The always faconnable Joe Solmonese was given a chance to speak his mind about how Dan Choi and Robin McGehee’s Get Equal are making the Human Rights Campaign look like Patrick Swayze’s pancreas. LOLz, yah? But given his years in professional activism, you’ve gotta give Joe his due. So, let’s!
“The beauty of our movement is that we have a dedicated community that is constantly searching for new and innovative ways to effect change in Washington and at home,” Joe tells DC Agenda when asked whether non-violent civil disobedience is an acceptable form of activism. “Whether it be the actions last week or meeting with a senator in a district office, these are ways that our community continues to advocate for LGBT equality. Activism by Dan Choi and others has one common intent in mind that we also share: to advance equality in the fastest way possible. As we said last week, this is the nature of social change and everyone has a role to play.”
Hi. Is Nothing Of Substance there? Yes, could you please have him call us back? Thanks.
Here’s Joe on why ENDA hasn’t passed: “The Human Rights Campaign and the entire LGBT community have worked hard over the last two years to build support in Congress to pass a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). In recent weeks, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), the lead sponsor of ENDA, has publicly stated on a number of occasions that he believes that the House should move ENDA in the coming weeks and that we can pass an inclusive bill. We agree. We also agree with Speaker Pelosi that ensuring we will win that vote and protect the bill from harmful amendments is a critical factor in timing of floor action. ”
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Here’s Joe on HRC’s too-close-for-comfort relationship with the White House and Democrats: “There has been understandable frustration in the community at the pace of progress at advancing some of the pieces of key legislation that are important to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. We continue to press the president and Congress to live up to the promises they made to advance real, substantive equality for LGBT Americans. It is critical that everyone in the LGBT community and our allies engage in this effort. All senators (or House members) who are not co-sponsors of ENDA, DADT or other LGBT bills are pursued as key votes needed in order to pass pro-equality legislation.”
Here is Joe explaining why HRC won’t identify, through its own lobbying, which lawmakers refuse to come out in support of ENDA: “Members’ positions on ENDA are determined by their co-sponsorship of the legislation, a clear public statement or their vote. Ensuring we will win that vote and protect the bill from harmful amendments is a critical factor for determining floor action and timing. There are 15 Democratic senators and 39 Republican senators who are not cosponsors of ENDA. We must win 14 of these votes to get to 60 votes to overcome a potential filibuster. Unless a member of Congress makes a clear public statement, we do not assume we have their vote.”
And here is Joe — in, literally, his only reply of substance — on why he doesn’t want ENDA brought to a vote unless it’s a sure thing: “An unsuccessful vote can be very harmful to an issue and prevent successful action for many years. In some cases, having the vote can be a useful marker. Particularly in regard to ENDA, bringing the bill to the Senate floor without very careful consideration could result in some incredibly harmful amendments, some related to ENDA and other anti-LGBT-related amendments. Harmful congressional votes can spill over into fights over state legislation and into state and federal court cases. In addition, it is unusual for congressional leaders to schedule votes that are expected to fail.”
What’s remarkable isn’t that Joe is a gold medalist in giving non-answers. It’s that he hasn’t used that skill to mount a campaign for elected office, where he’d really excel.
[photo: Life]
edgyguy1426
The Patrick Swayze joke was a far reach to be witty and it fell flat.
Gridlock
HRC’s only function is to continue its own existence. It has no other purpose anymore. All the caviar and champagne soaked galas and pageants that let the kept house-faggots hobnob with people who don’t give a rat’s ass about them do nothing to advance LGBT rights.
This organization’s purpose, since Obama’s election, is to give political cover to Obama FROM pissed off gays. They have actually had the temerity to say, to field faggots (all the ones not in tuxes or sipping champers) to “sit down and wait” and that Obama “has a plan, we just can’t tell you what it is” concerning a number of issues, like DADT or DOMA.. when the reality is, there is absolutely no plan and no movement.
This organization is just a self perpetuating money pit for A-list gays to feel special. Their track record is worse than abysmal, they have not accomplished one freaking thing in the last 15 years, if not more. Everything has been a failure. All they know how to accomplish is cheap, shallow soundbites and an extensive wardrobe for the pageant-gay in chief, Solmonese.
It’s time for it to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
Cam
But see, the year WAS a sucess for Joe. He got to meet Kathy Griffin, Cindy Lauper, President Obama, Marntina Navritolova, Neil Patric Harris. I mean gay rights and struggles are MEANINGLESS when compared to his being able to drive a Bentley up to his high School reunion and talk about the time he and Cindy Lauper bonded over the fact that they both like Prune Danishes.
AndrewW
HRC has been doing the same thing for 30 years – lobbying. We’ve given them +$550 million and they have NOTHING to show for it. Solmonese can’t even answer questions directly.
HRC should answer the simple question:
With all that lobbying, how many Members of Congress have changed their positions and now support us?
Research indicates zero. None.
Why do we keep lobbying? Isn’t 30 years and $550 million enough?
Mike
Is it too much to ask for accountability? I just want to know where our money went, not asking for an accounting dollar by dollar. What percentage went to fight for gay rights and what percentage went to Joe to fly on a plane and stay at the Ritz. Knowing how many members you really have is also beneficial, k thanks BYE
Daniel
You can find out exactly where they stand. Visit http://www.actonprinciples.org
If they are an unknown, then they should be considered a NO and vote them out in the primary if they are a democrat or a republican. The only for an “unknown” status is that they are just stringing people along so they should declare themselves or their silence will speak for them. Either way, the next step becomes clear.
Brian
I got a letter from HRC begging for money. I returned it empty! They are a worthless organization. We need someone from the NRA/Big Oil to run that place. They know how to get everything they want from Congress.
Lanjier
I would like to tickle him till he can’t breathe.
Fitz
Joe’s own talk shows that he fears the kind of fights and fallout that we NEED in order to move forward. No one gives civil rights to a minority groups easily, no matter how many cocktail parties Joe hosts.
So, basically, HRC has positioned itself as an unelected politician, whose mode of getting things done is to politely beg.
“If you are nice to me, I promise I will be a good little fagot.”
Another question: if you saw Joe in distress, would you give him CPR?
Cam
My friend has started calling them “Human Rights Champagne” Which I think is so incredibly appropriate.