Why am I not surprised? A supposed grass-roots group received $150,000 (of the total $193,000 it raised) in one check — from the Florida Republican Party. This was apparently news to Governor Jeb Bush, who has expressed opposition to the anti-gay marriage amendment in the past, calling it unnecessary.
An investigation by the St. Petersburg Times into funding for the Florida4Marriage has found that of the $193,000 that has been raised by the group $150,000 came from a single donor – the Florida Republican Party.
The paper says that the donation was made in a single check on Nov. 25.
“It certainly was helpful,” Florida4Marriage chair John Stemberger tells the Times .
Stemberger said that the donation was unsolicited. “I’m not at liberty to discuss the details, but they came to us and gave us the money,” he told the paper…
…Florida Republican Party Executive Director Andy Palmer told the Times that it made the donation because the party believed that similar ballot measures helped to increase the Republican vote in battleground states during the 2004 elections.
The payment was attacked by LGBT Democrats.
“Voters should be weary of these stealth tactics used by the Republican Party both nationally and here in Florida,” said Michael Albetta, President of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, an official caucus of the Florida Democratic Party.
Despite the huge injection of cash it appears Florida4Marriage may not get the number of signatures needed to put a proposed amendment on the ballot.
It looks like the Republican Party may have a new slogan:
The GOP — fear-mongering for votes since 1980.