The Internal Revenue Service came under fire late last week after allegations that it unfairly targeted conservative political groups. Prominent Republicans promised congressional hearings and even President Obama weighed in Monday, calling the actions “outrageous.”
Conservative groups are pissed. They have every reason to be pissed.
When it rains, it pours, apparently, for the IRS and its troubles.
The National Organization for Marriage this week announced plans to sue the IRS over claims that the tax agency stole and released its 2008 tax records, which were then leaked to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay political group.
National Organization for Marriage chief Brian Brown is many things, but “poor” is not one of them. A report released today by Rights Equal Rights details NOM's 2011 501(c)3 tax return and its annual expenses.
Shocker, the return shows Brown hauled in $230,000 from NOM's political operation. Brown also cashed in on more than $240,000 from NOM's “educational fund” and received almost $50,000 in benefits for a grand total of right around $500,000.
Who knew being a bigot could be so profitable?
Rights Equal Rights was founded by LGBT activist and former Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger. Karger and members of his staff attempted to visit NOM's Washington, D.C., offices last week to secure a copy of the 990 form.
The National Organization for Marriage had a shitty year last year. Marriage equality ballot measures passing in Maine, Maryland, and Washington and a defeated Minnesota constitutional amendment capped arguably the “gayest-ever” year for the marriage effort.
For 2013, NOM is once again on the defensive. State legislators in Illinois will push for a marriage equality vote during the current session and President Barack Obama announced his support for such an effort in his home state. Other states, like Rhode Island, Deleware and Hawaii are expected to consider marriage equality this year, as well.
Such action by the Illinois General Assembly, in particular its Republican legislators, has prompted NOM to pledge resources to defeat whoever supports marriage equality legislation.
A new poll released by “the polling company, inc.” has found an “overwhelming majority” of American voters, some 60 percent, who say they believe marriage should be defined as a union between one man and one woman.
The poll, commissioned by the anti-gay marriage group National Organization for Marriage, was conducted on Nov. 6 and surveyed some 800 “Americans who voted in the election” on their attitudes toward marriage equality.
"The outcome of the marriage votes in four very liberal states has caused some to speculate as to whether the American people have changed their views on marriage. This scientific poll shows that the answer to that is, 'no' they have not changed," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "This survey shows that 60 percent of voters believe marriage is one man and one woman, which is consistent with the 57 percent result 'the polling company' found in September."
Maybe they should change the name to the INTERNATIONAL Organization for Marriage. In the wake of massive losses for marriage equality opponents in last week's elections, leaders of the National Organization for Marriage plan to export their anti-gay strategies — especially to the Middle East, where they hope to draw more sympathy.
Tuesday's vote brought the reelection of President Barack Obama, the first sitting president to personally support marriage rights for same-sex couples, and a string of victories on ballot measures for marriage equality.
Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington affirmed the right of gay couples to marry in their states, while Minnesota became the first state to vote down a proposed state constitutional amendment to define marriage as only between one man and one woman.
So what's an organization dedicated to banning gay marriage to do? Apparently, NOM leader Brian Brown's plan is to whine and appeal to religious extremists -- wherever they may find them.
Remember when Brian Brown, president of the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage, challenged gay activist and author Dan Savage to debate marriage equality and other LGBT issues and Christianity?
And remember when Savage accepted Brown's invitation and invited Brown to his home for a discussion to take place after dinner?
Well, now you can watch the debate and find out what happened.
We all know Kirk Cameron starred in the hit 1980s hit series "Growing Pains." And it's no secret Cameron thinks same-sex marriage is wrong. And now he's teamed up with that silly, hateful group, the National Organization for Marriage, to talk about "God's manual" and how it says only men and women should be married. Sigh.
Brian Brown, the executive director for the National Organization for Marriage, wasted no time in issuing a call-to-arms to his organization's supporters this afternoon.
Moments after today's landmark ruling made by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that found California's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional, NOM had already sent out a fundraising plea previewing the next round of the ongoing legal battle.
“Moments ago, the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit handed down a sweeping ruling striking down California’s Proposition 8 and — for the first time ever — finding a ‘right’ to same-sex marriage in the United States Constitution!” Brown said in the email.
“A Supreme Court victory would preserve the marriage laws of 44 states, denying same-sex marriage radicals in their campaign to force gay marriage on the entire nation in one fell swoop. But if we lose at the Supreme Court, marriage will be jeopardized not just in California, but in all 50 states,” Brown continued.