Donor Disclosure Has Its Downsides - Supporters of California's Prop. 8 have faced a backlash.

Wall Street Journal ^ | DECEMBER 26, 2008 | JOHN R. LOTT JR. and BRADLEY SMITH

[neverdem]

How would you like elections without secret ballots? To most people, this would be absurd.

We have secret balloting for obvious reasons. Politics frequently generates hot tempers. People can put up yard signs or wear political buttons if they want. But not everyone feels comfortable making his or her positions public -- many worry that their choice might offend or anger someone else. They fear losing their jobs or facing boycotts of their businesses.

And yet the mandatory public disclosure of financial donations to political campaigns in almost every state and at the federal level renders people's fears and vulnerability all too real. Proposition 8 -- California's recently passed constitutional amendment to outlaw gay marriage by ensuring that marriage in that state remains between a man and a woman -- is a dramatic case in point. Its passage has generated retaliation against those who supported it, once their financial support was made public and put online.

For example, when it was discovered that Scott Eckern, director of the nonprofit California Musical Theater in Sacramento, had given $1,000 to Yes on 8, the theater was deluged with criticism from prominent artists. Mr. Eckern was forced to resign.

The Opinion Journal Widget Download Opinion Journal's widget and link to the most important editorials and op-eds of the day from your blog or Web page. Richard Raddon, the director of the L.A. Film Festival, donated $1,500 to Yes on 8. A threatened boycott and picketing of the next festival forced him to resign. Alan Stock, the chief executive of the Cinemark theater chain, gave $9,999. Cinemark is facing a boycott, and so is the gay-friendly Sundance Film Festival because it uses a Cinemark theater to screen some of its films.

A Palo Alto dentist lost patients as a result of his $1,000 donation...

[traditional1]

I think the public disclosure lists provide us a clue as to which businesses to PATRONIZE, and who support the U.S. Constitution, and don't cave in to extrotion schemes from the ACLU for sex deviates, baby killers, racists, etc.

We can vote with our wallets and let those who will allow these liberal loonies and activist Judges that we can do business elsewhere.

After the Christmas word removal by certain retailers for fear of offending any Muslims, etc., I made it a point to avoid their stores and shop elsewhere, along with writing and letting them know why.

[SoldierDad]

The Fairness Doctrine at it’s best.

[TommyTrojan]

Didn’t we just have a Presidential election with secret financing?

[Oldexpat]

As usual, it is the Rat party of tolerance which is intolarant of people with differing opinions. This is the same reason you didn’t see McCain Palin stickers on cars..the Rats are a punch of criminals who will destroy the property.

[Carry_Okie]

Leftists enforce their preferences as a bogus matter "equality" while conservatives are expected to tolerate their depraved indoctrination of our children. Unless and until we treat this attack on our children as the mortal threat to our freedom that it is, they will win.

[bolobaby]

Ah, libtard brownshirts at work.

CRUSH ALL DISSENT!

They cannot have a debate on the merits. They cannot win the referendum. They can only harass those that oppose them.

[SoldierDad]

I still have my McCain/Palin sticker on the back window of my vehicle. I might remove it after Jan 20th, and I might not.

[SoldierDad]

Their use of strawman arguments is legendary.

[Stourme]

And it will get worse as time goes on and more of these types of issues come up. It may very well come to the point where "Choosing The Right" guarantees violence and persecution...again. If that's what were called to endure..then that's what we'll do.

John 15:18 - 20
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

[Katya]

don’t actually have a prob with this...it works both ways.

[TheDon]

I know some people who are receiving ongoing harrassment at work and in their businesses over their donations for Prop 8.

[TheDon]

Tolerance of evil begets intolerance of good.

[yorkie01]

It’s time to turn the tables on this Alinsky-Obama California giant sucking sound group by getting in their faces and DON’T BACK DOWN!

[neverdem]

don’t actually have a prob with this...it works both ways.

"In the aftermath of Prop. 8 we can glimpse a very ugly future."

IMHO, I think the authors are correct.

[goldstategop]

There's a easy fix. Require public disclosure only of donations in excess of $10,000. Since most people seldom give that much, what they give should not have to be reported since they don't exercise "undue influence." I think that strikes a sensible balance between public concern about lots of money in politics and allowing people to participate in the political process without worrying their views will be known to people who don't care for them.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[kimoajax]

I have no problem with people voting with their dollars by not patronizing donors they disagree with politically. However, the real problem with such donor list disclosures is that they expose donors to outright acts of intimidation designed to dry up those financial resources. When I say intimidation, I am talking vandalism and other agencies of the left such as the courts....something the left is very good at. And if you think this does not go on all day long and out in the open, there is a bridge for sale in Brooklyn you might want to look into.

[Jacquerie]

I suspect the harassment of Prop 8 supporters only fuels the migration of the productive class. CA is on a trajectory to join the other pillars of liberal governance, Michigan and New York.

[dbz77]

It may very well come to the point where "Choosing The Right" guarantees violence and persecution...again. If that's what were called to endure..then that's what we'll do.

If the persecution is nonviolent, we will just endure.

If the persecution is violent, we will make persecution dangerous for the persecutors.

[BILLNHILL MAKE ME ILL]

But not everyone feels comfortable making his or her positions public -- many worry that their choice might offend or anger someone else. They fear losing their jobs or facing boycotts of their businesses.

Isn't tolerance of someone else's point of view or lifestyle a wonderful thing?

BARF!

Sounds like hypocrisy is alive and well on the Left, wouldn't you agree?