McClurkin Controversy: My final asessment

[sampsonblk]

I thought initially that the controversy was a little overblown. At that time, I didn't realize just how deeply the ex-gay issue inflamed the gay & lesbian community. Because I am not gay (or lesbian), the idea that one could be ex-gay was academic for me. But for gays, its more real and its insulting and upsetting. OK I get it now.

Barack Obama chose to go to the gospel crowd for political support. While many here are opposed to that, I am not. But when a candidate goes that route, he has to accept the consequences. Its not easy to bring religion into politics, and its not hard to see where some of the problems will come from.

So Barack Obama has an ex-gay gospel singer involved in his campaign events. For most Americans, that's not an issue. No big deal. But for the gay & lesbian community, its a cause for immediate revolt. Obama put himself in the position of having to choose between constituencies.

In my view, it was an easy choice for him because of the numbers involved, and because of the needs of his campaign. From a political standpoint, he would have been foolish (and unqualified to be president) had he dumped McClurkin from the tour. He would have taken an issue with very little press and blown it up into front page, big-three network news.

But he didn't have to allow McClurkin to serve as MC. That is Obama's Sister Soujah moment. He is sending a public message, not to the gay & lesbian community, but to everyone else, that he is not the candidate of gays. This is a public denunciation of many of those on this board.

In my view, Obama will spend the next several months issuing low-profile statements favoring the gay & lesbian community. But it won't make any difference, and it shouldn't. A public statement makes a lot of difference. It tells everyone where you stand. It gives everyone something to judge you by in the future. It tells everyone that your level of commitment is so strong that you're willing to stake your immediate political future on that stand. That moves public opinion, and it moves votes.

Obama very publicly chose the gospel community and the black church over the gay & lesbian vote. I think it will help him politically. But I sure hate to see one Dem group chosen over another. Its bad business.

In the long run, this just reinforces my view that public statements are often much more important than votes. This applies to the war, FISA, torture and everything else. I want to know what the candidates believe in. Say something! That, more than a voting record, is how we can judge which candidates we should vote for and which ones we should not. We now know what Obama believes in: winning this election.

[Dawgs]

1. Couldn't disagree more.

If you want someone that will vote againt the GLBT community, vote for a Republican. If you want a candidate that will fight and vote for the GLBT community vote for a Democrat(including Obama).

Attack him for his decision to keep this man in the concert, but attacking him as being anti-gay is just plain stupid and ignorant.

[sampsonblk]

3. Some will vote, but will not fight

And that's not good enough.

I am calling a spade a spade. Obama made his choice. Allowing McClurkin to be MC was a clear statement.

[William769]

9. What is ignorant and stupid is not seeing Obama for what he really is.

:eyes:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. If You What You Say Is True That Is Sad Because Obama Was Supposed To Be Different...

He was supposed to be pure,incorruptible, and sincere...

[Perky]

13. Pure, incorruptible and sincere to who?

Allegiance and fidelity to a movement's agenda or to his vision of inclusiveness of disparate groups? I don't know know if either group can stomach the big tent that Obama wants. I wish that were the case..but it is very difficult to thread that needle succesfully.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. To Himself

DSB

[Perky]

4. I think you are precisely right.

What I have always gounf heartening about the guy is that he syas or does something that some will disgree with. but then he will not back down fromthat position. YOu might disagree with him on this or that issue...but he gets props for the vujones to not waffle.

I though they Gay minister opening the even was probably going to play as insulting to both gay and black evangelical communities and he sort of stepped in it..big time.


What I was shocked about was his decision to allow McGlurkin to emcee....I don't know if it was lying...but it certainly now can oly be seen as cold calculating politics.

It is my view that he probably feels that South Carolina is going to wind up being the Tipping point for the nomination and that Blacks and black evangelicals are his best hope to stop the inevitability train dead in its track. If Hillary wins in Iowa, NH and Sc its over. If Edwards or Obama sqeak through a victory in Iowa. No matter what happens in NH, SC will serve as ratification of HRC or her demise.

Obama clearly sees a win in SC as critically important because if he wins this third tilt, I think we roll in to Super Tuesday with no clear presumptive and that likely means that we are headed for a brokered convention. That might be his best hope.

But having said that...it would seem that this bump up of McGlurkin to emcee winds up looking like he is sacrificing support from on consituacy to win over another. Might work out well in SOuth Carolina...but he is clearly going to have some fence mending.

[hlthe2b]

5. I'm uncommitted at this point and heterosexual female...

but I am taken aback at Obama's pandering to these evangelicals. After six plus years of the RW fundies and the damage they have done, I should think that all of our DEMS would tread carefully. NO, I'm not saying to antagonize religious followers and I certainly don't mind them reaching out, but recognize first of all that there is a liberal progressive majority among Christians and other religious as well. Reach out to the inclusive among the religious organizations and leaders, not the exclusive.

Bottom line, I'm not happy to see bigotry being expounded in a Obama-sponsored forum. It WILL influence my opinion of Obama, and that is NOT a good thing. I remain agnostic to the candidates, but this is a warning flag, IMO re: Obama.

So, BO may have done himself a bit more harm than just antagonizing the GLBT community. This hetero female is also feeling the disappointment.

[FlaxieB]

6. Obama has made his feelings known that he is for everyone not just one set of Americans

All Americans no matter the race, religion and sexual perference. He is for allowing all americans to have a voice not some americans.

[MH1]

10. Don't you understand

some Americans should not be allowed to have a voice.

:sarcasm:

(sad that I even have to add that tag)

[FredScuttle]

12. So bigots deserve a voice, eh?

So glad Obama could accomodate a 1/2 hour of homo hate in his gospel concert.

[PurityOfEssence]

7. The gay preacher added to 'balance" the event is white.

Obama played the race card and the religion card, and he radically misplayed them both.

What kind of a sly message is this to send? Is it just another incredible slip-up? Does it matter?

[Karenina]

11. A grotesque one. Beyond that now. Don't know.

Andy Sidden's inclusion was a CLEAR message. He was ill-used.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. Respectfully , Sister Souljah Had No Constituency Or A Very Small One

Although she was taken out of context she said "If Black people kill Black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?"

[sampsonblk]

15. I remember her well - I was one of her constituents-nt