Nov 08, 2006  |  By: JOSHUA LYNSEN  | COMMENTS     

The conservative Evangelical group Focus on the Family annoyed gay Marylanders but abided by federal guidelines when it backed Lt. Gov. Michael Steele’s bid for the U.S. Senate.

Steele, a Republican who has repeatedly railed against gay marriage, received high praise from Focus on the Family founder and chair James Dobson in a pre-election message sent to Maryland subscribers.

Dobson wrote, “Steele’s commitment to defending marriage from redefinition has been clear. He unequivocally supports the Marriage Protection Amendment that would keep liberal courts and radical gay activists from hijacking the institution of marriage.”

The message also attacked Steele’s opponent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin, for twice voting against the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment.

“He says he believes in traditional marriage, but he hasn’t lifted a finger to protect it,” Dobson wrote. “In fact, he has done just the opposite by opposing the very measures that would defend it against the attacks of gay radicals and activist judges.”

Dobson’s message, sent about 10 days before Tuesday’s election, annoyed but didn’t surprise gay Marylanders.

“I think he’s preaching to the choir — the homophobic choir that doesn’t respect the right to privacy in this country,” said Equality Maryland Executive Director Dan Furmansky.

He also said the politically charged e-mail, which called the opposition to gay marriage one of “the biggest moral issues of our day,” seemed to push the accepted boundaries of nonprofit politicking.

“I’m not a lawyer,” he said, “but I certainly hope that they didn’t consult with their legal counsel before they stretched, stretched, stretched this to the limit like they did.”

But an expert in nonprofit advocacy said Dobson properly disseminated his message through his group’s advocacy arm, Focus on the Family Action, Inc.

Liz Towne, advocacy programs director at Alliance for Justice, said the Focus on the Family Action is allowed under section 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code to send such messages to its members.

“C4’s can endorse candidates,” she said, “and indeed this really is an endorsement, or certainly the opposition of Ben Cardin.”

Focus on the Family Action is described on its website as “a cultural action organization that is completely separate from Focus on the Family, legally.”

Focus on the Family Action, which is based in Colorado, declined comment.

On the website, Dobson explains that the offshoot was created because IRS code prevents Focus on the Family from engaging in most political activities.

“Speaking for Focus on the Family, I can only take stands on ballot measures and lobby legislative bodies to a very limited extent,” he wrote.

“But Focus on the Family Action is formed under IRS section 501(c)(4). It will be free of any such restrictions and allow me to speak out freely on the range of issues that affect the family.”