two-faced

Richard Socarides’ Attack On Obama Made Ridiculous By His Defense of Bloomberg

It’s a little bit sickening to see Richard Socarides, who served as Bill Clinton’s LGBT adviser, go after President Obama on queer rights, because isn’t this the guy who stood by as his now-former boss signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell?

Yes, you will hear from Socarides’ defenders that he did all he could to stop Clinton from legislating against the gays, but remember the Clinton administration (and that includes Rich) got behind both of those policies as “compromises.” Much like the DADT repeal compromise Obama is engaged in right now!

But there he was on MSNBC yesterday, discussing his Wall Street Journal editorial, about how Obama is lagging on LGBT equality. Which is true. Except Socaridies’ authority is suspect at best, absent at worst. Though we needn’t point it out to you; he did so himself, by denouncing Obama but supporting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg — whose record in fighting same-sex marriage in the courts is just as disgusting as the president’s. And that’s not to mention Bloomberg, a billionaire, funding New York’s Republicans. At his old job, it was Socarides’ duties during Clinton’s re-election to convince America’s gays that Clinton’s LGBT policies were better than his opponents; he falsely describes his efforts as a success.

Socarides will continue commanding mainstream media attention, whether in the Journal or on MSNBC, because of the position he held with Clinton. And that’s fine; he’s got an insider’s perspective we don’t. But at least own up to your hypocrisy, bud. And that your increasingly strong criticism of the president, while warranted, does not come without your own baggage.

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