The Human Rights Campaign has apologized after a "technological glitch" in an email blast to members incorrectly stated Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) voted against repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t tell” last month on the House floor.
The email blasting Johnson's "vote against equality" was potentially sent to thousands of Dallas-area LGBTs and allies. It also provided a link to generate responses emailed to Johnson's office. The problem: Johnson voted for repeal and scores a perfect 100 on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard for her support of LGBT issues.
A gay member of Johnson's re-election campaign committee expressed his displeasure to the Dallas Voice. "My hope is that HRC will understand the seriousness of its error. HRC’s goal should be to win and keep allies, not to mistakenly sully their reputations,” wrote James Nowlin, who is also a top donor to the Human Rights Campaign.
John Wright at the Dallas Voice reports:
"[C]onstituents of Illinois Congressman Tim Johnson, who did in fact vote against DADT repeal, may have been on the other end of the glitch. Tim Johnson’s constituents reportedly received e-mails from HRC asking them to thank him for the vote in support of equality. And from what I gather, Tim Johnson’s gay constituents are equally miffed because the e-mail has given people the false impression that he isn’t anti-gay. Oops."
It's been noted here many times the Congressional Black Caucus consistently scores in the 90 percentiles on LGBT equality. The only black member of Congress to vote against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was Sanford Bishop of Georgia.
