Obama Courts Gay Vote

[WillParkinson]

(Washington) Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama appealed for support Thursday from the LGBT community but maintained his opposition to same-sex marriage, preferring instead civil unions.

In what his campaign called an open letter to the gay community Obama touted his support for passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act and an inclusive ENDA.

"In the U.S. Senate, I have co-sponsored bills that would equalize tax treatment for same-sex couples and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees," the letter said.

"And as president, I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The letter goes on to say that if elected president he would use the bully pulpit "to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws."

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/02/022808letter.htm

And yet I still can't vote for him. After being used to garner votes on the other side of the fence, I find this to be offensive. Maybe it's just me.

[GOPNotForMe]

1. What part of it is offensive?

The opposition to gay marriage? Because that's a political stance that any presidential candidate is going to take to stay a viable candidate. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but all bullshit aside, we know why he and Hillary are both opposed to gay marriage.

What else is offensive?

[WillParkinson]

3. Offensive

To me it's offensive that he would let a "former gay" anti-gay speaker up on stage to speak against gays, but say that he disagrees with it. Then turn to the gays like he never threw them under the bus in the first place.

We're a political pawn. That's it. We have never been anything but votes and I find it offensive that we continue to allow this to occur. We don't demand better of our elected officials.

And, yeah, the being against gay marriage, too. I don't care the reasons for it. I find it a slap in the face. It's too good for gays, but it's OK for straights to screw it up.

Sorry, it's been a long night. I'm tired, and I just can't deal with two-faced politicians anymore.

[GOPNotForMe]

7. Maybe I'm just more cynical about politics

But I understand the political dance that politicians have to do, even when it's against their own private beliefs. I don't like it and I would love it if more politicians took completely honest opinions that weren't focus-grouped to death. But this country has a HELL of a lot of stupid-as-hell people that have to be pandered to in order to win elections, nationally at least. I don't fault him specifically for it though because all of our mainstream candidates do it. Hillary did, so did Edwards.

Now the preacher thing I agree was in bad taste but I don't think it's indicative of anything other than poor judgment. I feel sorry for McClurkin more than anything. Deep down we all know he is a sad sad individual.

[mondo joe]

2. I feel the same way. Tossing us under the bus to kiss the ass of religious bigots

is too hard for me to swallow.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. "Vote for me, and I will guarantee you never get equal rights."

He's gonna have to try a lot harder than that.

The really tragic thing is, he is our better hope. Sad; very, very sad.

[NMMNG]

5. Too little, too late

Go court your bigots, Obama. You've lost me forever.

[pinto]

6. If he is our candidate, I will vote for him. Equal rights have never been

realized overnight. Nor have they been won solely by a President.

Look at all the other civil rights campaigns. None were done in a day or even a decade, let alone by one President.

We would be wise to not cut short our efforts based only on this election. And, remember, legislation moves up from the Congress to the White House. Let's keep our eyes on the prize.

Just my 2 cents.

:hi:

[GOPNotForMe]

8. I totally agree. nt

[Tyo]

9. But you at least have to be open to seeking them.

Obama has said quite clearly that marriage is between and man and a woman and absent some divine revelation to the contrary that's his position. Sorry, but separate but equal didn't work for blacks back in the bad old days and it won't work for me now. And Obama of all people ought to understand this.

[mitchtv]

10. I've held my nose and voted many, many times

I just don't know if I can do it again. I just don't know. To quote Mrs Obama "I'd have to think about it" ( when asked if she would support Clinton if she won). Not yes but I'll have to think about it. Well dearies that's not much of a Democrat to me, now they're asking us? what Cheek!

[TechBear_Seattle]

12. "Nor have (equal rights) been won solely by a President"

Bull shit.

With Executive Order 9981 -- the mere stroke of a pen -- President Harry Truman integrated the US armed forces, even though America in 1948 overwhelmingly approved of segregation.

Compare that to Bill Clinton's cowardly refusal to veto DADT and DOMA.


Edited for grammar. :blush:

[pinto]

13. Ouch. Good points.

:hi:

[queerart]

11. What I Find Amusing Is........

(and let me preface my comment by saying that: "I don't think a piece of paper could be slipped in between Clinton, Obama, nor McCain on this topic... and lets face it... there really is no difference between all of them as a whole... plain and simple)


There needs to be more political parties in the United States.....


But what I find amusing is... the Obama campaign must be getting pretty scared they are going to loose to McCain if they are now trying to pander to the Queers.....



........and he promises to use the "Bully Pulpit" indeed.....



The Queers Easily Handed Over Their Money, And Vote In The Old Days......



It Smells Like A New Day To Many.....

[Tyler Durden]

14. THIS statement by BO still creeps me:

HRC says "HOMOSEXUALITY is not immoral."
BO says "HOMOSEXUALS are not immoral."

The first one says there is nothing wrong with the human condition called Homosexuality, the other could be used to recruit Catholic Priests: YOU aren't immoral, what you DO is immoral.

Just one more thing BO has to apologize for.

[zingaro]

15. Yes - that smacks of that whole

"love the sinner, hate the sin" bullshit. Interesting distinction.

[TechBear_Seattle]

16. Obama quotes long passages from "ex-gay" sermons

It is pretty sad, really, but does explain his refusal to denounce Donnie McClurkin and other "ex-gay" bigots.

[Tyler Durden]

17. Any chance you can PM me something?

I'd LOVE to throw that in the face of a particular asshole who keeps on with "McClurkin is no big thing."

It would be very nice to show some history and legs to this. Not that it will make any difference.

[TechBear_Seattle]

18. I would have to do a search of posts here in GLBT

You might as well do it. :hi:

A few weeks ago, Obama made a well-documented-in-the-media speech at a church which included a bit about gay rights. The substance boiled down to the same old "love the sinner" bull shit that the ex-gay ministries have been putting out for years. Someone posted here pointing out the parallels -- in some cases word-for-word quotes -- between Obama's speech and similar speeches made by Talibangelical bigots on the matter of gay rights.