Washington Blade editor Kevin Naff ain’t happy with the Democratic National Committee. Nor should he be. As we reported this morning, DNC staffers griped about the Blade snubbing a story on their delegate training program. In retaliation, communications director Karen Finney inquires, “Who is their largest competitor?” Deputy Finance Director Julie Tagen lobs that question to gay leadership leader Brian Bond. Writes Tagen: “You probably have a better sense since I tend to use The Blade and other gay papers in the bottom of the birdcage.” Those politicos can be vicious!
Naff, however, insists he’s above such shenanigans:
I’ll take the high road – someone has to – and ignore the personal attacks. It’s astounding, though, that the DNC’s communications director has time in her day to plot revenge against the Blade.
The reality is that the Blade has covered the DNC and its delegate training program. In addition to two news stories on the subject in the past year, I personally extended an invitation to the DNC to draft an op-ed on its program, which I later published.
We will continue to cover the news in an objective and non-partisan way.
And there you have it…
DowntownTerry
Shame on you DNC. The gay papers are an integral part of the process for getting out the Democratic message. Naff was extremely tame—you deserve to be clobbered.
countryClubBB
DNC Mission: For more than 200 years, the Democratic Party has represented the interests of working families, fighting for equal opportunities and justice for all Americans (APPARENTLY NOT GAY AMERICANS)…
Today, Democrats continue that fight with a firm commitment to the values that we all share as Americans (NO VALUE FOR GAY AMERICANS): a secure nation that leads in the world, strong economic growth and new jobs, affordable health care for all Americans, and a better education for our children (AS LONG AS THE CHILDREN ARE NOT GAY – AND DO NOT ASPIRE TO WORK IN GAY PUBLISHING). THE DNC SUCKS!
Gregg
You got Kevin from DC….
DaHood
I just read the emails. I would put a highroad up that bitch’s ass!!! How can a communications director communicate such hate?
H'mo
Just because we’re gay we are supposed to LOVE everything the Blade has to offer. Why should the DNC cater to a news paper who they believe has not provided them the respect they deserve. It’s called the “free market”.
To DaHood – There is a name for people like you – Misogynist.
To countryclubbb…I am an American who identifies as gay. You are blinded by your ignorance – but you are not alone – Paul and Donald can be reached at home or by email. Misery loves company.
l
And just because we’re gay, we’re supposed to love the Timidcrats? Time to play hardball with these other uckers.
NoTwit
1 – no one is forcing you to love anyone…I suggest you contact the Log cabin Republicans – your political values and convictions clearly embrace their mission.
hephaestion
You are surprised by this? Silly, silly sodomites.
kcflood
Lame. boring. Yawn. Shut the hell up, already.
jamon
Think small and be petty, but standing up to power is much more impressive and takes more balls than anonymously posting and personally attacking without knowing all the facts.
HAVE YOU READ THE LAWSUIT, THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR MONETARY DAMAGES?
I have not heard Paul or Donald whine like all of you. All i have seen is the DNC’s own communications being exposed.
I respect both Paul and Donald for holding the party accountable and expecting our party to uphold the values of truth and honesty.
UndercoverPants
H’mo:DaHood is a misogynist for using the word “bitches”? If you think so, you are the most useless and recockulous of the PC police and I wish you’d just fuck off to Canada or something. Knee-jerk idiot.
H'mo
To jamon and undercoverpants…
Couple of things – of course I read the lawsuit, Paul and Donald are practically handing out copies at each corner in Dupont. While they don’t ask for a specific dollar amount, they are leaving it up to a “jury” to decide. If you think for one minute this is not about money – you have both drank the cool-aid Donal and Paul are serving. Wake up.
Did I miss the vote where we elected “Paul and Donald” the “Batman and Robin” of the LGBT community? We should demand a recount.
Jamon – you refer to the need for “truth and honesty” – that should start with D & P, like why was Donald escorted out of HRC? Why no lawsuit there?
Next, Paul claims to be a Clinton appointee/staffer. But no where can I find his name as an appointee. No record of being paid by the Clinton Administration. The gay appointees I could find were Bob Hattoy, Marsha Scott and Richard Socaredes. In the name of “truth and honesty” – what’s up with that. My guess is that Marsha Scott – Donald and Paul’s Den Mother – made him an honorary intern or volunteer or something. If I am wrong – show me the evidence?
More “truth and honesty” is needed from Batman. He has flip-flopped on the issues, he is the Mitt Romney of the LGBT community. In the 90’s he asked to swallow “DOMA” and “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” to benefit his best interests; and then to protect his employer John Edwards, he asked to look the other way on Edwards’ lame position on Marriage and Gay issues. HHmmmmm…
Keep ’em coming…no more flag waving and demands for my deportation. The Devil is in the Details…something Paul and Donald don’t want you to see…must be a side effect of the cool-aid.
qjersey
While the comment is rude and offensive, there is an argument to be made for using the Blade, especially the NY edition, to line bird cages and pick up dog poop.
jamon
It is obvious that H’mo is a DNC party plant. People go personal when they have nothing else to say.
I just did a quick search and found
PAUL YANDURA’s RESUME:
Founding Executive Director of the DNC’s Gay&Lesbian Leadership Council
National LGBT Outreach Director for the Clinton/Gore 1996 Campaign
National LGBT Outreach Director of the Clinton/Gore Presidential Inaugural Committee
Executive Director of National Stonewall Democrats
Presidential Appointment (Clinton) US Dept of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing
Presidential Appointment (Clinton) US Small Business Administration
Lets stick to the facts folks.
H'mo
Jamon…more like c’mon!! Party plant? – I think not, every Democratic needs to defend what is right – doesn’t that make all good Democrats party plants fighting Republicans? Oh, except you, Paul and Donald. Regarding Batman’s resume. Please show us all evidence of “appointee” versus volunteer/intern. BTW, isn’t this issue about Donald? Please research HRC and provide some FACTS about that?
I’m not going Personal…I’m going Factual. Bring it on!!
seitan-on-a-stick
Why is the Washington Blade as thick as the Village Voice yet the New York Blade is like a leaflet in thickness? New York is so much bigger than DC just to state the obvious. Maybe we prefer Gay City News for accuracy in gay journalism. Is it all that Pork-Barrel Lambda advertising inside the beltway? BTW – Is Ms Tagen fired yet?
Just a mother..
Ms. Tagen fired? She continues to fight the good fight that is most important to our community – Defeating Republicans. What we need are more Lesbians just like her that move us all forward. I suggest you all say a prayer tonight thanking the powers that be for the incredible work Ms. Tagen has done for many years on behalf of the LGBT community.
P.S. The Gay City News kicks the Blades ASS!