this web site was put in place to reach California voters. It is on the internet, and therefore available to all.

This web page on PreservingMarriage.com has 13 very professionally made commercials and videos: http://www.preservingmarriage.org/videos.html (attached).
All of these commercials as well as their web site were clearly designed to communicate with the public. No contribution was reported.

Church Denial

On November 9, 2008 Don Eaton a spokesman for the Mormon Church was quoted on ABC – KGO Television stating, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put zero money in this (election).” When I personally spoke with him Monday, November 10, 2008 and asked him if the PreservingMarriage.com web site was sponsored by the Church, he quickly said that it was not, but was “a part of the campaign.”

In 1998, the Mormon Church directly contributed $1.1 million to ban same-sex marriages in Alaska and Hawaii, and received widespread criticism for that. So this year in California it appears that the Mormon Church was trying to avoid any direct contributions to Yes on Prop 8, and instead raised millions from its member families. That is legal, but all the money spent to communicate with nonmembers must be reported if it exceed $100. Clearly the Mormon Church has vastly exceeded that threshold. We ask that the Fair Political Practices Commission and the Attorneys General of California and Utah immediately begin a full and thorough investigation of all campaign related activities undertaken by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah to determine if there were any reporting violations.

Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this very important matter.

Sincerely,

Fred Karger
Founder / Campaign Manager
Californians Against Hate
http://californiansagainsthate.com/619-592-2008

cc: Commissioner Timothy A. Hodson
Commissioner A. Eugene Huguenin, Jr.
Commissioner Robert Leidigh
Commissioners Ray Remy

Attachments

Meet Terry Caster - $693,000 to Yes on Prop 8

Californians Against Hate Targets Mega Donor Terry Caster -- The 2nd Biggest Donor In the Country

Terry Caster owns A-1 Self Storage Company A-1 Self Storage has 40 locations throughout California with over 4 million storage units. Mr. Caster and his family have contributed $693,000 to the Protect Marriage campaign. That makes the Casters the 2nd largest individual donors to Yes on Prop 8.

"This guy must really not like same-sex marriage," said Fred Karger, Campaign Manager of Californians Against Hate in his published blog in The Huffington Post. "Mr. Caster and many of his eight sons and daughters and their spouses have given a combined total of $693,000 to the Protect Marriage campaign between January and November 4, 2008."

We are curious as to why Mr. Caster saw fit to contribute so much money to this campaign of fear and hate. We are asking our millions of friends and supporters all over the United States to help us by Calling Terry Caster and asking him why he and his family are so strongly against marriage equality.

Call Terry Caster at A-1 Self Storage Toll Free

Corporate Office Number: 800-219-4854 ext. 106

Customer Service Number: 800-210-8979

When you call, please be respectful and courteous to Mr. Caster and his associates. It is a free country and Terry Caster and his family have every right to contribute as much money as they want to this effort. Lots of people just want to know why.

Californians Against Hate officially kicked off its campaign to identify the major donor funders of Proposition 8 on Friday, July 18, 2008 in San Diego with a lunchtime demonstration and rally against hate. We announced our first action against one of the largest donors to qualify Prop 8, Doug Manchester, CEO of the Manchester Financial Group.

Mr. Manchester, who owns three hotels, contributed $125,000 this year to take away marriage equality in California. Californians Against Hate called for a boycott of all three of Doug Manchester’s Hotels. They are the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Grand del Mar Resort both in San Diego and the Whitetail Club and Resort in McCall, Idaho.
We believe that the truth should be known about exactly who funded their campaign of hate.
Related Links

Laguna Beach Demonstration

Saturday night November 8th over 2,000 men, women and children demonstrated to show their opposition to hate, and their support for equal rights in downtown Laguna Beach. A short program began right at 5:30 pm at City Hall.

Speakers included Laguna Beach Mayor Jane Egly, organizer Audrey Prosser, ECCO President Jeff LeTourneau and Dr. Jorge Rodriguez. Then everyone marched down Broadway to Main Beach. After lots of cheering and honking along Coast Highway, the growing crowd marched back to City Hall. No one wanted to go home, so most stayed and waved signs, chanted and received more support from passing motorists.

Here are some photo highlights from that extraordinary night.

Mormon Money Watch

NEWS RELEASE November 2, 2008 Contact: Fred Karger 619-592-2008

Out of State Mormons Just Gave $3 Million More to End Gay Marriage
New Mormon total = $22 Million!!!

LOS ANGELES, CA – With days to go before the second most watched election in the nation, the really big Mormon money has been pouring in from Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona like never before.

Led by Alan Ashton of Lindon, Utah who gave $1,000,000 on October 29th, the Mormon Power Grab by funding 77% of the Yes on Prop. 8 campaign has gone off the charts. Ashton is a Mormon and grandson of David O. McKay, President of the Mormon Church from 1951-1970. He made his fortune in software.

The new Mormon money total contributed to pass California’s Proposition 8 is now a staggering $22 million dollars!

Just 8 out of state Mormons have given $2 million of the $3 million total in the last week alone. These are the 8 who have given $100,000 and more:

Alan Ashton, Lindon, Utah $1,000,000
Hartford Holdings, Provo, Utah $300,000
David Moon, Alpine, Utah $200,000
Michelle Adams Watterson, Cache, Utah $100,000
Roger Bayer, Salt Lake City, Utah $100,000
Katharine, Garff, Bountiful, Utah, $100,000
Belinda Vandersloot, Idaho Falls, Idaho $100,000
The Vineyard Group (Cardon & Haitt Families), Mesa, Arizona $100,000

There are dozens and dozens of more Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona individuals and businesses that have given between $1000 and $50,000 since our last Mormon Money Watch on October 24th for an additional $1 million. They are listed on the California Secretary of State’s web site: http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Candidates/list.aspx?view=intention

Now with the additional $3 million of late Mormon money contributed over the last 9 days added to the $19.15 million previously given by over 59,000 Mormon families, the new total is over $22 million. This makes Prop. 8 the largest Mormon political undertaking in the 178 year history of the Mormon Church.

There were reports circulating on the blogs recently that the big out of state Mormon money was going to come in late to avoid scrutiny, and that of course is just what has happened.
On June 20th, three days after same-sex marriage became legal in California, the top leadership in the Church, known as the First Presidency, sent a letter to be read to all Mormons to "do all you can to pass Proposition 8." The Wall Street Journal reported on September 20th, that church members were told "their souls would be in jeopardy" if they do not donate money. Since then they have pushed the other leadership of the Yes on Prop. 8 campaign aside, and have taken over all facets of the campaign.

Please take a minute to read this excellent column from today’s Salt Lake Tribune by Columnist Rebecca Walsh: http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_10879061 It details why the Mormon Church has taken over this campaign and raises many questions as to its motivation.

Californians Against Hate was organized by veteran political consultant Fred Karger in July of this year to act as a truth squad, and tell the world who is funding California’s Yes on 8 campaign. It has recommended certain actions against some of the major contributors, and continued to publish its “Dishonor Roll” of all the $5,000 and over contributors to the Yes on 8 campaign which it posted on its web site: http://californiansagainsthate.com/
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