Conservative SuperPAC Lobbying for gay marriage

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New conservative lobbying push for gay marriage
By PATRICK CONDON | Associated Press – 12 hrs ago

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FILE - In this April 18, 2013, file photo Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton tell hundreds who turned out to rally at the State Capitol, in St. Paul, Minn. in support of a bill to legalize gay marriage that he hoped legislators will pass this year. A spokesman for American Unity PAC tells The Associated Press that the group has established a lobbying operation and already spent more than $250,000 to lobby Republican lawmakers in Minnesota, with plans to spend more. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
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Associated Press/Jim Mone, File - FILE - In this April 18, 2013, file photo Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton tell hundreds who turned out to rally at the State Capitol, in St. Paul, Minn. in support of a bill to …more

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A national group of prominent GOP donors that supports gay marriage is pouring new money into lobbying efforts to get Republican lawmakers to vote to make it legal.

American Unity PAC was formed last year to lend financial support to Republicans who bucked the party's longstanding opposition to gay marriage. Its founders are launching a new lobbying organization, American Unity Fund, and already have spent more than $250,000 in Minnesota, where the Legislature could vote on the issue as early as next week.

The group has spent $500,000 on lobbying since last month, including efforts in Rhode Island, Delaware, Indiana, West Virginia and Utah.

Billionaire hedge fund manager and Republican donor Paul Singer launched American Unity PAC. The lobbying effort is the next phase as the push for gay marriage spreads to more states, spokesman Jeff Cook-McCormac told The Associated Press.

"What you have is this network of influential Republicans who really want to see the party embrace the freedom to marry, and believe it's not only the right thing for the country but also good politics," Cook-McCormac said.

In Minnesota, the money has gone to state groups that are lobbying Republican lawmakers and for polling on gay marriage in a handful of suburban districts held by Republicans. So far, only one Minnesota Republican lawmaker has committed to voting to legalize gay marriage: Sen. Branden Petersen, of Andover.

"I think there will be some more. There are legislators out there that are struggling with this," said Carl Kuhl, a former political aide to former GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Kuhl's public affairs firm is contracted by Minnesotans United, the lead lobby group for gay marriage in Minnesota and main recipient of American Unity's Minnesota spending.

Gay marriage's fate in Minnesota may rest with the House, where support is seen as shakier than in the Senate. A handful of votes from Republicans could put it over the top. Nearly two dozen House Republicans represent more socially moderate suburbs and might be candidates to vote yes.

House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, said he has encouraged advocates of the marriage bill to round up Republican votes, if nothing else than to send a message to Minnesota residents that it's not a partisan proposition. But that will be politically risky; the main opposition group to same-sex marriage, Minnesota for Marriage, has said it will seek consequences for Republicans who stray on gay marriage.

Part of American Unity PAC's original mission was to spend money on behalf of Republican gay marriage supporters. Many GOP lawmakers have faced primary challenges funded in part by anti-gay marriage groups such as the National Organization for Marriage, which argue that the lawmakers had betrayed the party's core principles.

Since forming the lobby group last month, American Unity also spent money to win over Republican lawmakers in Rhode Island, where last week all five Republicans in the state Senate jumped on the gay marriage bandwagon. Rhode Island is on track to legalize gay marriage by next week, which would make it the 11th U.S. state where gay marriage is legal.

There are also plans to lobby federal lawmakers on gay rights issues.

"We intend to work on this effort until every American citizen is treated equally under the law," Cook-McCormac said. Other wealthy, traditionally Republican donors giving money to the group include Seth Klarman, David Herro and Cliff Asness.

Though only one current GOP officeholder in Minnesota is on record supporting gay marriage, a handful of prominent Republicans have spoken out in favor of it. They include former state auditor Pat Anderson and Brian McClung, who was spokesman for former Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Prominent Republican donors including former politician Wheelock Whitney and businesswoman Marilyn Carlson Nelson have also lent support and donated money.

Since it first formed to campaign against last fall's gay marriage ban and then shifted to pushing for its legalization at the Capitol, Minnesotans United has been building Republican alliances, hiring multiple lobbyists with Republican ties.

Seems to becoming more and more of a reality.

[madd0ct0r]

step 1 of republican party renewal?

[Gandalf]

step 1 of republican party renewal?

Most of their base who disagree with same sex marriage are getting old and dying, so they can possibly abandon that in order to score some young people votes.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Minnesota is also a fairly Progressive state.
Any Republican, in a largely Liberal state, wanting to get re-elected in the next election cycle will I am willing to be, endorse and support gay marriage as a matter of coarse.

[Highlord Laan]

step 1 of republican party renewal?

Nah. Just a smokescreen to get themselves back in office. They're the same superstitious, knuckle-dragging iron-age throwback they've always been.

[TimothyC]

Nah. Just a smokescreen to get themselves back in office. They're the same superstitious, knuckle-dragging iron-age throwback they've always been.

So in your mind it's not possible for Republicans to have changed their position on an issue and wish to change other Republican's position on said issue because they honestly believe in their new stance? That seems incredibly myopic.

[Highlord Laan]

Nah. Just a smokescreen to get themselves back in office. They're the same superstitious, knuckle-dragging iron-age throwback they've always been.

So in your mind it's not possible for Republicans to have changed their position on an issue and wish to change other Republican's position on said issue because they honestly believe in their new stance? That seems incredibly myopic.

Has a large number of of the fundie base suddenly died or left the country, and released their deathgrip on the party's throat?

[TimothyC]

So in your mind it's not possible for Republicans to have changed their position on an issue and wish to change other Republican's position on said issue because they honestly believe in their new stance? That seems incredibly myopic.

Has a large number of of the fundie base suddenly died or left the country, and released their deathgrip on the party's throat?

Would you mind actually answering my question?

[Civil War Man]

Minnesota is also a fairly Progressive state.
Any Republican, in a largely Liberal state, wanting to get re-elected in the next election cycle will I am willing to be, endorse and support gay marriage as a matter of coarse.

As an example, every Republican in the Rhode Island State Senate voted in favor of the recent bill recognizing same sex marriage. Granted, there were only 5 of them, but still.

[Flagg]

Yet Christie is opposed to it.

[Col. Crackpot]

Nah. Just a smokescreen to get themselves back in office. They're the same superstitious, knuckle-dragging iron-age throwback they've always been.

So in your mind it's not possible for Republicans to have changed their position on an issue and wish to change other Republican's position on said issue because they honestly believe in their new stance? That seems incredibly myopic.

Has a large number of of the fundie base suddenly died or left the country, and released their deathgrip on the party's throat?

Actually yes. The fundies are losing influence fast. Old bible thumpers are dying and there aren't enough young bible thumpers to replace them. Many in the GOP are reading the writing on the wall. There are also many that aren't and choose to stick to their guns... and they will be increasingly marginalized in the future.

[Gandalf]

Who would be considered the most prominent/influential Rapeublican in favour of same sex marriage?

[Executor32]

Probably Dick Cheney since he was VP and all. Jesse Ventura also supports it, and apparently Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck have recently kinda-sorta pretty much come out in favor of it.

[TimothyC]

Probably Dick Cheney since he was VP and all. Jesse Ventura also supports it, and apparently Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck have recently kinda-sorta pretty much come out in favor of it.

Cheney doesn't have a lot of influence on the party at this point, and Ventura isn't a part of the party. I'd have to say that it's either Sen. Portman or one of the commentators.

[Dalton]

Yet Christie is opposed to it.

Personally, yes. He vetoed the same-sex marriage bill that came from the state legislature but would respect the outcome of a statewide referendum despite the issue being against his beliefs, which is a lot more than one can say for some Republican leaders. In other words, if the people of New Jersey voted yes on the referendum, Christie would support it. He even called for the referendum to be added to the ballot.

Link to article from Feb. 2012

I'm not sure what his stance is now, but in the spectrum of GOP politics he's not batshit crazy.

[Dalton]

Probably Dick Cheney since he was VP and all. Jesse Ventura also supports it, and apparently Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck have recently kinda-sorta pretty much come out in favor of it.

Cheney doesn't have a lot of influence on the party at this point, and Ventura isn't a part of the party. I'd have to say that it's either Sen. Portman or one of the commentators.

There are not a lot of very visible Republicans in favor of same-sex marriage. Arguably the most visible are Dick Cheney, Laura Bush and Colin Powell, along with Ted Olson and Rob Portman.

Here's a partial list of signatories to the Amicus Brief submitted to the Supreme Court for the Prop 8 case.

[Flagg]

Well Laura Bush pulled her name from a letter endorsing gay marriage so I think her status as being a human being needs to be revoked. :v

[Dalton]

Well Laura Bush pulled her name from a letter endorsing gay marriage so I think her status as being a human being needs to be revoked. :v

I'd call it political damage control if her husband had any political future.