Money Talking in Maine

In advance of the self-pitying whining from anti-gay forces in Maine, the plain talk is that is that more folk there who want to keep the current rights legislation are ponying up. As a report in the Portland Press-Herald put it today:

Financial backing is "one indicator of the support that an issue has" in the community at large, and Maine Won't Discriminate has a lot more contributors than the other side does, said Ted O'Meara of Maine Won't Discriminate.

Of course, he's a tad biased. The group he speaks for leads the pro side.

The PAC numbers are over two to one. The pro-rights folks have taken in over $490,000 to the repeal folks' $220,000. Cash on hand runs $276,000 to $19,000.

The largest contributors are:

SUPPORTERS OF THE LAW

• $60,000 - Human Rights Campaign, Washington, D.C.
• $25,000 - National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Washington, D.C.
• $7,000 - Diane Sammer, Harpswell
• $5,000 - Maine Education Association, Augusta

OPPONENTS OF THE LAW

• $20,000 - Christian Action League (affiliated with the Christian Civic League of Maine in Augusta)
• $10,000 - Linda Bean Folkers, Falmouth
• $10,000 - Christian Civic League of Maine (two $5,000 contributions)
• $5,479 - TABOR (taxpayer bill of rights). Largest of several gifts from the Garland-based group seeking referendum to cap government spending.

Even before each side filed its figures yesterday afternoon, the whining started. Paul Madore of the Maine Grassroots Coalition (spin-off of the Christian Civics League) squeaked out with a claim that his money was from Mainers, not out-of-staters.