Posted on 01/22/2010 10:18:57 AM PST by mgist
Last September, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee received a $10,000 contribution from an unlikely source: Computer entrepreneur and LGBT rights advocate Tim Gill.
This was an individual contribution from Gill, a Denver resident, and not made through the political arm of his foundation, the Gill Action Fund, which, together with the Empire State Pride Agenda, funneled some $1 million into the Senate Democrats' campaign coffers in 2008 to help them flip the chamber.
The idea of putting the Democrats in control was that they would bring the same-sex marriage bill to the floor for a vote, something former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno had refused to do.
Of course, it didn't quite work out the way advocates had planned. With a razor-thin two-seat margin and an unstable conference, two Democratic leaders - first Malcolm Smith and then John Sampson - delayed bringing the measure up for a vote.
It was clear the Democrats needed Republican votes to pass marriage. Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos said he would let his 30-member conference vote their respective consciences - I guess the $10,000 check was intended to help them get in touch with their real feelings on this controversial issue.
In the end, all 30 Republicans voted "no". They were joined by eight Democrats and the bill went down, 24-38.
Now LGBT advocates say they're done party-building and plan to support candidates who are simply pro-marriage, regardless of which side of the aisle they're on. Some have threatened to support primary challengers to the eight Democratic "no" voters, which could help the GOP in its quest to take back the chamber.
For the record, I found no Gill contributions to either of the Senate Democrats' campaign committees. That doesn't mean individual members did get Gill money, since I haven't been through every single filing yet.
Tim Gill has donated over $80 million to political campaign and Homosexual causes.
As far as I’m concerned he can keep his money.
Wonder how fast McCain and Gumpy from SC latched onto that money?
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