Not yet officially the president of GLAAD, Jarrett Barrios is already performing his job duties as the president of a Gay Inc. organization: making the press rounds as a talking head. Barrios will be there Monday in the East Room of the White House as President Obama tries to smooth things over with the gays. As it stands, it’s GLAAD vs. the Human Rights Campaign is the race to be nice to the president — let’s see who comes out on top. Last time gay leaders set up shop at the White House, all we heard from HRC is that White House officials “have a vision. They have a plan.” Let’s make magic, people!
gay inc.
Will GLAAD or HRC Give Barack Obama the Biggest Backslap on Monday?
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galefan2004
God this dude thinks and acts like a politician. Lets hope he actually takes a stand instead of going along with politics as usual.
InExile
I was not impressed by the way he expresses himself on camera. I am not saying he is not capable or qualified, I am more referring to his stage persona, reminds me of Solmonese a little. Our organizations really need speakers with more of an attorney style like maybe similar to Gloria Allred or Hillary Clinton for instance.
Movement Guy
GLAAD’s board has made a strategic mistake with this hire. I’m also sure he’s a capable executive and, I’m sure, fundraiser. But they haven’t had someone who understood media like Joan Garry since her departure. It makes no sense to me to have a politician running an anti-defamation group. GLAAD has been straying from it’s mission for years and it’s apparent in the community that people are taking note.
TANK
well, now that “movement guy” has given his opinion, I definitely think this hire is rock solid. We don’t need anymore toadyism and “inside people”. And, he’s okay looking in contrast to the goofy looking trolls we normally have representing us.
Movement Guy
@TANK:
Um. I think you misunderstood my post. This guy is a DNC insider, political type. Exactly, the sort of person you’ve all been inveighing about for weeks on here.
I’m suggesting they need someone outside of beltway politics (not GLAAD’s role) and more of a media, public relations type.
But, since you find him attractive, I guess that’s all the matters. Maybe part of your problem if you’re basing decisions on how hot our leaders are.
TANK
This guy is a DNC insider, political type. Exactly, the sort of person you’ve all been inveighing about for weeks on here.
He’s my kind of insider, plus he’s got management experience in the real world (private sector).
I mean, obama was an insider…the fact is that if you want to get something done, you need to have a few insider connections. That’s just the reality despite my mr. smith goes to warshington criticisms.
Just to be clear, I don’t find him attractive (he’s forty years old)–I think he’s not bad looking. He’s better looking than other representatives, and despite how shallow that sounds, this is a very shallow world we inhabit.
Steve
That thing he does with his eyebrows is really annoying.
TANK
and anyone can learn public relations. It’s not rocket science.
strumpetwindsock
@TANK:
LOL
Yeah, I think step one is managing to be civil to people and not insult them.
TANK
@strumpetwindsock:
Oh, is that what you’re referring to yourself as?
Movement Guy
@TANK:
Two things: Barrios has NEVER worked in the private sector. He began working in the Boston City Council while in law school. Then he held elected office, and then he went on to run the Blue Cross/Blue Shield FOUNDATION – a non-profit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarrett_Barrios
So, you’ve just utterly contradicted yourself.
On the other issue, he’s cute, but so was Neil Guiliano, who was also completely ineffective and loathed by the entire staff when he left. There are far hotter LGBT leaders, like Chuck Wolfe, Charles Robbins, my own boss, etc. So, if that’s important in your “shallow” world, you may want to aim higher.
TANK
I thought he had worked as a lawyer for a firm…oh well, my mistake. Nonetheless, that’s not contradicting myself, as I meant he’s not a lgbt advocacy insider promoted by other insiders. Your biggest complaint seems to be that he lacks public relations skills–which I think, if true, is minor as it’s simplicity itself.
Also, you have zero taste in men. LOL!
strumpetwindsock
@TANK:
Civil you mean? Or having PR experience?
Well, I have done a bit of work for the dark side, but obviously nothing like a one-man welcome wagon like yourself.
Anyway, I thought he came off a bit stilted, and he didn’t burn the house down. But it’s hard to tell from one spot news piece. I expect he knows how to string a sentence or two together when it counts or he wouldn’t have wound up in both the house and senate.
Looking at his resume the thing that impressed me most is his work organizing aid to Cuba.
TANK
@strumpetwindsock:
No, a person.
strumpetwindsock
@TANK:
Ah yes. Though certainly I can’t claim to be a chosen one.
Which brings us to step two.
Make sure you use direct, simple language so that people can understand clearly what you are talking about.
Easy peasy. Anyone can do it.