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Dr. Fuiten's Response to Washington Referendum 65
The failure of the Referendum on gay rights is a disappointment to us all. This issue is one that Faith and Freedom Network has worked on for the past 13 years. We fought it every year in Olympia under the able leadership of our lobbyist, Bob Higley. We put our heart and soul into the referendum effort for these last months. For me, to believe in biblical righteousness is to take a stand on this issue. We will continue to work through the various processes to stand for righteousness until the Lord comes.
Since I am still on an extended trip, I have not commented on the failure except as reported by others. Let me tell you in my own words of concerns that I have. When the Legislature passed the bill that we fought so strongly, we determined to do what we could to win. We planned a full-scale effort of multiple facets. We printed up thousands of petitions with our return address on them. We wanted to promote the effort and keep tabs on the progress. Tim Eyman was very upset by our plans and communicated the same to many. He wanted all the petitions to bear only his name so all the forms would go to his office in Spokane. In exchange for Faith and Freedom Network stepping out of the role we had planned, Tim agreed to allow us access to the petitions as they came in. We withdrew our petitions and everything flowed through Tim's office. When we requested access to the information as he had agreed with me, Tim told us to have our lawyer contact his lawyer. He broke the agreement without even talking to me, and kept us in the dark thereafter as to the progress.
We invested $53,000 in the effort. Tim said he spent $14,000. I can appreciate the effort that Tim made in this cause, although I am not sure of his motives. He never was involved in the gay rights issue in the years it was in the legislature so it makes me wonder if his interests were mercenary rather than in the actual issue. Tim was the quarterback of this team but the running backs and ends did not know where we were on the field. We knew there was a goal line but as the weeks wore on, we never knew if we were close or distant. Tim kept that to himself. It was not a victory formula.
Faith and Freedom Network has been in this and other spiritual battles for years. We intend to remain faithful through all the ups and downs as we have in the past. We hope that you will do the same.
I am uncertain as to the full extent of how the Lord intends to use this in our lives. Certainly part of the message is that the bible-believing church must awaken and take responsibility to present all God's message to this generation. The apostate church has no shame in promoting their message. Another part is to remind us that all that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. We have had way too much of doing nothing.
I am guessing now that the court may kick the gay marriage issue back into the legislature. If so, we will have opportunity to revisit some of these issues then. If the court imposes gay marriage then we will have the chance to vote on them in November. Either way there is plenty to do in the days ahead.
____________
Dr. Joseph B. Fuiten
Chairman
Faith & Freedom
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8 Comments:
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
wow, apostate churches and evil. so much for not calling names...
oh oh.
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 10:42 PM
Subject: Our decision on the names & addresses on the R-65 petitions
To: All individuals and groups that helped the Referendum 65 campaign (cc'd to the media)
From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, Referendum 65 co-sponsors, ph: 425-493-9127, email: insignia@greekwatch.com
RE: Our decision on the names & addresses on the R-65 petitions
Several groups have asked us about the R-65 petitions.
As our email on May 30th stated: They are official government documents whose sole purpose is to serve as a notice to the state that these particular citizens want a public vote on Ref 65. However, once they are turned in to the Secretary of State's office on Tuesday, June 6th -- 7 days from now -- they become public documents that are subject to public request by any person or organization.
Since we did not receive sufficient signatures, the R-65 petitions were not turned in to the Secretary of State. We have them in 5 boxes. In the past few days, several people and groups have asked for them or copies of them.
The people who signed these petitions did so for the sole purpose of seeking a public vote on HB 2661. To us, their names and addresses can not, should not, and will not be used for any other purpose. If the faith community can come together and put together an initiative effort that will seek again to put HB 2661 on the ballot, then the petitions will go to that effort. But under no circumstances are we going to give the petitions or copies of the petitions to groups for that organization's fundraising, get out the vote efforts, or promotion of candidates for office or any other issues. To do so would be a violation of the trust of the people who signed these petitions. We simply won't do it. And this policy applies to us as well -- we won't use the names and addresses for our $30 tabs initiative or any other effort. The people who signed R-65 petitions want a public vote on HB 2661 and they need to have their privacy protected from anything other than a subsequent campaign seeking a public vote on HB 2661.
This is clearly the only appropriate way to handle the situation. I've already talked with various people and groups about this decision and they agree with it.
However, there is one other aspect of this issue that's important for us to explain.
Shortly after the R-65 signature drive started, we promised Joe Fuiten and Gary Randall at Faith & Freedom that they could get copies of the petitions from Spokane, BUT THEY ASSURED US THAT IT WOULD BE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF HELPING GET R-65 ON THE BALLOT. But they only contacted us a few days before the signature gathering deadline asking for the petitions, too late for their use to be of any help to the R-65 signature drive. Again, the use of the names and addresses is totally appropriate to help ensure a public vote on HB 2661, but these voters did not sign R-65 petitions to be solicited by faith based groups like Faith & Freedom.
Earlier today (Tuesday), I received a voicemail message on my cell phone (which I still have) from Joe Fuiten. Here's a complete transcript of it:
"Tim, Joe Fuiten calling. I'm in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Hey, I would still like to get those names on the petitions. And I have a proposal for you: if you turn over to me the petitions, I will make sure that nothing more is said in public by Faith & Freedom, or in private for that matter by any of us or me or my employees or whoever, that would be negative of you. That's my suggestion to you. We agreed you'd turn those names over to us in our agreement and I would like for you to follow through on that even at this stage of the game. You've got my cell phone number 425-###-#### or an email, either one. Thank you, sir. Bye."
We're not going to be intimidated or blackmailed into allowing these citizens who signed these petitions to have their names and addresses used by Faith & Freedom and anyone else to do anything other than seeking a public vote on HB 2661. Lots of negative things were said by Joe & Gary about us after R-65's signature drive fell short. I have yet to find any other leader in the faith community who agrees with what they said. I think we now know why -- that it was punishment for not turning over the R-65 petitions and they used it as leverage today to try again to obtain the petitions.
Again, we won't be blackmailed -- we will not allow these citizens to be exploited by Faith & Freedom, even if it means continued vilification of us by them.
But they are clearly the exception. Throughout the R-65 campaign, we met and worked with some of nicest, friendliest, hardworking, caring people you can ever imagine. We're proud of all of you and admire your passion and willingness to get involved. We encourage you to stay involved and stay active. We won't be leading the next effort to seek a public vote on HB 2661 but we'll help in any way we can to ensure the voters decide this important issue.
Regards, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, Referendum 65 co-sponsors, ph: 425-493-9127, email: insignia@greekwatch.com
--
Posted by Tim Eyman, R-65 co-sponsor
seriously, all differences aside, if this message is legit and it was sent to the media, if my experience in the blogosphere is any indication, deleting will just compound the problem, not make it go away.
People love a cover up.
The word is getting around that Pastor Hutch may lead anoher effort to defeat gay marriage.
I hope its true. If there was one clergyman I would hook my wagon to, it would be Pastor Hutch. That man is a rock and has never put the desire to be popular above the Gospell.
How will we know when this spritual battle against homosexuality is won? Repeal of prop 65, amendment of the state and federal constitutions banning gay marriage, but is that it?
Anonymous said...
How will we know when this spritual battle against homosexuality is won? Repeal of prop 65, amendment of the state and federal constitutions banning gay marriage, but is that it?
The battle is not ours to win or loose .
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