Obama calls out Black Church for Gay-Bashing

[Perky]

And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community.

We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity.

:popcorn:

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. technically, I think he was calling out blacks in general, not necessarily the church

But his point is still a good one, and a necessary one for people to hear.

[chimpymustgo]

3. "Calling out blacks in general"??? WTF?

Please explain what you mean by, "calling out blacks in general".

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. well

if calling out the church meant that he was saying it was that specific church's fault for the things he was talking about - that didn't seem to be what he was saying.

He was addressing the people in the church, and the black community as a whole, for certain segments which have been anti-gay, or anti-semetic or anti-immigrant.

[sandnsea]

8. He's calling out the church in general, not just the black church

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/204017.aspx
http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/communitarian/obama-warren.htm

[wndycty]

2. Wow, he said that today? Sad but I doubt any DU Obama haters will give him credit for that. . .

:kick:

[sandnsea]

4. He says it all the time

He's going into the religious community and doing exactly what DU has wanted for years, confonting the bigots and haters and calling for a new kind of faith based on unity and tolerance.

http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/communitarian/obama-warren.htm
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/204017.aspx

[MADem]

6. It was good of him to say, but I sort of think expecting people to give him "credit"

for expressing a basic and obvious human rights sentiment is a bit much. I mean, really--that sort of view is part of the Democratic Party platform.

There are two good elements here. He is backing away from McClurkin with these remarks, first. Second, his efforts to educate those who might be bigoted should be the aspect that earns him 'credit'--not the fact that he says we shouldn't discriminate against gays and Jews--because that's self-evident.

[maddiejoan]

11. When he clearly states

that being Gay isn't a choice that God can help one overcome -- then I'll see him differently. When he apologizes for giving the "ex-gay" movement a voice in the debate on gay rights.

There is a long tradition of his brand of christianity "embracing gays" while calling their actions sinful. Obama has said, himself, that his opposition to same-sex marriage is religiously based. So has Edwards.

Hillary hasn't. Her reasons have more to do with keeping a fight for a Constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage off the table. I'm not pleased with Hillary's answer either --but it at least points to moving forward and doesn't involve some bizarro religious reasonings.

He can keep his embrace to himself. I want rights. Not hugs.

[AtomicKitten]

5. He has a long history of calling this out in black churches.

He tells people what they need to hear, not what the want to hear.

[rodeodance]

9. Umm. several weeks late.

[Maven]

10. Good for Obama, for including acceptance of gays and lesbians within the framework of MLK's vision.

Although the language is ambiguous (a lot of homophobes would argue they do "embrace" us, that's why they want us to "change"), I appreciate his inclusion of our issues within the context of MLK's legacy, which was the fight for equality.

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. The inclusion of this comment on this day is certainly a positive move

I am glad he said it and give him credit for doing so in this context, though I understand the remaining criticism some have expressed about his overall public posture regarding it. Obama would be a vast improvement over George W. Bush, or any of the Republicans currently running for President, regarding Gay and Lesbian rights. This was a constructive inclusion.

[noiretextatique]

12. pat roberson isn't black, neither was jerry falwell

i applaud omba's for speaking out on this issue.

but it is a completely MYTH that "the black church," or black people are more homophobic than any other people.

i am a black lesbian, and i attend a "black church" that has many gay and lesbian members. it is a very progressive religious science church, with two black, female ministers.

[hulklogan]

13. It's certainly a step in the right direction for Senator Obama. n/t

[bigwillq]

14. You've scorned us too Obama.

Nice try.

[xchrom]

15. perky -- you're one of my fav duers -- but this isn't calling anyone out.

not when obama has embraced that stance that ''gays can change''.{i.e. explaining away donnie}

or that we are some how responsible for the hate thrown at us by our ''behavior''.

both of which he has done -- and not backed away from.
now has he ever directly apologised for the mcclukin business?
and he's not going to.

doing what he did today is just plain right -- i can't give kudos to someone for doing the basic right thing.
idon't give kudos to people for not being mysoginistic or racist.
i'm not going to start for this.

[Elspeth]

16. What about calling himself out for that "ex-gay" nonesense on his campaign trail?

Take the beam out of your own eye before searching for splinters in the eyes of others, dude.

[Maven]

17. Absolutely

A kind word does not absolve him of a very hurtful misdeed.

[KennedyGuy]

19. Absolutly..say one thing..do another

pathetic and it won't wash...

[Warpy]

20. It's about time

he said this and it's nice to see.

[Iceburg]

21. Good for him. I appreciate that. /nt

[tgnyc]

22. As he kicks it with his homeboy Donnie "ex-gay" McClurkin