A straight North Carolinian weighs in about Amendment One

From Bobby DeMuro:

Last night, North Carolinians passed Amendment One. As they should be, many North Carolinians are disappointed. Amendment One is discriminatory, short-sighted, ignorant, regressive, and brings big government into your bedroom. A more offensive over-reach (from various political angles) I cannot recall.

My out-of-state friends are busy making fun of North Carolina today, and it hurts. The way they see it, all North Carolinians are a bunch of rednecks — back water, backwards bigots stuck in the 1920s — legislating against gay people, and unwed couples, and non-traditional families.

Hell, maybe we are.

But the only way that perception of us changes is if North Carolinians stay here, and do what needs to be done to make this right – for gay people, for unwed couples, for children — for our state.

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Last time NC amended the state constitution on marriage

We learn via ThinkProgress on Twitter that the last time North Carolina amended the state constitution about marriage it wasn't very pretty.

North Carolina's Constitution, 1875: "All marriages between a white person and a negro, or between a white person and a person of negro descent to the third generation inclusive, are hereby forever prohibited."

Click to see a larger version.

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Remember this little Web site?

It crossed my mind this morning. Surprisingly it's still up.  And sadly, it's still relevant. Read the rest of this post...

If churches are going to play politics they should be taxed

Check out this North Carolina church's daily message, yesterday, right above its sign indicating that it's a polling place.  This kind of thing is corruption, pure as simple.  And of course it's "legal" in North Carolina.  I suspect mandating that only Christians can run for office would be "legal" if you put it to a vote in the state legislature.  It may be legal, but it's corrupt.  It's meant to interfere with the voting rights of fellow citizens, which is bad enough, but they're also getting a tax exemption to help them do it.

If churches want to be an appendage of the Republican party then they should be taxed as such.

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Pam Spaulding on the North Carolina loss

Pam Spaulding, who is from North Carolina:

The majority of North Carolinians voting today don’t believe that my civil marriage (legal depending on what state we travel to), should be recognized. While perhaps some subset probably didn’t know they were banning civil unions and domestic partnerships (at this point, one has to believe these folks are pretty dense), the most vocal proponents of Amendment One not only wanted to “protect marriage,” they wanted to punish lesbian and gay couples. Apparently even at the expense of economic development and jobs or collateral harms to unmarried opposite couples and children, or what will now be legal chaos over all of these harms and the possible impact on private contracts as well.

It’s hard to view anyone who believes that is moral in any sense of the definition.

But what they cannot do is shove our relationships back into a closet. We are here, we are families. We are taxpayers.

Read the rest of this post...

Anti-gay Amendment One passes in NC

So far the count is 60-40. Going to be interesting having the Democratic Convention in North Carolina in just a few months.  Not to mention, are Democrats really going to decide, in September, in North Carolina, to take another swipe at gays on marriage by refusing to put marriage equality in the party platform?  Bad confluence of circumstances.

North Carolina just passed a bigoted law that will hurt unmarried women, children, and far more people than just gays and lesbians. Read the rest of this post...

Bill Clinton opposes Amendment One in NC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, May 5, 2012
CONTACT: Jeremy Kennedy, Campaign Manager, Protect All NC Families

BILL CLINTON OPPOSES AMENDMENT ONE

Raleigh, N.C. -- In a recorded statement released today from Protect All NC Families, former President Bill Clinton opposed Amendment One, a constitutional amendment on the May 8, 2012, North Carolina primary ballot that would ban relationship recognitions and threaten protections for the state's unmarried couples. The statement was recorded as a robo call to mobilize North Carolina voters against the amendment.

"Hello, this is President Bill Clinton. I'm calling to urge you to vote against Amendment One on Tuesday May 8. If it passes, it won't change North Carolina's law on marriage. What it will change is North Carolina's ability to keep good businesses, attract new jobs, and attract and keep talented entrepreneurs. If it passes, your ability to keep those businesses, get those jobs, and get those talented entrepreneurs will be weakened. And losing even one job to Amendment One is too big of a risk. Its passage will also take away health insurance from children and could even take away domestic violence protections from women. So the real effect of the law is not to keep the traditional definition of marriage, you've already done that. The real effect of the law will be to hurt families and drive away jobs. North Carolina can do better. Again, this is Bill Clinton asking you to please vote against Amendment One. Thanks."

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NC anti-gay amendment meant to "protect caucasian race" from multiplying dark people

The wife of a North Carolina state senator, who's supporting the anti-gay Amendment One in the state (a constitutional amendment that will ban gay marriage, civil unions, and domestic partners) reportedly told a poll worker that the amendment is intended to help protect the caucasian race from all those dark people who keep multiplying.  The woman allegedly disagrees with the report, says her remarks were taken out of context, but admits to using the word "caucasian."  She probably said: "I would never use the word 'caucasion' as that might sound racist."  Uh huh. Read the rest of this post...

Uneducated in NC give anti-gay amendment lead

From Greg Sargent at the Washington Post:

A Public Policy Polling survey released today found that likely North Carolina primary voters are supporting the measure by 14 points, 55-41. But here’s the bright spot: The poll also finds that if respondents are informed of the amendment’s consequences, it loses by 38-46. And this finding is key: “Those who know what the amendment would do are against it by 22 points, but they are outweighed by the strong support from the uneducated.”

This is how Republicans always win. By lying to people, and hope that the voters are too stupid to know the difference.  Sometimes I wonder if our country doesn't deserve itself. Read the rest of this post...

Religious right bigot shoots sign opposing anti-gay amendment in North Carolina

He tried to take the video down after it started to cause some commotion.  Too late. There are copies.

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North Face, Nautica, Lee Jeans, Chamber of Commerce doing what religious right wants in NC

The religious right hate groups have asked North Face, Nautica, Lee Jeans and the Chamber of Commerce to stay neutral while gays get legislative bullied in North Carolina, and what do you know - the companies are doing just that, sitting back quietly while their customers are being written out of the state constitution. And who's in the lead? The hideously anti civil rights Chamber of Commerce.

Dull is the vice president for strategy and innovation at Greensboro-based VF Corp., the parent company of clothing brands including The North Face, Nautica and Lee jeans. His corporation and others in North Carolina's influential business establishment haven't taken a public stand on the amendment, a contrast to Starbucks and Microsoft, whose support helped sway lawmakers in Washington state before gay marriage was approved there in February.

North Carolina's chamber of commerce hasn't heard much from its members on the amendment and is staying neutral, CEO Lew Ebert said. Corporate neutrality is the aim of the National Organization for Marriage, a Washington, D.C., group fighting against gay marriage as North Carolina, Minnesota, Maryland and Maine head toward ballot measures this year. Washington state's gay marriage law could be put on hold by a referendum effort that would leave the decision to voters.

The statewide organization leading support of the amendment sent letters to the state and local chamber chapters. "We were requesting neutrality," said Tami Fitzgerald, chairwoman of Vote FOR Marriage NC.

You'll recall that the Chamber of Commerce also did the religious right's bidding in Tennessee when they got municipal gay and trans rights laws not just rescinded in that state, but got them banned permanently from ever coming up again. Read the rest of this post...

Local NAACP head speaks out against Amendment One in North Carolina

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New PPP poll shows support for Amendment One dropping fast

As we noted below, President Obama is in North Carolina today -- but won't speak out against the viciously anti-gay Amendment One, which would ban marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships. Early voting began last week in advance of the May 8th primary. This is a hot topic in North Carolina, particularly for young voters.

Today, we're seeing evidence that the polling is moving in our direction. Public Policy Polling which is based in North Carolina, found that support for the Amendment has dropped by four points -- while our side is picking up support. PPP's blog post is titled: Momentum moving against NC amendment.

Momentum is turning against North Carolina's proposed marriage amendment. PPP's newest poll finds only 54% of voters in the state planning to support it, while 40% are opposed. This is the lowest level of support PPP has found in monthly polling of the amendment since last October. When PPP first polled on it six months ago 61% supported it with only 34% opposed, so its current 14 point lead has been cut almost in half from the 27 point advantage it started out with.

There is some reason to think a huge upset in two weeks is within the realm of possibility. 53% of voters in the state support either gay marriage or civil unions, with only 44% opposed to any recognition for same sex couples. The proposed amendment would ban both gay marriage and civil unions, but voters continue to be confused about that. Just 36% correctly identify that it would ban both while 26% think it bans only gay marriage, 10% think it actually legalizes gay marriage, and 27% admit that they don't know what it does.

That's my emphasis in bold.

So, we're at 54% - 40% now -- and the momentum is against Amendment One.  According to campaign manager Jeremy Kennedy this marks "the lowest support for the amendment in public polling and the highest percentage of voters against since the campaign began!" The trendline is ours -- and is reminiscent of what happened in Mississippi on the personhood amendment, according to NC Policy Watch:

Given that numerous polls have also shown that support for the substance of the amendment collapses once people actually understand what it would do, it’s enough to make an observer think that the amendment could be headed for a defeat reminiscent of the one that befell the so-called “personhood amendment” rejected by Mississippi voters last fall. That amendment was way ahead in the polls just a few weeks before the November election and then lost decisively once people figured out how radical it really was.

I like that comparison.

This latest PPP poll was conducted last week, before our side's ads began. This tracks with with the campaign's internal polling. PPP's poll shows continued confusion over the amendment -- and that provides a clear path to victory through an aggressive multi-pronged voter education campaign.

Those t.v. ads are a key element to winning. And, there's a really vigorous voter contact program underway online and through phones and mail. Also, a lot of the coalition partners are conducting their own outreach.

On a conference call with campaign operatives Sunday night, we were told that North Carolina's voters tend to decide late on issues. And, we're seeing some results of that now.

Our side has momentum. Our side has an aggressive field operation. Our side has all the major newspaper endorsements. And, our side can win if we have the resources and the support from all of our allies.

Protect All NC Families is leading the effort against Amendment One. And, you can donate to the campaign here. Online contributions have been critically important for Protect All NC Families. Over $600,000 has been raised through online efforts. Read the rest of this post...

Obama in NC, won't mention Amendment One, frustrating young voters

Today, President Obama will be at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to give a speech on student loan interest rates, which will double in July if Congress doesn't act. That's not the big issue in North Carolina right now. North Carolinians are currently voting on the viciously anti-gay Amendment 1, which will ban marriage equality, and more, in the state. Early voting began on April 19th for the May 8th election.  Much of the opposition is coming from students. The President's campaign issued a statement a couple weeks ago, which stated Obama's opposition to Amendment 1.

Scott Wooledge is hoping that the President will add his own voice to the campaign today:

President Obama is scheduled to appear in North Carolina tomorrow. Will he speak out against the anti-gay amendment, as so many local conservatives and Republicans have already done? The Washington Post says, "Nope."

Scott is referring to an article in the Post titled, "In North Carolina, more evidence of Obama’s delicate approach to gay rights":

Two weeks from now, North Carolina will hold a public referendum on what could become one of the toughest anti-gay measures in the country: a far-reaching proposal to amend the state constitution to ban civil unions and domestic partnerships. But President Obama is not expected to touch the subject when he appears in Chapel Hill on Tuesday — even though it is roiling the electorate there.

Ah, yes. That delicate approach. Funny how that delicate approach isn't a factor when money is the issue. This weekend, the NY Times Style section ran a piece on the White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard, which contained this nugget:

In a city where White House guest lists are dissected like WikiLeaks cables, insiders have already seen the hand of Mr. Bernard in the presence at the dinner for Mr. Cameron of nearly four dozen “bundlers,” or people who solicit campaign checks for Mr. Obama from their friends and associates. Mr. Bernard has at the same time become an important White House gatekeeper for prominent gay people, one of Mr. Obama’s most important but impatient constituencies, which remains frustrated that the president opposes gay marriage (Mr. Obama has said his views are “evolving”). In recent months, the president has turned more and more to gay men and women in search of new veins of large campaign donations, particularly after antagonizing Wall Street, a traditional but now less fruitful source of cash.

So, the gays are a new vein for cash for Obama. But, Obama still needs to be delicate on gay issues -- or something like that. Anyway, back to North Carolina. We've heard repeatedly that campaign manager Jim Messina is targeting young voters this year. They are an important part of his roadmap for victory. Yesterday, Think Progress reported "Half Of Recent College Graduates Are Jobless Or Underemployed." Not so good. Those young voters are going to need something to get them motivated to vote for the President. So, let's hear from some of the young voters in North Carolina, a key battleground state. There's this:

[Obama's] delicate sidestep of Amendment One, a ballot initiative to be decided May 8 that would recognize marriage between a man and a woman as the only legal domestic partnership in North Carolina, is seen by some as another sign that he is not fully committed to gay rights — an interpretation that could dampen the enthusiasm of the young voters he is trying to court. “It’s a little bit of a missed opportunity,” said Josh Orol, 20, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a leader of a campus movement to defeat Amendment One. “I didn’t expect him to talk at length about it. I know he has come out publicly against it. But I sort of hoped he would at least name-drop a little bit. It’s disappointing.”

Disappointing isn't exactly the kind of thing that inspires these voters. And, this:

Nonetheless, that approach is frustrating younger activists, many of whom have come to view marriage equality as the defining civil rights cause of their generation. They are impatient with Obama’s self-described “evolving” position on gay marriage — he supports civil unions but stops short of endorsing legal protections for marriage — and they are looking for signs that he is ready to embrace their cause more fully. “The ‘evolving’ position does frustrate people, especially young people, because it’s such a no-brainer to us,” said Jeff DeLuca, 21, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and another organizer against Amendment One. “When it’s all said and done, young people are going to vote this down 70-30. There is just a very strong generation gap.”

We've been pointing out this generation gap repeatedly. Obama's campaign has apparently built a ferocious organization in North Carolina. Messina could put that machine to work to help defeat Amendment 1. There is already an impressive campaign underway to defeat Amendment 1. Our side's t.v. ads began airing yesterday. We can win -- and we need help from all of our allies to turn the tide. Just seems like the Democratic convention in Charlotte could be a lot more fun if North Carolina defeats Amendment 1. Read the rest of this post...

Protect All NC Families launches first tv ads against Amendment 1

Election day is May 8th. Early voting began Thursday -- and has been going strong. North Carolinian Pam Spaulding, who has been our inspiration in this battle, voted Saturday and provided this link, which tracks early voting.

 The t.v. ad wars start today. Last night, the campaign did a conference call with the media consultants, Mark Amour and Chad Griffin (yes, the soon-to-be President of HRC), Dustin Lance Black and the pollster, Josh Ulibarri from Lake Research, to discuss the ads and the strategy for the next two weeks. Our side did some pretty intense research to figure out the messages that moved voters. And, these ads, according to testing, worked. One other thing, Dustin Lance Black said, with which I agree, is that before major donors go the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte and spend $100,000 on VIP parties and functions, they need to donate to defeat discrimination in NC now.

Protect All NC Families started airing these two ads today: And: The other side start airing its ads today, too. The Protect All NC Families website is here. Already, the campaign has raised $600,000 online -- far more than expected. Thanks to everyone who made that happen. And, you can still donate to buy more air time here. 

The campaign is also running an aggressive field program, focusing on get-out-the-vote. And, there are lots of other allies doing their own outreach via radio and mail. More from Pam on some of the grassroots efforts here. Read the rest of this post...

Tammy Faye Bakker's son to lead pro-gay rally in NC

Tucker Middleton
Deputy Communications Director
Coalition to Protect All NC Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 20, 2012
CONTACT: Ryan Rowe | ryan@protectncfamilies.org

JAY BAKKER HEADLINES DURHAM FAITH EVENT AGAINST AMENDMENT ONE

DURHAM, N.C. -- Jay Bakker, son of well-known evangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, will lead a rally this Sunday, April 22, encouraging voter participation against Amendment One. The FAITH IN ACTION: GET OUT THE VOTE event begins at 1 p.m. at the Trotter Building (410 W. Geer St.), and will focus on the harms of a constitutional amendment on the May 8, 2012, North Carolina primary ballot that would threaten protections for the state's unmarried couples.

Rally speakers include Quaker peace activist David LaMotte, Pilgrim United Church of Christ pastor Rev. Ginger Brasher-Cunningham, evangelical author Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, charismatic Christian leader Jimmy Chalmers and Baptist minister Brian Ammons.

Directly following the rally, attendees will march to the polls to take advantage of Sunday voting during the early voting period. The afternoon concludes with a party at Durham's Fullsteam Brewery (422 Rigsbee Ave.), beginning around 3 p.m.

Read the rest of this post...

Major donors from NC pony up, ask for help in campaign against Amendment 1

There's so much happening in the campaign to against Amendment 1 in North Carolina. So much.

Yesterday, a straight married couple from NC, Todd and Diana Stiefel, offered $100,000 as a match to get the campaign's ads on the air. I just learned from the campaign, that wIthin 24 hours, via ActBlue and direct donations, over $50,000 has been raised. If you want to throw down and double your contribution, do it here.

There is momentum to defeat Amendment 1, which is on the May 8th ballot. Early voting starts on April 19th.

Pam Spaulding, who has been spearheading so much of the online opposition to Amendment 1, has an interview with Todd and Diana here. They are in this to win it. Definitely worth a read:

And, in fact, Stiefel noted that anyone with children, like himself, need to stop and think — what if one of your kids turns out to be gay? How in good conscience could someone vote for an amendment that would cause direct harm to your own child? He thinks this explains some of the surprising support to defeat the amendment by politicians and public officials across the political spectrum.

It has been a welcome surprise. People have a hard time admitting they were wrong, yet even those who favored Amendment One are turning against it now that they have learned the full scope of its harm. It directly hurts gay and lesbian couples, but there is also massive collateral damage to children and straight adults. That information has turned even social conservatives against this amendment. We need to be sure we fund an enormous media campaign so that as many North Carolinians as possible know of these consequences before the vote on May 8. More money means more informative ads that will change minds, much like the minds of many politicians have changed.

Yes, all of the momentum in the world — it seems almost every public official and major political figure from the past mayors of Charlotte to the current governor have made videos explaining why Amendment One needs to be voted down. But the battle cannot be one on these good fortunes alone. The war, in the end, is fought and won on radio and television, and the ads are in the can. ”Donors need to decide which strategies and tactics will bring the best return on investment for the issues they care about, he said. “No donor should be called out if they think something is not a good investment. I can empathize with donors that have sat out so far. There are messages that I think are more important in the long-run for gaining LGBT equality, such as the reality that nobody decides to be straight or gay. To win the war for equality, we need to get those messages out, but we have a battle on our hands right now regarding Amendment One.”

But buying air time in key markets is expensive, and that’s why Todd and Diana Stiefel are leading by example, urging others with the means to help fund the media campaign to dive in now.

Yes, they are urging other. In fact, the Stiefels, along with the other major donors, Bob Page and Martin Eakes, wrote a letter today asking national donors to help. FWIW, only Bob is gay. I've embedded the letter below. Here are some key paragraphs, that give a sense of what is happening in North Carolina:

Leading in-state conservatives are speaking in our favor. Former Charlotte Mayor and Republican gubernatorial nominee Richard Vinroot is publicly advocating defeat, in part by appearing in an ad for our side. Bob Orr, a respected former Supreme Court Justice and Republican candidate for Governor, also came out against Amendment One. John Hood, head of the John Locke Foundation and the most widely syndicated conservative in North Carolina, wrote an editorial against the amendment, calling it “unwise” and “unfair.” In addition, corporate leaders are stepping up against Amendment One — including Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers and Bank of America executive Cathy Bessant.

Public Policy Polling says that Santorum’s exit means, at minimum, a 10% decrease in conservative turnout. The Republican primary for Governor is not competitive, unlike the Democratic Party’s multi-candidate races for Governor and Lt. Governor. Those candidates are now purchasing millions of dollars of air time in areas that will boost our side’s target vote substantially.

The impact of a victory in the South cannot be overstated. Please be a part of this and help us make this happen. Please match our efforts. We have given in many of your states for many of your fights because we understand that we cannot win the war if we only fight the battle in the backyard. If you join us, the television campaign will be fully funded. We have a real opportunity to win.

The impact of a victory in the South cannot be overstated. And, for all of those people who want to get marriage in the DNC platform, defeating Amendment 1, in the state where the Democratic convention will be held, would be a tremendous boost.

A Call for National Donors to Join Us Read the rest of this post...

CEO of Duke Energy Blasts NC's Amendment 1

This is unexpectedly hard-hitting opposition to NC's Amendment 1 from the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Duke Energy is an energy company -- and it isn't known for being liberal:

Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers was the keynote speaker at a business breakfast this morning. He opened it up for questions and I asked him for his take on the marriage amendment on the May 8 ballot.

Rogers hesitated, but then couldn't stop himself from telling the crowd of 200 or so how he felt.

If North Carolinians put the gay marriage ban into the state constitution, Rogers said, "You're sending a message to the world that we're not inclusive."

Rogers emphasized that he was sharing his personal view and was not speaking on behalf of Duke Energy. He said "I believe we're all children of God," and that it's wrong to pass measures that discriminate against individuals.

"If this passes, we're going to look back 20 years from now, or 10 years, and think of it like Jim Crow laws" that discriminated against African-Americans. North Carolina is competing with the world for business, he said, and "we have to be inclusive and open."

This story is causing a real buzz today in NC -- and it should.

There is enormous momentum in North Carolina to defeat Amendment 1. If our side has the resources, we can change the course of history.

If our side doesn't come up with the resources, shame on us. Seriously.

Now would be a really good time for the DNC to finally pony up and deliver on the promise of resources in these kinds of battles. And, I want to start hearing that OFA-NC is using its massive operation to help us win, too. (Won't make up for not doing the Executive Order, but it would be a start.) Early voting starts April 19.

Check out the website for the campaign to defeat Amendment 1, Protect All NC Families, here. You can still donate here. Read the rest of this post...

Pam Spaulding talks to Bob Page, major donor in campaign to defeat NC's Amendment 1

If you're following NC's anti-gay Amendment 1, which is on the May 8th ballot, you'll want to read Pam Spaulding's interview with Bob Page. It's fascinating to hear from a major donor to the campaign to defeat Amendment 1. First, about Bob:

One of the brightest lights of activism and generosity here in North Carolina is Bob Page, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Greensboro-based Replacements Ltd. He turned his passion for collecting china and crystal into a business in 1981 that today houses the world’s largest supplier of old and new china, crystal, silver, and collectibles. Replacement Ltd sales exceed $80 million and it has a diverse workforce of 450 employees.

With that success Bob Page has become a force for equality in many ways — as a businessman, a philanthropist, an activist, and most of all — a partnered out gay man from a small town in North Carolina who is raising a family and trying to make a difference. Page lives a modest lifestyle in Greensboro with his partner of 22 years, Dale Frederiksen, and their twin sons.

The interview is really a worthwhile read. Bob obviously understands the role money plays in the campaign. He's delivered -- and wants others to do the same:

In terms of working for change, Page has generously donated to equality efforts around the country; many in Red states have dug deep to help those in other states fighting amendments and for marriage equality. He believes that investing in a win in North Carolina helps the entire movement — and that the difference will be made by educating voters about the harms of Amendment One. “I want people to know that we can win this. But if the people don’t understand what the amendment does, I think it will be very difficult to prevent this from passing. I really hate the idea that people will get motivated after it’s too late, or that voters will not be making an informed choice. ”

He shared his frustration about those in the donor community still sitting on the sidelines. ”If you want to win this, understand that we have a lot more educating to do, that we need to do that on TV and radio, and that it’s going to take a lot more money. We need everybody to dig deep and give until it hurts.”

I don’t live an extravagant lifestyle; my car is going on 14 years old. There are people out there who can afford to spend $200 on a pair of jeans but won’t give even $5 for this cause. Or they have too many bars to go to; they say that it’s always someone else’s battle. We need to change this.....

And he doesn’t hold back. “For instance, [Wall Street financier] Paul Singer is financial supporter of AFER (American Foundation for Equal Rights) and was instrumental in getting marriage equality passed in NY. He will be giving tons of money to Mitt Romney — it’s disturbing. It’s disappointing to see that at a national level.”

One other thing about money. Both Equality Maryland and Minnesota United for All Families, which are facing their own ballot battles in November, have done fundraising emails on behalf of the North Carolina campaign. Very cool. Very classy. Read the rest of this post...

NC Money Bomb: "Highest one week total for online fundraising in NC political history"

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the money bomb to defeat NC's Amendment 1, which is on the May 8th ballot. We got this update from the campaign:

The totals are in... we raised $173,342 including the matching donation and donations through our website. Yesterday a young lady called in who said she was so inspired that she was going to donate $12,000 (included in the total).

We have a reason to believe that this is the highest one week total for online fundraising in NC political history.

The opposition have purchased around $400,000 in air time beginning on April 23 indicating that they expect to have $1,000,000 to air on television, when combined with their faith outreach program we estimate that we are $750,000-$1,000,000 away from the money that we need to win. Hopefully our results will be an eye opener to everyone nationally.

Hopefully, the results will be an eye opener everyone nationally -- and particularly for some of the rich gay donors with ties to NC. We still need a lot of money. The online community is doing its part. Now, the big donors and big groups have to pony up. I know Pam Spaulding is getting close to unveiling a wall of shame. And, it will be a shame if this community doesn't win because of resources. Winning in North Carolina will be a game changer.

Check out these numbers from the latest Elon University poll:

Six out of 10 people in North Carolina would oppose an amendment to the state constitution that prevents any same-sex marriages, domestic partnerships or civil unions, according to the latest Elon University Poll. Thirty-two percent of state residents would support one.

The poll, conducted March 26-29, 2012, surveyed 534 North Carolina residents and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.24 percentage points. The sample is of the population in general, with numbers that include both landlines and cellular phones. The Elon University Poll does not restrict respondents by voter eligibility or likelihood of voting.

That last line is important. We really have to make sure people vote.

Also, here's a new video from Protect All NC Families -- on the NC conservatives who are against Amendment 1:

And, if you haven't donated, do it now here. The Moneybomb to Defeat Amendment One is the hottest donation page on ActBlue today. Read the rest of this post...