Ralph Reed group in Minnesota to host workshop on marriage amendment
The Minnesota Faith and Freedom Coalition, part of a network of groups created by religious right icon Ralph Reed, is hosting a strategy session on the ballot measure to put a ban on marriage for same-sex couples in the Minnesota Constitution. Former gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer will emcee the October event, and Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, the lead sponsor of the amendment, will give the keynote speech.
According to the group’s release on the event, which will be held at a Bloomington hotel Oct. 7:
“„The Marriage Amendment will be addressed by chief author, Senator Warren Limmer. Additionally, Minnesota Congressional Representatives, Bachmann, Cravaack, Kline and Paulsen will be awarded the prestigious ‘Friend of the Family’ award for their voting record in 2010 – 2011 legislative session. The Strategy & Briefing session will kickoff the GOP’s 2011 Midwest Leadership Conference at the Doubletree Hotel, Bloomington, MN.
The group notes that Republican legislators Bachmann, Cravaack, Kline and Paulsen have not confirmed their attendance at the event.
The Minnesota Faith and Freedom Coalition is part of a network of state-based 501(c)4 groups founded by Reed in 2009 to re-energize the religious right. Reed was the head of the Christian Coalition in the 1990s and was a leading figure in the Jack Abramoff scandal. According to emails released in the Abramoff case, Reed secretly accepted funds from Abramoff to oppose Indian gaming in the South.
“We need to be hipper, more technology savvy,” Reed said when he launched the coalition in 2009. “This is where the culture is going and we need to be there if we’re going to compete.”
Reed is hoping to get the group operating in all 50 states. He will also be a featured speaker at the Minnesota event.
