While the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) bills itself as a grassroots movement seeking to “protect traditional marriage,” the group’s tax forms — obtained by the Washington Independent — reveal that the overwhelming majority of its funding comes from just two entities who “contributed more than $6 million to the organization’s political arm –- accounting for about two-thirds of NOM’s 2010 revenue.” In fact, despite NOM’s nonstop fundraising blasts, small donations “below $5,000 covered only 8 percent of reported revenue:

As support for marriage equality continues to grow nationwide, NOM has to rely on a shrinking base of donors to fund more of its state-based campaigns to thwart marriage equality and in turn challenges campaign disclosure rules to keep their donors secret. For instance, “In fiscal year 2009, NOM’s contributions above $5,000 made up about 78 percent of all the contributions received, according to its 2009 Form 990. One year later, contributions above $5,000 made up roughly 92 percent of NOM’s contributions, which in turn represented the majority of NOM’s total revenue for that year”:

As Iowa’s FAMiLY Leader prepares to endorse a presidential candidate ahead of the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, Newt Gingrich has issued a statement affirming the Leader’s pledge to oppose marriage equality for gays and lesbians, deny women access to abortion, and reduce the debt. Read his full response here and the marriage excerpt below:

Defending Marriage. As President, I will vigorously enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted under my leadership as Speaker of the House, and ensure compliance with its provisions, especially in the military. I will also aggressively defend the constitutionality of DOMA in federal and state courts. I will support sending a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the states for ratification. I will also oppose any judicial, bureaucratic, or legislative effort to define marriage in any manner other than as between one man and one woman. I will support all efforts to reform promptly any uneconomic or anti-marriage aspects of welfare and tax policy. I also pledge to uphold the institution of marriage through personal fidelity to my spouse and respect for the marital bonds of others.

Vander Plaats welcomed Gingrich’s affirmation saying, “We are pleased that Speaker Gingrich has affirmed our pledge and are thankful we have on record his statements regarding DOMA, support of a federal marriage amendment, defending the unborn, pledging fidelity to his spouse, defending religious liberty and freedom, supporting sound pro-family economic issues, and defending the right of the people to rule themselves.”

In August, Gingrich said he wouldn’t sign the pledge unless the group adopted certain tweaks to their document, which had previously argued that African American children were better off during the period of slavery and called for a ban on pornography. Gingrich has long supported Vander Plaats and his efforts, however. Last year, he offered his vocal support for the Iowan’s successful campaign to oust three of the nine Iowa Supreme Court justices who had unanimously ruled in favor of marriage equality and his associates bankrolled more than one-third of the $850,000 campaign to remove the justices.

While Mitt Romney recently told the Des Moines Register editorial board that he would not reinstate Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and would continue to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, chief rival Newt Gingrich is taking a far different tact — doubling down on his support for the now defunct ban.

In a survey released today, Gingrich “told the Military Culture Coalition he would have voted against allowing open homosexuals in the military and, as president, would favor an extensive review for repeal of the gay ban“:

On other survey questions, Mr. Gingrich said he supported the federal marriage law, which Mr. Clinton also signed. Mr. Gingrich said he would not impose penalties on service members who spoke out against the gay ban repeal.

He would also oppose military gay pride events. He would not allow transgender people, such as cross-dressers or transsexuals to serve.

During a town hall in September, Gingrich claimed that “you can certainly reverse the president’s position on social engineering in the military” and suggested that the Obama administration has “extraordinary anti-military prejudice.”

Military leaders have not reported any problems or disruptions since Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was officially repealed on Sept. 20.

During a stop in Manchester, New Hampshire this morning Mitt Romney suggested to 63-year-old gay veteran Bob Garon that he would support the repeal of the state’s marriage equality law, despite previously claiming that marriage is the purview of the states and advocating for states rights in the tenth amendment:

Garon, who is gay and was seated with his husband, Bob Lemire, then said to Romney: “It’s good to know how you feel, that you do not believe everyone is entitled to their constitutional rights.”

Romney replied: “Actually, I think at the time the Constitution was written marriage was between a man and a woman and I don’t believe the Supreme Court has changed that.”

Garon, a political independent later, told reporters he was unimpressed with Romney.

“The guy ain’t going to make it,” he said after the exchange. “You can’t trust him. I can see it in his eyes.”

Watch the exchange:

“I think my spouse should be entitled to the same entitlements that if I were married to a woman. What the hell is the difference?” Garon asked. “Absolutely I was definitely offended,” he said of Romney’s answer. Watch it:

While running for Senate in 1994, Romney argued that same-sex marriage is “a state issue as you know – the authorization of marriage on a same-sex basis falls under state jurisdiction.”

Earlier this year, the state’s House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to approve a measure that would eliminate the 2009 marriage equality law and enact civil unions. The full House is expected to take up the issue in January, despite overwhelming public opposition to repeal.

Rick Perry encountered loud heckling over his now-infamous anti-gay “war on religion” ad during an event in Ames, Iowa on Sunday, as “several Iowans screamed questions about his views on gays.” Perry ran out the back door to his waiting car without taking questions:

“Why do you hate gay people so much,” someone in the audience screamed as Perry wrapped up a campaign stop without taking questions from the audience.

“Go back to Texas” another screamed from the back of Cafe Diem coffee shop in Ames.

Others in the crowd argued a bit with those criticizing the Texas governor and 2012 presidential candidate.

Watch it: