February 18, 2010

Can Gays Be Conservative?

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The libertarian-leaning Cato Institute held a policy forum yesterday called “Is There a Place for Gay People in Conservatism and Conservative Politics?” The panel of lively experts included Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic’s Daily Dish blog; Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage; and Nick Herbert, a Conservative British MP with the wonderfully chilling title “Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.” 

You’ll find audio and video of the event here. Though it starts a little slow, things heat up a few minutes in, when Sullivan and Gallagher start to butt heads like a pair of Rocky Mountain rams (on the topic of gay marriage, naturally). Also discussed: adoption, whether today’s Republican party is truly conservative (Sullivan maintains it isn’t), and the inclusion of transgender people in conservative politics.

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

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