Fight Back New York, billionaire Tim Gill’s celebrity-powered vehicle to unseat anti-gay lawmakers in the state, came up “10 Truths About Ruben Diaz” as a cheat sheet as to why you should stop supporting the guy. It’s all part of the group’s new plan to go after the ringleader of the state’s anti-gay Democrats. Too bad most of these bullet points are dumb.
1. Ruben Diaz was investigated by the FBI
2. He was arrested for possession of heroin and marijuana
3. Ruben Diaz was only member of the New York Senate to vote against the ethics reform bill
4. He was the only Democrat in the New York Senate to vote to shut down the state government
5. Ruben Diaz refused to meet with his own constituents
6. He compared the use of stem cells for medical research to the Nazis using “the ashes of the Jews to make bars of soap.”
7. Ruben Diaz appropriated monies totaling $250,000 to an organization he founded, the Christian Community Benevolent Association
8. He also appropriated monies totaling $1,120,000 to the Hispanic Federation, of which the Christian Community Benevolent Association is a part (see #7)
9. Ruben Diaz defended former Sen. Hiram Monserrate, who was expelled from the Senate due to a conviction for misdemeanor assault against his girlfriend
10. Ruben Diaz and three other Democrats refused to support the Majority Leader, only to change their minds after he “offered them perks and committee chairmanships.”
Numbers 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8 are basically useless.
Investigated by the FBI? Okay, but was he indicted on anything? Was it a politically motivated move (as he would claim)? Lawmakers are “investigated” for myriad things; far fewer are charged or convicted.
Arrested for pot and heroin? I don’t much care how my lawmakers get off; in fact, I’d love it if they stopped caring so much how I got off and eliminated some of those stupid drug laws.
Donated money to his own charities? You’re going to have to clear out all of Albany, and much of Washington D.C., if that’s a litmus test for moral aptitude. Better question: Did any of those organizations that received funds benefit Diaz directly? The answer, FBNY notes on a separate page, is yes: Taxpayer funds went to charities that employ his wife, but don’t other lawmakers use their positions of power to fund things with their names on them?
Oh, and this one takes the ice cream cake: He refused to meet with his own constituents? THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS WITH EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL, EVER, IN THE HISTORY OF EVER. I want to sit down with President Obama, but he’s not returning my calls. BAM! He’s guilty of No. 5.
(The other items on the Top 10 list I’m mostly fine with, and Sen. Hiram Monserrate’s name really should’ve appeared higher.)
Dave
I dunno, funneling public money into a religious charity you founded which employs your wife seems pretty shitty to me.
Baxter
Albany should be firebombed.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Diaz is one of the most vile, reprehensive pandering bigots ever to put his filthy hand on a bible to take the oath of office……………He brings tosses every negative stereo-type and bashes the hell out of the Gays at every chance he gets to appeal to the evangelical lunatics in his district…….
Yet he has two Gay Brothers………….
Bareback Hussein Osama
He just says aloud what I think in private. Ha-ha-ha!
RomanHans
The list definitely needs work, because in its current state the guy doesn’t sound so bad. They’re definitely reaching to come up with ten items. And like @Dave says it’s the funneling money to his wife that makes #7 and #8 a problem.
Actually, after a minute of Googling I can improve on the list: Diaz was convicted of selling heroin. Isn’t that a *little* stronger than “arrested for possession of heroin”?
Queer New Yorker
To really make a difference and unseat Ruben Diaz Sr. Make a donation to his opponent –Charlie Ramos. At http://www.CharlieRamos2010.com
Jake Goodman
Take Back New York has done some great work in the past. Unfortunately, this time around, they have decided to spend their money doing inane research against Diaz, as opposed to donating it to opponent – Carlos “Charlie” Ramos.
Charlie Ramos is a fierce advocate for our community and has a great chance of winning. He just needs more money to get his name out there.
Fight Back New York can get its reputation back by financially backing Ramos. In fact, we can ALL support our own rights by contributing to the Ramos campaign: http://www.charlieramos2010.com/?page_id=3
If we get Diaz out of office, we WILL have marriage equality in 2011!
AndrewW
FightBackNewYork is a waste of money. None of this bullshit changes any minds. Complaining is not a strategy.
It’s the “voters,” stupid.
TampaZeke
My comments are seldom posted and are always “held for moderation” even though I never break the comments policy, yet “Bareback Hussein Obama” posts insane and offensive comments here countless times every day.
What gives?
GayGOP
Ruben Diaz is one of the most useless people in the NY Senate. And that’s saying something for a chamber that has been useless since the 1600s. But I suspect that the people of the 32nd District, which is in The Bronx, will continue to elect Ruben Diaz, simply because he’s been there, he’s a Democrat, and he’s well known.
Mike Reynolds
I am so done with queer websites and posters doing their best to talk shit about the tactics of groups and organizations who are fighting for YOUR rights.
Jesus, get your fat ass off your computer, AndrewW and DO something. Have you been canvassing for Charlie Ramos? All you ever fucking do is bitch about every other persons’ tactics and you fail to offer up a single solution of your own. You are a miserable human being and if you spent ten minutes away from your computer bitching about everyone else, and instead spent that ten minutes DOING something for your equality, don’t you think you’d be a lot better off?
And as for Queerty, why do you turn on every group you once championed as soon as you find out someone with money is involved? It’s a little bit much to be honest. Why not use your site to further our cause as opposed to attacking the people who are fighting tooth and nail for it? I just don’t get it.
AndrewW
@Mike Reynolds: Good-bye Michael. You can continue your childish yelling in the streets, but it is ineffective. Grow up. The world has changed. It’s your turn.
robert
let me follow this so far fight back has done great work in unseating anti- gay incombents and now is being lambasted for it by a website that has not? contribute to fight back and to mr ramos i say
Fitz
Misuse of public funds and being caught with heroin are pretty serious.
dm73
He also uses his ministries funds and property to buy and store campaign trucks and vans. When approached by the NY Daily News on this, he finds no conflict.
I think it’s time to tax his ministry.
Mike Reynolds
@AndrewW: Aaand once again we get some brilliant counterpoint from AndrewW. So whose sandbox are you going to piss in next? Offer up a solution to something instead of attacking people who are actually doing something and maybe people would listen to you.
Give me ONE thing you have done towards winning our equality. Just ONE. It would seem all you’ve accomplished is creating several different screennames and attacking people who are fighting for your rights…seriously, the world should know – is there anything you have done for our equality? truly. just one? anyone? bueller?
AndrewW
@Mike Reynolds: You and your angry friends don’t need to “fight” for my rights. Wake up – it’s not a fight. I know you want to yell in the streets and go after politicians, but that is a complete waste of time. You have to enroll people. You have to convince our fellow citizens. Pissing on politicians doesn’t do that – it just empowers them.
ewe
I disagree with Queerty. Illegal drugs are illegal and people have the right to expect that their representatives follow the laws whether or not we think them stupid and/or inane. Diaz is a scumbag that must be removed from public office. He is a religious teabagger posing as a democrat. He is fucking dangerous and i am sick and tired of placating right wing god concepts from narrow minded bigots by reelecting them into secular positions. They must all be stopped at the ballot box.
ewe
@AndrewW: FYI: I am a voter, Stupid.
AndrewW
@ewe: So you have “changed” your own mind? Congratulations.
ewe
@AndrewW: I know you think everyone is supposed to know what silliness is whirling around in your head but you will have to elaborate on your delusion if you want me to participate. I have no idea what comment you are attempting to manipulate to further your twisted agenda. Either way there will be no congratulations for you from me on that front. Better yet, don’t even bother. I am not that interested.
AndrewW
@ewe: Keep fighting.
ewe
@AndrewW: there is a pesky little concept called freedom of the press you may want to dismiss out of hand next. Do feel free.
Mike Reynolds
@AndrewW: And how has your pet project, HRC done with “enrolling people?” They’ve been around for decades and have managed to gather millions of names which they email once in a while and ask for more money. Once in a while they ask them to write a letter. Has “enrolling people” worked for you AndrewW? Building an email list hasn’t won our equality, so do you propose we continue doing the same thing? Maybe we can throw our support behind Ruben Diaz, Sr and hope against hope that he changes his mind despite his screaming in Senate holding a Bible over his head. yeah, that might work. RUBEN DIAZ FOR SENATE!
AndrewW
@Mike Reynolds: I have been very clear about how ineffective HRC is – they are going out of business.
Yelling at people or trying to shame or embarrass them doesn’t accomplish anything. Try talking to your neighbors, friends, co-workers and even strangers. Try asking for their support. That actually works.
Diaz is simply using FightBackNewYork to raise money for his campaign. He should thank Tim Gil for all the attention.
Steve
@Dave: Directing money into a corporation in which your wife has a financial interest, seems like a significant “ethics” violation to me. Here in Florida, we routinely put elected officials in jail for just that. The most recent one to go to jail was just a couple weeks ago.
ewe
@AndrewW: I was right. You are delusional.
Sebastian
Fight Back New York is not fighting back against anti-equality NYS Senators. The races Fight Back has chosen are not the ones that need help. There has been a strong suggestion, unanswered by Fight Back, that it is in collusion with the anti-equality Senate leadership.
http://www.gaycitynews.com/articles/2010/09/01/gay_city_news/perspectives/analysis/doc4c7eb451aa904809193093.txt