Once powerful Christian Coalition teeters on insolvency

[RedEarth]

The Christian Coalition, the onetime powerhouse of the religious right founded by Pat Robertson, is struggling to stay afloat. The group’s annual revenue has shrunk to one- twentieth of what it was a decade ago – from a peak of $26 million in 1996 to $1.3 million in 2004 – and it has left a trail of unpaid bills from Texas to Virginia. Among the creditors who have sued the coalition for nonpayment are landlords, direct-mail companies, lawyers and at least one former employee seeking back pay.

It has even come to this: The company that moved the group out of its Washington headquarters in 2002 went to small-claims court Friday in Henrico County trying to collect $1,890 that remains unpaid on its three-year-old bill.

It is the latest in at least a dozen judicial collection actions brought against the coalition since 2001. The amounts sought by creditors total hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The reasons for the group’s decline are legion, say supporters, critics and experts who have followed its trajectory. Among them are the loss of key leaders, including Robertson, who resigned as president in 2001; alleged mismanagement by his successors; the cyclical nature of politics; and bitter infighting within the organization and with other political players on the religious right.

“Their future is really bleak,” said Mark J. Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University who has followed the Christian conservative movement for years. “The Christian Coalition is a shell of its former self.”

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/print.cfm?story=93369&ran=72372

[LeftyMom]

1. You know what I have to say about that?

:rofl::applause: :woohoo:

[WillyT]

44. LOL !!!

:bounce::hi::bounce:

:evilgrin:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

65. The man in the photo in your signature line

Did you see the article in last month's Esquire about him?

Heartbreaking.

[ClintonTyree]

75. What did it say, I don't get Esquire?

I'd be very interested in knowing. PM me if you wish. Thanks.

[WillyT]

109. No... I Did Not See Anything About Him, Got Something You Can Share ???

:shrug:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

120. Just this ..........

In last month's Esquire - the Photo Issue - there was a photo essay about this man. If you don't subscribe, your local library might be able to get a copy for you.

It was about his life and his death, at age 49, in Iraq. Heartbreaking.

[katty]

87. Amen to that!

[saigon68]

48. THIS WHOLE LOT IS A FESTERING ANAL CYST

On the Rectum of America

[Wind Dancer]

71. You have a way with words, lol!

I'll second that!

:toast:

[Voltaire99]

125. Right on, Saigon!

Keep on telling the truth, buddy. :-)

[mzmolly]

53. Ditto!

:rofl::applause: :woohoo:

[clydefrand]

2. It couldn't happen to better organization. Tsk, tsk.

[KittyWampus]

101. Unfortunately, there's newer more effective ones taking its place. Dobson

for instance and his Focus on Family.

the newer organizations are more grassroots savvy and launder money much more effetively, IMO.

[barb162]

114. Yeah, although I want to laugh about this story, they have just

resurrected themselves in other organizations. The same crowd (of creeps) is still there.

[MountainLaurel]

3. Bra-fucking-vo

Can I roast marshmallows over the warm ashes?

Very few organizations have done as much damage to the democratic process in this country as the Christian Coalition.

[yorkiemommie1]

14. no, the ashes are toxic

they would make you sick.

[MountainLaurel]

41. Damn, you're right.

:hi:

[Wilms]

4. Tell the Fundies it's proof there is a God! eom

[mom cat]

9. It is God's revenge for their wicked, sinful ways!

:evilgrin:

[SammyBlue]

5. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of reactionary, CINO bigots!!! Good ridance. . .hopefully, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Donald Wildmon and Jerry Fatwell will join you in the land of obscurity.

Not only are they marginalized, but they are deadbeats too.

HAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAA!!!!

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. Born agains are the worst people to do business with

Not only do they expect all kinds of favors because they are 'born again', they have no problem with not paying if they can get away with it. Always make sure whatever you do is COD only with any of these folks.

[kestrel91316]

21. Betcha they only stiffed businesses they knew weren't run by fundies, too.

Betcha they paid all their fellow fundie business cohorts in full and on time.

[Inland]

28. Many complaints from waitrons about the after-church crowd. nt

[TrogL]

119. I've heard that

I was in a restaurant and a group of fundies came in after their evening service. They were loud and obnoxious and at one point started raving about the money in the collection plate, shouting "boy, we fleeced them good".

The waitress said they came in every week, caused havoc and never tipped.

[TlalocW]

36. Born Again people do have this attitude about money

That they don't need to pay their bills like normal people do - it's pretty common even among the non-big names. In Tulsa, the worst group to watch out for are people from Rhema Bible College in the suburb of Broken Arrow. They think they can run up bills or write bad checks because God will provide. A co-worker of mine once did $8000.00 worth of work for some Rhema administrator, and the guy then refused to pay him because my co-worker (who leads bible studies, etc. in his church) wasn't "right in the spirit."

And they do expect favors. I do a lot of work with the magic/costume stores in town, and each year, some fundy church called, "Guts," puts on a big Hell House type haunted house (the kind where you see different sinners burning in hell for their sins - homosexuals and abortionists mainly). They come into the magic stores expecting to be waited on hand and foot and given discounts because they're doing God's work. I know the guy who's been around the longest doesn't give it to them because they've pissed him off in the past.

TlalocW

[monobrau]

89. Confirmed

I was told this a long time ago when I worked in the credit dept. of a large retailer, by my boss who was himself born again. He said members of his own congregation would try to screw him out of money and "donations" all the time.
The worst deadbeat boss I ever had was a fundie who bounced payroll checks and was a racist pig. Unfortunatly, he picked the wrong heathen to fuck with because I created a perfect storm of health department, building inspectors and tax collectors over a period of 48 hours that resulted in his getting shut down.

[TechBear_Seattle]

92. And people say weather magic is hard n/t

[Blaq Dem]

116. Shut up! They're only being conservatives!

Yep, when it comes to their money.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha h a

HA!

[SammyBlue]

123. Yes, Mr. Boudelang. . .Shut up and stop saying that.

"Mrs. Brown-Rosenfeld said the same thing to me and she's just a commie pinko." :) Gotta love Bob.

[AuntiBush]

38. Whenever They Approach Me W/Their Ideologies

Whether it's banging down the door or in public and say "Don't you want to be BORN-AGAIN?" I always reply, "I was born RIGHT, the first-time!"

:)

[Bellamia]

43. OH, great response!

I WAS BORN RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait to use it at my next encounter with these freaks.
Thanks so much for posting.

Edit: Spelling

[drm604]

63. Born again?

It was hard enough on my mother the first time. Now - she's 75 and I'm 162 lbs. I don't even want to think about it!

[obxhead]

110. lol

:rofl:

[Blaq Dem]

117. Ooh! Me likes!

Good one!

[Ellen Forradalom]

56. Willliam S. Burroughs said it best

"If you're doing business with a religious son-of-a-bitch, get it in writing. His word doesn't mean shit. Not with the Good Lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal."

[Megahurtz]

93. I've noticed that too.

The majority of these "Born Agains" are the biggest thieves ever!

I guess that's their way of setting an example for others.

:sarcasm:

[KittyWampus]

102. Cultural Reference- see Elmer Gantry or read Sinclair's Book

[saskatoon]

104. Falwell

Speaking of Falwell have you noticed how fat he is and how his jowls hang down-----all that high living and the best food and drink available. Hope the bastard s blood pressure goes thry' the roof.

[ShockediSay]

6. Thous shalt not steal

or, put another way, stiff your creditors.

Where's the moral obligation coming to the fore??

[yorkiemommie1]

13. it's all relative

my fundie brother and SIL ripped my bedridden , low income mother for thousands and i KNOW they tithe at their Ass. of God church.

[electropop]

49. "Ass of God"

:rofl:

[Hekate]

59. Did you ask them if they tithed their ill-gotten gains?

Sheesh. What about "Honor thy mother"?

Under the circumstances, I had to lol at your moniker for their church.

Hekate

[yorkiemommie1]

64. i refuse to talk to them

but when the time comes, i'll let them have it!

Yeah, that moniker kind of just happened as i typed, and then i thought it was funny too, lol!

[Maat]

7. Sorrry to see them having such hard times ..

:sarcasm:

Not!

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch ... :)

[Union Thug]

8. I won't be happy until...

the christian coalition is a distant memory of period of time in American history that embraced medieval lunacy, corrupt TV preachers and the politicians that owned them. Let them all fade away.

[alittlelark]

35. I want to see them in a Sociology text - next to the Dutch Tulip craze.

[swimboy]

77. Oh, I just love that!

Very nice. I hope they'll be hard to find without a magnifying glass.

[obxhead]

111. na.. we need to highlight their failures. injustices, and corruption

so that they don't form again.

[DearAbby]

10. Doing the DearAbby Okie Dokie Dance

Good riddance, you slimy weasel bastards!

:woohoo:

[texpatriot2004]

11. They ARE NOT TRUE CHRISTIANS they are great pretenders.

[Blaq Dem]

118. They are a CULT group

They tell their people they'll go to hell if they vote for democrats. People in this cult can't think for themselves.

[AnnieBW]

15. Ha, ha!

Stick a fork in 'em, they're done!

[meganmonkey]

16. Bwahahahaha!

That's too bad :rofl:

[really annoyed]

17. Well, that's too bad....

The only problem it that there are others groups similar in nature ready to make an ascension on the American public!

Well, this is still good news to me.

[murielm99]

55. Correct. I think they have been superseded by Dobson's

bunch. Cut one off at the knees, and ten more spring up it its' place.

[MissMarple]

74. Focus on the Family is uh...downsizing.

Just a little judicious restructuring, ah huh. :eyes:

[rurallib]

18. Hope they all get screwed by the new bankruptcy bill !!!

Now THAT would serve them right ! HAHAHAHA .....................

[ClayZ]

62. Hahahahha, it would be the best!

Make them all get minimum wage jobs to pay back the bilking they have done for so long.

[Joey Liberal]

19. They should ask Bush to talk to God about it!

Can I get an Amen?

[MADem]

20. It's the end of the world, as they know it

and I feel fine!

Everyone should see this--recommended!

[howmad1]

22. So many right wing Christian whacko fundies;

So few lions.:mad:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

66. HA!!!!

Excellent observation, howmad.

Welcome to DU!

[Seansky]

23. Yet, he is busy re-attacking Chavez(link). You know, those moral values

are more relevant than those other moral values...

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16869135%255E1702,00.html

[Cha]

27. Now we know pat's motive..

he wants red meat for his suckers.

[Erika]

24. James Dobson needs to fold next

It is so very narrow and hate filled.

[UrbScotty]

25. Long Live Christ's REAL Word!

"Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these, so also you did it to me."

Matthew 25:39

[Xipe Totec]

26. This Political Cancer is in Remission

But we will need to wait five years to know whether America has been cured of this evil.

[TheFarseer]

29. If they had supported democrats

those wacky f*cks that support them would probably still have the cash to continue supporting them. Oh well, that's what you get when you vote repuke - Ken Lay look-alikes running off with your money.

[Massacure]

30. Good thing the new bankruptcy provision comes into effect next monday, eh?

:sarcasm:

[alittlelark]

46. I got my ex-.best friends daughter a good bankruptcy atty

Her worthless mom had gotten credit cards in her name. She was my best friend thru my drug years. She never grew out of it. Her daughter is only 19, I helped raise her. They showed back up 5 years ago, completely bereft of funds (and 2 other kids). I paid for an apt., got her in TVI, and she ended up trashing the apt. and telling me that I was 'trying to turn her daughter against her'.

Her daughter showed up 4 months ago.

She doesn't want to prosecute her mom.... but does not deserve $23,000 of debt she did not accrue.


I wish she would report the fraud.... she's just terrified of her mom.

At least she will be be able to get a somewhat clean start.

[AX10]

31. Born Agains are known cheats when it comes to money...

though they are known to be cheats when it comes to everything too.

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

Now, let's build up the Democratic Party!

[Geo55]

32. Good ol' Pat,

" Among them are the loss of key leaders, including Robertson, who resigned as president in 2001"

Seems like "side show Pat" was standing down wind of the outhouse
when the wind shifted , an' he baled.

[Initech]

33. Bwahahahaha hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe without the Christian Coalition, they'll stop electing the funadmentalist nutjobs to the highest levels of government! :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[progressoid]

34. This wouldn't be happening if we had prayer in school and

the 10 commandments in every courthouse!

[valerief]

37. I wonder where their money came from to begin with and

why it dried up.

Did it all come from poor, misinformed working folks? Now that their jobs are overseas, I guess they can't afford to fund CC.

CC needs to learn how to get workers with the outsourced jobs to fund their cause.

NOT.

Amen.

[ClintonTyree]

76. Yeah, they mostly target older folks.......

who want to buy their way into heaven in their golden years. Then there's the ones that can't afford it but are hoping for that "whatever you give you will get back 3 fold" stuff. In short, they're legalized con-men who pressure the people that can least afford it into giving up their money. I hate these bastards with a passion and I'm glad they're having a tough time. The sorry thing is it's going to be good people that get stuck with nothing after these bastards go tits up.

[AuntiBush]

39. Buh-Bye, Faux Christian-Conservatives!

Ya won't be missed by this God-Loving Liberal!

[Tom Joad]

40. The sad thing is, Family Research Council (Dobson cult) is the replacement

they are going strong.

[Chan790]

42. Marginally off-topic observation

Professor Rozell cited at the end of the article is a tenured professor at Catholic University which mght have been more relevant, in light of the subject of the article, to point out than his adjunct position at GMU.

[TheCowsCameHome]

45. There IS a God. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[sakabatou]

47. Na na na na, na na na na, hey heeeeyy, goodbye!

[classics]

50. What was that phrase 'conservatives' like to use?

'Drown it in the bathtub'?

Sounds good.

[HuffleClaw]

51. finally !

some cheerful happy happy joy joy news for a change ! that just puts a smile on my face.

[tavalon]

52. That's great news!

Maybe they'll get small enough that we can drown them in the bathtub.

[Ouabache]

57. Anyway we can speed it up and make their dive steeper and faster?

Any ideas? Ways we can make them spend funds needlessly and with no results? Maybe we could call in, make a huge pledge, they borrow against the pledge, then we never pay? Would that help?

[mitchum]

54. Grifters, hustlers and other conmen washed in the blood of the Lawd!

good riddance

[Jamastiene]

58. My karma is running over their dogma.

If wishful thinking leads to anything, that is.

[Hekate]

60. Praise the Lord! Thank you, God!

Now if only the folks who got so rich and powerful off preaching hate through the "Christian" Coalition would meet the same fate as the organization they built -- disgraced, down, and out.

Hekate

[Neil Lisst]

61. Gee, I wonder if they read Daniel's feet of clay explanation

The best way to deal with the religious right is using their own stories, the ones they already know and use as examples.

They love talking about Babylon, ancient Mesopotamia aka Iraq, and the Daniel. He explained dreams for the King, not unlike Joseph of the coat of many colors fame in Biblical mythology.

A statue had feet of clay, and various levels above it, each level increasingly more precious metals. yada yada yada, feet of clay, you lose.

Tim-berrrrrrrr! Watch them fall, hard.



------
TERROR ALERT!
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/neillisst/

[goforit]

67. Looks like Pat may have been stealing from his own coffers.

And Bush thinks he is idolized by the Christian right.

It's all been a show!!!

[Flammable Materials]

68. Betcha anything the new draconian Bankruptcy Laws won't stop them. n/t

[hippiechick]

69. oh please oh please oh please ??

:)

[GayCanuck]

70. LOL

I think this is a trend that started decades ago; your country and mine are getting more secular. A story circulates in my family that around the turn of the century (1900), my Great Great Grandfather, a Boston, Mass resident was arrested for playing golf on a Sunday; that activity was illegal then. I also remember some years ago not being able to buy anything on a Sunday on a visit to Virginia Beach, Virginia - they had something called "blue laws"....

[RedEarth]

72. Coalition leader faces sex abuse allegations ... Oregon Chairman

family values.........

Coalition leader faces sex abuse allegations
Investigation
Sunday, October 09, 2005
MICHELLE ROBERTS
and JEFF MAPES

Law enforcement officials said Saturday they are investigating complaints that Louis Beres, longtime chairman of the Christian Coalition of Oregon, molested three female family members when they were pre-teens.

"There is an investigation of allegations that have been made," Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk said Saturday.

The Oregonian talked to three of Beres' female relatives, including two who told reporters that he molested them. All three said they have been interviewed for several hours by detectives.

"I was molested," said one of the women, now in her early 50s. "I was victimized, and I've suffered all my life for it. I'm still afraid to be in the same room with (Beres)."

Beres, 70, whose group champions socially conservative candidates and causes, confirmed he is under investigation for alleged molestation. He blamed "personal and political enemies" for the reports and said, "I never molested anybody."

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/112885559554010.xml&coll=7

[RedEarth]

73. One more article .... Christian Coalition fading fast

Christian Coalition fading fast
Grass-roots religious group now based in S.C. has lost leadership, influence
By LEE BANDY
Staff Writer

Rocked by financial debt, lawsuits and the loss of experienced political leaders, the Christian Coalition has become a pale imitation of its once-powerful self. Some say the group — now based in Charleston and headed by a South Carolinian — is on life support, having been eclipsed by higher-profile, better-funded groups such as Focus on the Family. “The coalition as we knew it doesn’t exist,” says Lois Eargle, former chairwoman of the Horry County Christian Coalition.

The 16-year-old organization once was a political juggernaut. But it has been in steady decline since it lost one of its most effective national leaders, executive director Ralph Reed. Reed left in 1997 to form his own political consulting firm in Atlanta.

“He was a great media figure, able to convey his particular message,” says Corwin Smidt, professor of political science at Calvin College, a Christian liberal arts school in Michigan. “But he was also a very bright young man and was able to articulate and make arguments effectively on behalf of the coalition.

“Today, the coalition doesn’t have anyone of that caliber. Once Reed left, the organization never recovered.” During Reed’s tenure, the politically conservative coalition began distributing millions of voter guides containing candidates’ records on hot-button issues such as abortion and gay rights.

In 1994 alone, the group mailed 30 million postcards opposing President Clinton’s sweeping health-care proposal and made more than 20,000 phone calls to urge support for the balanced budget amendment — two issues that helped Republicans win control of Congress that year.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/politics/12676171.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[EST]

98. So the hot shot young flim flam artists served

their apprenticeships, learned who to lie and appeal to and then, as it should be, they left to seek their fortunes, lie and scheme their way to the top. It is easy to flummox a trusting dork who ain't as smart as you and is nectar of the gods to a certain type.

[swimboy]

78. No tears spring to my eyes.

[ClintonTyree]

79. What happened to Pat's gold mine in Africa?

Not "panning" out? :rofl: Seriously, this asshole's gold mine should be put up to pay his creditors, but I'm sure he had the legal issues protected from any danger of collections. These "holy, holy" types always have an army of Lawyers make sure no one can touch their assets. Why churches are still considered tax exempt in this country is beyond me. A majority have gone WAY over the line between separation of church and state but our government never prosecutes them. However, they come after ME in a New York minute if I screwed up MY taxes!
Doesn't Robertson have an exclusive contract with ABC for his "700 Club" broadcasts? I wonder how much THAT contract is worth?
I hope bankruptcy Lawyers dig into the records of that sham organization and indictments ensue. It would be great to see radical cleric Pat Robertson showering with KKKarl Rove and Scooter Libby in the Leavenworth federal prison. Don't drop the soap boys! :rofl:

[hogwyld]

80. Hopefully

This is the opening salvo in the elimination of religion and their so-called moral superiority! g*d is responsible for more death, suffering, and heartbreak than 100 friggin' Hitlers!

[superconnected]

83. No people are.

If you don't be believe in God, surly you can see its People doing it.

We're still at a dangerous crossroad of Bush mixing Church and state - Harriet Meyers?

The Christian coalition may be dying (I hope) but the Bush Republican values Coalition is still making progress. They have enough hate, biggotry and corruption to top even the catholic church.

[hogwyld]

84. What amazes me

Is when * invades a country because "g*d told me to do it" or what really gets me is muslims, jews, and xtians killing each other eventhough they all believe in the same g*d, that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Even communism was sort of a cultish religion. How many completely secular nations are at war with each other?

[RandomKoolzip]

94. I don't want the elimination of religion.

I just want the church to stay out of our government.

You know that too, so please don't mischaracterize things.

[JPace]

81. The Christian Coalition orders their flock to vote republican....

and we all know the republican corporate America couldn't care less about abortion or gay issues, they are too busy sending American jobs overseas and importing cheap labor to take what jobs that are left. If the churches want tithing of 10% they need to do the math because if their flock is unemployed and freezing in the cold they don't have anything left to give. 10% of nothing is still nothing.

They brought this on themselves.
:nopity:

[genieroze]

82. I guess they thought the rapture would come before the bills were due.

:shrug::rofl:

[hogwyld]

85. LOL!

You are too funny!

[Megahurtz]

95. You know, I would NOT be surprized

if they actually seriously thought this!

Fucking unreal!!! Lol!!!

[dogfacedboy]

86. Damn deadbeats. Won't pay the bills.

These losers will be running to bankruptcy court before you know it. I wonder how much of that money is in shoe boxes somewhere.

[Megahurtz]

97. Shoeboxes?

These slimy assholes hide the money in offshore bank accounts from everyone's reach!
They are really evil fucks!

How very Christian of them.:sarcasm:

[Norquist Nemesis]

88. "Cyclical nature of politics" is part of the reason???

Hold on! Is that not proof of violating the Constitution?

[earth mom]

90. Bwahaha! Now I KNOW there is a GOD!

God doesn't like what they've been doing in his name!

It's payback time! :bounce:

:woohoo:

[hatrack]

91. God will provide!!!!!!!!!

. . . or not. :evilgrin:

[Mist]

96. Maybe this is God's way of teaching them responsibility and humility?

:evilgrin: :rofl: :evilgrin: :rofl:

[redqueen]

99. Please let Focus on the Pharisees go next!

:bounce:

:toast:

:party:

[Judi Lynn]

100. Lou has been a busy pedophile/incest father.....

Looks as if his interests are many, and varied! Abortion, anti-gay actions, and anti-UNION activities!



Lou Beres

In summer of 1996, Mabon contacted Beres, who was then vice president of the Oregon Christian Coalition board of directors, and asked if Beres would be interested in working with him on the abortion initiative this year.

Beres says Mabon told him he needed someone to handle the anti-abortion campaign in metropolitan Portland. More than that, Mabon needs the Christian Coalition to spiff up his image.

Beres has been executive director of Oregon's Christian Coalition since 1997. Beres, 61, says he has been actively involved in the Republican Party for years and has served as the Multnomah County Chairman. His election wasn't universally cheered by the members of the Christian Right.

Where the national group is attempting to shed its extremist image and move into the mainstream, Beres has a reputation for digging in his heels. Beres admits that there are people within the religious right who think he's too extreme. He's been compared to Mabon as someone who can't accept the slow and incremental approach to politics that many on the religious right now think is necessary for success.
(snip/...)

http://www.wweek.com/html/cover021198.html

Christian Coalition mucking around with American unions:

"Remember that wonderful children's song, 'I'm in the Lord's Army?' We are God's army! We must rise up to drive out the enemy. God can give us the victory, but we must do the fighting."

- From a fundraising letter of the Christian Coalition of Oregon


The Christian Coalition of Oregon helped collect signatures for Bill Sizemore's anti-union "paycheck deception" initiative - receiving payment for each signature it turned in to him.

Sizemore, director of Oregon Taxpayers United, turned in more than 111,000 signatures on two separate initiatives - the "paycheck deception" initiative to silence the voice of working families in the political arena and a "windfall for the wealthy" tax-cutting measure.

He needs 89,048 valid signatures from registered voters in Oregon on each initiative to qualify for the November ballot.

The "paycheck deception" initiative is a constitutional amendment that would require union locals to obtain annual written authorization from each of their members before taking sides in an election or even representing their interests at the Legislature. The initiative is modeled after California's Proposition 226, which was defeated by voters in 1998.
(snip/...)

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:DHFZoK3d20IJ:www.nwlaborpress.org/Archives/2000/3-03-00Sizemore.html+%22Lou+Beres%22+Oregon&hl=en

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trips to Washington on behalf of the Oregon Christian Coalition:

~snip~

Although critics in Oregon and nationally criticize Ashcroft for reducing civil liberties, Ashcroft's supporters say he has performed admirably, preventing terrorism after Sept. 11.

"He was one of the main reasons President Bush got re-elected, because of holding back a terror attack on the United States," said Lou Beres, chairman of the Christian Coalition of Oregon, who met Ashcroft at a Washington, D.C., gathering shortly before his confirmation as attorney general in 2001.
(snip/...)

Four versions of the same measure would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Lou Beres with the Christian Coalition is optimistic.

Lou Beres: As a society if we support marriage as one man and one woman and build that core values of a family, then our country will be so much better off and society would be like it's been since the beginning of time.
(snip/...)

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:29V_7TxhkfwJ:www.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain%3Faction%3Darticle%26ARTICLE_ID%3D608407+%22Lou+Beres%22+Oregon&hl=en

~snip~
Lou Beres, a spokesman for the Christian Coalition of Oregon, said he is surprised that elected officials in Multnomah County and Benton County continue to break state statutes.

“They have taken it upon themselves to be the interpreter of the constitution, and I believe that they have stepped over the lines on breaking the law to allow homosexual marriages,” Beres said.

They also fear that other counties will follow Benton and Multnomah counties.

“The positive thing is that these people of faith, those who believe in traditional marriage, will stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough,’” Beres said.
(snip/...)

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_031604_news_gaymarriage_benton.913a5fd6.html

[rateyes]

103. I wonder how much of that 26 million a year...

they were taking in made it into the pockets of Ralph Reed?

[connecticut yankee]

105. Couldn't happen to a nicer gang

I guess they brought the wrath of God down upon them!

[superconnected]

106. Someone should tell them "God's punnishing them for homosexual

activity, preverted sex acts and all around ignoring God's law"

[nytemare]

107. Oh, and the Coalition leader in Oregon molested 3 family members.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/10/christian-coalition-leader-molested.html

[Kittycat]

108. Ah Yes - God Will Provide

:sarcasm:

[leesa]

112. Good. Rot in hell you nasty, greedy people.

[arwalden]

113. Oh Goody! Some Of The Best News I've Heard All Year....

[forintegrity]

115. ALLELUIA!!!

[Bassic]

121. This makes me happy somehow

:)

[Tight_rope]

122. Yes ...God does exist....And he/she see all!

:bounce: :applause: :woohoo:

[KamaAina]

124. Where do I donate?

Oh hell, I'll just call 1-800-EAT-SHIT. :evilgrin:

[Voltaire99]

126. I hate to mix realism with my schadenfreude...

...but while I love to hear that these Assholes For The Lord are broke, it's cold comfort.

They may have gone bust. Their agenda hasn't.