Comments on: HRC’s Joe Solmonese responds to critics

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:44:02 +0000

I agree with the speaker in the video. The HRC has become arrogant and self-serving, like he said, a party for people who feel entitled and connected, and who use events as a social clatch.

The HRC has no sense of urgency because if they actually succeeded, Joe S. and pals would not get to hobnob.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:26:15 +0000

Joe Solmonese is just the George W Bush of our LGBT community. The real interesting thing would be to find OUT who’s pulling the strings at HRC and who is controlling the purse?

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:16:14 +0000

I’m surprised and disheartened by Joe’s comment, and his response. Whatever he says his intentions are, there is a bit of complacency in his tone, which is something GLBT’s don’t need more of – especially from the head of the largest group fighting for our rights. And we certainly can’t assume Obama will be re-elected next term and put all our hopes in that. We need to do things now. Strike while the iron is hot (and while things are not great, the iron has never been hotter than now).

Another disappointment: As great as it was to hear a President address gay issues in detail, I noticed that Obama never used the word “marriage”. And I haven’t heard anyone mention this (did I miss the responses somewhere?). Does this mean he won’t fight for gay “marriage” but only for “civil unions”? I guess equality is farther away than we thought.

By: Quincy

Quincy — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:39:51 +0000

It annoys me when gay men say things like, “We got Obama elected”. Really? All by yourselves? That is impressive! I guess all the black people, Democrats, and disillusioned Republicans stayed home that day. Do you really think that it is all because of you that he is in office and he owes you the world? I’m not saying don’t fight for equality but Obama is probably doing more for gays then McCain would ever have done so give him a little bit of credit. Right now, he’s getting shit from every direction from Republicans on a number of issues like Health Care and the War. I don’t think Marriage Equality is first on his list right now. He’s also got 3 more years to make something happen so be a little patient.

By: C.J. Hatter

C.J. Hatter — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:48:36 +0000

What keeps reverberating for me is the comment about January, 2017. Does Solmonese truly think that Obama’s re-election is a given? Does he really think that a Democratic majority in Congress after 2010 is a sure thing?

With the President’s inability to build a progressive coalition in Congress, considering the Democratic majority, I’d say a GOP swing at midterms is a very real possibility, as well as a GOP Presidential win in 2012. Rather than wasting time making promises, the President should be getting the job done. And HRC’s apologist stance is helping no one.

The time for action is now.

By: Lonnie

Lonnie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:24:52 +0000

Joe, drop dead. You’re irrelevant just like Barney Frank. If you spent half as much time fighting for equality as you do on Botox, we might be somewhere. Go play with your rich white politician buddies. We’re building a movement for equal rights down here on the ground.

We all know the difference between what you SAY and what you MEAN. You hang around politicians so you talk like one. When you say “Of course, we are not a community that sees everything through the same lens (and thank goodness for that!)”, you mean “I don’t give a fuck what you think or what you have to say, just gimme your damn check and I’LL make the rules and decide on behalf of millions of lgbt people how we’re going to win equality.”

Joe, you’re fucking strategy is the same it’s always been: elect Democrats. YOU FAIL.

By: Michael McKeon

Michael McKeon — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:13:46 +0000

The HRC has become nothing more than a fund raising arm for the Democratic party.

What about an executive order on DOMA and DADT? And would someone please shove a sock in Barney Frank’s mouth, he was one of my heroes which make’s it so much harder to watch him turn on the community.

“Wait almost always means never” MLK.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:30:46 +0000

Blah Blah Blah. I could care less about looking back. I’d just like to see a beginning to these accomplishments. Solmonese just comes across like another of the President’s lapdogs.