Obama Snubbed Newsom

[ccharles000]

Obama Snubbed Newsom During S.F.'s Gay Marriage Fight
During his Senate run for Illinois, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is said to have declined to have his picture taken with San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, who at the time was in the center of a national turmoil over his decision to allow same-sex marriage in the city.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday that the snub took place at a fund-raiser in 2004 hosted by former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown.

"I gave a fund-raiser, at his request at the Waterfront restaurant," Brown told the Chronicle. "And he said to me, he would really appreciate it if he didn't get his photo taken with my mayor. He said he would really not like to have his picture taken with Gavin."

While the Obama campaign has denied the rumors, Newsom's staff has corroborated the event. In a Reuters interview in January 2007, Newsom alluded to the event when asked about his thoughts on potential Democratic candidates Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Al Gore. He was also asked about his peers' reaction to his allowing same-sex marriages, which some allege helped Republicans by introducing a wedge issue in an election year.

Newsom said he received harsh reactions from other politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike.

"One of the three Democrats you mentioned as presidential candidates, as God is my witness, will not be photographed with me, will not be in the same room with me," Newsom told Reuters, "even though I've done fund-raisers for that particular person -- not once, but twice -- because of this issue."

San Francisco supervisor Bevan Duffy told the Chronicle that the mayor's endorsement of Hillary Clinton over Obama, which was announced six months ago, was due to repaying political favors. Newsom says that the snub did not influence his decision, though Brown thinks otherwise.

"I think he has harbored this resentment for years," Brown said about Newsom in the Chronicle story. "I would guess that is part of the rejection of the Obama campaign."

During the same campaign season, then-Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry also worked to avoid San Francisco, following the controversy. Brown said that he doesn't blame Obama for his caution because of the heavy conservative vote in southern Illinois.

Newsom, who attended a Town Hall meeting with the Clinton campaign on Monday, said he still looked forward to voting for Obama -- in eight years. (The Advocate)

[MADem]

1. Why would Willie Brown make that up? Or Newsom's staff?

I believe it. It matches my impression that the McClurkin business wasn't "accidental."

You can't be all things to all people. At some point in time, you have to take a stand for what is right.

I also think, despite what Newsom says, that the snub played a role in his choice of endorsement. You don't do a fund raiser for someone and then support someone else...I think Willie Brown is right on the mark.

[Dhalgren]

2. So, I am seeing this as Obama being against equality for GLBT.

Is that what you meant by he had made "a stand for what is right" - in Obama's opinion? I agree with you that this really puts McClurkin in perspective...

[MADem]

4. Actually, I don't think Obama is--alone in a room, with no consequences for his thoughts--

AGAINST equality.

What I think is that he's afraid of alienating a group of bigots who vote for him in massive numbers. He's afraid of depressing the vote in that sector, so he tries to "Be All Things To All People." When it's calling "triangulating" it's the eighth deadly sin around here in some quarters...!

So, on the one hand, he delivers pandering speeches that talk about "respect" and "tolerance" and on the other hand, he gets assholes like McClurkin to tout "Pray Away The Gay!" bullshit to that core group of churchgoing bigots. Basically, he's "Nudge Winking" the gay folk (Aww, come on, I don't MEAAAN it!) and delivering a "Let's hate the SIN and love the SINNER" message to the bigots.

The big DISCONNECT here is that the gay people aren't "sinning sinners" now, are they? They don't need to be "tolerated" either, do they?

So really, what he's doing is throwing them under the bus, while promising them that the bus driver won't KILL them--he may hit them with a tire or two, but it's all for a "good" cause--his nomination and election, where "maybe"--if they're REAL good and don't make too much trouble--he'll remember them. Noblesse oblige, and all that!!

[mitchtv]

6. There'll be no room at the table for Gays

that much is certain

[hulklogan]

7. The only room will be at the kids table with the poor, the muslims and the atheists n/t

[MADem]

13. I agree with you. It's very... sad..

Publicly, he hates gays. Privately, maybe not so much.

It's the PUBLIC face that matters, though. He's on the wrong side of his Jesus on this one, if he gets down to the INTENT, and stops focusing on the peripherals. Jesus didn't say "Read the halfassed translations of the Old Testament and take them literally." He said things like "Suffer the little children..." and "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me..." and he advocated feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick. All that silly love, love, love stuff--love thy neighbor, the greatest of these is love...

Wasn't it Ghandi who said Jesus was great, but his followers, maybe not so much???

These folks worry too much about what's in the BOOK, and not enough about what's in people's hearts.

[Tarc]

3. Ahh, so this is what Obama means by "reaching out to republicans and independents"

[mitchtv]

5. I was at the point of holding my nose

if he gets the nod, Now I kind of feel that he neither wants, nor needs my vote/$upport

[EFerrari]

8. I'm still looking for a mainstream Democrat that didn't snub Gavin

and with his help.

[readmoreoften]

9. Do you propose there's another reason why Newsom is so pissed at Obama then? Or that

Willie Brown took special notice?

Is there any reason Brown and Newsom would single him out?

[EFerrari]

10. It's not about Obama in any way.

Both Brown and Newsom had favors outstanding to the Clintons.

[NMMatt]

11. The Clintons support Gays?!?

Maybe some of you don't remember don't ask don't tell? They never missed an opportunity to sell out the Gay and Lesbian community, though they certainly were glad for financial support and votes.

I also find it interesting that Obama has his positions on LGBT issues on his website whereas Clinton does not. Obama may be a bit of an unknown quantity, but you can be sure that the Clintons will never miss an opportunity to triangulate away from the gay community.

[mitchtv]

15. DADT was a step foward , actually

If you remember. DOMA was a veto proof bill. Chose your battles. at least we had a seat at the table. By the way welcomr to DU GLBT forum.

[TankLV]

16. The Clintons are the best friends the Gay community has ever had.

We REMEMBER "don't ask don't tell" PERFECTLY. But it's aparent YOU don't.

For your education:

Clinto's FIRST order of business was to officially DO AWAY WITH THE BANNING OF GAYS SERVING IN THE MILITARY.

Let me repeat this:

Clinton wanted to DO AWAY WITH THE MILITARY'S BAN ON GAYS SERVING IN THE MILITARY.

The repukes and obaman-type BIGOTS shit a pantload and were pushing for a CONSTITUTIONAL AMMENDMENT MAKING DISCRIMINATION OFFICIAL US POLICY.

DADT was the COMPROMISE that CLINTON thankfully SAVED THE DAY by PREVENTING the obama-type BIGOTS from enacting this legislation.


But go ahead, try to slam us JUST LIKE OBAMA REPEATEDLY HAS/DOES...

It didn't work all the previous times, and IT WON'T WORK NOW...

Enjoy your - hopefully - SHORT stay here....

[Laughing Mirror]

20. Why couldn't Clinton sign an executive order removing the ban?

Was he too chicken? He was, after all, commander in chief.

[dsc]

21. because he still had to contend with the law that made concentual

sodomy a crime in the military. Removing the ban on gays while keeping that law in tact would have been worthless.

[Laughing Mirror]

25. Well then why did he promise us he would remove the ban?

So we would elect him. And then when we elected him he found an excuse with some sodomy law why he couldn't remove the ban. I know, DADT was all Colin Powell's right?

Hmmmm. What promises has Mrs Clinton made to us that she knows she'll never be able to keep?

[EFerrari]

23. The Clintons' terrible handling of both gays rights AND

universal healthcare set both projects back immeasurably.

They continue their bad handling to this day and there is no reason to believe they have learned to do better.

Eta: You can fling the word bigot around as much as you want. It doesn't make the argument for you nor does it change history.

[kdpeters]

12. There wasn't one, SF.

Several even scolded him quite publicly, including uber-homophobe Barney Frank. :eyes: I'm supporting Obama, though a lot less than enthusiastically. I really am a bit disappointed with the way some of these incidents have been handled and exploited for their political value to Clinton's campaign. It's done in the name of the gay community when it is so transparently political in nature. At least the McClurkin incident had some validity to it and a legitimate beef.

This Gavin snub? For the life of me, I don't see any relevance whatsoever. It's just silly. Really silly. It's an obvious political smear by team Clinton and yet, some of us in the gay community gladly pick up the banner as if this pettiness is of huge importance to the gay community. None of these people would care outside of the Democratic primaries. Call it opportunistic outrage. These same people would be defending Obama from the same smear with the same arguments you are making if it were coming from Republican Swift Boaters.

[EFerrari]

24. That's how it seems to me, kd.

"Let's drag Gavin Newsom into this!"

[mitchtv]

14. He seemed sadly alone

Like a previous poster said " even Barney Frank" shunned.him , making him look braver, I will love him forever (like an Obamatron) and Willie too for the Brown Act of '72?

[EFerrari]

22. I think it helped him that he had a ton of support here.

Even those of us who campaigned for his opponent did whatever was possible to support him during that time.

And, we all sort of knew that while he would go through a difficult period, that in the long run, he would be viewed as a groundbreaker and that also helped contain some of the crap that flew his (and our) way from such notable "liberals" as Diane Feinstein.

We fight with each other a lot here but, lol, they're family fights. When I saw Gavin at the following Comedy Day in the park backstage, people were lining up to thank him and shake his hand. He felt the love and that was cool since most of us hadn't voted for him in the first place.

[NorthCarolina]

17. We Had Our Chance

We could have supported Kucinich, but the gay community threw him under the bus. Deal with it.

[Not Me]

18. I early voted for Kucinich in FL

and by election day, he had dropped out. The votes won't translate to delegates anyway.

Do I feel as though I threw my vote away? Hardly. Every vote that Kucinich and Edwards got early on sends a message to the party that there are those who feel strongly about the positions these two people took.
Hopefully, Clinton and Obama are listening.

[cboy4]

19. Boy, you talk about a campaign in denial.

:eyes: