Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Why is it hard for HRC to play tough with Obama?
I’m confused. Earlier in the week the Human Rights Campaign took President Barack Obama’s Justice Department to task for its dreadful defense of DOMA. Sure Joe Solmonese’s letter was slightly annoying but it hit most of the right notes. Yesterday after Obama signed a presidential memorandum that gave a few partner benefits—not health insurance—-to gay and lesbian federal employees, here is the tune the HRC decided to sing:
“We commend President Obama and his administration for taking this action to provide some basic benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees and his endorsement of legislation that would provide domestic partner health benefits.”
A rather timid response considering you would be hard pressed to find anyone who is pleased with what happened yesterday (heck the White House had a difficult time explaining the directive to reporters). And if meek was the way HRC wanted to go, why not at least say this “first step” does not remove the bad taste from the Justice Department’s DOMA justification.
Well I guess I shouldn’t be too cranky with HRC this morning. At least the organization didn’t do a Barney Frank and actually defend the White House and DOMA. Yeah you read right, the gay congressman from Massachusetts, actually thinks the Justice Department in its brief “made a conscientious and largely successful effort to avoid inappropriate rhetoric.” Yeah that riff about incest was so spot on (for any slow readers: that line is ironic).
While I’m on the topic of slow readers here is a private message to two “special fans”: yes I know I’m racist. I only go after white folk and never have said anything negative about blacks. As in never. To my other “special needs” buddy, presently I’m reading Details to upgrade my sartorial choices.
To me, it’s unclear whether it’s the HRC or Solmonese. I suspect he has political aspirations, so doesn’t want to burn any bridges. He’s quite politically saavy, and so is walking a very thin line.
Is it right? No freaking way. The HRC should be continuously applying pressure, specifically around the promises that Obama made during the campaign. That’s how we’ll see action: focus on transparency and campaign promises and keep after him on those points.
HRC has become a “Boys & Girls Club” that won’t insult anybody lest they not get invites to chic cocktail parties. I long ago dropped my donations to HRC.
The folks that run HRC are the exact same people that were telling us to stop “acting gay” to “act straight” so we could get out rights in the 90’s. They are a bunch of idiots and seem to want to keep the status quo
“The folks that run HRC are the exact same people that were telling us to stop “acting gay” to “act straight” so we could get out rights in the 90’s. They are a bunch of idiots and seem to want to keep the status quo” — Do you have any information that backs up this statement? I’ve never heard this.
HRC can be a useful tool to our community in a good cop bad cop scenario. They provide a certain level of “legitimacy” to our cause in the eyes of people too stupid for words. Why do we need to be legitimate in the eyes of these raging morons you ask? Well like it or not live in a representative democracy. On a local/state level as with Prop 8 that can become directly democratic. So we have to work in that system and that means changing hearts and minds, even if those hearts and minds are made of mud and splinters.
With that said, HRC is ONLY worthwhile in a good cop bad cop scenario. The politicians need to feel the pressure, and while there are several other gay rights organizations with the motivation, HRC currently has all the connections in DC. I was glad to see the gay elite pull out of fundraising, but more needs to happen. We need some serious hard hitting lobbyists, like corporate America dear god my bottom line might go down if this law passes/doesn’t pass kind of lobbyists. We need them to get anything done, and to make sure DC knows we are sick and tired of it.
It’s the money. Stop giving it.
HRC subscribes to the notion that in order to be a “player”, they have to suck up to the people they’re supposed to be lobbying. They have for years. Bad strategy.
Physcian heal thy self.
Why can’t you be tough on Obama.
The DNC and the HRC are part of the problem. They are all overpaid and out of touch with the rest of tht gay community and thier friends and families. The HRC should be boycotting this upcoming DNC fundraiser.
Salmonese should be booted. He didn’t have a spine on inclusion of Transgered in ENDA, he didn’t have a spine on the Administration comparing our relationships to pedophilia and incest.
He needs to be fired, and someone with a pair and a brain put into his highly overpaid post.
The HRC is too entrenched within the beltway. It seems once you’re there, you only look out for your own interests and survival and start losing sight of why you went there in the first place.
Can Salmonese be removed as head of HRC? Or is he locked in because of the organizations bylaws?
Joe Solmonese sucks, fire him now, and get somebody who actually cares about equal rights.
It’s about manners. Sure, we as a community must apply pressure to see our issues recognized and resolved. But when something is done on our behalf–however little–it’s important to articulate appreciation. If we ignored Obama’s gesture, or, worse, attacked it, how likely do you think Obama and other lawmakers will be in dealing with our community in the future? …They may not be so keen to cooperate.
You attract more flies with sugar than vinegar, people!
We voted for the SOB, now we need to kiss his ass so he won’t get his thingie twisted in a knot? Oh, he doesn’t work for us, the voters, we work for him? I didn’t know that. How dumb of me.