NRA Head on FOX "News" Sunday. . .Why?

FOX "News" Sunday is the crown jewel of that "news" in the network's name, being the ultimate in newsiness, rather than opinion. After you finish laughing over that whopper, ponder this on: while it was great (and unusual) that host Chris Wallace used a semi-tough line of questioning on NRA head Wayne LaPierre. . .why was LaPierre on in the first place? He's not an elected official, he's not a policy maker, he's not a retired general or a scion of industry. He's a lobbyist. A lobbyist not for the 2nd amendment, or hobbyist (hobbyist lobbyist?) marksmen, or hunters or paranoid "preppers." He's a lobbyist for gun manufacturers. He's the "big guns" version of "big tobacco." And he's batshit crazy to boot! [Story continues below]



So, I don't really see why he's going around on the Sunday shows, or being trotted in front of Congressional panels.  I mean, sure, if the intent is to grill him that's one thing. But he's being used as the point to the Diane Feinstein counterpoint. And that's a false equivalence.

While we're at it, this false equivalence isn't just used in the gun argument, it's all over broadcast and cable news, and it's damned annoying. The one that grinds me the worst is whenever the topic of gay rights is discussed, they drag out somebody from a certified hate group for "balance." Peter Sprigg, Tony Perkins, somebody from a group with "family" in its name, or some ridiculous "ex-gay" closet case (not that any of those listed are mutually exclusive) is treated as though their "side" of the argument is equally valid. It's like booking the KKK Grand Wizard for "balance" when the subject is race relations.  And yet, they keep doing it. Fortunately, Wallace's competition is more consistently tough on them. That doesn't mitigate the fact that they book them in the first place.

Reporter Dana Milbank Gets it Wrong on Hate Group

Tony Perkins of the FRC

As a gay atheist (step back, I'm dangerous), I'm automatically on the receiving end of the ire of fundamentalists and extremists. Not usually personally, thank goodness, but the vibe is always out there. There are a number of prominent organizations--most with "family" in their names--who exist primarily to be a thorn in gay people's sides. Oh, they throw in some of the other hot-button issues like abortion and stem cells, but their primary gig is the gay. Some of these groups are dishonest and hateful enough to earn the designation of "hate group" by organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center.The anti-gay groups don't like that very much.

Sorry, couldn't resist, this is him.

Recently, when a nutty guy with a gun shot a security guard at Family Research Council, FRC (and the rest of these types of groups) got what they've always wanted: martyrdom. After gay people being tormented since time immemorial by fudies, one of ours (allegedly) went after them. This one event,* in their eyes, doesn't just balance the scales, it tips it in their favor. For some reason. Something to do with Chick-fil-A sandwiches, I don't know.

The FRC--always a group to exploit a tragedy--went about gaining sympathy, and whining about their hate group designation. And since CNN, FOX "News" and MSNBC have regularly used groups like theirs as "balance," they don't have trouble getting air time. Oddly, they're actually convincing some people, like reporter Dana Milbank. Dana's been a regular guest on several cable news shows, and is perceived to be liberal-leaning, and basically fair. This time, he got it way wrong, and has inspired the ire of a whole bunch of prominent pro-gay people, like me.

And this is Dana Milbank, who is about to
find out what happens when the gay
hits the fan.

I was going to recap further, but found the following write-up when researching this story, and frankly, I can't top it. If this story is of interest to you at all, I encourage you to read beyond the excerpt. It's all spelled out perfectly.

[Excerpt]

Dana Milbank: The Southern Poverty Law Center's 'Reckless' Name-Calling

Dana Milbank, the generally pro-gay Washington Post columnist, yesterday published a column in which he repeatedly insisted that he wasn't blaming the non-fatal Family Research Council shooting on the Southern Poverty Law Center's labeling of the FRC a "hate group." Nevertheless, he claimed that such "reckless" label-throwing "stirs up the crazies" and leads inevitably to violence. . .

Read more at: TowleRoad



*I'm obliged to say--as I've said several times before--that what the gunman did was wrong, stupid and inexcusable. Violence is not the answer, and indeed has handed them something to clobber us with. I also think it shows a tremendous lack of imagination,  as there are many non-violent ways to show our displeasure with the FRC and its like-minded brethren.  I'll continue to do all I can in this space to make them look ridiculous.

Another Shooting, This Time on Right-Wing Group

Image from source, NBC News

We had another shooting today, this one--fortunately--on a much smaller scale, with the gunman only able to inflict a non-life-threatening wound on a security officer. Unlike the Dark Knight Rises shooting (where the purpose of the shooting was vague) or the Sikh temple shooting (where the gunman was a anti-Islam moron) the purpose of this one seems fairly clear. The target was the Washington DC headquarters of the Family Research Council, an anti-gay group. And the gunman seems to have attacked them for their political positions. I say seems, because these things often to turn out to be not what they seem initially.

Now, I'm going to be very clear: what this man did was wrong, stupid and inexcusable. I get no pleasure out of the fact that an organization I abhor was the target. In fact, I think this man's actions have unwittingly given the FRC (and organizations like it) a case to point to, where they are the victim of the "gay agenda". . .which is how they will spin it. Before now, they could only point to some minor (and well done) vandalism at a Chick-fil-A. So thanks, shooter dude, you nearly literally shot yourself and gay rights in the foot.

But there are a couple of ways this story is being spun, by anti-gay groups, and by the right-wing media. The anti-gay groups are leveling charges at The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Human Rights Campaign for calling FRC and its ilk "hate groups," and inspiring the shooter. The right-wing media, such as  Las Vegas Badger and Kevin Wall of KXNT are blaming--unbelievably--President Obama and Vice President Biden. Yes, somehow, they are running a hateful, nasty, terrible, horrible, no good, very bad campaign, and that is what provoked this shooting.

That is a staggering leap in logic. As far as I know, Obama and Biden have never mentioned the FRC by name, nor that of its leader Tony Perkins. While they have been outspoken on gay rights issues, I don't recall either of them leveling charges at any of the (many) anti-gay organizations on the right (curiously, most have "family" in their names). And WTF are they talking about, in regard to the campaign? What is so hateful from Obama/Biden? Just because you assert something doesn't make it true. Are the Prez and VP responsible for the Dark Knight and Sikh tragedies as well?

Finally, after the wounded man at their headquarters, the next biggest tragedy in this case is how the FRC is being portrayed. They are not some right-wing "think tank," going about their business, not bothering anybody. Their entire reason for being is to antagonize gay people, and do everything they can to prevent and take away our rights from being legally recognized. As previously stated, that does not justify what was done today, but neither do they magically become pure as the driven snow now that it happened. They are a hate group. It is not surprising that it seems to have inspired hate in retaliation, thought it is unfortunate.

[Excerpt]

Security guard shot at conservative group's DC office

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A gunman who shot a security guard Wednesday at the Family Research Council office in Washington, D.C., was carrying a handgun and several additional rounds of ammunition, federal investigators told NBC News. . .

Read more at: NBC News

Henry Rollins on Gay Marriage

It's great to have celebrity supporters and defenders of marriage equality. Even though the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has a token celebrity or two on board. It would, however, be safe to say that--to paraphrase Ann Coulter--Our celebrities are better than their celebrities. Of this, there is no doubt. For every Kirk Cameron, I can give you George Clooney, and five or ten celebrities from the A, B and C lists, and probably many more times that. And while I don't know if Chuck Norris has joined the anti-marriage equality bandwagon, even if he is, we've got a bigger bad ass. Henry Rollins. He trumps everyone.

"The Gay" is Not a Choice (Duh)

More than a decade ago a psychological study seemed to show that certain gay and lesbian people were capable of "changing" their sexual orientation to "straight." The rabid right--several certified hate groups, usually with "Family" in their names--latched onto this study, and used it as the basis for their anti-gay agenda. But the guy who released that study has now denounced it. He's not very happy it was used that way, and really wishes he had never released it in the first place.

So, without that study, what do these groups now base their agenda on, besides hatred?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Al Franken Calls Out Focus on the Family for Lying About Gay Families

I love this guy.