Right-Wing Townhall.com: "Obama Would Be First Gay President!"
That was fast. Only days after Democratic presidential front runner Barack Obama writes an open letter to the LGBT community and places LGBT specific advertising in Texas and Ohio, the right-wing noise machine begins its attack.
Via Media Matters are two columns by right-wing radio host Kevin McCullough at Townhall.com, the social conservative bloghub that hosts professional bigots such as right-wing harpy Ann Coulter and black anti-gay pastor Harry Jackson. In an entry today headlined "Obama Would Be America's First Gay President!", McCullough warns social conservatives that "Obama has blindsided black clergy across America with the con-game that they should not worry about his views on homosexuality" and claims Obama campaigned "at the side of Gospel uber-star Rev. Donnie McClurkin, who himself was sexually abused by a homosexual."
Facts are immaterial to bigots such as McCullough. Obama did not appear with McClurkin and the campaigning by the ex-gay evangelist created a huge rift between Obama and the LGBT community. Whatever damage was done has since been repaired by Obama's positive mentions of gays to speeches before black church audiences.
More craziness in a Friday column where McCullough ramps up the hate by uploading that controversial photo of Obama in traditional Somali dress and the crazy headline, "Hey Homos, I'm your dude!" Under the photo, the caption reads, "By the way, when we're done here, I'm going to repeal the Defense of Marriage." Hopefully, the electorate is too smart to be divided (again) by gay-baiting but the good news is the right-wing recognizes that an Obama presidency would welcome gays and lesbians and repair the damages of the Bush Administration.
Obama Would Be First Gay President!" [Townhall]
Obama: Hey Homose, I'm Your Dude [Townhall]
Radio Host McCullough Reacted to Obama LGBT Statement [Media Matters]
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Obama Buys Ads in Gay Newspapers in TX, OH [R20]
Obama: Hospital Visitation for Gay Couples is "Not a Special Privilege" [R20]
Obama Addresses Homophobia and Anti-Semitism [R20]
HRC/Logo Forum: Obama Conference Call [R20]
HRC/Logo Forum: Morning After [R20]
Obama Campaign Names Gay Supporters [R20]
Obama Meets the Press to Discuss Gays [R20]
Obama on McClurkin to "The Advocate" [R20]
The Advocate: Clinton vs Obama [R20]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
Democratic Candidates Debate Gay Issues [R20]
Primetime Reports Black HIV Epidemic [After Elton]
"Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" [R20]
Obama Snubs Clinton at SOTU [R20]
The Advocate: Clinton vs Obama [R20]
Super Tuesday Analysis [R20]
Obama Sweeps LA, WA, NE [R20]
Barack Obama Wins Iowa [R20]
Obama's Mistake Raises Questions [Det News]
Paging John Edwards and Barack Obama [HuffPo]
Barack Obama Should Tell Bob Novak... [HuffPo]
Welcome to the Campaign, Barack [HuffPo]
Teddy Endorsed Obama to Preserve JFK's Civil Rights "Legacy"? What Legacy? [HuffPo]
Why Obama is Losing Black Voters [HuffPo]
Yes, Virginia [The Daily Voice]
ROD!!!
DUDE YOU ARE ON FIRE TODAY! EVERY POST HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL!
I AM SO PROUD TO KNOW YOU!
THIS IS SO HILARIOUS TO ME THAT THEY ARE ALREADY ATTACKING SENATOR OBAMA ON THIS ISSUE, WHILE WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING FROM THE OTHER SIDE, SAYING THAT WE HEARD SOMETHING DIFFERENT BEFORE AND CAN WE TRUST HIM.
WHAT I RESPECT ABOUT THIS SPEECH/STATEMENT IS THAT IT SAYS TO BOTH GROUPS "I CAN CLARIFY MY STANCE AND IF THAT'S UNCHRISTIAN, THEN READ THE BIBLE" and "I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU HAVE A SUPPORTER IN ME!" I KNOW THAT WE HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT CHANGE, AS MANY POLITICIANS OFTEN DO (HE DIDN'T INVENT THE WORD BUT HE IS PERSONIFYING IT!), BUT HE IS THE FIRST THAT I HAD SEEN IN MY LIFETIME TAKE A STAND ON IT AND WITH IT!
I WAS SO TORN AT FIRST, BUT I AM CLEAR NOW.
THANK YOU FOR INSIGHT INTO BOTH OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES (BEEN FOLLOWING SINCE YOUR ARTICLE IN THE ADVOCATE SOME TIME AGO). YOU ARE THE BEST.
Posted by: TheRevKev | 03 March 2008 at 19:11
Rev Kev is absolutely right. Obama can't win for losing, it's too hilarious. The right attacks him and the left attacks him.
For what it's worth, I've been lurking here on and off. I love the mix of politics, gay news and men. I also appreciate the fact that you find good things to say about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Most of the black gay blogs are megaphones for the Obama campaign and most of the white gay blogs are too pro Clinton.
Posted by: toby | 03 March 2008 at 20:25
(covering my ears from RevKev's screaming) Yes, Rod, um, thanks for all your great coverage. And yes, we do appreciate your attempts to keep it positive and as objective as, er, possible.
Posted by: Andy Niable | 03 March 2008 at 20:30
Toby, which are the "white gay blogs that are too pro Clinton?"
The largest ones, Andrew Sullivan and Americablog are both extremely pro-Obama and anti-Clinton. I think Perez Hilton is pro Hillary but who reads that for politics? I only read Towleroad here and there, but he seems to like both candidates. It seems Queerty is skewing towards Obama, only because several Obama LGBT advisors have been talking with them. But I don't think anyone reads Queerty and expects fine analysis.
Posted by: Zavi | 03 March 2008 at 20:35
I'm really confused some of the comemnts on this blog. Rod doesn't have to be objective. It's a blog. Geez, no one says that about Sullivan or Aravosis.
Are we holding Rod to some higher standard because he's black, are we assuming he has to be pro Obama or betyter yet trash Clinton?
Posted by: Henry TW | 03 March 2008 at 20:44
Uh, oh. Here come the Clinton-Obama flame wars ...
Posted by: ricky | 03 March 2008 at 20:47
Poor Barack. He has incoming fore from all sides.
Posted by: brandon | 03 March 2008 at 20:49
FROM all sides!
Posted by: brandon | 03 March 2008 at 20:52
It's a Catch 22 situation. The Democratic candidates get slammed by gays for not going far enough, and, the the Republicans slam them for going too far.
Posted by: brandon | 03 March 2008 at 21:43
In answer to Henry TW's question:
YES!
Posted by: A. Ronald | 03 March 2008 at 21:58
A. Ronald, some of us are interested in reasonable discussion.
Henry's point is excellent, it's hard to find any criticism of Obama by black bloggers or pundits, there is this "don't rock the boat" mentality and group thinkspeak. If Obama becomes president, we should assume the same people will excuse anything he does. Obama and his campaign knows they get a free pass from blacks.
Posted by: Tony R | 03 March 2008 at 22:14
As always, the Rev Kev is right. Obama is attacked by the left and attacked by the right. You have to give this man credit, he is slowly trying to push our issues and introduce them to audiences that might not be receptive.
How popular is this Kevin McCullough and Townhall.com? Will conservatives start repeating this?
Posted by: Homo N Harlem | 03 March 2008 at 22:34
Either Hilly or Bama would be better for gay issues (and other issues) and better for the country than Grampa Munster. Both would make an attempt for gay rights, but frankly, I expect the inevitable compromises if not outright betrayals, as we dealt with Bill Clinton with Dont Ask/Tell/Pursue and DOMA. But Bill Clinton was still better than four more years of George HW Bush Sr. would have been.
The differences between HRC and BHO are so miniscule it really comes down to who can beat McCain.
If y'all know anyone in Texas, Ohio, Vermont or Rhode Island, tell 'em to vote for that candidate you think can win for us, and or everyone in America.
Posted by: Andy in Seattle | 04 March 2008 at 01:23
Honestly, guys, I don't think anything is funny about people using us as a wedge to hurt Obama. This sh!t ain't funny at all. Not funny.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 04 March 2008 at 16:55
And the fear mongering begins. I was waiting to see which aspect of fear Obama's detractors would take, but never did I expect the gay card. Unfortunately there are those who sit and wait for sensational news(?) like this and allow such crap to shape their ideas.
Thanks, as usual, for your on-the-mark reporting Rod!
Posted by: Doug Cooper-Spencer | 04 March 2008 at 17:44
Lost in the clouds with Jupiter transcendent
Lost in the clouds with Mars ascendant.
Love Luck and the music of the Spheres.
Azure in the arms of Cerulean
Cast adrift in the Indigo isles
May Angel love and Moon glow light your path.
Posted by: poetryman69 | 05 March 2008 at 07:36