Obama on Imus back in April: "No one would be on my staff if they made racial slurs"

[Maven]

Remember this? When Obama called for CBS to fire Don Imus?

In an interview with ABC News Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., called for the firing of talk radio host Don Imus. Obama said he would never again appear on Imus' show, which is broadcast on CBS Radio and MSNBC television.

"I understand MSNBC has suspended Mr. Imus," Obama told ABC News, "but I would also say that there's nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude."

Obama said he appeared once on Imus' show two years ago, and "I have no intention of returning."

Oh, I see.

So you would immediately dissociate your campaign from media figures who made racist remarks by firing them, because racism is abhorrent and cannot be tolerated. But bigotry against gay people is just a difference of opinion, right Barack? Besides, you need the homophobic vote!

You won't "exclude from {your} campaign the many Americans including many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin," (see here), because after all we need to focus on "unity," and we need to keep expanding the big tent. But at the same time you wouldn't even talk to Imus, because that would be associating with someone who had said hateful things about a racial minority. Where was your big tent then, Barack? What about establishing a "dialogue?"

Or is it just that you don't believe homophobia is real and that it hurts a politically vulnerable group of people the same way that racism does? Which is it, Senator?

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Magnificent post!

K&R!

[MethuenProgressive]

24. Obama/McClurkin '08 would find support on DU.

Not much, but the hard core besotted and befuddled baRock-Heads would still fawn over him even if he was caught microwaving puppies on You-Tube.

[TornadoTN]

32. He's a ROCKSTAR, dontcha know?

He's the darling of the press corp, but the man has absolutely no substance.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. k/r for integrity

[Sapphocrat]

3. I only regret I can rec once!

But kick, kick, KICK! :kick:


On edit: So enthusiastic, I made a really dumb typo. LOL

[sniffa]

4. why are you such a racist hiLLbot?

k&r.

:loveya:

[LeftyMom]

5. k&r

[emilyg]

6. Ditto

[Bluebear]

7. For the a.m.

[sniffa]

8. how odd

where are the usuaL suspects? :shrug:

[Bluebear]

9. I don't think they pollinate over here in GD

[Odin2005]

10. McClurkin isn't part of Obama's staff.

Now you may return to your regularly scheduled Obama-bashing circle-jerk.

[bullwinkle428]

12. Nor was Imus - it seems like you missed the point of the OP. (n/t)

[mondo joe]

13. Just the same, it points out an impressive disonance that he would draw such a line

in the sand on the one issue but show such flexibility on the other.

For what it's worth, I think Obama's statements regarding policy on "gay issues" is far more important - and far more positive - than this incident.

But this is still some nasty shit to swallow.

[Maven]

14. So predictable.

McClurkin was HIRED to perform at an Obama event. So was that Mary Mary group or whatever the hell their name is. Imus wasn't part of Obama's staff, and wasn't scheduled to perform for him. And yet, without anyone asking him, Obama felt compelled to make this statement.

Furthermore, Obama said he would even TALK to Imus. Wouldn't associate with him. Meanwhile we get fed some nonsense about establishing a "dialogue" with people who spread hate about GLBT people. The only "dialogue" we should be having is why some forms of bigotry are negotiable to Obama, and others are not.

His hypocrisy is staring everyone in the face.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled moral relativism.

[NMMNG]

11. Apparently racism is different.

How, I don't know. But it seems it is. Even here on DU.

[William769]

15. Obamas true colors are starting to show.

To bad they are not as bright as the rainbow flags!

[trotsky]

16. Whoa.

Interesting bit of inconsistency there. Obama has some 'splaining to do.

[Duncan Grant]

17. Irrefutable, imho. k&r

I'm always amazed by the precision of the political "hair-splitting" when it comes to the lives of LGBT people. Thanks for a compelling post, Harvey! :thumbsup:

[Hutzpa]

18. This is political correctness

'GONE GAGA'

Political groups are becoming too over zealous in their pursuit of political awareness

this feels like being forced fed, there is no more public figures giving honest opinions without being lambast by these so-called presure groups.

DESPICABLE!!!



:puke:

[Maven]

26. Political correctness = RW code for STFU and let us discriminate against you

But we're not being silent anymore.

And your suggestion that we should is what's despicable. :puke:

[sniffa]

28. seriousLy

keep pushing us - i push back 10 times harder. i have no time for such hatefuL maggots.

[sampsonblk]

19. K & R for my own reasons

Obama used his position to join in the (temporary) lynching of Don Imus. Now looky looky. The shoe is on the other foot.

Very good post.

[Hutzpa]

22. That is a very biased

and dishonest statement,

What connection has the two got with each other? WHAT? :shrug:

Comparing a racially motivated comments to a comments of choice.

[Maven]

25. WOW, you really just don't get it.

At all.

[sniffa]

29. no, he gets it

he's just being dishonest. now STFU!!!1!

[NMMNG]

30. Comments of "choice"

Oh, so you're one of those I see. :popcorn"

[TornadoTN]

33. Comments of Choice?

Please clarify or there's going to be a flamewar like we've never seen the likes of before in this thread.

[Duncan Grant]

37. Choice? Do straight men agree with you? I'm sure it's news to them that they chose heterosexuality

Okay all you straight guys, it's your turn to walk on the wild side. Choose it or lose it.

Honestly, the mental manipulation some people choose to employ when defending anti-gay sentiment!

[BenDavid]

20. Gee, what sin is the biggest?

I would like to know if sin has a numerical order as to its importance. Is lust ranked higher then telling a lie? If one believes being gay is a sin then where on the scale does other sins rank?

[Hutzpa]

23. Twisted words.......

coming from a twisted mind.

Who says being Gay is a sin?

[bobbolink]

21. There are many blind spots in the Liberal big city.

We would do well to ALL look at our own.

[sniffa]

27. indeed - the anti-homeLess attitude shouLd be examined

[LeftyMom]

36. I'll send a fact-finding team down to the river, you handle the library computer lab.

[TornadoTN]

31. Obama - All flash, absoloutely no substance

After starting out really liking the guy and having him lead my choice of candidates, he has steadily lost me as a supporter. Has the consistency of a bag of diarrhea.

Plus, he loves to "pretend" to be a Senator. Take the Kyl-Lieberman vote, er non vote, that happened. He didn't even choose to show up (he was too busy campaigning) but he was very quick to take Hillary to task about her vote. Sorry Obama, at least she showed up to vote, which you skirted the issue entirely and tried to pretend like you had a valid viewpoint. At least we know where Hillary is at with the issue and we can take her to task on it.

What a disappointment this man is.

[bigwillq]

34. Great post!

:thumbsup:

[StrongBad]

35. This whole Obama thing has really got me scratching my head

I may be a political novice, but speaking in strict political utilty terms - given that this flap has caused much more negative repercussions to the GLBT bloc of Obama's support than any potential positive benefits that could be had from Rev. Donnie's presence, why doesn't he just cut his losses and get this guy off the event? The total net effect would be much better for him in my eyes.

The only thing one can infer from the fact that Obama is not relenting is that either he doesn't care, owes somebody a favor, or is just plain inexperienced.

Either way, this has been sort of a disillusioning experience for me.

[goclark]

38. The important word is "staff" not "concert "nt

[ronnykmarshall]

39. Mc Closet was "hired" by the Obama team.

Not staff .... but the asshole still worked for him.