Eyman, as victim, hopes to raise money from blog backlash

Ballot initiative guru Tim Eyman has always had a self-deprecating sense of humor. Now he is using that same attitude to help him raise money to pay off the $250,000 loan he recently took out against his house to support his latest effort in citizen government, I-985.

On Wednesday he sent out an e-mail to supporters and media with the title, "Critics attack Eyman for taking out $250K loan." In it, he cites a posting on NW Progressive Institutes blog that ridicules his loan and criticizes his career:

"This development just proves what we've been saying for years. Tim Eyman has no grassroots base. If he did, he'd have enough volunteers to collect signatures and enough small donations to pay for-hire petitioners to gather whatever else is needed."

Then today he sent out another e-mail. This time the title was, "Let opponents' comments inspire you to help." These opponents he refers to are commenters on the P-I to a story about him written earlier this week. Their words are far more juvenile, and potentially that much more effective for his purposes.

"Donating to I-985," Eyman says in the e-mail, "not only gets the initiative qualified for the ballot and helps me out of this huge financial challenge, but you will drive these opponents absolutely bonkers. It's win-win-win :)"