By Christina Nuckols
The Virginian-Pilot
RICHMOND — Former Gov. Mark Warner and Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter, Mary, both have written checks to help opponents of a proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, according to campaign reports filed Monday.
The two high-profile givers are among scores of Virginians giving money to influence voters on the Nov. 7 ballot initiative. It is unclear whether advocates or opponents of the amendment have the upper hand in fund raising.
The Commonwealth Coalition, which opposes the amendment, reported donations totaling nearly $761,100 through the end of September. Supporters of the ballot measure reported $204,700 raised through their referendum committee, Va4marriage.org.
However, the executive director of the Richmond-based Family Foundation confirmed that her organization has paid for a telephone survey to 2.1 million Virginia households that is not included in the campaign report for Va4marriage.org.
Va4marriage.org is a referendum committee set up by an affiliate of the Family Foundation. The committee uses the Family Foundation’s office space and its staff, according to campaign reports.
The Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is not required to reveal its donors. Victoria Cobb, executive director of the non profit, declined to discuss the cost of the telephone survey.
She said the survey was used to “help focus the message” of the Family Foundation and included questions about Internet filters, the estate tax and stem cell research as well as the constitutional amendment.
Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, campaign manager for the Commonwealth Coalition, said she believes her group is being outspent, despite campaign reports that suggest otherwise.
Gastanaga noted that the Virginia Catholic Conference is underwriting a brochure in support of the amendment, which also has not been reported to the State Board of Elections.
Gastanaga said contributions from Warner and Cheney are morale boosters for the Coalition. Warner, a Democrat, gave $25,000 through his political action committee, One Virginia. Cheney, daughter of the Republican vice president, gave $1,000 to the group.
“It’s a strong statement about the credibility of the argument lots of people have made, that this amendment goes too far,” Gastanaga said.
Ellen Qualls, a spokeswoman for Warner, said the former governor believes the proposed amendment is so broadly worded that it would interfere with the legal rights of any unmarried couple.
“The governor believes the ballot initiative sends the wrong message about Virginia to the rest of the country,” she said.
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no concentration camps
mr. foley is a bonafide ,christian conservative republican.i wonder how many more like him are out there.i guess he would still support this amendment.the republican party has become a party of deception.vote NO on this amendment.would the supporters of this amendment condone violence against gay people, would you send them to concentration camps and gas chambers,where will they stop?
Do Not Write In Our Constitution---Homophobia is a terrible si
Attorney General Bob McDonnell has been preaching for this amendment long before he became AG. Homophobia is a terrible sickness! Once a proposed amendment becomes law and written into the Constitution is will stay there forever. Thelma Drake told me in a letter this past summer that such laws are needed, like the law that became a Constitution change regarding interracial marriage in Virginia. It is still against the law in Virginia for interracial couples to marry. McDonnell will not tell you the truth on how this amendment will affect Heterosexuals. He doesn't want you to know. According to the Government Accounting Office heterosexuals enjoy over 1000 rights that homosexuals don't. Do you honestly thing that's fair? Do not be a state that continues to write hate into our Constitution we already have a law against same sex marriage. Why are our elected officials bringing this up now? Because it's election time, and Bush did the same thing in the Presidential race
Call it what you want...
What is the big deal that homosexuals are so attuned to getting married and claiming that all of their rights will be undermined if this amendment goes forward. First the issue of marriage by homosexuals is nothing more than another attempt to be recognized as a legitimate lifestyle instead of an alternative one. Sorry but the acts that accompany homosexuality are against all laws of nature. It is a dangerous and disgusting lifestyle. Man is not meant to marry or lay with man and woman is not meant to marry or lay with woman in the ever so unforgiving rule of Mother Nature. Second, if one wants to enter into an all inclusive contract with another person, there is this little document that anyone can sign called a "general power of attorney". Go ahead and have fun signing your life away to anyone. I say full steam ahead with putting this liberal mindset mess behind us with the passing of the amendment.
Quick Question to all you right-wing radicals . . .
Exactly how would two people of the same sex tying the knot hurt your marriage or damage the right of other heterosexual couples from getting married? If I'm not mistaken, the divorce rate is a lot higher in the south than in liberal, old New England, and gay-marriage crazy Massachussetts.
Instead of debating silly issues like same-sex marriage why don't we get down to the real issues, like the rising cost of healthcare, the fact that college students are graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in debt (I'm at 50k and I don't graduate until May), the balloning federal budget deficit, Virginia's transportation problems, and most importantly the fact that our men and woman are dying everyday in Iraq!
Stop scapegoating the Gays and Wake up to what os really going on in America!! Thank God Democrats are going to take back at least the House so we can really start the so-called "demoralization" of American values!
banning same-sex marriage
Life is not fair, it never will be. Our so-called modern society has broken almost all of the natural laws that we were created from or evolved from depending on your perspective. I support this amendment and similar ones that put focus back on our society. I do not feel that this casts a negative shadow on Virginia. In fact, it may well be the first time in long time Virginia is showing leadership with a clue. I for one also believe in God, Duty to God, and that he must be about out patience with his kids over this kind of issue. We have got to stop rocking the boat.
I agree
He makes good points. I'm old and single and don't give a wet slap about marriage or relationships, but you cannot deny that right to others. It always amazes me how the American people can buy into the current administration's call of "united we stand" and in the same breath say "your either with us or against us". Why can they not see how devisive this attitude is and how it divides our nation. We are slowly moving toward what we are fighting against due to the policies of the current administration. We need a change.
Discriminatory?
Whatever else one may say about the amendment, it's certainly not discriminatory. If the amendment prohibits same sex marriage to everyone, then, by definition, it discriminates against no one. It's not as if some people can do it while others can't. No one can. That's equality, like it or not. Liberals can never succeed in convincing people of their causes through the democratic process, so they frame everything in a constitutional framework (such as equal rights or discimination) in order to get the issue into courts where judges can overturn the will of the people. Let's hope this amendment passes to put an end to this abuse on this issue once and for all.
The slippery slope
Look what's happening in Europe (Holland I believe) now that same sex couples are allowed to marry. People who live other alternative lifestyles are fighting in court for their right to marry - a man want's to marry 2 women. If we allow same sex marriage in the US I fear we're in for much of the same - and when will it end. Do we really want activist judges (in particular the 9th Circus in California) deciding this issue. Call it discrimination, call it wrong - but if we don't watch out, call it the future.
Let us put discriminiation in the state constitution!
Virginia has been moving forward. Now, it appears we will take a step back. Virginia needs to join the 21st century and realize that all people have the same rights. We do not need an amendment to actually strip the rights of people. This is discrimination, pure and simple. To be fair, then the government needs to get out of the marriage business altogether. This means no more paying a fee to get a marriage license, the state being unable to regulate divorce, etc. This won't happen, yet they want to regulate what adults can do. The republicans are all about 'smaller government' yet they support adding government by supporting this ridiculous amendment. By the way, I am married, 3 kids. I choose my life, and I would not want to deny the same rights I enjoy to others. It is just plain WRONG!!