Human Rights Campaign’s dirty tricks are catching up with them.
Yesterday the non-profit’s VP of policy, David Smith, went on Michelangelo Signorile’s radio show to explain why he and his peers aren’t endorsing homo-politico Jim Neal.
Smith also attempted to clear up why they’re endorsing Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who supported anti-gay judges like Sam Alito, but the group chose not to endorse Oregonian politician Gordon Smith, who has also been a gay ally…
Pam Spaulding has the audio, which we’ve included below, but here’s Signorile’s take on HRC’s “inconsistencies”:
We also talked about HRC’s support of Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who backed various antigay judges and Supreme Court justices. We worked hard on the show urging people to call Congress, fighting those nominations over the past few years — the virulently antigay Leslie Southwick, Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown, and Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito and John Roberts, all of whom Collins voted for, and William Pryor, whom Collins helped to get a vote, breaking the Democratic filibuster as a member of the Gang of 14– and it’s outrageous to see a gay group telling gay people to send money to such an individual.
But the more interesting bit of news came when we discussed Senator Gordon Smith, the Oregon Republican, who has sponsored various pro-gay measures but voted for the federal marriage amendment. David Smith said HRC would not endorse him, which seemed inconsistent: The FMA didn’t have a chance of passing, and thus that vote didn’t actually do direct harm to us, as heinous as it was. And yet the group is not endorsing this otherwise pro-gay senator but they’re endorsing Collins, who actually hurt LGBT people by getting these judges on the bench. David Smith defended HRC to the end, and after he left we took calls from listeners.
One listener, who originally identified himself only as “Terry” called in to defend HRC, but failed to disclose that he’s actually Terry Bean, an HRC board member. Could it be HRC deployed its cronies to boost public image? It sounds that way to us.
How about we take this to the next level?
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By the way, we emailed HRC media guru, Brad Luna and asked for more explanation on the Collins endorsement. He has yet to get back to us. We sure hope this gets his attention.
proudtobedad
Glad I canceled my membership! Instead I’m giving my money directly to progressive candidates…
Konrad
I think the bottom line is that this is not some objective matter. Some will decide one way, others another way. Its a judgment call. If you don’t like HRC’s judgment, don’t join.
harry mattachine
It’s fine just not to join. But it’s not acceptable to read or listen to HRC claiming its endorsements are for benefit of gay citizens. HRC supports HRC, period.
Shawn F
I’m a member of the HRC and I just email them saying they would no longer get any money from me.
I can’t believe they would do this. I run my own group (soon to be a non-profit organization), but I still send money to other pro-gay organizations. This just is not right for any pro-gay organization. Has the HRC gone Log Cabin Republican on us?
Konrad
“It’s fine just not to join. But it’s not acceptable to read or listen to HRC claiming its endorsements are for benefit of gay citizens. HRC supports HRC, period.”
Yes, it is acceptable for someone to print or say a judgment that differs from yours. Its endorsements are for the benefit of gay citizens based on their judgment. Personally, I don’t think their judgment is very good, so I don’t belong.
At some point in the future when God gives the lgbt community an infallible leader, it will be different. Until then, just accept it that human beings will come to different conclusion and put your energy into associating with those whose conclusions you agree with.
Jon S.
HRC is faced with the difficult task of being the Nation’s LARGEST LGBT rights organization. With so many members, it is impossible to please all. HRC, unlike Victory Fund, must make difficult decisions to endorse some questionable candidates. It is my opinion that HRC ALWAYS has the best interest of LGBT individuals in mind. HRC understands the “political games” that must be played to further our cause. They have been around the block for a while. Yes, nobody is perfect, but please don’t stop your support for the best thing we have going for us-HRC.