Here’s an interesting way to rally opposition to a ballot proposition that would allow for same-day voter registration: convince voters that its being pushed by gay activists and their pro-gay agenda.
That’s what the Maine Republican Party did with ads they paid thousands of dollars to run in Maine newspapers.
A TPM reader sent us a copy of the ad, which reads:
“FACT! IN THE 2010 ELECTIONS, EQUALITY MAINE (ADVOCACY GROUP FOR GAY/LESBIAN MARRIAGE) DONATED $141,000 FOR THE ELECTION OF DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES TO THE MAINE LEGISLATURE.
FACT! IN THIS ELECTION EQUALITY MAINE HAS DONATED $5000 AND RECEIVED OVER $46,000 TO COLLECT SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF REFERENDUM QUESTION #1.
WHY… IS THIS SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP SO INTERESTED IN REPEALING MAINE ELECTION LAWS?”
The ad never mentions the subject of referendum question one, which asks: “Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of 2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business days prior to an election?”
The website of the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices is mentioned in the ad, so they were forced to clarify that they are “not responsible for the ad. The ad was paid for by a ballot question committee opposing the people’s veto.”
Additionally, they linked to a report showing the Republican party was paying for the ads.
Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He previously said that students were committing voter fraud in the state, allegations that were found to be false.
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.
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