Obama camp woos gays

[Newsjock]

Source: Bay Area Reporter (gay newspaper)

Gay supporters of Barack Obama's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination began voter outreach in the Castro last weekend in an effort to drum up support in advance of the state's February 5 primary.

... In an interview with the Bay Area Reporter Monday, December 17, Tobias Wolff, a gay man who's chair of the national LGBT policy committee for the Obama campaign, called the Illinois senator a "fighter" who will stand by his principles.

... Wolff also discussed the fallout from Obama's decision to include the anti-gay gospel singer Donnie McClurkin on the program for a series of concerts in South Carolina this fall. Obama came under heavy criticism from many in the LGBT community because McClurkin has proclaimed himself "cured" of homosexuality and now rails against it. In an essay that Obama wrote for members of the National Gay Newspaper Guild, he discussed the McClurkin episode and reiterated his support of the LGBT community.

"It was a mistake," Wolff said of the McClurkin episode, but he added that Obama has taken responsibility for it and has worked in coalition "long before McClurkin" with the goal of bringing about "real, progressive change."

"A lot of people run away ... Senator Obama issued a series of statements on how he intends to take those positions to people," Wolff said. "That, to me, is real proof that he is an effective champion for us. Both the senator himself and everyone in the campaign found out four or five days before the concert."

Read more: http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2558

[BeyondGeography]

1. Incoming

:hide:

[maddiejoan]

2. How about an old fashioned apology

from Obama?

Followed by a strong condemnation of the "ex-gay" movement.

[sandnsea]

5. well

"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts of our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.

I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."


Now when is anybody going to give a crap about the list of homophobes on Hillary's campaign.

[FredScuttle]

8. Doesn't sound like an apology to me

plus that statement is a good two months old and was issued before Rev. McClosetcase's lovely diatribe at the campaign event. Any comment from the good Senator on his handpicked MC declaring "God delivered me from homosexuality"?

[maddiejoan]

61. When she invites them on stage to speak.

BTW --there is a HUGE difference between the "ex-gay" movement and garden variety homophobes.

Obama is skilled at talking out of both sides of his mouth and his ass simultaneously.

[sandnsea]

62. State co-chairs stand on LOTS OF STAGES

with their candidates. And proudly voting to put discrimination into a state constitution is most certainly as bad as believing you're an ex-gay.

[FredScuttle]

67. So you're saying Obama is every bit the homophobe that Hillary is?

Great...glad we could clear that up. :eyes:

Now, how does that excuse Obama for welcoming a bigot into his campaign?

[maddiejoan]

68. Give me a link where they've spouted this stuff

at a Hillary event.

otherwise I'm not interested.

[sandnsea]

83. You prefer hypocritical homophobes, I see n/t

[maddiejoan]

84. Nobama

[ruggerson]

86. Obviously she cannot comply with your request

because she's full of shit.

[goldcanyonaz]

3. Sadly, it might be to little to late. nm

[Chovexani]

4. LMAO

Next up: Outback Steakhouse woos cows.

[FredScuttle]

11. LOL

Colonel Sanders woos the all-important chicken demographic

[Chovexani]

12. Finger-lickin' good!

[FredScuttle]

26. David Duke woos the Jewish vote

[PurityOfEssence]

64. Yay! Let's hear it for the LOG CABIN DEMOCRATS!

Jesus loves ya, ya pervert, even when you're burning in hell.

[frebrd]

6. Why do politicians think...

they can just "unsay" or undo things after the damage is done?

:-(

[Chovexani]

7. Because they think the electorate fell off a turnip truck

Unfortunately (or fortunately, for them), a lot of people have.

[FredScuttle]

9. "Obama has taken responsibility for it"???

How about a goddamn apology, Senator?!!

[goldcanyonaz]

14. I don't think he does apologies. nm

[calteacherguy]

10. Obama has very strong support in the LGBT community.

Thanks for a post that sheds some light on that fact!

[FredScuttle]

13. And to underscore that "support", Obama hired an "ex-gay" clown to spew homophobic filth

at his campaign event.

Uh-huh

[calteacherguy]

15. And yet, despite that, his support in th community remains strong.

He's a very strong advocate.

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

16. Very strong in the gay community? You're describing Hillary's support n/t

[AlCzervik]

19. do you have numbers to back up that claim or are you just guessing?

[FredScuttle]

28. Obama is a "very strong advocate" for getting Obama elected

By Any Means Necessary.

[Chovexani]

33. Obama: Fuck the gays

Homophobes outnumber us, after all.

[FredScuttle]

36. Hey, don't you know that we have to give bigots and ignorant morons consideration now?

That's part of the "Audacity of Hope" :eyes:

[Chovexani]

39. We must respect their sincerely held religious beliefs.

[FredScuttle]

42. Well, if they're religious, they can't possibly be bigots!

You know, unlike those very Christian ministers in the mid-20th century who drew from Scripture to defend the separation of the races. "The Bible tells me so..." :eyes:

[cboy4]

18. What do you know about the LGBT community?

This outta be good.

[Chovexani]

32. Well, uh, he watched Will and Grace reruns once

:shrug:

[cboy4]

40. Yea, exactly.

*****CRICKETS*****

[sniffa]

53. ah, Will And Grace

the straights' in to the GLBT "lifestyle".

[cboy4]

17. No Tobias. A mistake would have been had Obama found

out about McClurkin after the fact.

But that's not what happened, is it?

Obama knew all about this man, yet despite the pleas not to embrace a notorious homophobe and risk sending shock waves through the LGBT community, he decided he was was going to do whatever the hell he felt like doing.

So now he gets to suffer the consequences.

Apology absolutely NOT accepted.

"An effective champion for us." :eyes:

[frazzled]

20. My gay friends and relatives are all for Obama

I realize that's just anecdotal ... but they are all aware of the McClurkin issue and did not care a whit about it.

Apart from that: I'd say making a mistake about a singer at a single performance is a lot, lot less serious than making a mistake about sending a nation to war. No apology can make up for the deaths that have occurred from that little faux-pas.

P.S. I am referring in my header to two close gay friends, and to one relative and his partner. All four of them are not just Obama supporters, but big Obama supporters. None of them lives in the state of Illinois.

[Cha]

23. This is my issue..

"Apart from that: I'd say making a mistake about a singer at a single performance is a lot, lot less serious than making a mistake about sending a nation to war. No apology can make up for the deaths that have occurred from that little faux-pas."

And there are some who won't even apology for it..not worth their effort.

[FredScuttle]

37. What mistakes compare to the one made by a single candidate

who was warned, repeatedly before the event, that he was committing a grave insult to the LGBT community (and Democrats everywhere) by hiring an "ex-gay" clown and that this clown bigot would jump at the change to spread his hate and intolerance at the event, but this candidate ignored all that and pressed on?

This wasn't a decision made as part of a deliberative body in government...this was Obama's decision, alone, and he alone owns it.

[Cha]

47. The misbegotten War On Iraq

is the issue I've had since Oct, 2002..we all have our priorities.

[FredScuttle]

51. Agreed, but I asked what mistake that was made a single individual

on an event that was completely within the control if that individual could compare?

[Cha]

74. I don't know because it

isn't as important to me as our killing innocents from the bombs and our Soldiers dying in a fucking illegal War On Iraq.

[FredScuttle]

75. It doesn't have to be an either/or

We can equally outraged at both...the difference here is this was completely within the control of Sen. Obama and he chose to pander to bigots.

[Cha]

77. Yeah, it does..

because I'd rather Obama than the fucking panderingbushass hillary.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

27. Obama has a lot of GLBT support where I am too.

I asked every gay activist I knew if they'd heard about the McClurkin concert. Only one had and he didn't think it was a big deal.

[cboy4]

38. Believe me, they're hardly "activists" if they can't even

keep up with major current events involving LGBT people.

They hadn't heard about the concert!? :spray:

Exactly where were these so-called activists when the McClurkin controversy was all over the news?

Inside a cave with bin Laden?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

43. Maybe they weren't hanging out on blogs milking the faux outrage. nt

[cboy4]

48. Oh I see. This news only made the blogs.

New York Times------------>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/us/politics/25obama.html?_r=2&ref=politics&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Washington Post---------------->http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/10/29/post_159.html

ABC News------------------------>http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2007/12/obama-the-buck.html


Yup, just the blogs. LOL!!!


You're entitled to your opinion, but please at least be sure to tell your friends they're not really activists.

They're fake activists if they can't keep up with the issues.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

49. You know, it would actually help your case if 2 out of your 3 links weren't blogs

And you're entitled to your opinion too, including thinking you get to decide who's an activist and who isn't. Kinda grandiose of you, but whatevs. :shrug:

Anyway, why don't you stop 10 random people on the street and ask if they know who Donnie McClurkin is or anything about the concert he did for Barack Obama. Let me know how that goes.

[cboy4]

54. I don't really care whether 10 random people are aware

that Obama deliberately embraced a homophobe.

The fact of the matter is he did and he's admitted doing so.

Yea, most random straight people don't probably pay much attention to gay issues. So what?

Even some gay people don't pay attention to gay issues, like your pretend activist friends.

You need to stop being so fixated on whether enough people know about this controversy in order for you to qualify it as important.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

56. Look if this your issue, then there's nothing I can say to dissuade you

However, I certainly hope you don't support Hillary Clinton, who has known homophobes working as campaign chairs and as $10000-a-month consultants. Because if you do, that would make you a pretend activist, and a giant hypocrite. And even if you don't support Clinton, you should be at least as incensed about that as you are about McClurkin. Otherwise, I'm going to have to conclude that your outrage is fake and an excuse to trash Obama.

[cboy4]

59. Yea you're right, why should I be outraged that a

Democratic Presidential candidate deliberately embraced a notorious homophobe who described homosexuality as a curse and believes homosexuality is a spiritual issue and thus can be cured?

Boy am I dumb.

Do you realize how dangerous these kind of people like McClurkin are?

And the fact that Obama blew off warnings is an indication that he is a champion panderer and cannot be trusted. He's done it once deliberately, and he'll do it again if it suits his needs.

If you define that as "trashing," that's up to you.

No offense, but you're exactly what the Obama camp is praying for -- gullible gays who believe their act.

And not that it's relevant to Obama's huge mistake, but I don't support Hillary either.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

60. Look up Harold Mayberry and Darrell Jackson.

She's not dumping them for the same reason Obama didn't dump McClurkin. Political calculation.

You know, it would have been great if Obama had never done that stupid gospel tour and hooked up with McMoron. But once the arrangements had been made, the campaign was faced with a choice between pissing off 2 important voter blocs. I'm guessing they went with keeping McClurkin on the show because they decided that courting the Black religious community in SC was more important than the gay community there. It proved to be a good calculation since when all was said and done, a grand total of 14 GLBT protestors showed up at the concert.

I know it sucks, it's horrible, but that's politics. You see, I really am a political activist. I actually work on campaigns. I see what candidates at the local and national level need to do to win elections. It ain't pretty and ideals go out the window. If Obama had cancelled that concert, he would have been fucked with the African American religious voters in SC. Word of him snubbing McClurkin would have gotten out far and wide in that community. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton with her homophobic SC campaign co-chair would have smooth sailing to victory.

[FredScuttle]

69. "the campaign was faced with a choice...". Exactly

1) Continue welcoming a bigot clown to join your campaign and give this clown a microphone and a stage to spew homophobic filth
2) Do the right thing and get another fucking singer who didn't have a history of hateful, intolerant behavior toward the LGBT community

Profiles in Courage, this ain't

Obama chose to court religious bigots in South Carolina and he found his champion in an "ex-gay" clown who delivered exactly what the crowd of bigots and ignorant morons wanted...some of that sweet "gay hate". You claim it was a "good calculation" since there was a small group of protesters at the event, but Obama sent a loud message to gays and lesbians across the nation, as well as straight Democrats like me who value equality and respect for our LGBT brothers and sisters - he's willing to pander to bigots to get bigot votes, plain and fucking simple. Bully for him...he made his calculation and now he's going to have to deal with the consequences.

His "Audacity of Hope" bullshit registers not a whit with me until he makes this right and apologizes for giving a bigot a microphone and a stage to spew hate and intolerance at his own campaign event. Until he does so, he can kiss my ass.

[sniffa]

79. gullible gays

:rofl:

or daddy's boys.

[ruggerson]

58. 10 random people on the street can't even tell you who the vice president is

your point?

[Chovexani]

34. Do you know any black LGBT people?

Or were they out of us at the Rent-a-Gay-Friend depot?

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

73. Means nothing, a lot of gays voted for Bush too.

Any population includes a percentage of airheads.

[Maven]

21. Four or five days?

He found out four or five days before, and that's an excuse for allowing him to emcee the event and speak for 30 minutes?

If it was a mistake, he should've fucking apologized for it. It wasn't a mistake, it was a deliberate pander, and you can shove your outreach, Tobias.

Yeah, he's such an effective champion for us he "strongly disagrees" with all those "good, moral people" who call us child murderers and think we need to be "cured."

:puke:

[maxanne]

22. clown or no clown

he's selling "separate but equal" BS, despite the fact that his church (UCC) is completely accepting of gays.

I don't understand why any gay person would support a candidate who isn't willing to stand for marriage equality and civil rights.

[ruggerson]

24. I've been waiting for someone to mention that - he's out of step with his own church

n/t

[ruggerson]

25. "An effective champion" for gay folks. Now THAT is funny.

Where do they find these people?

[FredScuttle]

29. Sellouts R' Us

The same place that offers Roy Innis for pennies on the dollar the next time you're hosting a conservative function and you need an Uncle Tom for cover

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

30. "Obama has taken responsibility for it "... what a fucking lie.

[FredScuttle]

35. I wish I was known as "taking responsibility" by ignoring a firestorm completely

I'd be a goddamn star at work.

Obama '08: Getting Those Sweet, Sweet Primary Votes...By Any Means Necessary

[gaspee]

31. I'm not voting for him

Even if he apologized. His mindset when it comes to GLBT is very clear.

I will never again vote for a person that does not view me as worthy of full human rights.

I don't give a flying fuck what their religion preaches. Never again will I give my vote. Period.

I'm voting for Kucinich, if he even gets on my ballot.

I was going to vote for Edwards, but I've made my decision. Now Elizabeth Edwards, her, I'd vote for.

[MethuenProgressive]

41. "woo"? As in "Whoo Hoooo! Yoo Hoo, Yet-To-Cured-Gay people!"?

That'll cost him support from his base...

[FredScuttle]

44. It's a shame he didn't bring Pastor Donnie with him

I'm sure he would have found a lot of converts

[Sandaasu]

45. An apology from Obaman himself would do so much, but less than that doesn't really help.

I might even start helping him on the ground here, as I had been thinking of doing before this whole thing happened, if he'd just apologize for that event.

[ruggerson]

46. Ah you're all full of hate

All of youse. Obama is a nice, successful, hetero, married man with two wonderful little girls and you deviant scum keep HARRASSING him for an apology.

Don't you know your place?

[xchrom]

50. NObama.

[ArkySue]

52. Blatent pandering. eom

[PurityOfEssence]

55. "Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,

As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.

"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What i tell you three times is true."

Yes, folks, when replying to fanciful flying hogwash like this, one needs true ridiculousness, so I hereby cite two bits of Lewis Carroll's "The Hunting of the Snark (an Agony in Eight Fits)"

If Obama keeps having others say over and over that he's said something he hasn't, then maybe he'll never have to say it at all.

Here's another apt passage from the same piece:

"I said it in Hebrew--I said it in Dutch--
I said it in German and Greek:
But I wholly forgot (and it vexes me much)
That English is what you speak!"

Obama has made a sick, greasy, opportunistic move, ignoring advice every step of the way, misrepresenting the signicance of this man's role in the snake oil show, and using race and religion to sleaze a large bloc of votes away from Clinton. He has NOT apologized for it, and he doesn't intend to. He still thinks he's gotten away with it, and apparently he has to a large degree.

This is a disgusting display of political unscrupulousness and flies directly in the face of his vaunted inclusiveness. Gays who support him after this are reminiscent of Log Cabin Republicans in their willingness to ally themselves with those who would do them ill.

Silly, silly, silly, and decidedly anti-social.

Shame on them.

[mopinko]

57. obama knows he is not god. he doesn't judge like that.

jesus. you people are crazy. homophobia exists in the black community, as elsewhere. i'm sure soon as he becomes god, he will fix it. till then, people are people. many are stupid. one thing about barack, he lives in the fucking real world.
get over it.

[FredScuttle]

70. So, "better the bigot I welcome than the bigot I don't know", eh?

It's so inspiring to see the "Audacity of Hope" campaign chase the one demographic the Democratic Party has been ignoring for too long - bigots and ignorant morons. It's simply breathaking. :eyes:

[mopinko]

76. you might want to visit the real world yourself.

oh, yeah, i suppose that is where you pick up your paycheck. or maybe it's just the place where you SHOULD pick up your meds. :eyes:

[FredScuttle]

85. If you're going to accuse someone of needing "meds"

you may want to strive for a wee bit more coherency in your posts.

[VarnettaTuckpocket]

72. Keepin' it real, is he?

So can we expect him to hire a white supremest to emcee one of his events too? After all, racism exists in the white community, as elsewhere. People are people, many are stupid, all valid reasons to hire bigots to emcee his campaign events. So why hasn't he hired a white supremest to emcee one? Obviously hiring a white supremest and refusing to apologize for it would ruin a politician's career. But as long it's only homophobia he's refusing to apologize for, it's perfectly fine, he's just keepin' it real.

[Stop Cornyn]

63. WAY too late.

[complain jane]

65. Sorry, but... no.

This lesbian isn't voting for Obama after the anti-gay stunt. Sorry.

[Bluebear]

66. "Obama has taken responsibility for it"???" What unmitigated bullshit.

[William769]

71. TOO FUCKING LATE YOU SOB!

[sniffa]

78. thank you for giving me the opportunity to repost this again

http://news.lavenderliberal.com/2007/10/23/mr-sniffa-goes-to-boston/

[MethuenProgressive]

80. Very nice blank box with a red x, sniffa!

:O)

[sniffa]

81. hmm, it's showing up here

i have a good cache.

[MethuenProgressive]

82. It's showing now. Musta been me!

:kick: for that pic

[we can do it]

87. Boos Is More Like It - Sorry Barack Take Your Bigotry Somewhere Else

[annie1]

88. this thread cracks me up. lol.

[ruggerson]

89. I'm sure there are some gay people somewhere who still support him

but then there are some gay people who voted for Reagan. And blacks who voted for George Wallace. There are idiots in every cycle who vote against their own self interest.