Petrelis Files

Gay HRC PR Boss Gives Maximum
to Candidate HRC

The Human Rights Campaign, an organization seen by many gay voters and pundits as the gay wing of the Democratic Party, is officially neutral in the 2008 presidential race and hasn't yet endorsed either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama for the White House.

Given that former HRC executive director Elizabeth Birch campaigned for Clinton in New Hampshire this year, and powerhouse HRC board member Hilary Rosen, former head of the Recording Industry Association of America, has endorsed and donated to Clinton, and a high number of other leaders of the group have followed Birch and Rosen's example, it's easy to see why HRC, the group, is seen as being in candidate HRC's pocket.

Now, add another name to the list of HRC's top executives who've donated money to Clinton's campaign.

David M. Smith, the organization's vice president of programs, including their enormous communications department, recently contributed the maximum allowable donation for the primary race -- $2,300 -- to Senator Clinton. Smith's monetary gift for Clinton was made on January 15, according to newly released Federal Election Commission files.

With Smith's large donation in mind, I just don't see how HRC can claim their 2008 presidential operations and media advocacy, two fields controlled by Smith, are not biased in favor one Democratic candidate over the other.

The Smith donation to Clinton is one more piece of evidence, in my eyes, that HRC is a group that very much would like to see her win the nomination.

There's nothing wrong with a gay advocacy organization and the staffers supporting their favored candidate for the White House. I simply wish HRC would come out of the closet about being Hillary Clinton backers.

From FEC files:

Smith, David M
Washington , DC 20002
Human Rights Campaign/Communication

CLINTON, HILLARY RODHAM (D)
President
$2,300
primary

01/15/08