Grand Apology to Those Here Who Saw This Betrayal Coming.

[David Zephyr]

The anger should not be at Rick Warren who is a systemic homophobe who used his power and influence to hurt my GLBT brothers and sisters here in California.

The anger should squarely be to Barack Obama who has now chosen this homophobic charlatan to stand before the world with the next President.

To those who I gave so much shit here for their concern during the McClurkin episodes: I am very, very sorry.

I will not watch the inauguration. I could care fucking less.

I've been at the DU since early 2001. The permitted homophobic posts and commentary is just about reached its final limits with me.

Anita Bryant might as well be up on that stage with Obama, too.

I got the message now.

We were betrayed.

[Luminous Animal]

1. Thank you, David. (n/t)

[marylanddem]

2. Well-expressed -

my daughter - who is at the moment on a Buddhist retreat - is a young lesbian who worked her ass off for Obama. I can only imagine how this will make her feel when she hears about it.

[David Zephyr]

27. That's very sad.

I could care less about his flipping ego stroke now. I know what sort of leader he already his.

How insulting. He's "the one" alright.

[LostinVA]

43. I'm doing one in January

[readmoreoften]

3. I'll speak for myself. This means a lot to me.

I'm sure it means a lot to others, too. We really need our allies. (Cuz obviously we don't have a whole lotta political representation.)

[Maven]

4. And after Prop 8 passed with Warren's help. That's what makes this even worse.

I really started to see in Obama what many others had after his convention speech. By the time he won, I was won over. I almost started to feel included.

Now I remember why I distrusted him in the first place. I won't make the same mistake again.

[readmoreoften]

6. I let it go after the election. I let myself believe for a second.

"Fool me twice I won't be fooled again"

[yardwork]

17. I forgave Obama after the McClurkin incident. Now I feel betrayed.

I won't watch the inauguration, and I won't donate to the transition team. I'll donate more to Lambda Legal and Amnesty International instead.

[LostinVA]

39. I was never won over -- I'm a cyncial b-word

Remember when I told you I wouldn't change my avatar? This is why.

:sigh:

[Jamastiene]

50. Yup, saw it coming too.

I'm not the least bit surprised.

[NMDemDist2]

75. I stayed out of the Primary Wars

but after Hill dropped out so did my activism.

I voted for the guy, but I never thought he was anything but a centrist "Go along to Get along" kinda guy.

I hope he governs better but I'm far from thrilled with a lot of his cabinet picks

:hug:

[racaulk]

53. Yep, that's exactly how I feel as well. n/t

[LibraLiz1973]

66. Your thoughts are quite similar to my own.

I guess it is always best to remember that politicians are, at heart, only there to stroke their own egos... and will say and do anything to be elected. The true change will NEVER come from within the establishment- we have to make them change.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Correct. If Hootie Johnson wants to keep women out of Augusta National ...it's his right....

as it is a private club. the PGA, however, should think about whether they want to endorse this bigotry.

Same here.

[ruggerson]

7. I think Prop 8 fully vindicated those of us who were PO'ed about McClurkin

You are a good man, David.

[EFerrari]

8. Not only Obama but Pelosi and Feinstein, Reid and Boehner.

If this man stays on the bill, I will not watch or celebrate it. Enough, fucking enough.

[Zuiderelle]

61. Yep. And where can I change my fucking user name?

I think I'm going to have to retire this one and start over.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Glad I saved my old bumper sticker from the '70's.

" Don't vote.
It only encourages them".

Carlin, I think.

[anndash]

10. I've just stopped

payment on the donation I made to Obama's Inaugural Committee. I will not contribute one penny to this betrayal. Also, I will refuse to watch that part of the ceremony and hope that enough brave people in the crowd turn their backs on this bigot. I'm appalled that Obama could do this after America has been bombarded with and abused by all the right-wing fanaticism for 8 years now. I'm sick of it and I thought it was over. Obviously, after Lieberman, he's not yet finished kissing the butts of the enemies of liberal thought.

[readmoreoften]

11. Thank you. There needs to be consequences for this.

I'd like to see him change his tone on both LGBT and abortion issues. This only encourages the right wing.

[marylanddem]

12. I've been thinking: I contributed HOW MUCH to his campaign?

and though i know it's early, already we've got Gates, Ray LaHood & Rick Warren. This is what you call change we can believe in?
This is why I went down to Virginia & canvassed? feeling kind of befuddled here.

[keepCAblue]

41. Demand a refund. Seriously. ... n/t

[IndianaGreen]

13. K&R

Warren is a homophobe, a misogynist, and an anti-Semite!

[David Zephyr]

47. But IG...Obama is "reaching out"...

So as Bluebear says, why doesn't he reach out to a racial bigot, too, like David Duke?

I've seen enough.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

14. I know. I defended Obama during the McClurkin fiasco too. This is indefensible.

With Donnie, it could be argued that the campaign staff failed to vet him properly. With Warren, you'd have to be living under a rock not to know what he's all about. I'm actually going to the Inauguration (we've got our tickets and airfare and it cost a bundle and I'm from the DC area and haven't been back in 10 years) but I don't blame anyone who doesn't want anything to do with it.

[ruggerson]

21. Go and have a good time

and turn your back when Warren speaks.

[ronnykmarshall]

54. I was thinking the same things.

Every GLBT person should turn their backs when that assholes speaks.

[glitch]

59. Not just GLBT people, anybody who isn't a bigot should turn their back.

Vilsack, Salazar and Warren are my last straws, in great sadness.

[ronnykmarshall]

63. Glad to hear this is making the news.

It was mentioned on Ch 11 here in LA as well as our AAR station.

[KitchenWitch]

72. Which is HUGE since we were in the middle of the "Winter Storm of the Century"

[LibraLiz1973]

67. Ding ding ding. Anyone who is NOT a bigot should turn.

[Bravehammer]

30. Obama knows who Warren is, that's for sure.

[yardwork]

15. Thank you, David.

[Toasterlad]

16. Thank You. Unfortunately, I Believe Many More Such Betrayals Are in the Offing

GLBT people - their feelings and their rights - do not concern Obama in the slightest.

[Chovexani]

18. Apology accepted, bro.

And, honestly, it does not feel good at all to say "I told you so". :(

We have to stick together. God knows few others will (no disrespect to our awesome straight allies here). :hug:

[ronnykmarshall]

55. Someone needs to reminds Warren that ...

there are gay ALL OVER THE WORLD.








But not Korea! Not Korea!

[Chovexani]

76. Haha. You big gay cherry.

There certainly is not GAY at Bareback Saddleback Church.

Wouldn't it be wild if every choir director across America just upped and quit one Sunday.

[tomp]

19. first colin powell, now rick warren.

when are you folks going to wake up?

[Ioo]

20. HATE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

[silverojo]

22. It's not an intentional betrayal--it's futile pandering

He thinks that, if he appeals to everyone, everyone will support him. But it won't happen. He'll never get the far right on his side, and having Warren at the inauguration won't change the minds of ONE fundie.

I think what might be appropriate is that the people at the inauguration should start booing when that homophobic ass Warren shows his face. Gotta let Obama know in a big way that pandering not only doesn't work...

...it also pisses off your supporters.

[yardwork]

29. Futile is the word. Republicans aren't like Democrats.

Obama can't make friends with them by reaching out to them. People like Rick Warren are another species. I thought that Obama was better than this.

[cboy4]

23. You really mean a lot to me mister.

:pals:

[David Zephyr]

46. Thanks.

What a fucking betrayal this was.

And half of the DU is excusing it.

Oh, well.

[LibraLiz1973]

68. Most here are easily swayed by bullshit. Looking at the bigger issues is not on their agenda.

[FreeJG]

24. It's "change we can make-believe in"

from here on out.

For me, the betrayal was when he voted for "blanket" immunity for the telcoms, for spying on millions of americans in a San Francisco chop shop.

I feel your pain...

[readmoreoften]

25. Great phrase.

Really hits it on the nose.

[Creideiki]

26. Sorry, dude

I disagreed with you before and tried to say why I was uncomfortable with Obama. Looks more and more like I had him pegged and I wish with every fiber of my being that I had been wrong and you right.

[BigBearJohn]

28. This shit is going to explode. I can feel it building.

[pnwmom]

31. Thanks , David -- and you're right. the McClurkin episode was the harbinger

of this.

Obama's a good man but he seems tone deaf on this issue.

[LibraLiz1973]

69. IS he a good man?? I wondered when the McClurkin thing came up.

Then I let it go and threw my support behind him once he became the candidate.
I'm not saying he's evil, but I AM saying that it is highly possible that he is
just as selfish and just as much of a LIAR as most other politicians.

[KitchenWitch]

32. I can't help but be so fucking depressed by this situation.

Obama was not my guy...but I enthusiastically voted for him because he was my party's candidate.

:puke:

I am sick about this.

[LibraLiz1973]

70. Honestly, had I known he would do this, I would not have voted.

That's how pissed I am.

There is no CHANGE here. It is bullshit.

[Libertyfirst]

33. I cannot believe I had the audacity to hope. n/t

[Moloch]

34. I've done nothing but defend Obama..

even with his numerous sleights to the gay community. Not this time. He should know better and there is no excuse.

[Skittles]

35. YOU GOT IT

yup

[LostinVA]

36. I HATE having been right about this over a year ago

I knew he didn't like gays, and I knew he would keep screwing us like this. I am REALLY pissed I threw my vote away on Obama. I feel very much played a fool.

[Bluebear]

38. We were rickrolld.

[Bluebear]

37. Thank you, David.

[David Zephyr]

45. A stunning insult at the highest possible solemn moment.

I could care less now. He'll have to find others to defend him now. I could care fucking less.

[Iggo]

40. I've given up on top down solutions.

It's bottom up from now on.

(Um, you know what I mean.)

[jonnyblitz]

42. I never liked him from day one so this is nothing new for me.

I always thought he was an arrogant and highly overrated TOOL.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

44. I didn't like him from the get-go, either...

but I was willing to take a wait and see attitude. I didn't have my state ID in time for the election, so I couldn't vote and now I'm glad it worked out that way. Having this fucking homophobe standing up there with him at the inaugurtion is the last straw. I really had hope that for once, someone would do the right thing. Big waste of hope as far as I am concerned.

[tan guera]

48. We need a shoe throwing demonstration

outside his house!  :-)

[RetiredTrotskyite]

49. Not a Bad Idea......

[Jamastiene]

51. Thank you.

I wish you had been right and I had been wrong about him. Sigh.

[racaulk]

52. Very classy, David.

Thank you. :thumbsup:

But I really, really wish I had been wrong about Obama.

[TechBear_Seattle]

56. Thank you, David

:hug:

[David Zephyr]

62. Thanks for that hug.

I think every GLBT American needs a hug now and it seems the hugging will have to come from our own.

We were betrayed.

I just watched Obama's "answer" and justification for putting Warren up on that huge stage in front of the entire world.

His justification was pathetic.

[theHandpuppet]

57. Apology accepted

If guess if there's any positive scrap that can be found amidst this latest dung-move by Obama, it's that he's revealed his hand so early. Now folks can come to terms and prepare for what are sure to be many battles to come for the soul of the Democratic Party. Or perhaps Rev. Warren has been invitied to deliver a eulogy as well?

Since I saw this coming I'm not as shocked as some here, just angry as hell. But I also see there are many DUers still in denial, even some GLBTs. And of course there are those to whom GLBT rights never amounted to a hill of beans, anyway. The homophobia and sexism exhibited on DU during the campaign was so rampant and poisonous I had to take a good long break from what had been my political home for years.

Thanks for the post and buckle up your seat belt. We're in for a long, bumpy ride.

[Marrah_G]

58. Your post brought tears to my eyes David

[Zuiderelle]

60. Yep. McClurkin paved the way. He saw how so many brushed it off and now he's just doing what

many expected. I'm pissed that we finally have a president I can respect and yet he doesn't want my respect. He doesn't care about GLBT Americans, he just said so. Like he's said all along.

[mistertrickster]

64. It's exactly what JFK did with civil rights until MLK and SNCC forced his hand.

Folks, you don't get sweeping change against an entrenched injustice by blogging.

You fill up the jails. Then you get change.

Sorry . . . I didn't make the rules: I only see how they work . . . for labor (getting unions) and civil rights.

[bigscott]

65. Thanks David

I supported BHO because he was the nominee of my party - that is the only reason.

I KNEW we would be abandoned - part of me kept hoping that it would not happen but there you have it. we have been screwed again (not in the good way) and all we have left is each other. Same as it ever was.

Peace to my GLBT brothers and sisters and our straight supporters (amazing how few of those seem to be on DU)

WE HAVE TO BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO BE GOOD TO US!!

S:grouphug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

71. yeah. we were but i dont think its JUST obama. I think its the party. they have gotten used to

our vote

[tbyg52]

73. I agree with you. I don't think it's a small thing.

Would he "reach out" to a white supremacist? I rest my case.

[foxfeet]

74. Thank you, David!

:pals: