Peter LaBarbera and Matt Barber lie about Joe Solmonese - perfect example of distortions and bigotry

Matt Barber of Concerned Women for America, Peter LaBarbera and the rest of the anti-gay industry like to constantly beat the same tired drum of lies, claiming that the gay community wants to endanger America and silence Christians.

They are telling blatant lies, of course. And today's posting on the Americans for Truth (in name only) site is a perfect example of this:

Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s leading homosexual pressure group, says the federal ban on accepting blood donations from “men who have sex with men” is “discriminatory

The entire article talks about comments Solmonese made regarding the CDC ban on accepting donations from men who have sex with men.

Its a well written piece, being sure to include all of the anti-gay industry talking points of so-called Biblical admonitions against homosexuality, distortions of old articles (an article from 2006 relating how gay activists in South Africa were allegedly trying to taint the blood supply there - having of course nothing to do with the United States), and even a little mention of our friend Sally Kern.

The article pretty much attacks Solmonese for comments he made regarding the CDC ban:

Solmonese recently placed politics over science, falsely declaring this commonsense public health precaution to be “discriminatory.” He has called for the ban to be lifted, with the wildly irresponsible claim that, “[T]here is no medical or scientific rationale for this discriminatory policy.”

But it omits something very important; something very crucial.

The entire controversy over Solmonese's comments came about last week, as this Concerned Women for America press release proves.

Solmonese's comments came about because of a hearing at the Food and Drug Administration in which the American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks and America’s Blood Centers all said that the ban on blood donations from men who have had sex with men since 1977 should be lifted.

Solmonese was merely commenting on this testimony.

Now the links to Solmonese's comments on the Americans for Truth (in name only) web page are to a January 2008 article regarding a Seattle blood bank.

It seemed that Barber knew about the testimony from the hearing and rather than being forced to mention the parts about the American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, and the America's Blood Centers, he decided to dig and find earlier comments from Solmonese about the CDC ban.

The following comment is on both the original CWA press release and the article on LaBarbera's web page:

Solmonese recently placed politics over science, falsely declaring this commonsense public health precaution to be “discriminatory.” He has called for the ban to be lifted, with the wildly irresponsible claim that, “[T]here is no medical or scientific rationale for this discriminatory policy.”

Now some may say big deal, this doesn't mean anything.

But that mindset is wrong.

The original press release by Barber and company had to do with Solmonese's comments about the hearing. But because Solmonese's comments were backed up by credible officials from the American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, and America's Blood Centers, attacking Solmonese over them would have been futile.

So Barber or his cohorts dug up comments by Solmonese from two months ago talking about the very same subject. That way, they didn't have to mention the hearing or the organizations whom Solmonese's comments were referring to. They could continue to push forth the false image of the "reckless homosexual who will endanger America while pursuing his agenda."

Some people may not see that there is anything wrong with what Barber and company did but I think there is.

It's unethical and highly irresponsible.

Attempting to distort someone's comments is bad but the fact that these folks are doing it in the name of Christian values goes beyond the pale.

You see this is a perfect example of the levels that some people will stoop to in order to demonize the lgbt community. They claim to have nothing but love in their hearts but with their poison pens filled with enough venom to kill a herd of elephants they work little by little to dehumanize the lgbt community.

My question is how low can they stoop after this?

Nothing will shock me anymore.

What else can be said about you know who?

I've said pretty much all I could say about Ms. Kern. So barring something new happening, let me relate what will happen next:

She will probably get a rally. Peter LaBarbera and Janet Folger will attend and present her an award. She will be called a "defender of the American family." And she will probably say a speech or issue a statement on how "this time has been trying for her and her family but her faith in God has gotten her through."

Such is life.

But I think this story isn't over yet. Kern fears that gays will attain political power. Those supporting her, especially on the site One News Now, fear that we will continue to become a part of the mainstream of this country.

They are right and I think we should continue to give them more to fear about. Ultimately this fight over lgbt self-determination will come down to us being politically active and intelligently involved.

And despite all they do and say, all the times they pat themselves on the back, the anti-gay industry need to ask themselves just what their behavior is doing to the view of Christianity.

All actions have reactions. And sooner or later, all of the lies told about lgbts, all the dehumanizations, all of the distortions and discredited studies are going to add up.

And I don't think the anti-gay industry will be able to afford the bill.