WTF is going on at HRC HQ???

This is from the HRC website:

WASHINGTON – Today, at the Conservative Political Action Conference sponsored by the American Conservative Union, right-wing pundit Ann Coulter spoke saying, “I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot,’ so I — so kind of an impasse, can’t really talk about Edwards.” The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay civil rights organization, strongly condemned Coulter’s remarks and called on those Republican leaders in attendance to follow suit.

OK - sounds like Anne Coulter is doing an excellent job of making sure that she gets in the news by pushing all of the buttons and playing little semantic games.


From Joe:

“To interject this word into American political discourse is a vile and disgusting way to sink the debate to a new, all-time low,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Make no doubt about it, these remarks go directly against what our Founding Fathers intended and have no place on the schoolyard, much less our country’s political arena.”

“It is clear that some in the Republican Party plan to run in 2008 the same way they did in 2004, by using discrimination to divide the country and rally their base,” said Solmonese. “But, 2008 is not 2004, and this time the politics of fear and smear will not work. The American people are tired of those who would rather divide than unite.”

Ummm - the Founding Fathers? This is a prepared posting - not just an off-the-cuff remark by Joe. I am totally underwhelmed. I mean - is Joe actually gay? Does he get mad when someone calls him faggot?

From Howard Dean:

After her comments, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued a press release expressing his outrage. Dean called Coulter’s remarks ‘hate-filled and bigoted.’

“While Democrats and Republicans may disagree on the issues, we should all be able to agree that this kind of vile rhetoric is out of bounds. The American people want a serious, thoughtful debate of the issues,” the press release read

I think I like Howard's resonse better than Joe's. Howard is clear and direct. Plus he's kinda HOT! Love Howard.


If ever there was a time for the gloves to come off, it is with Anne Coulter. Because Joe can now force those around Anne to support her comments or distance themselves from her. And this is where Joe should have seen an opening.

1. Joe should have pointed out that John Edwards is not gay. Some people out there might see the Breck Girl and think that he is. It is good practice just to clear the air and make a pithy comment: "John Edwards is straight....not that there is anything wrong with that". People love a little humor in their spin.

2. Joe should point out that, since John Edwards is not gay, then using faggot is purely a term of derision (and not description - I, for one, think faggot and queer should be taken back by the gay community and used by homos everywhere). Joe might offer some clarity by saying that since this was used as a term of derision, it is clear that Anne Coulter is just saying inflammatory things to keep herself current and in the news. And make some comment about what a sad, callow and empty soul she has become. You have to attack Anne Coulter's behavior specifically and make it extremely clear what the sin is. Attacking her for being a Republican hack is just partisan - attacking Anne for a specific instance of her behavior (particularly since she was making a triangulated point) is far more non-partisan.

From Joe:

“We demand that every single Presidential candidate in attendance at this conference, along with Vice President Cheney stand up and publicly condemn this type of gutter-style politics,” continued Solmonese. “If not, then their silence will be deafening to the vast majority of Americans who believe this type of language belongs no where near the discussions about the future of our country.”

3. Joe should immediately have called the spokesperson for each of the presidental candidates that were at the event (I think that McCain was missing) and got a quote from each one explaining why Anne Coulter's comments are inappropriate. Ask the spokesmen leading questions until you get something from the spokesmen like: "I think Miss Coulter's comments about John Edwards are not reflective of the Republican Party's views. It is extremely unfortunate that Miss Coulter would use such a term so flippantly to describe a senator, former VP candidate and Presidential candidate". This would now allow you, Joe, to clarify that the Republicans do not support the use of faggot. The Republican candidates are not going to touch this with a ten-foot pole - they want it to die quickly. You have to force it out of them.


4. Joe should then have called each of the major networks and asked if they will continue to broadcast Miss Coulter given her current comments. She's on the network news programs all the time. And gotten this on record. Particularly the parent of Logo (CBS), Bravo (NBC/GE), and ABC (Disney) (who just went throught the whole drama with Isaiah). I would be curious what Fox would say. If they don't make a comment on the record about Anne Coulter in some derogatory form, then you have an admission that these companies support homophobia and you then use your position at HRC as the bully pulpit.

I shall pause this rant because I have to go shopping for shoes, jewelry and a shirt with my delightful FruitFly Jenn who lives upstairs. More later.