The Human Rights Campaign is working to defeat the proposed federal marriage amendment through a multimillion-dollar effort that includes taking advantage of the division among Republicans over the issue.
The 500,000-plus member group, which works for homosexual rights and touts itself as bipartisan, says an amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman would write discrimination into the Constitution by denying rights to same-sex couples.
A key part of the campaign’s strategy is to focus on conservative Republicans who oppose a constitutional amendment, even if they do not favor “marriage” rights for same-sex couples.
In a memo to congressional allies and candidates in March, the campaign noted that some conservatives, such as Sen. Chuck Hagel, Nebraska Republican, think states can handle this issue without a constitutional amendment.
The memo added that the debate should focus on the constitutional amendment rather than homosexual “marriage.” The campaign says conservatives might be more effective than liberals at publicly conveying this message.
Cheryl Jacques, president of the campaign, said the organization is trying to reach everyone, including middle-America conservatives, with its message against the amendment.
“Conservatives pay attention when they see a fellow conservative say, ’This isn’t the right thing to do,’” she said, adding that conservative opponents of the amendment hold “extraordinary value” because they drive home the point that “you can have very different views on gay marriage, but … agree the Constitution shouldn’t be amended.”
As a result, conservatives are being used in some of the campaign’s advertisements. One ad features a woman saying, “I’m pretty conservative, but I can’t support amending the Constitution over this.” Another ad quotes prominent conservatives who oppose the amendment, including former Rep. Bob Barr, Georgia Republican.
Mr. Barr said he wasn’t hired by the campaign to speak out against the amendment, but doesn’t object to being used as an example because he views the amendment as bad policy.
“If we find some common ground between the right and the left, then I have no problem lending my voice,” he said.
The campaign is concerned that the marriage amendment has a chance of passing in this unpredictable election year, so the group is taking a multipronged approach to defeat it. The group’s initial planning and budgeting outline from March estimates at least $1.4 million will be spent on various efforts, with additional money being spent on advertising.
Communications director Steven Fisher did not give a total number being spent to defeat the amendment, but said his organization and other groups fighting the amendment are being outspent vastly by those who favor it.
The Family Research Council has spent about $5 million promoting the federal marriage amendment and will spend “several million more” as the effort continues, said spokesman Bill Murray.
The Human Rights Campaign’s strategy includes building a broad coalition of organizations, business and religious leaders and family specialists to talk to reporters and host a Web site, the budgeting and planning outline says.
In addition to Washington-based lobbying efforts, the campaign also is hiring Republican and Democratic pollsters to track public opinion and help develop their message, paying special attention to the black and Hispanic communities, who tend to be skeptical of homosexual “marriage.”
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