UPDATED - Conservative Fundraiser For Anti-Gay Indiana Pizzeria Now Tops $500K

[DonViejo]

Last edited Fri Apr 3, 2015, 05:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: TPM

A fundraiser for the Indiana pizzeria that closed its doors amid widespread outrage over its owners' beliefs about homosexuality topped $500,000 in less than 48 hours.

A crew from Glenn Beck's TheBlaze TV network on Wednesday afternoon set up the fundraiser for the O'Connor family, which owns Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Ind., on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe. Donations poured in at an impressive clip.

The O'Connor family garnered national attention when they told a local TV station earlier this week that they supported the Hoosier State's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act and would refuse to cater a same-sex wedding if asked to do so.

They clarified that they would never refuse service to a gay or non-Christian customer who came into the restaurant to eat, however.

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/memories-pizza-indiana-fundraiser-tops-500k

---

UPDATE:

$800,351 @ 5:27 P.M. 4/3/2015

http://www.gofundme.com/MemoriesPizza

[haikugal]

1. Bigotry pays...

[movonne]

105. maybe they should give the money to the state of Indiana...they need it more...

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

2. Christ, the dude may as well retire now...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

12. Speaking of Christ, didn't Jesus have TWO fathers? So why are Christians so up in arms over gay rights?

[alcina]

22. Great point!

I'll have to mention that to a few people I know. Thanks!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

140. Ya know, I don't know enough of that fairytail to know.

I'm not a bible reader, but if i can get a laugh out of it please explain.

[get the red out]

3. How wonderful

Masses brainwashed by big corporations' control of their religion throwing their money into opposing fair commerce.

That's how hate works.

[Helen Borg]

4. I expect some copycats....

I mean, 500K of hate dollars? What a f**ed up world we live in.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

7. You can say that again. This will only encourage more discrimination. It's disgusting!

[RKP5637]

15. It really is, the world gets more F'ed up each day. I'm just amazed. And from religion, that boasts

of love, kindness, all of that they falsely promote. In my lifetime religion more and more grows into Religion for Bigots. Anymore, religion is a codeword for hatred and bigotry. Look out across the world, find religion, and generally there is bigotry, hatred and cultism apparent, and often authoritative patriarchs running the show dominating others.

[jwirr]

26. Unfortunately GoFundMe is going to be the go to site for rw causes from now on.

[Daemonaquila]

31. Let 'em.

One of two things will happen. Either a bunch of these kooks will try to copycat, nobody will be willing to fund more of them, and they'll all go down in flames, and good riddance, or they'll keep wasting their money funding more of these losers and that money won't go toward candidates and other things that might keep causing more harm. So, it's a win either way.

[blackspade]

100. Except that losing these sucker's money won't make a difference....

In a sea awash with corporate cash....

[GreatGazoo]

56. "Memories" is the copy cat

Some churches have been using homophobia to raise money for centuries. Politicians and fast food joints are new to the game.

[stone space]

96. The copycats might be dissapointed unless they cash in quick.

The whole reason why that Pizza place was able to cash in is that nobody is coming forward publicly claiming to discriminate, so they have the field to themselves.

So they don't have to split those bigot dollars with anybody. Of course the bigots can afford to give half a million to one pizza place. It's only a single pizza place. But they can't all cash in together. There's not enough money to go around.

The guy who went on the radio to announce his anonymous discrimination doesn't count. But him and this pizza place is all that I've heard of specifically.

Some fools are going to try to copycat this, and will expose themselves to the downside of public ridicule without the expected upside of a cash payout.

[Helen Borg]

97. There could be a race to who is the most discriminating!

And they would get farther and farther right wing donations...

[mpcamb]

110. Is the $500K money 'promised' or delivered?

I suspect it's about as real as some of those pizza orders that came in.

[haikugal]

116. That's what I was wondering...

Is it money pledged or in hand, big difference!

[mpcamb]

135. Some thing tells me it's like those teaparty 'crowds' Fox news used to report on

with only one camera angle that avoids the view of the 30 lawnchairs and 50 'protesters'.

[kelly1mm]

127. The way Go Fund Me works is by making PayPal or credit card donations. Thus, the money is there.

There is no way to say "the check is in the mail" and inflate the numbers.

[William Seger]

142. Now at $842,592 so GoFundMe has made $42,129

That service appears to be intended for idiots too stupid to realize they could open their own PayPal account and put up a Donate button on a $5/month website. I bet Glen Beck is wishing he had negotiated a cut -- or maybe he did?

[RKP5637]

5. Give me that old time hatred!

Some just gotta hate, hatred can be a big money maker. So many are so F'en sick.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

6. Just confirms how bigoted right-wing Christians can be in support of that homophobic pizza joint. Boycott their azz...

and everybody else who refuses to recognize the rights of the LGBT community.

[7962]

34. Muslims are doing their part too. There's a video of Muslim bakers refusing "gay" wedding cakes.

But thats hardly a surprise, since they'll stone you to death in their home countries!

[cosmicone]

42. This post was hidden by a jury decision

!

[7962]

70. Ok, THAT is pretty funny.

[uppityperson]

59. What are Muslim's "home countries"? I am confused as to where you mean.

Thanks for clarifying.

[7962]

68. Many Islamic countries are known to have awful anti-gay laws with death as punishment.

Here's a quote from Wikipedia:
"Today in most of the Islamic world homosexuality is not socially or legally accepted. In some of these countries, Afghanistan, Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen, homosexual activity carries the death penalty.[4][5][6][7][8] In others, such as Somalia, it is illegal."
I'm reasonably sure that many of the folks in the video refusing to bake a cake for the gay wedding are likely from one of those countries. You can tell by their accents that they probably immigrated from somewhere.
Not ALL of them refused however. Good for those places.
Other countries also punish homosexuality; Uganda, for example. But since we're talking about religion, thats a different story.

[uppityperson]

71. 8 million Muslims home country is the USA and 21.2 million's is Europe

http://www.muslimpopulation.com/World/

Considering that homophobic racist video was supposedly filmed in the USA, the people in it are just as likely to be American citizens, USA is their home country.

My grandparents immigrated, had bad accents, became American citizens and USA was their "home country" for the majority of their lives.

Did you mean country of origin, or ancestral country?

Edited because I blew it on the numbers, had total population, not Muslim.

And I agree, too many countries have nasty laws against women and homosexuality.

[cosmicone]

74. Ummm .. please recheck your data

The population of USA is 320 million as of January 2015. Of that, 316.2 million cannot possibly be Muslims.
Population of Europe was 742.5 million as of December 2013. Of that, 739.31 million cannot possibly be Muslims.

Nevertheless, your point is somewhat valid that of the 8 million Muslims in the USA and 21.2 million in Europe, many see their new home as their permanent home. The problem is that a vast majority of Muslims see their identity as Muslim superior to their national identities. They see the Ummah (ummat al islamiyah لأمة الإسلامية? ) as the main nation-community. This is what allows terrorists' conscience to commit terrorist acts in their supposed home countries.

Perhaps the post you are replying to should say "geographic origin" rather than "home countries."

[uppityperson]

75. Well hit me upside my head with a feather, you are right, I did that completely wrong.

Sorry about that and thanks for the correction. I will go back and edit.

Perhaps they did mean that.

[7962]

87. Yes, country of origin. Not insinuating that they arent American, just not native born

My grandparents came off the boat and had accents, but my mom was born and raised here and never had one.

[uppityperson]

88. Thanks for clarifying. I appreciate it.

And yes, I am serious. Thanks again.

[uppityperson]

66. is this the video you mean? This piece of homophobic rightwing crap? More info on him, beware

What he writes is pretty awful. I would not believe his conclusions, based on what he says the law is about. If this is what you mean, beware and consider the source.

He has another fine video "HIDDEN CAM: Cross-Dressing At Planet Fitness!" also full of bizarre rationalizations, mis-characterizations of what happened, etc.

His facebook page is full of anti-Obama rightwing crap like "gaystopo logic", Obama betrayed the USA by negotiating with Iran, etc.
I will not link but it is easy to find from his youtube crap. He also has a webpage, if you don't do facebook.

[7962]

69. HE very well may be an ass, but were his visits & results fake? I doubt it.

I'm more concerned with the story than who is telling it. I have little doubt that the reactions he got were real. It would've surprised me if they DIDN'T turn him away. And in fairness, he did say not all places refused him service. He SHOULD have shown a few of those too.
But I'd never heard of him until now.
And I guess the chances of a gay couple going into a Muslim bakery, as evidenced by the signage, would be pretty slim too.

[uppityperson]

72. You believe a rightwing homophobe's highly edited video? Oh.

I don't.

I watched enough of his other videos like "HIDDEN CAM: Cross-Dressing At Planet Fitness!" to realize what he says has little bearing in reality. For instance, "HIDDEN CAM: Cross-Dressing At Planet Fitness!" was not about a cross dresser getting someone kicked out but about an intolerant bigot complaining to other women, repeatedly, about a trans woman and getting herself banned by her repeated nasty actions.

If you can find another video from a reputable source, I'd be glad to watch it. Seriously. But this one? Nope. About as honest and believable as a Disney cartoon. But nastier.

[suffragette]

90. Crowder has faked video before - seems like another O'Keefe

Ties to Fox News and Breitbart and who knows how many other right-wing propaganda machines. Caught out on edited union smearing video previously.

Anything from him should be viewed with the same skepticism as anything from O'Keefe.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2013/03/08/fox-newss-steven-crowder-fistfight-case-no-charges/

Well, the prosecutor in this case has determined that there’ll be no charges against anyone who popped Crowder on that December day. Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III “will not be authorizing criminal charges in this case,” Shanon Banner, a spokeswoman for the Michigan State Police, wrote in an e-mail to the Erik Wemple Blog this morning.

Dunnings said in an interview that the video his office originally reviewed on the matter “appeared to have been edited.” A subsequent review of what the prosecutor termed “unedited” video helped the office reach its decision not to proceed with a case.

“A look at the unedited video, taken in conjunction with the statements of the alleged victim and the alleged assailant, led me to the conclusion that I would not authorize issuance of the warrant,” Dunnings said.

In an interview yesterday, Crowder declined to comment on the process.



http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-official-no-union-violence-at.html
Remember the phony "union violence" video that Fox News promoted heavily after the No Rights At Work protests in Lansing late last year? It supposedly showed Steven Crowder, a Fox contributor, in a scuffle with a union member. Closer examination showed the video had been heavily doctored. That didn't stop anti-worker extremists tweeting out the video with pious denunciations of "brutality" and "violence."

Fox's Sean Hannity went on and on about it:
Fox News contributor Steven Crowder was beaten by a mob, having been punched repeatedly in the face. Protesters wielding knives, brought down a tent on representatives from the conservative group Americans for Prosperity. By the way, that’s the tent that was housing women and children and old people and bystanders; they were also roughed up.
If that had really happened, you would expect criminal charges. But it wasn't what really happened and -- surprise! -- there are no criminal charges.

[7962]

106. Dont know how people dont think doctored stuff wont get caught these days

Photoshop, altered video clips, etc. Like those political ad pictures. You'll ALWAYS get caught. too many expert eyes out there watching. From BOTH sides of the spectrum.

[suffragette]

108. I don't think they care about being caught in a lie. They just care about the impact they have

before that happens.

As Jonathan Swift wrote:

Falsehood flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale hath had its effect: like a man, who hath thought of a good repartee when the discourse is changed, or the company parted; or like a physician, who hath found out an infallible medicine, after the patient is dead.
http://www.bartleby.com/209/633.html


We still need to care about exposing the lies and the liars, so at least people are aware of the likelihood of what they say or show being propaganda.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. who knew ignorance hatred and bigotry is so profitable.

[LovingA2andMI]

30. Yep, however....

Go Fund Me just does not seem to work the same for Progressive Causes --- like starting a Progressive Podcast Network. Wonder why?

[christx30]

53. Anyone that's spent more than 20 minutes

in a high school history class.
This kind of crap goes back thousands of years. This is just it's most recent face.

[NRaleighLiberal]

62. absolutely. so sad to be smacked the reality of it again and again, though

[BlueJazz]

9. Damn...Skinner and the gang ought to get on this bandwagon.

"We, the owners of Democratic Underground refuse to allow Gay married people to post on our site" ***

"We promise to put each new DUer through our new "Gay Married Detection Ray"

Where's our 1/2 million ??

*** Our Policy MAY change with time. (as soon as we cash the check)

[BumRushDaShow]

10. They should donate all of that money to their church

to feed the poor.

[damnedifIknow]

11. Not a whole lot to do in Indiana

So some people just sit around and think of things to hate. I call these types no lifers.

[NobodyHere]

139. Speaking of hatred...

[heaven05]

13. I'm not surprised

if that murderer executioner wilson can retire on the funds GIVEN in his defense(He did not have to go to court, so free and clear funds), why would I think good christian americans wouldn't back this bigotry. America is going(gone) to the tea partiers and RW thugs(proverbial dogs). They can start a franchise of bigotry now!!! Oh joy to the world......

[Botany]

14. Grifters

The pizza shop does not do any catering so they did not lose any $$ by
not catering any gay weddings.

[Paper Roses]

16. For a lot of reasons, this makes me sick Half million for bigots. What is wrong with us (US)? n/t

[edbermac]

17. How much of that will be taxed?

[7962]

35. I believe all of it would be taxable

[kelly1mm]

81. Gifts are not taxable income to the recipient.

Publication 525 from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, "Taxable and Non-Taxable Income," states that money received as a gift "is not included in your income."

[7962]

86. I thought there's a 10K limit? Remember the hullabaloo when Oprah gave all those cars away?

There was a big deal about how the people were gonna have to pay taxes on the value of the car. It was certainly a gift and not "winnings", since they didnt enter anything or play any game

[jmowreader]

111. The IRS considers things like that to be payment for appearing on TV

If my boss (quick note: I work for a newspaper) goes downtown and gives a random homeless guy $100 then just walks away, it's a gift. Since he can give $14,000 per year without falling into gift tax territory - and if he did, he rather than the homeless guy would have to pay it - the IRS doesn't care about his $100 gift.

If my boss brought the homeless guy back to the shop, had a picture taken of him receiving the $100, and ran an ad to show how benevolent my newspaper is, not only would we be thoroughly and deservedly ridiculed for doing this but the IRS would rule we paid the guy $100 to appear in an ad.

Because the benevolent Oprah - the woman who inflicted Phil McGraw and Mehmet Oz on America - gave the cars to people on her TV show, the IRS ruled them to be "appearance payments."

[7962]

112. Which is why I hire someone to do my taxes. The whole tax book needs to be tossed!

The scenario you painted is a great example why!

[PoliticAverse]

126. Just because the tax code is about 3 million words is no reason to start over... n/t

[7962]

138. Its exactly a reason! And its over 4 million. 7 times longer than the BIBLE!

Its a train wreck and it should've been tossed years ago. Way too many loopholes and specific exemptions etc etc.
It wouldnt be that hard to come up with something that had a few rates and a very few deductions. And throw in a sales tax to top it off, like Europe has. Theres so many professions out there that are able to pay NO taxes simply because no one reports the income. i know a lot of 'em. The govt would get a lot more revenue that way and the rich would definitely pay more.
But no, 5 years from now it'll be the same crap and FIVE million words!!

[24601]

137. The limit is on the giver, not the receiver. For any person giving more than $14,000 (in 2015)

to a single recipient the giver will be subject to paying the tax above that amount.

Give it to two people and the limit is $28,000.

No tax liability for the recipient(s).

[kelly1mm]

79. None. Gifts are not taxable income to the recipients. nt

[George II]

18. Did Harold Hill move his scam from Iowa to Indiana?

There has to be some kind of law prohibiting this stuff!

[Geronimoe]

19. Counseling money

Now they can afford to get therapy to deal with all their hate issues.

[mountain grammy]

20. Will they immediately declare themselves the

Church of Jesus Christ the Pizza Maker and exempt themselves from taxes along with their donors taking a charitable deduction? That's the scam of America and these people are scammers.

[kelly1mm]

82. The contributions are already non-taxable to them. Gifts are not taxable to the recipient. nt

[mountain grammy]

103. Gifts are not always tax free.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Eight-Tips-to-Determine-if-Your-Gift-is-Taxable

[kelly1mm]

113. The GIVER has to pay the Gift Tax, not the recipient. From your link (highlighted) :

"If you gave money or property to someone as a gift, you may owe federal gift tax. Many gifts are not subject to the gift tax, but the IRS offers the following eight tips about gifts and the gift tax."

[mountain grammy]

120. not always. It's a gray area when there's this much money involved

no they will not get a half a million tax free windfall, and they shouldn't.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rhode/crowdfunding-to-help-a-sick-friend-can-lead-to-a-big-tax-bill-for-you_b_6615616.html?

[kelly1mm]

121. They will get a tax free windfall. If they should get the funds tax free is another matter.

1099-K's are simply reports of gross financial transactions from 3rd party payment sites. The most common type come from paypal for those that sell on ebay. Getting a 1099-K DOES NOT mean that you have to pay taxes on the amount shown on the 1099-K. For example, using the ebay example, lets say you received a 1099-K showing 20,000 of payments made to you. That would be your gross income from the ebay sales. Then you get to deduct your expenses like ebay fees, shipping, cost of goods sold, postage, mileage, etc. Lets say that comes up all together to 15,000.

in that case the 20000 1099-K would lead to 5000 of taxable business income on a schedule C.

The point I am making is that the 1099-K in and of itself does not make the amount shown taxable income. Reportable yes, taxable no.

In this particular case the 1099-K would be reported as "EXEMPT GIFT INCOME per IRS pub 525."

What the article you linked to explains just that - that there are REPORTING requirements, but no tax liability.

[KansDem]

21. So why are we putting the expense of war on the nation's credit card?

The next time the MICs and GOPers want war, they can hold a fundraiser...

[jwirr]

25. Don't we wish.

[Omaha Steve]

23. Less $40,000 to gofundme

I'm sure they are happy too.

[tomm2thumbs]

41. Yay - most likely liberal voices getting a good cut of that money

Keep it coming... better to see that much money out of fundies hands and into creative hands

and out of fundies political coffers

[jwirr]

24. No matter what one thinks they are not allowed to use that to discriminate. The people who are

paying into this account fit into the category of "a fool and his money are soon parted."

[workinclasszero]

27. Hate sells baby

Why do you think Rush Limpballs has been on the air for 30 years or Fox "news" exists, or the republican party in general?

All hate based organizations. There is big money in Hate sadly.

Not to mention that right wingers are the biggest suckers on the face of the earth. Palin takes those rubes to the cleaners evey year like clockwork. Most of the teabaggers in the clown car are actually pushing a book or will be when their sham presidential run is over.

Nothing dumber than a reich winger with a few dollars in his pocket!

That folks is what is called easy pickings..taking candy from a baby! LOL

[SpankMe]

28. All cowards.

I scrolled through the first few hundred donations on the GoFundMe list - all "Anonymous". Conservatives put their money where their mouths are, but they're too embarrassed about it put their real names down.

I wonder if this Lawrence Billy Jones III (the host of this particular GoFundMe effort) really intends to give the money to the pizza people. I wonder if he really exists. There's an avatar of a black guy next to the name. I wonder if this is really the guy, or if the Klan dude who put up this GoFundMe page just put a picture of a black guy there to give the illusion of diversity.

The honorable thing for the pizza people to do would be to decline the money. They'd look even worse accepting hate cash.

[PoliticAverse]

85. He exists, see...

http://www.lawrencebjones.com

[libodem]

29. Propped up

By persons who hate public welfare. Niiiiice.

[NoMoreRepugs]

32. Never underestimate the ignorance of the American Conservative base

can u just imagine the situation at ER's across the country if Rushbo/Faux told his/their listeners to jump off a roof and it would somehow grow into a groundswell to remove President Obama from office??

[tomm2thumbs]

33. Win / Win !!!

The law is being challenged, successfully, and a bunch of money that likely would have found its way into right wing political campaigns is now going to pay pizza people instead.

Yay!!!!

Keep it up fundies.... you know not what you do. Bwahahahaha!!!

[Ineeda]

80. And just like other idiot lottery winners...

these bigots won't know what hit them when the tax bill comes due. They also will likely blow the entire wad on giant pick-em-up trucks for each of their family members and tacky, shiny crap, too. They certainly won't set up college funds or give any part of their windfall to the needy. That's all too 'gay' for them.

[kelly1mm]

83. No tax bill. Gifts are not taxable income to the recipient. See IRS Pub 525. nt

[Ineeda]

93. Amazing.

I thought gifts were limited to $14K to be tax exempt. But I checked out IRS Pub 525 and saw this:

Gifts and inheritances.
In most cases, property you receive as a gift, bequest,
or inheritance is not included in your income. However,
if property you receive this way later produces
income such as interest, dividends, or rents,
that income is taxable to you. If property is
given to a trust and the income from it is paid,
credited, or distributed to you, that income is
also taxable to you. If the gift, bequest, or inheri­-
tance is the income from the property, that in­
come is taxable to you.

Lots of IRS info on giving gifts, but nothing I found with a cursory search except the above on receiving them. IRS rules are so confusing!

[kelly1mm]

114. Yep! The GIVER of a gift may be subject to gift tax. The recipient never is subject to gift tax.nt

[IronLionZion]

36. YES!!! Spend all those hate dollars before election campaigns get going

conservatives all over should personally donate to these independent small businesses so they will have less to fund the politicians who really screw things up on policy matters

[fredamae]

37. "Self Victimization"

the latest GOP "get rich quick scheme"...
That's a Lot of (pizza) Dough!

[Miigwech]

38. They can always come up with the money

............ for wars and hate mongers. Why can't these sad sacks give money to those really in need, for example, the poor (now homeless) people whose apartments/homes were destroyed this week in NYC after the gas explosion! Never - Yankee liberals.

[atreides1]

39. A question?

Has the O'Connor family actually received any of that money?

[MADem]

40. That's money that the donators won't have to spend on bigoted candidates. nt

[HereSince1628]

44. True, but there is lots of money out there.

I'm not sure $500k from across America significantly depletes money available for future fights.

[MADem]

123. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...

Maybe Go Fund Me bigotry will become the new status symbol donation...?

[father founding]

43. totally out of control

What, theres only one fucking pizza place in fucking Indiana , where gays can go ?

[IHateTheGOP]

45. Right wing Christian hate is a thing to behold

You know, the Nazis hated gays too. Just saying.

[City Lights]

46. The GOPee loves handouts. nt

[rtracey]

47. hahaha

These fuckers played right into their hands...hahaha they are scamming the right winged dumfucks out of 500,000 of thier money that could go to Cruz.....hahahha idiots

[TheCowsCameHome]

48. How much of it will GoFundMe pocket? n/t

[PoliticAverse]

91. 7.9% + 30 cents per donation, see...

http://www.gofundme.com/pricing

[LeftinOH]

49. Wingnut welfare is a lucrative business..it's so easy to make money

off these suckers. Which makes one wonder why the DNC hasn't tapped into this gravy train. It wouldn't take much to dupe them.

[Jester Messiah]

50. Wow, self-fleecing rubes. What will they think of next? [nt]

[samsingh]

51. be a disgusting bigot and other bigot's give you money

[mac56]

52. Not even Spalding has a racket this good.

[GusBob]

54. Forrest Gumpage

[turbinetree]

55. Just great

The "pieces de resistance", you have the 5 or 6 right wing hypocrites trying to run for the presidency in the country (support being bigots and what Pence did and they are not back tracking on the original support and the legislation, just imagine if they had complete control--kiss that document called the constitution good--bye and use it for toilet paper) ---you just can't make this stuff up.

What do these right wingers put in there Wheaties every morning, besides hate and fear---they truly think that this country was founded on a "christain" value, these so called christain front groups from this country went into a African country (Nigeria) and had them (Nigeria) put in place a law that if you are gay you can be jailed for 14 years and everyone of these right wing politicians jumped on the same band wagon----yeah, then they go around and say this country (USA) should be and deserves to be theocracy-------you just can't make this stuff up.

[closeupready]

57. In our disposable society, what matters is TODAY; but years from now, I wonder

if the O'Connor's will regret helping to publicize a backlash which is based upon nothing more than animus.

I mean, look how something like - for example - slavery stained the history of the US. Those who owned slaves, those who supported slavery - they are disowned by society and their own modern descendants.

Anyway, on a lighter note, as the total rises, I continue giggling at the hypocrisy of how xtian fundies piously throw money at something like this while people go hungry, and die for a lack of adequate health care.

[LynneSin]

58. Here's my two cents - congratulations to them they got extremely lucky

I wish them good luck with their new found fortune and I really do hope that how this happened wasn't a scam on their part but more of a bit of luck.

I know what happens with working class people suddenly come upon riches. Big time lottery winners soon fine themselves broke a few years later not realizing how quickly the money can be spent (and how suddenly new found friends and family come crawling out of the woodworks). So I hope this family is smart and puts most of the money away in savings and maybe start their business over again with their business once all this craziness dies out (in the end the family said they had never been asked to cater a gay wedding either).

But two important things.

God did not bless you with that money - that is hate money sent to you by bigots wanting to support bigots. If you are truly Christians it was Jesus who did say it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven. I really don't feel that there is an income level requirement that would keep one out of heaven but I do think that this means that greed isn't a very Christian-like value. So try not to be greedy with the money. Maybe make a donation to help out some others. You know a donation to your local HRC or PFLAG organization might show the world that you really aren't the bigots that you say you are. But that's just me.

Second, to other bigots out there that think they can win a financial jackpot by getting on the news and preaching hate - it's not that simple. Remember how those first few families with the super big multiple births got all that attention including the Gosselins with their own TV show. The other parents thought 'gee, maybe I'll have a litter of babies and that's how we'll get to be super-famous and super rich'. Octomom - she ended up on welfare and doing porn. Just saying that usually the first time someone does something that fascinates the public they will score big and maybe the 2nd or 3rd person might make some money, but this isn't a career choice. In the end a sure way to end up ruining your business is practicing hate. There aren't that many $500k jackpots handouts for those who practice it.

[PoliticAverse]

92. I think this falls into the 'lucky stupidity' category. n/t

[Geronimoe]

60. Money well spent

Now they can take real religion courses at a higher learning institution and find out it isn't a sin to sell pizza to anyone. Selling pizza is not a form of blessing something. Jesus didn't refuse to feed anyone who needed food.

However, the money will likely be used to buy a truck load of white sheets made in sweat shops by slave laborers for their clan members.

True story, I attended a church fund raiser. Everyone was whispering about their Priest who had just been indicted from sexual child abuse. Amazingly most people I talked to thought the Priest a good man and hoped he would clear things up and return to lead their church. As for the victims, no concern for them at all.

[Hekate]

61. Social media works both ways. While some were rejoicing over a cake shop's demise, this happened too

>smh<

[Lean]

63. American Exceptionalism?

Used to be that religious freedom meant freedom to worship. Now, religious freedom means freedom to discriminate. I am ashamed of my country.

[cosmicone]

64. Thanks, Obama

Thanks to Obama, all sorts of bigotry has not only raised its ugly head but also has become popular in certain quarters.

Amazing how the election of a (half) black man to be POTUS has eaten at these people's livers.

No one in the media is pointing this out. Even if Obama does something that GWB had done, the republicans would oppose it. No one takes them to task.

[Lean]

65. American Exceptionalism?

Used to be that religious freedom meant freedom to worship. Now, religious freedom means freedom to discriminate. I am ashamed of my country.

[phil89]

67. As per jesus' admonition

They will of course give it away to the poor and follow him, right? Jesus didn't seem to favor the wealthy.

[roamer65]

73. Any LGBT denied service in Indiana needs to file a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Push this into the federal courts and maybe to the SCOTUS.

[malthaussen]

76. If I'd known bigotry was so profitable, I'd have been a bigot long ago!

But what will the pizzaria do now that the legislature has passed the amendment declaring that the law can't be used for discrimination?

-- Mal

[PoliticAverse]

94. The exact same thing they were doing before, serving pizza to anyone that comes into the store

They actually don't do catering and have never had a request to cater a same-sex wedding.

[Cryptoad]

77. Takers will be Takers........nt

[dawnie51]

78. That was the point of this family spewing on camera.....

well played, pizza people. Spew your religious bigotry on camera, wait for blow back (90o/o of which I truly believe was conservative based) and the money pours in. This place will not re-open. And rethugs will crow about that. But it's not from anything liberals have done. It's because the owners have made a sufficient amount of money to take the fall. We fall for this over and over. Artificial outrage, instigated, planted and financially supported by religious conservative jerks. Time to wake up.

[project_bluebook]

84. Reminds me of the saying

A fool and his money are soon parted and the republican party is the party of fools.

[moondust]

89. Shrewd business plan.

Beats long hours tossing pizzas. I expect we'll see more of it.

[matt819]

95. They can't keep this up, though

Okay, so the pizza people make out like bandits for being bigoted assholes. They had their 15 minutes and they'll pocket their money, but they'll go the way of Joe the Plumber (younger DUers scratching their heads?). And I don't imagine they'll be in the pizza business much longer.

Maybe this is a teachable moment in terms of the extent to which social media responds to similar incidents in the future. Lower key, perhaps? In any case, I don't see the RW financially supporting every bigot who is the target of social media criticism. Fool me once, shame on me. . . Don't get fooled again.

[wolfie001]

98. Classic PT Barnum moment.....

.....sucker born every minute. Especially if you're a repuke.

[blackspade]

99. These idiots put their own necks on the block...

get whacked, and then play victim.
Conservative poutage then garners them 500k.....
What a fucking scam.

[ananda]

101. Fools and their money are soon parted.

Boy those donors are stoopid.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

102. This may be the final straw for me...

[Cryptoad]

104. Rethugs donating tax revenue for the general fund..... love it!

[kelly1mm]

115. This is not taxable income to the pizza makers (so no income tax there) and most likely

not subject to Gift Tax by the givers unless any individual gift was over $14,000.

However, the taxes Go Fund Me pays or their roughly 10% take (if any) will benefit the treasury.

[Cryptoad]

129. You dont know the IRS like I know the IRS,,,,,,,

aint no money changing hands that aint taxable in some fashion or another.......

[kelly1mm]

130. IRS Pub 525 ( Taxable and Nontaxable Income) Article 2:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p525/ar02.html#en_US_2014_publink1000229342


"Gifts and inheritances. In most cases, property you receive as a gift, bequest, or inheritance is not included in your income. However, if property you receive this way later produces income such as interest, dividends, or rents, that income is taxable to you. If property is given to a trust and the income from it is paid, credited, or distributed to you, that income is also taxable to you. If the gift, bequest, or inheritance is the income from the property, that income is taxable to you. "

The "In most cases" qualifier is for transfers of previously non-taxed funds such as inheriting an IRA/401k balance.

[Cryptoad]

132. Seems that the IRS will consider the

gift as a whole from the funding organization. if which case it will be taxed on everything over $14000.....

http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Frequently-Asked-Questions-on-Gift-Taxes

[kelly1mm]

133. No, it is 14000 per individual. In addition, the GIVER pays the tax anyway (for individual gifts

over $14,000) not the recipient. From your link:

"Who pays the gift tax?
The donor is generally responsible for paying the gift tax. Under special arrangements the donee may agree to pay the tax instead. Please visit with your tax professional if you are considering this type of arrangement."

[Cryptoad]

134. thx,,,, nt

[ohnoyoudidnt]

107. I smell desperation.

It's a nice payday for the pizza shop owner and I'm sure it makes the bigots who donated feel good, but they are on the wrong side of history and are going to lose. Soon they will realize their discrimination won't be accepted and they gave their money to someone who is now richer than them and it changed nothing except making GoFund me a little richer as well.

[Geronimoe]

109. Can other business sue for damages?

I wonder if businesses that are hurt by the comments, such as those in tourism can sue for damages.

There are likely many people who decided not the travel to Indiana, seeing how backward they are.

We were thinking of seeing Rolling Stones at Indy Raceway but decided to see them in another city outside Indiana. By we, I mean family and friends, and we would have spent at least $3,000 on tickets, restaurants, hotels, etc.

[chknltl]

117. I refuse to sell pot to gays in Indiana. Send me money too!

The fact that I live in Washington State and would be breaking federal law smuggling that pot across state lines in order to illegally sell it to ANYONE in Indiana should not be a consideration when sending me that money, thanks.

[jtuck004]

119. Bigots hurt, bigots send them money. Democrats hurt, people who call themselves Democrats send

their money to the bank$ters, and tell those who are hurting it is good for them.

Seems like bigots have an advantage.

[INdemo]

122. This is/was a scam that obviously worked for

the O'Conner family.
How many wedding reception organizers would order pizza in the first place? The media needs to confront citizens of Walkerton to find out the real facts. This was a scam to raise money for their personal gain.

[former9thward]

141. The reporter walked into the business.

And started asking the questions. If she had not chosen to do that no one would have ever heard of the pizza place.

The media needs to confront citizens of Walkerton to find out the real facts. WTF does that mean???

[vkkv]

124. Thanks Bozos! That's a LOT of taxable income in one year! (n/t)

[kelly1mm]

131. Gifts are not taxable income. IRS Pub 525 (Taxable and Non-Taxable Income):

ttp://www.irs.gov/publications/p525/ar02.html#en_US_2014_publink1000229342


"Gifts and inheritances. In most cases, property you receive as a gift, bequest, or inheritance is not included in your income. However, if property you receive this way later produces income such as interest, dividends, or rents, that income is taxable to you. If property is given to a trust and the income from it is paid, credited, or distributed to you, that income is also taxable to you. If the gift, bequest, or inheritance is the income from the property, that income is taxable to you. "

The "In most cases" qualifier is for transfers of previously non-taxed funds such as inheriting an IRA/401k balance.

[svpadgham]

125. So much for letting the free-market work.

Bunch of tools. Oh wait, tools serve a purpose.

[LynnTTT]

128. GoFundMe info

It seems a shame that so many people on GoFundMe who legitimately need help and are trying to get $5,000, while these people get millions.
By the way, GoFundMe charges 8% and it takes it out of the donation. Even credit card companies don't charge that much.

[Ilsa]

136. That's money those people can't spend on candidates now.

Maybe it's a little less $$ for the RNC.

[zonkers]

143. Better that cash is wasted on them then a candidate in 2016.

[WestSeattle2]

144. Being the fine upstanding Christians they claim to be, surely

they'll donate 100% of their windfall to charities.

[daleo]

145. Blessed are the cheese makers

I mean cheese pizzas. Is there nothing that Monty Python didn't foresee?