Here is grotesque, unseemly, and exploitative statement from the National Organization for Marriage:
“Today’s attack is the clearest sign we’ve seen that labeling pro-marria
ge groups as ‘hateful’ must end,” said Brian Brown, President of NOM. “The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Family Research Council a ‘hate group’ for its pro-marriage views, and less than a day ago the Human Rights Campaign issued a statement calling FRC a ‘hate group’—they even specified that FRC hosts events in Washington, DC, where today’s attack took place.”
“NOM has always condemned all violence and vilification connected to our ongoing national debate about the meaning and definition of marriage,” Brown stated. “For too long national gay rights groups have intentionally marginalized and ostracized pro-marriage groups and individuals by labeling them as ‘hateful’ and ‘bigoted’ — such harmful and dangerous labels deserve no place in our civil society and NOM renews its call today for gay rights groups and the Southern Poverty Law Center to withdraw such incendiary rhetoric from a debate that involves millions of good Americans,” added Brown.
The fact is, the Southern Poverty Law Centers assessment of FRC is correct. The organization did not end up on the list because it simply opposes marriage equality. To get on the list an organization has to have an ongoing campaign of deceit, distortions, and wanton disregard for the facts directed at a group of people. If any organization wants to leave the hate list, they simply have to stop lying and twisting the truth, which apparently FRC and the other groups on the list are unwilling to do.
NOM is also a hate group in our view and must think our memories are rather short. Do they think we forgot ugly memo in March that revealed the organization had undertaken a sleazy and divisive campaign to drive a wedge between the LGBT community and other minorities? Here are a few excerpts:
. . by searching for these leaders across national boundaries we will assemble a community of next generation Latino leaders that Hispanics and other next generation elites in this country can aspire to be like. (As “ethnic rebels” such spokespeople will also have an appeal across racial lines, especially to young urbans in America).
. . . we will develop Spanish language radio and TV ads, as well as pamphlets, YouTube videos, and church handouts and popular songs. Our ultimate goal is to make opposition to gay marriage an identity marker, a badge of youth rebellion to conformist association to the bad side of “Anglo” culture.
The strategic goal of this project is to drive a wedge between gays and blacks — two key Democratic constituencies. Find, equip, energize and connect African American spokespeople for marriage; develop a media campaign around their objections to gay marriage as a civil right; provoke the gay marriage base into responding by denouncing these spokesmen and women as bigots. No politician wants to take up and push an issue that splits the base of his party. Fanning the hostility raised in the wake of Prop 8 is key to raising the costs of pushing gay marriage to its advocates. . . find attractive young black Democrats to challenge white gay marriage advocates electorally.
Maggie and Brian, you are haters and you have a hell of a lot of nerve trying to exploit this horrible tragedy for political gain. We’d say “shame on you,” but people like you are so beyond shame that we won’t waste our breath.
Geez, how can a group be “pro-marriage” when they campaign AGAINST marriage? That’s a word twist, for sure. Meanwhile, this is the first shooting or any violence at any such SPLC labeled group — ever; this makes it sound like an everyday occurrence. And too, it cannot be known yet what the real motives of the man are — as I said elsewhere here, he might be against FRC’s abortion stand, or maybe FRC doesn’t go far enough for the perp. I find it bizarre that anyone can jump to conclusions so fast, that’s just sad.
These groups are clearly jumping for joy behind the scenes.
hate and bigoty are big business
always has….always will
http://www.childrenoftherainbowuu.org
Never underestimate the power of the rainbow
One security guard is non-fatally shot at FRC headquarters. Although the majority of gay activists condemn the violence, NOM starts screaming “See? See what happens when the gays use their nasty rhetoric and harmful, dangerous labels on us?”
Meanwhile, HUNDREDS of gays have been attacked, beaten, and killed due in part to the nasty rhetoric and harmful, dangerous labels continually pumped out by NOM, FRC, and other similar anti-gay groups. And their response is always, “Well that’s what happens when you choose a dangerous, risky lifestyle. (i.e. you deserve it)”.
Unbe-f*cking-lievable.
I’m surprised he took this long.
A quote from the movie “The American President”
“How do you have patience for people who claim they love America, but clearly can’t stand Americans?”
I wish I had an answer.
Didn’t these groups embrace their “hate group” labels and wear them like badges of honor?
[...] Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out called Brown’s statement, “grotesque, unseemly, and exploitative.” [...]
The current FRC leader’s association with the violent KKK in no way justifies violence as a response.
Absolutely not.The deadly policies of the FRC cannot be remembered enough as well.
This is a boon to these sleazes. I fully expect GLBT people to be blamed for this at some point along the line. They want to ramp this up to where GLBT people have to fear even more for their lives that they already do. Sad to say, regardless of the actual orientation of the shooter, GLBT people are likely to be made to pay for it in one way or another. Ever heard of the Reichstag fire?
I do urge GLBT people to have/learn some kind of self-protection.
Outside of self-defense we should not be violent. If we are attacked at Pride by skinheads — we not only have the right to fight back, but we should do it so damn well and teach them a hard lesson so they never dream of returning. When we fight it should be to win.
However, outside of such a clear cut scenario, our movement should always be peaceful. It is unacceptable to instigate violence or resort to terror tactics. Not only is it morally wrong, it is tactically stupid.
I don’t believe in pacifism. If someone attacks my family, God help them. However, we must always remember that our opponents have families that love them too. We have no right to harm them or their families. We can never forget our humanity and must act accordingly.
The LGBT community has a strong incentive to live by the rules of civilization.
Tweeted by Scott Wooledge
For perspective: 1,528 gays & lesbians were victims of hate crimes in 2011 according to the FBI
http://t.co/FLLNToK2
Of course they’re exploiting it, just like they exploit everything. It’s their job.
Previous shootings by madmen are covered non-stop on the news and attributed to the Tea Party. This incident was not a massacre only because of a brave guard who took a bullet and kept on fighting. It is claimed that the FRC shooting by a man with clear ideological motivation is being exploited. Have you no shame?
We condemn ALL violence, and we don’t blame anyone except the shooter — and possibly access by the insane to firearms.
Members of the Christian Right, on the other hand, sought to justify recent attacks in Aurora and Oak Creek, claiming that liberalism and religious tolerance were to blame (Megadeth guitarist Dave Mustaine even accused President Obama of staging the shootings) despite the absence of confirmed political motives by the suspects.