The Barack Obama campaign's sophomoric response to the Donnie McClurkin fiasco continues to dominate yet another news cycle. Over the weekend, the Democratic presidential campaign was forced to explain his record on LGBT rights to NBC News' Meet the Press and one of the leading gay opinion blogs.
First, the appearance on MTP. (Transcript here.) After muddling through talking points on what are becoming the signature non-issues of his campaign—such as Social Security solvency and Iran, which Taylor Marsh at The Huffington Post deliciously deconstructs as "Clintonian language that was worthy of the best of the triangulators"—Tim Russert asked Obama to explain his relatively strong positions on gay rights and civil unions.
MR. RUSSERT: And yet you had a group of supporters on a Bible tour in South Carolina headed by a singer called Donnie McClurkin...
SEN. OBAMA: Mm-hmm.
MR. RUSSERT: ...who said that homosexuality was a curse and that he had been cured by prayer. Do you believe homosexuality’s a curse?
SEN. OBAMA: No.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe that it is something that you are born gay and that—or that you can change your behavior?
SEN. OBAMA: I do not believe being gay or lesbian is a choice. And so I disagree with Reverend McClurkin. But understand, Tim, part of what I hope to offer as president is the ability to reach to people that I don’t agree with, and the evangelical community is one where the Democratic Party, I think, we have generally seen as hostile. ... There’s a problem of homophobia in the African-American community. I will go into churches, I will go into meetings with ministers and say, “I disagree with you on these issues. This is not how I interpret my faith.” But the fact that we’re having a conversation, I think, allows the possibly that I will change their minds, make them more tolerant of these issues.
Sure, homophobia is a problem in the black community, but, it's only a microcosm of the rampant homophobia expressed cross our society. (The Republican Party, James Dobson, evangelical mega churches, most state legislatures ... very homophobic and mostly white.) That's exactly why the campaign should have used the South Carolina opportunity to include an openly gay black pastor or a straight ally. Didn't happen.
Moving along. Barack Obama also made a weekend appearance at The Bilerico Project, a boutique gay community blog along the lines of HuffPo whose contributors include many of the movers and shakers in the LGBT community, and, fellow presidential candidate Bill Richardson. Obama's post at TBP doesn't break much new ground—he reiterates his opposition to Rev. McClurkin's ex-gay philosophy, but, never explains why the pastor was allowed to emcee and sermonize at the event.
However, there is one nugget in the Obama post: "The American people have been poorly served by two terms of an administration that seeks to manipulate us through fear: fear over national security, fear over immigrants and fear over gay and lesbian couples in loving relationships. Americans are yearning for leadership that will put an end to the fear mongering and instead begin empowering us once again to reach for the America we know is possible." Here, here.
More BARCK OBAMA
More DONNIE McCLURKIN
More MEET THE PRESS
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Deb Price on Blacks LGBTs and Obama [R20]
Report: Barack Obama Campaign REJECTS Michael Eric Dyson and TWO Black Gay Pastor [R20]
Obama Tries Distance from "Ex-Gay" McClurkin [R20]
Obama Campaigns with Ex-Gay Donnie McClurkin [R20]
Bishop: "No Faggots or Sissies" [R20]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
Democratic Candidates Debate Gay Issues [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Hillary: The Advocate Interview [R20]
Obama on McClurkin to "The Advocate" [R20]
Aight, maybe Obabma had a slight hiccup with his handling of the Donnie McClurkin episode but I think it's time to LET IT GO AND MOVE ON! It really wasn't that serious. I mean, do we really think that this one episode should be enough to derail such a smart, talented, driven and intelligent man from making history? (Yes, I'm a black gay male in case anyone may be wondering.)
Posted by: Time2MoveOn | 12 November 2007 at 17:49
Damn, I was kinda' impressed with Barack's appearance on "Meet The Press" Sunday morning. Maybe I started sipping too early--for fear of what the Eagles would do later that afternoon.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 13 November 2007 at 08:57
Did he mean to say that the reason they requested Donnie Mc Clurkin was because he is in line with the evangelical/pro-Christian rhetoric that could attract those voters.
Posted by: sundaydinner | 13 November 2007 at 22:47
I dropped him once that fiasco happened. It was such bad handling. Also, imagine if the tables were turned and Hillary employed and gave a voice to a racist guy. Then to make up for it she added a black guy cause obviously they negate each other just as how Obama added the gay guy.
Posted by: Thomas | 01 December 2007 at 18:53