The National Organization for Marriage
(NOM) on Monday pledged $500,000 to defeat Minnesota GOP lawmakers
who vote to legalize gay marriage in the state.
NOM, which contributed more than $2
million to last year's unsuccessful campaign to put an amendment in
the Minnesota Constitution defining marriage as a heterosexual union,
has helped fund primary challengers against Republicans in other
states who voted for marriage equality.
The announcement comes days after
Senator Branden Petersen spoke out in support of a marriage bill
expected to be introduced shortly.
“Republicans like Branden Petersen
don't realize that not only is voting to redefine marriage a terrible
policy, it is also a career-ending vote for a Republican,” NOM
President Brian Brown said in a statement. “NOM will do everything
in our power to defeat any Republican who votes in favor of same-sex
marriage.”
In remarks to the Pioneer
Press, Petersen said his vote was not for sale.
“Whether it's $500,000 or $50
million, my vote is not going to be bought either way,” he said.
“I'm going to do what's right.”
Pointing to New York, Brown said his
group would not hesitate to take action.
“Legislators need look no further
than what happened to GOP senators in New York,” Brown continued.
“Four of them were responsible for passing gay marriage. We helped
take out three of those senators by repeatedly informing their
constituents of their betrayal on marriage. They are now out of
office. We will not hesitate to do the same thing in Minnesota.”
“Marriage is not a partisan issue,
and NOM does not hesitate to oppose weak Republicans and support
strong Democrats.”