Billionaire GOP donor aims to convince party to push homosexual ‘rights’
Billionaire Republican donor Paul Singer, long known for opposing legislation that increases the regulatory burden on American businesses, has brought together a bipartisan coalition that aims to move the GOP to push homosexual “rights.”
Singer, who backs same-sex "marriage" and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), helped form two organizations in the last year that have donated to Republicans that share their support for comprehensive immigration reform, same-sex "marriage,” and Israel.
Billionaire GOP donor Paul Singer
Working with groups like the ACLU, SEIU, and Human Rights Campaign, Singer has donated $10 million over the last several years to pro-same-sex "marriage" efforts in New Hampshire, New York, and Maryland. He has been inspired by his openly homosexual son, according to media reports.
Singer has donated $375,000 to help pass ENDA in Congress, telling USA TODAY, “America is a place where the freedom to be who you are shouldn’t be a barrier to your ability to get a job and provide for your family." ENDA would prevent so-called "workplace discrimination" against employees for their sexuality.
In February, Politico reported that Singer and several other billionaire donors had formed the American Opportunity Alliance, which aims to move the GOP into supporting Israel, but also less conservative policies such as amnesty for illegal immigrants and support for same-sex "marriage." House Speaker John Boehner, R-OH, was expected at a meeting in late February with these donors, as was New Hampshire's Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte.
According to Thomas More Society president Tom Brejcha, "Big donors have influence with party leadership, there's no doubt about it. Sometimes, there is a principled coincidence, between donors and Members. This is true on the right and left, and nothing is inappropriate with that."
However, Brejcha told LifeSiteNews, "it's hard to see whose principles are for sale, sometimes."
Brejcha said the problem areas for the GOP are immigration and same-sex "marriage" -- areas Singer has made top priority. "There is big money that wants comprehensive immigration reform, and so many in the GOP leadership are changing position on that issue against the will of their party and the American public," according to Brejcha. "The same is true on same-sex marriage and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. That's always the question with these Members."
"When President Obama stopped defending DOMA, it was partially because gay donors were threatening to pull the money spigot," said Brejcha. "It wouldn't surprise me if this was happening with Republicans who are facing tough elections."
"When President Obama stopped defending DOMA, it was partially because gay donors were threatening to pull the money spigot," said Brejcha. "It wouldn't surprise me if this was happening with Republicans who are facing tough elections."
In May 2012, The Washington Examiner's Timothy Carney pointed to how 20 percent of President Obama's bundlers were homosexuals. And money for social issues for Democrats has far outweighed that of Republicans as of late -- Carney wrote that as of May 2012, "pro-life groups have spent $4.5 million on federal elections" since 2004. This pales compared to the more than $25 million spent by pro-abortion groups. (Carney numbers come from the Center for Responsive Politics.)
It appears that some GOP donors want the gap to shrink. Carney told LifeSiteNews that "the GOP donor class is far more supportive of gay marriage than the GOP voter base is."
Whether it's money or politics influencing some Republicans is the big question. Earlier this month, Colorado Republican Mike Coffman became the seventh member of his party in the House to back ENDA. Coffman faces a tough election in November, and has softened positions on immigration, abortion, and ENDA.
ENDA passed the Senate, and has faced stiff GOP opposition in the House. According to Politico, targets of Singer's group include GOP Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Joe Heck (N.V.), Leonard Lance (N.J.), Frank LoBiondo (N.J.), and Dave Reichert (Wash.). Pro-life Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois is also seen as a top target for supporting ENDA.
The billionaire group is making gains in states. It "has more than 30 field organizers on the ground in 17 states and has engaged eight Republican-leaning public affairs firms,” reports Politico, and in near future more than 100 events are being planned, including 43 phone banks.
