Obama supporters: Please no more posts about Obama and LGBT issues

[geek tragedy]

People aren't buying it, no matter what we're trying to sell.

There is nothing you can say about his LGBT record, his policies, or what he will do as President that matters.

Nothing.

If people are going to base their vote on LGBT issues, they've already written him off because of the Donnie McClurkin thing.


People who will vote for him will do so because of Iraq, Iran, energy and environmental issues, his track record on reform, etc etc.

So, those are the issues you should talk about if you want to increase his support. Talking about his LGBT positions will just piss people off more.

[Colobo]

1. I moved on already.

[geek tragedy]

2. And this will the last time I discuss this whole fiasco.

Not talking about it is the biggest favor I can do everyone.

[William769]

3. Because not talking about it will make it go away?

I don't think so.

[geek tragedy]

6. Yes.

The people up in arms about this aren't going to support him, so there's no point in trying to win them over.

[jefferson_dem]

8. Let's see...

How often do you, or other Hillary-backers, talk about or try to defend, her IWR vote?

[William769]

10. Ah deflection, is this thread about Hillary?

[geek tragedy]

13. No, it's not.

Reality is that McClurkin will sing on Sunday, and then only hardcore opponents of Obama will continue to talk about this.

[William769]

14. Correction hardcore opponents of bigotry will continue to talk about this.

[geek tragedy]

15. And hardcore Hillary partisans like yourself.

Anyhow, those who are obsessed with this can't be won back, and those who aren't obsessed will lose interest fairly quickly.

[William769]

16. I just happen to be both!

But I will say this most of what I have seen is not coming from Clinton Supporters (the exception of those of us that are tied to the GLBT community). the one's that will keep this alive, are the one's have been thrown under the bus rolled over then had the bus put in reverse to make sure to get the job done.

[geek tragedy]

22. It won't be in the mass media, won't be in the

top tier blog discussion.

All Obama and his supporters have to do is stop talking about LGBT issues, and the controversy gets starved of oxygen. Only so much traction for a gospel concert that's already happened.

[William769]

25. Just keep thing that.

[DemFemme]

52. Then why aren't you talking about Hillary's Homophobes who've endorsed her and are on her payroll?

Oh, right, because you're fair and balanced.

[ronnykmarshall]

27. Define "hardcore opponents"

And say it REAL dirty. Cuz it's kinda hot!

[jefferson_dem]

17. Ugh...no deflections...

Are you really not able to carry on a reasonable discussion without such knee-jerk accusations?

I'm not opening up a "she supported the war and he didn't" argument. My point is that we don't often see Hillary's supporters stepping in to defend her 2003 vote. They've pretty much resolved that it's a losing cause and they'll find other battles to wage. In fact, a fellow DUer (sorry, I don't recall which one) made that very point. That's all.

[William769]

18. Same response as my original one.

But hold on to your thoughts they are working so well for you. :rofl:

[jefferson_dem]

19. As expected.

Bye.

[William769]

21. As expected from some one who supports a bigot!

bye also.

[geek tragedy]

24. Thank you for making my point.

Anyone who considers Obama a bigot is too fucking delusional to bother caring about in the first place.

[William769]

26. What point? I never called Obama a bigot. Want to try again.

I am calling Donnie a bigot and the person I responded to doesn't have a problem with him. So again what point?

[jefferson_dem]

28. self-delete.

Not worth it.

[William769]

31. I thought you were leaving?

I guess you didn't mean that either.

[Colobo]

34. Whatever it takes to destroy Obama, right Willie?

[William769]

35. On this issue? Your damn right!

[jefferson_dem]

30. So now Obama's a bigot?

Ok. Keep digging.

[geek tragedy]

44. And he eats babies too. n/t

[AndyTiedye]

37. Kind of Pointless to Defend Hillary's IWR Vote When SHE JUST DID IT AGAIN With Iran

[geek tragedy]

39. Absolutely.

But, her willingness to launch a war in the Middle East pales in comparison to Donnie McClurkin.

[rodeodance]

20. out of sight out of mind is what the IP is saying.

[sniffa]

4. do i need to show you his words from 2004?

or the Letter being sent out? or do i need to point out hiLLary's bigot backers?

frankLy, i don't there's enough of them. it's Like we're drowning in them, but we're not quite there yet.

[geek tragedy]

9. He's not going to boot McClurkin from the concert,

so nothing from 2004, 2005, 2006, or 2007 matters in terms of electoral politics.

What he would do as President doesn't matter either.

[Bitwit1234]

5. Oh sure....shut the hell up about Obama but keep on, keep on

bashing Hillary, that's ok.

[xultar]

7. People will always bash Clinton. It isn't just Obama supporters. So,

where Clinton bashing is concerned just toughen up.

[geek tragedy]

12. I'm not particularly inclined to criticize her on LGBT issues. n/t

[Teaser]

11. Only post what I agree with.

Thank you.

[zulchzulu]

23. I wrote this in another post, but it is what I think about it...

I do weekly tabling for Obama here in Madison and I am waiting to see if anyone even mentions this story...basically about some guy singing one song at a gospel event in a small town in South Carolina on one Sunday night with three other gospel groups, all started off by a gay minister who will be probably the only speaker at the event who will say that people need to get along...Barack Obama won't even be there...

It is interesting how such a story is taken by some in the LGBT community (which I do a lot of work to help out) and others feeling a need to pile on Obama due to supporting another candidate that he needs to not only be thrown under the bus, but considered an evil homophobe hellbent to stomp on their rights as well as all of his fans.

Forget the FACT that Obama has stood up for LGBT rights and has a solid voting record for that community; one event like this that is mostly due to not fully vetting Donnie McClurkin by the SC staff causes such anger. Even if Barack Obama didn't have McClurkin perform at the event, I'm sure the spin would be that he's "just trying to win back votes" or some other tact.

Let's see what actually happens at the event this Sunday. I'm sure it will not be a good night for Donnie and there will be things said to those in the religious community attending there that will be what needs to be said about not labeling homosexuality as something "evil" or whatever.

Still, I and everyone I know who does grassroots stuff for the LGBT community will still carry on despite this unfortunate set of events.

For those that say "I don't get it", you're right. I don't get how you can just be so unappreciative of those who fight the good fight for the LGBT community and get thrown under the bus so easily. How many more AIDS rides do I have to do for my uncle (who died in front of my eyes of AIDS) do I have to do to gain back "favor"?

[geek tragedy]

29. On the grassroots level, sure. Online, no.

Discussion of anything having to do with LGBT issues on the Internet is electoral poison for the Obama campaign.

Nobody online cares about his stand and record on LGBT rights.

They just don't care.

All they will care about is that he didn't boot Donnie McClurkin.

[zulchzulu]

32. What would the netroots say now if Barack threw Donnie under the bus?

I'm guessing many would say it "was too little, too late", "just looking to win back votes", etc.

I would disagree that people don't care about his LGBT rights record online...

[geek tragedy]

33. They'd pile on ten times worse:

1) He caved and this is a sign of weakness
2) He should have done this long ago, now this just looks desperate;
3) So much for the politics of inclusion
4) This is a blatant pander
5) He has no loyalty

[Chovexani]

42. I really hope you're not as ignorant as that post you just wrote

What you're basically saying in that last paragraph is, "STFU you uppity queers, and be grateful for any scraps we benevolent heteros throw you". You may not intend it that way, but that's exactly how it sounds, and I hope I don't have to explain how goddamn paternalistic and insulting that is. And my only response is a hearty fuck you, with friends like you no wonder everyone hates us.

Let me explain this one more time for the slow kids in the room: your privilege does not give you the right to castigate people who don't share that privilege when they are offended by something. How hard is this a concept to grasp? Yet it comes up again and again and again on DU, no matter which oppressed group it is--GLBT, people of color, women, Jews, poor people. Instead of trying to reach out and find out WHY we are so hurt by such statements and actions, you come riding in on your privilege horse telling us to STFU, that we're making mountains out of molehills, and shouldn't we be grateful they're not lynching us/throwing us in ovens/tying us to fences to die/burning us at the stake. It is a basic respect issue. If you are truly someone's friend, you don't hurt them and then turn around and blame them for being hurt. You ask what you can do to help. It's basic human decency.

If you still don't understand, I suggest you watch the Color Purple, specifically the scene where Miss Millie takes Sophia home, and goes on her rant about "don't you know how much I do for you people" and you might begin to understand what was so offensive about your post.

[geek tragedy]

43. I wasn't talking to LGBT folks.

I was talking about people advocating for Barack Obama.

And the plain truth is that it's dumb politics for him to talk about this stuff.

I'm not telling you to stop complaining. Go right ahead. I'm not even trying to talk you out of voting for someone else.

I'm telling the Obama people to stop explaining and defending.

[Chovexani]

51. My post wasn't directed at you, no worries

I'm most concerned with this "don't you people know what we do for you" attitude I've seen some Obama supporters take. It stinks.

[DURHAM D]

54. What bothers me about the conversation ...

Yes, so many here treat this whole Obama/McSinger dilemma as just a temporary political issue with no legs and no depth - lets just get pass it. Listen to me - I know what's good for you blah, blah, blah.

There seems to be little awareness by some that we are actually talking about our existence. Our day to day life. Our year in and year out life.

This isn't about someone's preference for President. It is about my life. It is about your life.

[Chovexani]

55. I know!

This isn't just another irrelevant campaign issue. People are living the consequences of this stuff. How many times can we say it?

It must be nice to be able to treat this like some kind of abstract thing that you can ignore at will. Oh, wait I know what that's called, it's called privilege.

[robcon]

36. When people want urge others to "stifle themselves" you know it hurts.

Personally I think Obama's position on gay issues is fine - he just made a mistake with one of the entertainers.

[geek tragedy]

38. His entire career record and future actions don't matter anymore.

Politically, the smart thing for he and his supporters to do is to not even mention LGBT rights anymore.

If he does mention them, they'll just attack him again.

[Bluebear]

40. Yes, this was all about "attacking" the poor Senator.

He had nothing to do with this.

[geek tragedy]

41. The point is that this one thing is going to outweigh

everything else he's ever done or would plan to do.


So, it's dumb politics for him to advocate LGBT rights or criticize homophobia. It'll just provoke accusations of hypocricy, etc.

Smart move for him is to pretend that LGBT issues don't exist for the rest of the campaign.

[FredScuttle]

45. Yeah, because Obama would be the 1st politician ever to have one big PR error undo a life's work

I don't know about "dumb politics" but I think it would behoove Senator Obama to uphold his defense of civil rights for all Americans and implement actions as well as words by booting McClosetCase from the concert.

[geek tragedy]

46. He won't do that.

1) He doesn't believe in that kind of stunt;

2) He wouldn't win anyone complaining about it back. It would just be seen as pandering and caving.

[FredScuttle]

47. He'd win me back

Call me crazy, but I in favor of people who do the right thing. It's not too late for him, but the more he avoids this decision, the worse it will be for him from Democrats across the board, not just LGBTs.

And since when is showing decisive leadership and common sense a "stunt"?

[geek tragedy]

48. It would be a Sistah Soulja thing.

It would not go over well in the African-American community--he'd be perceived as throwing the guy under the bus out of political expediency.

Which is exactly what it would be.

[FredScuttle]

49. The black community is not a monolith

and reasonable people of all colors would understand that Obama should not be associated with this bigot. His staff may have gotten him into this mess, but only he can get himself out of it.

And if people are going to turn on him if he boots McClosetCase from the concert, so what? He should spend his time chasing the bigot vote?

[geek tragedy]

50. Black folk are no less monolithic than LGBT folk. n/t

[DemFemme]

53. Focus on Billary. n/t

[jonnyblitz]

57. no we are focusing on your sorry ass candidate, 24/7. nt

[calteacherguy]

56. Why would people basing their vote on LGBT issues write Obama off?

Seems to me he's shown he's stronger on LGBT issues during this McClurkin "controversy" than any other candidate. I would think the LGBT community would be rallying behind him. I did see evidence of that in the open letter to his campaign from leaders in the community.

[robcon]

58. I think Obama has not been more of a leader on this.

He should have admitted a mistake (if he thinks it was a mistake) and corrected it. Half-measures will not do.

[geek tragedy]

59. You'll have to ask the people who have

written him off.