Raw video from the scene yesterday:
Monthly Archives: August 2012
Fox News: FRC Shooter Volunteered at LGBT Center
August 16, 2012 – 11:30 am
The gunman, identified as 28-year-old Floyd Lee Corkins II, entered the lobby of the organization's Chinatown headquarters around 10:45 a.m. and expressed disagreement with the conservative group's policy positions, sources tell Fox News.
... The suspect "made statements regarding their policies, and then opened fire with a gun striking a security guard," a source told Fox News.
Sources also said the gunman may have been carrying a bag from Chick-fil-A, the embattled fast-food restaurant whose president came under fire from gay activists after he said he did not agree with same-sex marriage.
Sources told Fox News that after guard took away his gun, the suspect said, "Don't shoot me, it was not about you, it was what this place stands for."
Authorities were treating the attack as a case of domestic terrorism, although James McJunkin, the head of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, said authorities do not yet know the gunman's motive.
... Corkins had been volunteering for about the past six months at The DC Center for the LGBT Community, said David Mariner, executive director of the community center, which is in Northwest Washington. He usually staffed the center's front desk on Saturdays, and his most recent shift was about two weeks ago.
William Duncan: Fifteen States Come to DOMA’s Defense
August 16, 2012 – 11:00 am
William C. Duncan in National Review's The Corner blog:
The decision of the Obama administration to change sides in the litigation over the Defense of Marriage Act got lots of mainstream press attention. The recent decision of 15 states to proactively file a brief supporting the Defense of Marriage Act at the U.S. Supreme Court has not gotten the same attention. That’s too bad, because the states’ brief makes some important arguments.
The states point out that the decision the Court is being asked to review creates a legal standard out of whole cloth and that if the circuit court’s analysis were taken seriously, it would require not only the invalidation of DOMA but of every marriage law in the United States. This latter point is crucial. DOMA may be the specific target now, but the litigation over it (and the related litigation over Proposition 8 ) is, ultimately, about establishing a new constitutional approach to marriage laws (similar to the context specific standards that have arisen in order to protect the “right” to abortion) that could be used to mandate redefinition in every state.
The Hill: "Shooting Spurs Heated Debate on Gay Rights, 'Hate Group' Label"
August 16, 2012 – 10:30 am
The shooting of a security guard Wednesday at the Family Research Council (FRC) has spurred a torrent of heated accusations from both sides of the gay rights debate about claims that the conservative organization is a “hate group.”
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), one of the nation’s leading opponents of same-sex marriage, told The Hill the shooting was a direct result of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s decision in 2010 to place the FRC on its list of hate groups for its rhetoric on gays.
Brian Brown, the president of NOM, pointed to a recent blog post by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), one of the largest gay-rights groups in the country. The post, “Paul Ryan Speaking at Hate Group’s Annual Conference,” called attention to the vice presidential candidate’s scheduled appearance at the FRC’s national summit next month.
“Today’s attack is the clearest sign we’ve seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as ‘hateful’ must end,” Brown said in a statement issued following the shooting.
“For too long national gay rights groups have intentionally marginalized and ostracized pro-marriage groups and individuals by labeling them as ‘hateful’ and ‘bigoted.’”
Outrageous Headline: "FRC Shooting Unleashes Conservative Vengeance on Twitter"
August 16, 2012 – 10:15 am
Daily Beast, does it never occur to you that calling tweets complaining about the hatred directed at traditional marriage supporters "vengeance" a few hours after a shooting is a really bad idea?
Family Research Council Shooting Unleashes Conservative Vengeance on Twitter [by David Sessions]
A gunman who allegedly targeted the Family Research Council for its anti-gay marriage views gave right-wing pundits a chance to give liberals—who often are quick to attribute violence to conservative ideology—a taste of their own medicine.
How the Democratic Platform Language on SSM Threatens Religious Liberty
August 16, 2012 – 10:00 am
William C. Duncan at National Review Online on how the Democratic National Committee's platform language calling for the national redefinition of marriage also contains serious threats to religious liberty:
"...The most interesting sentence is the feint about religious liberty. It’s hard to imagine a less generous concession. The party, in this statement, is committed to allowing churches (not individual people of faith or religious organizations) to “decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament.” This exceedingly narrow language should be taken as a warning to believers — the party is willing to let churches perform marriages in accordance with their doctrines (gee thanks) but that’s about it. On all of the other predictable religious-liberty conflicts (employment benefits, social services, business decisions), the plank says nothing. The italicized language even seems to suggest the party would consider removing the ability of clergy to civilly solemnize marriages.
Marriage is not a partisan issue and good pro-marriage Democrats will surely object to including this outlandish statement in the party’s platform. It should, however, focus the minds of those who care about marriage and religious freedom about what is at stake if the people who think this is a good idea are given power."
More Details Emerge About FRC Shooter
August 16, 2012 – 9:45 am
"...Corkins had been volunteering at a U Street NW community center for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, according to officials there.
... Allan P. Chan, 28, a former George Mason student, said he met Corkins at a campus gym about six years ago. They worked out together, lifting weights, and began to socialize and watch television together. Chan described Corkins as secretive and somewhat odd. Corkins’s Facebook page included no photos, not even his own, and he displayed an intense interest in the 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
“He was a fanatic of Nietzsche,” Chan said.
... In the lobby, the intruder began “making statements” in opposition to the Family Research Council’s social conservatism, a law enforcement official said."
Erick Erickson: Human Rights Campaign Maintains Family Research Council is a “Hate Group”
August 16, 2012 – 9:30 am
Erick Erickson of Red State (and a contributor to CNN politics):
I got this email from Fred Sainz, the Vice President for Communications and Marketing at the Human Rights Company:
I have a great deal of admiration for you and like watching you on CNN. These Tweets are beneath you.
It’s really unseemly to insinuate — in any way — that HRC had anything to do with the violence that occurred today at FRC.
FRC IS a hate group. It’s not HRC that calls them that; it’s the Southern Poverty Law Center that has classified them as such – years ago. Have you seen the things that FRC says about gay people? I think if you did you wouldn’t be so quick to associate yourself with them
...I’m more than happy to have a dialogue with you on the issue but would ask that you not make irresponsible connections that are completely illogical.
He is referencing several tweets I made noting that just yesterday the Human Rights Campaign called Family Research Council a “hate group.” (See here and here)
I noted that if a gunman had entered the Human Rights Campaign’s offices a day after being labeled a “hate group” by a conservative organization, the media would be denouncing the conservative group as inciting the shooting and spend a week on homophobia, etc.
Video: Brian Brown Calls for Civility on CNN
August 16, 2012 – 9:25 am
National Organization for Marriage's Brian Brown says that the Family Research Council shooting was “politically motivated” and labeling the organization a hate group is “totally irresponsible.”
Brown says, “All the indications from multiple sources that were there, say the shooter actually came in and started attacking the policies of the Family Research Council.”
He continues, “Everything points to the fact that this was politically motivated…. Groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center which has labeled the Family Research Council, which is a mainstream group, a hate group. That sort of talk… is totally irresponsible and unacceptable and I think this incident makes that clear.”
Politico: Marriage Advocate Pleads for Civility
August 16, 2012 – 9:15 am
Politico reports on Brian Brown's appearance on CNN this morning:
Yesterday’s shooting at the conservative Family Research Council in downtown Washington, D.C., is symptomatic of a broader lack of civility in political discourse, the head of an organization promoting traditional marriage said Thursday.
“[The] responsibility is on the shooter but we need to have a civil debate over issues like redefining marriage,” said Brian Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, appearing on CNN’s Early Start. “But we should not be attacking and labeling as hate groups those [with which] we disagree. We should condemn violence of any sort but we should also be responsible.”
He singled out the Southern Poverty Law Center.
“[When] you take the Family Research Council, which is again a mainstream group that does a lot of work in D.C., the Values Voters Summit is a huge summit in Washington, D.C., that stands up for traditional values, and you have a spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center actually saying this group is no different than the Aryan Brotherhood, you’ve crossed a line,” Brown said. “It’s totally unacceptable.”
"Supporters of [SSM] Shouldn't Count Their Chickens Before They Hatch"
August 16, 2012 – 9:00 am
M. D. Harmon explores the real reason gay marriage activists in Maine are touting polls which they claim show them ahead -- it can demoralize supporters of marriage even though we can (and will!) win:
"...Polls before previous votes have shown large leads for the side pushing wholesale changes in the meaning of marriage, too, but the lead vanished on Election Day.
In truth, such claims of inevitable victory are a political tactic, designed to discourage opponents from contributing to the defense of marriage or going to the polls to vote "no" on this radical measure.
Fortunately, there are enough races on the ballot Nov. 6 to attract a large number of Mainers. Supporters of a "yes" vote shouldn't count their chickens before they hatch.
... These clueless elitists seem not to understand why insulting people who support traditional marriage as "bigots" has outraged millions.
So they must have been surprised when Americans decided to vote with their feet -- and in this case, their feet had wings. And thighs. And drumsticks. -- Morning Sentinel
No Violence, No Comments Promoting Violence
August 16, 2012 – 8:00 am
A group of 23 LGBT organizations denounced the shooting of the FRC guard. This is good. The debate about whether delegitimizing dissent by calling it "hate" played a role in this will have to play out over the next few weeks. We hope sincerely these groups reconsider the rhetoric, frequently expressed, that all opposition to gay marriage is motivated by hatred and a desire to discriminate.
A note on NOM's policies: we denounce all violence and harassment against all Americans on either side of the gay marriage divide. We believe good people disagree even on very important moral issues like the future of marriage. We have repeatedly said that we see gay people as part of America --friends, neighbors and fellow citizens-- with whom we agree on some things and disagree on others.
NOM's comment policy does not permit suggestions of violence of any kind. Any comments like that will be deleted as soon as we get a chance to review them.
Mitt Romney Condemns FRC Shooting
August 15, 2012 – 3:05 pm
While the White House has yet to respond, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney commented on the shooting, saying: “I am appalled by the shooting today at the offices of the Family Research Council in our nation’s capital. There is no place for such violence in our society. My prayers go out to the wounded security guard and his family, as well as all the people at the Family Research Council whose sense of security has been shattered by today’s horrific events.”
Eager Minnesota Voter Attempts to Support Marriage Amendment Yesterday at the Polls!
August 15, 2012 – 3:00 pm
Several voters were so eager to cast their vote for the Marriage Protection Amendment that they showed up early!
Even though it’s not on the primary ballot, the hotly-debated marriage amendment appears to be drawing voters to the polls this Tuesday.
“I’m interested in voting for the marriage law,” said one voter outside Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in south Minneapolis, a neighborhood polling place.
She was referring to the proposed amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. -- CBS Local
Not to worry -- everyone will get their chance on November 6th!
The National Organization for Marriage Offers Prayers For "Hero of G Street," Calls for End to Harmful and Irresponsible "Hate" Label
August 15, 2012 – 2:40 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)
"Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as 'hateful' must end."—Brian Brown, NOM president—
Washington, D.C.—Today, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) immediately condemned today's attack upon the Family Research Council (FRC) and offered its "heartfelt prayers" for the heroic security guard who apprehended an armed assailant expressing disagreement with FRC's positions before opening fire, shooting the security guard in the process. The FBI is investigating the incident as a case of domestic terrorism.
"Today's attack is the clearest sign we've seen that labeling pro-marriage 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.
Brown concluded: "Violence is never the answer, and on that we all must agree, or risk the consequences."
###
To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected], or Jen Campbell (x145), [email protected], at 703-683-5004.
Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).
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