The McClurkin controversy may be demonstrating the limits of "the politics of hope."

[calteacherguy]

Now, as a Clinton supporter I want to say that I have always liked Obama. I think his heart is in the right place. It's good to practice a politics of inclusion, not exclusion. Also, regarding this current controversy, in my opinion he has handled it well. He's firmly stated his disagreement with McClurkin's views, but is not excluding him from performing. I don't see a performance at an event as an endorsement of McClurkin's views. What it shows is Obama is willing to invite people into his campaign with whom he strongly disagrees. I have no doubt as President Obama would be a strong advocate of gay rights, and in my opinion the best way to change people's minds is to engage them. That applies to negotiating with Iran as well as not excluding McClurkin from a campaign event to which he has already been invited.

However, in today's supercharged political environment Obama may have reached (politically speaking, not ideally speaking) too far. He's taken the "politics of hope" (the politics of inclusion) to the outer limits with this. He's pushed the envelope...what we are learning is he may have pushed to far.

The best that can be said perhaps, is that he had the courage to push the envelope. He tried. In the end it's not Obama that has failed, it's those with closed and narrow minds who have created such a polarized American culture. Still, at some point Obama is right. We can't change hearts and minds by ostracizing people.

[Bluebear]

1. 'We can't change hearts and minds by ostracizing people.'

The evangelicals in question are not on the right side of this issue. I will not for a minute try to 'reach out' to their bigotry, especially by using one of their own against me.

[calteacherguy]

3. Of course they are not on the right side, but we need to demonstrate why we are right

and they are wrong. Can't do that by ostracizing folks.

[hedgehog]

4. Education is the only way to end this bigotry.

The only experience this man has of homosexuality is the words of people he loves and respects telling him it is wrong and the fact that two men attacked him when he was young. Is it any wonder he is confused? I don't know him, but I can imagine that he feels that it was his own homosexual urges that attracted the rapists. Rape is about power, it's not about sex, but that doesn't mean that a victim won't be left with confused feelings. His rejection of his sexuality is a rejection of his attackers. If the people around him think that the gay life style means the rape of young boys, is it any wonder they reject it?

How many people will show up to these concerts, find out they lie Obama, and end up questioning their view of homosexuals when confronted with Obama's view?

[calteacherguy]

7. Right on! Good point! nt

[Bluebear]

8. "find out they lie Obama" - Freudian or typo?

I kid, I kid.

PS there is no "gay life style".

[hedgehog]

9. My thinking is faster than my typing.

I apologize if I offended by referring to gay life style. My vocabulary is limited. Whether heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, we are all more than our sexuality but we can not ignore it either. I wish there was a better short hand. I hate using a radicalized term like homosexual, but I have no single short word that covers both male and female homosexuals, not to mention leaving bisexuals out in the cold!

[Bluebear]

10. no worries, I was really focusing on the "lie" instead of "like" :)

[LoZoccolo]

2. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuhOj2dQTrk

[MethuenProgressive]

5. Obama made his choice: Money is more important.

It's all about the Benjamins, and sucking up to the bigot wing of the evangelical movement means $$.

[calteacherguy]

6. Eh...I don't agree with that. Have any evidence to support your claim?

I think he was trying bring more folks into the Democratic fold, and my have reached too far....politically speaking.

[NWHarkness]

11. Just what we need...more bigots n/t

[calteacherguy]

12. Huh? nt

[jonnyblitz]

13. all obama was doing was vote whoring. don't insult our

intelligience by spinning it as some lofty "reaching out" BULLSHIT. PLEASE. he is WHORING FOR VOTES anywhere he can find them out of desperation because Hillary Clinton is kicking his ASS! (and I am NOT a Hillary supporter by any means)

[calteacherguy]

16. I disagree.

Perhaps I am being naive, but I do disagree. I think Obama's heart is in the right place...he wants to change American politics for the better by opening up a larger dialogue, and inviting people to question their views. Do you want to exclude someone who thinks being gay is a sin if they also support universal health care?

[rufus dog]

14. It is a lot easier to be destructive than constructive

People seem to want open discussion and inclusion for all until some one offers open discussion and inclusion for all.

[Solon]

18. That's a bunch of bullshit, no one expects homophobes and GBLT to hold hands and sing kumbaya...

That's an impossible goal, and since GBLT people can't change, the homophobes will have to abandon their bigotry.

[illinoisprogressive]

15. People here are as narrow minded as the fundies they trash

[Solon]

17. I know, you seem to be a prime example of THAT! n/t

[xchrom]

19. ok -- i'm extremely frustrated here -- why does everyone think that folk

who hate lgbtq folk are either ignorant somehow or they are gay themsleves?

neither of those two things are really true.

it's 2007. they aren't ignorant.

and 95% of people who hate lgbtq folk -- could not be farther from being gay themselves.

the ''politics'' of hope FAILS because social conservatives DO know better -- and are being willfully ignorant and in fact brutal.

you can not make peace with these people -- can't be done.

what you can do is a good job of caring for your own -- people who back you -- people who take care to get out and vote for you -- people who want to live in a better world.

[killbotfactory]

20. I would think that engaging evangelicals would help expose them to more progressive politics.

This McClurkin guy doesn't sing about homosexuality, and he won't be talking about it. People won't be walking into this event expecting a gay bashing affair, and they won't be subjecting to any homophobic talk. They will, however, come out of the event more interested in Obama, who has not only been a strong advocate for equal rights for the GLBT community, but a strong advocate for everyones rights. What is gained by ignoring these people and treated them like contagious degenerates? What do we lose when a presidential candidate goes to these churches, many of which probably preach that homosexuality is a sin and saying that homophobia is wrong, that non-believers deserve to be respected, and that gays and lesbians deserve equal rights?

[dionysus]

21. great post

[hedgehog]

22. I wish I could have said it as well.