Well I contacted someone I know at Obama's campaign

[Skidmore]

and asked about Obama's position on GLBT issues, invited them to read the threads here at DU, and to respond. I received an immedate response with the following statement regarding GLBT issues and the issue with that minister and am passing it on to DU reders. I am posting it for the interested. Note: This was a response to a question I asked in an e-mail.

Barack’s STATEMENT ON MCCLURKIN
"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.

I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."

JOINT STATEMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CLERGY AND LGBT SUPPORTERS As Barack Obama supporters from the African American religious community and the gay community, we are issuing a statement together for the first time. Our letter addresses the recent issue of Pastor Donnie McClurkin singing at Senator Obama’s “Embrace the Change” concert series. In the midst of division, we hope and believe that this is a moment to bring together communities that have been divided for far too long.
A few things are clear.
First, Donnie McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied.
At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin’s beliefs. This also cannot be ignored.
Finally, we believe that the only way for these two sides to find common ground is to do so together.
Not at arms length. Not in a war of words with press and pundits. Only together.
It is clear that Barack Obama is the only candidate who has made bringing these two often disparate groups together a goal. In gatherings of both gay Americans and African Americans of faith, Obama has stated that all individuals should be afforded full civil rights regardless of their sexual orientation, and that homophobia must be eradicated in every corner of our nation. If we are to end homophobia and secure full civil rights for gay Americans, then we need an advocate within the Black community like Barack Obama.
At the same time, while Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Pastor McClurkin's comments, he will not exclude from his campaign the many Americans including many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin.
We believe Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for gay Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who have deep theological concerns with homosexuality. And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree.
We also ask Senator Obama’s critics to consider the alternatives. Would we prefer a candidate who ignores the realities in the African American community and cuts off millions of Blacks who believe things offensive to many Americans? Or a panderer who tells African Americans what they want to hear, at the expense of our gay brothers and sisters? Or would we rather stand with Barack Obama, who speaks truth in love to both sides, pulling no punches but foreclosing no opportunities to engage?
We stand with Senator Obama. We stand with him because of the solutions he is proposing for our nation. We stand with him because of his character and his judgment. But the most important reason we stand with him is because today, as he has done all along, Barack Obama is causing us to stand together.
That's the kind of President we need, and we are proud to support him.
TAKING THE EQUAL RIGHTS MESSAGE TO AUDIENCES THAT AGREE AND THOSE THAT DON’T

BARACK SAID PUBLICALLY THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS TO OVERCOME TRADITIONAL PREJUDICE AGAINST GAYS Barack Said, “I Would Add...One Of The Things That We’ve Got To Overcome Is A Stigma That Still Exists In Our Communities...It Has Been An Aspect Of Sometimes A Homophobia.” When asked what his plan to stop and to protect young people from the scourge of HIV-AIDS by Michel Martin of NPR, YOU said, “I would add the issue of prevention involves education and one of the things that we've got to overcome is a stigma that still exists in our communities. We don't talk about this. We don't talk about in the schools. Sometimes we don't talk about it in the churches. It has been an aspect of sometimes homophobia, that we don't address this issue as clearly as it needs to be. I also think there's a broader issue here. This is going to be true on all the issues we talk about.”

BARACK HAVE SAID IT TO BLACK MINISTERS
Barack Visited Black Ministers in Tennessee, Addressed The Issue Of Homophobia In The Black Community. When asked how Barack would address homophobia in the black community. Barack said, “I have already done so...I was with Harold Ford. He organized a forum of black ministers in Tennessee. And I specifically talked about the degree to which the notion of gay marriage in black churches has been used to divide, has been used to distract. I specifically pointed out that if there is an pastor here who can point out a marriage that has been broken up as a consequence of seeing two men or two women holding hands, then you should tell me, because I haven't seen any evidence of it.”

AND IN FRONT OF THE GAY COMMUNITY
Barack Said That The Black Community Has “Got To Stop” Using Homosexuality To Divide, That Civil Rights Must Apply To All People. Barack said, “And the black community, I think, has a diversity of opinion, as you and I both know. There are people who recognize that if we're going to talk about justice and civil rights and fairness, that should apply to all people, not just some. And there are some folks who coming out of the church elevated one line in Romans above the Sermon on the Mount. So my job as a leader, not just of African Americans, but hopefully, as a leader of Americans, is to tell the truth, which is this has been a political football that has been used. It is unfortunate. It's got to stop. And when it stops, we will then be able to address the legitimate and serious concerns that face the black families.”

BARACK’s POSITIONS ON LGBT POLICY ISSUES

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes
In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported.
Obama co-sponsored legislation to expand federal hate crimes law to include crimes perpetrated because of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Fight Workplace Discrimination and Promote Rights Obama believes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Obama sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples, including the right to assist their loved ones in times of emergency as well as equal health insurance, employment benefits, and property and adoption rights. Obama also believes we need to fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions.

Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell
Obama believes we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure we accomplish our national defense goals.

Fight AIDS Worldwide
Obama has been a global leader in the fight against AIDS. He traveled to Kenya and took a public HIV test to encourage testing and reduce the stigma of the disease. Obama worked to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act, one of the largest sources of federal funds for primary health care and support services for HIV/AIDS patients."
--

[SteppingRazor]

1. Expanding hate crime statutes, repealing don't ask, don't tell, and enacting full civil unions...

is, at the very least, a good start.

Of course, this all presupposes that people look at the candidates in terms of policy, rather than the foam-at-the-mouth outrage du jour.

[flpoljunkie]

2. The statement from African American clergy and LGBT supporters about standing together in the fight

for civil rights is the way to go--if we are to begin to change people's hearts and minds in this country.

[opihimoimoi]

3. The response is too long.....but I might still vote for him if he reaches Hawaii

[Bucky]

32. Amen. I fucking HATE thoughtful, content laden candidates with all their facts & principles!

Give me glittering generalities and just tell me who to hate.

[quiet.american]

4. Skidmore, thanks for doing this. n/t

[Schema Thing]

5. Ugh!

"First, Donnie McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied.
At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin’s beliefs. This also cannot be ignored. "


Uh, yeah, it CAN be ignored. And it should have been. That's exactly what is offensive about Obama's choices. So you need those people's votes. WE ALL GET THAT. But you don't have to openly pander to those people's WRONG and hurtful traditions to get those votes. Engage those voters on other issues. Not many, strike that, not ANY African Americans are going to base their vote on whether or not you gave a platform to a particular preacher or not.

[Neecy]

6. my reaction, too

And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."

If he "strongly" disagrees with his views, why have him emcee the event? Why CREATE the kind of division he claims to want to heal?

I'm sorry, but actions speak louder than words.

[Schema Thing]

24. Exactly

Don't do it this way and then claim "Oh look, I just set up an important dialog".

[MuseRider]

25. I agree

and I have not seen any indication that any dialog happened. Since when does letting someone with hateful rhetoric spout off at a rally full of people with similar beliefs start a dialog of anything other than what they already believe? This could have been handled soooo much better and a real dialog could have happened. Now there are lines being drawn and it will take us another long while to make it back to the point we were before.

[Skidmore]

7. You know, I agree with him that both sides need to talk.

I saw a Tavis Smiley Forum about two years ago where there was a discussion of the number of men in the AA community who had experience homosexual relationships due to the large number of them being incarcerated and that the AA community does not deal with the whole issue at the level it needs to. I think this is a very complicated issue for both sides and cannot be resolved in simplistic terms to move all forward.

[Neecy]

10. have you ever been on the receiving end of their script?

Ever had anyone tell you to your face that you're a pervert, a deviant, "sick" and immoral? I have. Fundies like to camp out on corners at Pride events and tell us these wonderful things. I've heard them all my life.

But this isn't really the sticking point when it comes to the tensions between the African-American and gay communities - and I'll be very honest about this, we share much of the blame. A little history is in order, and it goes back to the 1980's and the AIDS crisis.

When AIDS first began to have significant inroads in the gay community, gay organizations fought to get coordinated service centers in communities where there were large numbers affected - and these areas were generally fairly wealthy communities (West LA, Castro, etc). I volunteered at one of these centers and was proud of the activism of my community.

However, when AIDS started making inroads in communities of color, there was an understandable need to start placing services in these communities as well. However, in the 1980's there was a real fight for funding and because the gay community had been organized longer and knew the political players the funding tended to stay within their communities. This caused a great deal of ill-will - and understandably so - within the African-American community. We all saw the dying and should have done more to bring all affected communities together and fight jointly to increase funding. This didn't really happen, at least on the west coast and as I remember in the District of Columbia there was a huge blowup over it. I'm not sure it's ever been reconciled, and here we are.

This doesn't excuse the rantings of a homophobic gospel singer, but it does help to explain where the relationship is and yes, discussion would help. But this didn't happen overnight and throwing this wrench into the works isn't going to bring about any kind of reconciliation, period.

[Skidmore]

14. Perhaps not that script, but I've been on the receiving end

of other scripts, all abhorrant. I agree that discussion may not happen overnight for any of us. Baby steps are welcomed though. This nation and its communities have become so divided over the last decade and much healing needs to occur. One gospel singer is not the issue, but perhaps he has fellow congregates who are better able to hear and respond. We don't know--not any of us--without trying.

[Chovexani]

49. I will say one thing

When my gay uncle was dying of AIDS in 1988 and our black church turned its back on us, Gay Men's Health Crisis extended a hand to my family when no one else would.

There is serious racism in the GLBT community at large but I hate that these conversations always forget that queerness and being a person of color are not mutually exclusive. There are many, many of us with multiple identities with valuable contributions to add to this but our voices are continually silenced.

Using this bullshit "both sides" terminology reinforces that invisibility.

[terrya]

12. I don't want to talk to anyone from the "ex-gay" movement.

Anyone involved in that crap is deserving of censure. And not worthy to talk to.

[Karenina]

46. Cuz dey be LYING shitstains.

JES. LIKE. DONNIE. :nuke:

Check out Clay Cane's blog or Truth Wins Out.

[Toasterlad]

34. When Did the Gay People Get to Talk?

Do you consider the white gay minister's short prayer delivered to a half empty house equal to McClurkin's 1/2 hour sermon about how God can cure homosexuality? Where exactly was the dialogue? I heard the fundie speak, but I didn't hear any words of tolerance from ANYBODY. ESPECIALLY not Obama.

Swallow his lies if you want. Actions speak far, far louder than words. And sometimes, silence speaks loudest of all.

[mondo joe]

40. Both sides? Would that be lke including Holocaist deniers whenever the Diary of Anne Frank is

presented or discussed?

[Bluerthanblue]

11. oh yeah- sure- just ignore them and they'll go away- that works

really well as history shows.

:sarcasm:

Or be assholes like * and refuse to even acknowledge that they exist until "they" come around to 'our way of thinking'????

Does this really WORK????


In struggling for human dignity the oppressed people of the world must not allow themselves to become bitter or indulge in hate campaigns. To retaliate with hate and bitterness would do nothing but intensify the hate in the world. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can be done only by projecting the ethics of love to the center of our lives.

----Martin Luther King, Jr.,

[goodgd_yall]

15. This has nothing to do with hate

It has to do with support or non-support of a candidate based on decisions he's made. I agree with the post you are replying to. Obama can court the African-American evangelistic vote without pandering to the anti-gay element of that constituent. He's only sown division by the tact he has taken. Obama may have a good LGBT rights record, but his poor handling of this raises questions of how he is to bring together people if he values the support of one group over another.

[Bluerthanblue]

30. this has everything to do with hate-

as uncomfortable as that reality is.

[mondo joe]

47. Yes, the hate of gays.

Boom.

[Bluerthanblue]

51. indeed there is that hatred- and

there is also the hatred of people who don't do what we demand that they do.

Neither one is acceptable. But both exist.

[mondo joe]

54. But opposing the political campaign of those we believe are opposed to us is still

acceptable, right?

[SoCalDem]

28. Quadragulation.. mish-mash. n/t

[mondo joe]

31. Obama Correct: McClurkin's beliefs canot be wrong. Obama Wrong: They shouldn't be

ignored - they should be corrected. Not given a free audience.

[silverweb]

8. Thank you, Skidmore.

This is a very comprehensive post, much appreciated.

[Robbien]

9. Making a long statement short: I, Obama, support these hate mongerers

because they give me money. Gay folk if you want my support, pay me.

[Bluerthanblue]

13. it's sad that you can't hear

anything other than hate in this Robbien.

You must be a great deal of pain.

I wish you peace~

sincerly- no snark- no sarcasm.

:hug:

[goodgd_yall]

16. Oh, save it n/t

[Tyler Durden]

18. Sorry. I don't buy it either.

"...a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin’s beliefs. This also cannot be ignored."

I'm CERTAIN there are still a great many WHITE Americans who share the beliefs of Adolph Hitler.

NO. On both sides of that issue, THEY SHALL BE IGNORED. Bigotry is the last, great sin of exclusion in this country. Why are there Hate Crime laws if BIGOTRY "...cannot be ignored..." ?

NO. I ams sorry. Without disavowal and apology, there is no compromise. I suggest you substitute this:

a great many rich Americans share President Bush's beliefs, or
a great many Asian Americans think young black men will rob them; this is their belief, or
a great many _____ Americans share (insert bigot's name here)'s beliefs.

SORRY. He BLEW it. He can try and recoup, or he can let it stand.

[Bluerthanblue]

20. I'm not asking you to buy anything- and I'm

not telling you what to feel or think-

My post to Robbien was intended for Robbien.
To do with as they choose.

We can't control other people.
We can only choose our own response to those who seek to control us-
peace~

[Robbien]

19. I don't see hate. There is a lot of love here.

Love of money. The hatefest drew in about $300,000. A politician's dream.

[Bluerthanblue]

21. Somehow I don't

think money is really what he's looking for.
Or in need of.
Money is only pieces of paper that people use.

peace~

[Robbien]

22. I can see you holding that viewpoint

which is why you support the man no matter what.

Me, if a guy stands there grinning, clapping and grabbing money while a hatemonger spreads hurtful and dangerous spite, I will not support him.

Different worlds.

[Tyler Durden]

23. As I cannot respond to your opponent...

I will state that I agree with you.

I have changed my avatar to William Lloyd Garrison, because like him, I will not equivocate on this subject, and I SHALL BE HEARD.

[Bluerthanblue]

27. you may

see that -

But remember that you aren't me- and I'm not you-

And you don't have to 'be' me- or even be similar to me, to be legitimate- and to have value as a person in this world.

It is the same world Robbien-

We all live in this world- but we all see it through our own eyes. And we all think we are 'right'.

I accept you just as you are-

peace~

[Toasterlad]

33. Please Save Your Wishes.

You are being as condescending as Obama. There is nothing trivial about our outrage, and your failure to recognize that does not make you superior, it makes you an unsympathetic jerk. Didn't trivialize our outrage? Yes, you did, with your patronizing tone and your "sad that you can't" bullshit. If Obama had directly insulted YOU, you'd be singing a different tune.

Since you obviously don't understand the message Obama is delivering here, I'll explain it to you(and yes, now I'M being condescending, which is my privilege, because I am the injured party, here.) Obama is saying that he doesn't give two shits what gay people think, that McClosetcase was hired to pander to fundie voters, and that the votes of religious, bigoted, nutjobs are much more important to him than the votes of the GLBT community. How is he saying this? By declaring oh so sincerely that he's attempting to bring two sides together. And yet, where was the rebuttal to McClurkin's 1/2 rant about God's cure for homosexuality? How much time did the white gay pastor get for his short prayer read to a half full house? Where was Obama's taped message denouncing McClurkin's message of hate? All I heard was a message saying he was one of his favorite performers.

The fact that this man has the audacity to claim that McClurkin's performance was a way to bring gays and fundies together, when he offered NO gay voice in rebuttal to McClurkin's vile speech, is, frankly, more gall than I've ever seen at one time from Bush. And that fact that so many of you continue to admire him and tell us to get over ourselves only goes to show how deeply homophobia is rooted into every strata of society, even into supposed "progressives".

[eridani]

41. And, as many people have pointed out, there are lots of gay or lesbian black ministers

Some of them sing pretty damned well too.

[Karenina]

44. The way he treated the BLACK LGBT community...

relegating them to the invisibility they know oh so well... :nuke: FICKEN RESPEKTLOS. Inviting a gay WHITE pastor? To address THIS demographic??? :rofl::puke::nuke: He needs to apologize to Rev. Andy as well for his misguided ill-use of this upstanding man and make a SERIOUS contribution to HIS inclusion efforts.

Hey, Toasterlad! It's NOT just homosexuals.

When bigot swarm around
I firmly stand my ground
and claim the inclusion just society grants

and so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts
and so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts
and so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts
his sisters and his cousins who'll be reconciled by DOZENS
AND HIS AUNTS!!!

It was an arithmetical error of exponential proportions.

I believe Obama is a good man and would be an awsome president. On most issues he comes down on the correct side of the line, INCLUDING LGBT issues, as is documented by his voting record. I would like to see the "dectruction machine" at least partly dismantled before he steps center stage.

Watching this from afar Gore and Kucinich

[Bluerthanblue]

17. I appreciate this- and I believe

that his words are genuine.

I don't believe he had any intention of using Mcclurken to further homophobia- And I do think he regrets that people have been further wounded by this whole incident.

His stand on LGBT rights aren't new ones for him.

I understand he deeply admires MLKjr.-

this quote seems appropriate.

In struggling for human dignity the oppressed people of the world must not allow themselves to become bitter or indulge in hate campaigns. To retaliate with hate and bitterness would do nothing but intensify the hate in the world. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can be done only by projecting the ethics of love to the center of our lives.

----Martin Luther King, Jr.,



We can't solve our problems if we ignore them- or refuse to face each other.


peace~

[Grandrose]

26. Thank You! (K&R)

Good effort in such a hostile environment as DU right now!:) :thumbsup: :kick:

[NMMNG]

29. A very nice canned response

I hear he made a bundle of the McBigot and friends concert tour, and no doubt won a lot of bigot votes. That's no doubt worth more to him than some disgruntled LGBTs.

[NorthernSpy]

35. hell, what if black voters just boycott 2008...

Black voters always show up and provide the margin of victory in a bunch of key races -- and then get their interests shoved to the end of the line anyway. What the hell's the point?

If some of you don't think there's any difference between a campaign that lets some "ex-gay" Gospel singer provide the entertainment, and the people who actually do want to deny you equal rights, then shit: you're welcome to figure out the difference for yourselves. Maybe after you're done kicking black Christians out of the Democratic Party, you'll have the chance.

[mondo joe]

37. What does Obama have to do with turnout of black voters?

[NorthernSpy]

38. after dozens of "gays have it worse than blacks!" posts...

... you ask this?


The reaction to Obama quickly turned into yet another resent-the-blacks session, and even lapsed into outright race-baiting.



And I'm pointing out that you'd think someone would have noticed by now that blacks seem to have increasingly few reasons to keep showing up to put Dems over the top.


This is just one fewer.

[mondo joe]

39. I don't recall any "gays have it worse than blacks" posts, though there were

certainly posts knocking down your pathetic claims that gays have it so well that they are privileged.

But again, what does Obama have to do with black turnout? Is Obama leading among black voters? If so, by how much? If not, by how much?

I don't know why you think black Dems have to be willing to piss on gays to vote.

[NorthernSpy]

42. I said that being able to pass is an advantage...

I didn't say that ALL gays could pass, and I didn't say that NO blacks could.

And yes, being ABLE to pass IS an advantage.

But again, what does Obama have to do with black turnout? Is Obama leading among black voters? If so, by how much? If not, by how much?

I've said what I had to say on that subject. Consider it, or don't. It's up to you.

I don't know why you think black Dems have to be willing to piss on gays to vote.

What... the... fuck?

[mondo joe]

43. So you're making shit up. Surprise!

I have never in my life said, or thought, blacks have it better than gays. That's your bizarre interpretation of acknowledging that gays have any problems. And THAT, is your problem, not mine.

[sendero]

36. Note to Obama...

... actions speak louder than words. I don't care if your "positions" are good, I care about your ACTIONS.

Giving an audience to that person doesn't seem like the actions of a person with the positions you claim to take.

Don't try to be another HRC by being all things to all people. You will NEVER beat her at that game, and now it has simply put you off of yours.

[Withywindle]

45. "In gatherings of both gay Americans and African Americans of faith..."

As if these two groups are never THE SAME PEOPLE. Sometimes they are. And he turned down several out-and-proud LGBT African-American ministers who wanted to speak, didn't he?

It's not "blacks vs. gays."

There are straight black people who are furious at Obama over this. There are white gay people defending him.

It's about bigotry, and that isn't determined by ethnicity or orientation. It's about people who realize that equality and dignity applies to everyone vs. those who *still* need another minority group to look down on.

I appreciate the thoughtfulness of this response, but it's too little, too late, and too quiet. If Obama is serious about his stance on equality (and I think he is sincere about it, I don't think he's a homophobe himself) he really needs to make that LOUD and CLEAR to everyone. Come out of the equality closet, Barack! Don't be flirting with bigots under the bathroom stall door.

[Chovexani]

48. Thank you!

Gods, how fucking hard is this?

[Withywindle]

50. I know, right?

It is hard sometimes because divide-and-conquer has been such an essential feature of political warfare in the US all along.

But as someone who's such a mutt ethnically, sexually, and classwise it cuts me into eighths every time it comes up, so I fucking hate it and have no tolerance for it. And if you ever see me falling for it, I'll take it as a favor if you slap me.

[donheld]

52. This gay man thanks you skidmore

This is a great post.

[BR_Parkway]

53. As a sitting Senator - where is the bill to repeal DADT? Or provide

civil unions on the federal level or to repeal DOMA?

Senators provide legislation, not the President. Saying how he'd do all this "once elected" is all great for the campaign trail - but actually introducing the legislation while he has the current job of Senator would be alot more meaningful.

And just for the record, I've noticed that the other candidates haven't introduced any of this either - it's not an Obama issue per se, more a notice that we in the GLBT world have gotten very used to pretty words and statements when any of them need a vote or a dollar - and never see much in the way of meaningful activity from those who are in positions to do so.

None of them needs to expend one more campaign dollar sending me an email or issuing a press release about what they are going to do to ensure GLBT citizens that their rights will be protected - any one of them can speak volumes on those issues TODAY by actually doing something about all these high minded ideals they keep telling us they are for.