Obama Campaign Releases Open Letter From Supporters On Controversial Reverend

Senator Barack Obama's campaign has been struggling with its decision to hold a gospel tour in South Carolina with an anti-homosexual pastor, Donnie McClurkin.

After much criticism from gay rights groups and others, they tried inviting an openly gay minister to appear before McClurkin. But that didn't work - the Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solomonese expressed more disappointment in having the pastor on the stage and only said he hoped Obama "will move forward and facilitate face to face meetings with religious leaders, like Rev. McClurkin, and the GLBT community to confront the issue of homophobia."

Now the senator's campaign is trying to show that he's doing just that. An open letter signed by 16 LGBT and black religious leaders says that Obama is reaching out to bring blacks and homosexuals together. But Obama makes clear that even if he disagrees with African-Americans who are anti-gay, he still wants their votes.

"We believe that Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for LGBT Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate and treasured part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who believe that their religion prevents them from fully embracing their gay brothers and sisters," the letter states. "And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree."

Update: AmericaBlog's John Aravosis, who has been driving this story, reacts to the letter here.

The full letter with its signatories can be read after the jump.

To Whom It May Concern:

As representatives of Barack Obama supporters from the African American religious community and the gay community, we are issuing a statement together for the first time. Our letter addresses the recent issue of Pastor Donnie McClurkin singing at Senator Obama's "Embrace the Change" concert series. In the midst of division, we hope and believe that this is a moment to bring together communities that have been divided for far too long.

A few things are clear.



First, Pastor McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many Americans, most especially to gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied.



At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin's beliefs. This also cannot be ignored.



Finally, we believe that the only way for these two sides to find common ground is to do so together.



Not at arms length. Not in a war of words with press and pundits. Only together.



It is clear that Barack Obama is the only candidate who has made bringing these two often disparate groups together a goal. In gatherings of LGBT Americans and African Americans of faith, Obama has stated that all individuals should be afforded full civil rights regardless of their sexual orientation, and that homophobia must be eradicated in every corner of our nation. If we are to end homophobia and secure full civil rights for gay Americans, then we need an advocate within the Black community like Barack Obama.



At the same time, while Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Pastor McClurkin's comments, he will not exclude from his campaign the many Americans including many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin.



We believe that Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for LGBT Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate and treasured part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who believe that their religion prevents them from fully embracing their gay brothers and sisters. And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree.



We also ask Senator Obama's critics to consider the alternatives. Would we prefer a candidate who ignores the realities in the African American community and cuts off millions of Blacks who believe things offensive to many Americans? Or a panderer who tells African Americans what they want to hear, at the expense of our gay brothers and sisters? Or would we rather stand with Barack Obama, who speaks truth in love to both sides, pulling no punches but foreclosing no opportunities to engage?



We stand with Senator Obama. We stand with him because of the solutions he is proposing for our nation. We stand with him because of his character and his judgment. But the most important reason we stand with him is because today, as he has done all along, Barack Obama is causing us to stand together.



That's the kind of President we need, and we are proud to support him.



Sincerely,



Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr.
Olivet Institutional Baptist Church
Chair, Obama National African American Religious Leaders Working Group
Cleveland, Ohio



Stampp Corbin
Chair, Obama National LGBT Leadership Council
Former Member of Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors
Columbus, Ohio



Tobias Barrington Wolff
Chair, Obama LGBT Policy Committee
Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School
Philadelphia, PA



The Reverend Stephen John Thurston
President
National Baptist Convention of America
Chicago, IL



The Reverend Alvin Love
President
Baptist General State Convention of Illinois, Inc.



Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr.
Office of Ecumenical & Urban Affairs
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Atlanta, GA
Steven Latasa-Nicks
President, The Phelon Group, Inc.
Former Human Rights Campaign Board of Governors
New York, NY



Maxim Thorne
Former COO, Human Rights Campaign
Paterson, NJ



Phil Burgess
Former Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors
Chicago, IL



Rev. Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner
Skinner Leadership Institute
Tracy's Landing, MD



Rev. Michael Pfleger
St. Sabina, Chicago

Rev. Edward Taylor
San Jose, CA



The Reverend Robert H. Thompson
Exeter, NH



Sharon Malheiro
LGBT Activist
Des Moines, IA



Hon. Jon Cooper
Majority Leader, Suffolk County (NY) Legislature
Rev. Paul Hobson Sadler, Sr., Pastor
Mt. Zion Congregational UCC

Comments

[mamacat]

I do not buy the argument that Sen. Obama is homophobic. I have seen no evidence that he has ever done anything that can be interpreted as anti-gay, except trying to get elected. He has expressed a willingness to try to facilitate dialogue with ministers who feel they need to express antipathy towards the being homosexual.

I am very concerned about what Sen. Obama thinks the U.S. position regarding pre-emptive war with Iran should be. I am also very concerned that Sen. Clinton appears to be ready to climb on the bandwagon of preemptive war with Iran.

I realise that most Republican politicians think we need to have a preemptive war with Iran, but I happen to think they are absolutely wrong. It is time for the Democrats to stop the Republican march to another war, destroying too more countries, Iran and the U.S. There is no doubt that we have the military capability to destroy millions of Iranians. There is also absolutely no doubt that war with Iran would be the wrong thing to do, and would be extremely damaging to the U.S. as well.

Please, Sen. Obama, and everyone who is against further insanity and murder perpetrated in our name, speak up now.

[mamacat]

sorry for the bad grammar and misspellings

[starrianna]

see, Dumb Bama, even your supporters are begging you to grab a clue and speak up.

For once in your fucking life.

[Qbear]

These SAME Black evangelicals were BOUGHT with 1/3rd of the Ryan white AIDS funds by Cheney/Bush, for Know-NOTHING abstinence-only faith based programs with no medicine or scientific credentials, and no experience with a pandemic. these programs FAILED in 85% of Senior High School girls who made abstinence pledges. Black women/girls are dying from new HIV/AIDS cases...ask your God for forgiveness of that MISTAKE!

[Progress]

Obama's first mistake was pandering to evangelical ministers. You just can't waste your time with these idiots; they're dangerous to the country, dangerous to Christianity and dangerous to a campaign. Gospel tour, indeed.

Obama, in addition to your own brand of closeted toe-tapping wing-nuts, you can now kiss my ass, too. I've been wanting to support you so badly, but who wants another ass kissing fool in the White House who owes political favors to a bunch of fake-ass preachers and gospel singers with their right hand in the collection plate and their left hand jacking each other off in the closet on "the down low"?

I'm being driven out of my own party.

[kj593]

who wants another ass kissing fool in the White House

Apparently you do, so long as the ass that is being kissed is yours.

[Qbear]

What’s most disturbing about this whole mess is that I find it almost inconceivable that none of the Senator’s aides could have seen this whole McClurkin-sized storm brewing on the horizon. Does the good Senator not have a single gay senior aide that might have raised a red flag about this issue? Or, even worse, were his staffers daft enough to think they could slip this one past an unsuspecting gay community? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I do know that this all makes me a little concerned about a potential Obama presidency.

Yes, there is a lot riding on this decision from Obama, because as far as I’m concerned, it could be like pulling a thread and watching an entire seam unravel. Gay and lesbian support is too important to Obama’s campaign. Let’s not forget it was openly gay billionaire David Geffen who hosted one of Obama’s biggest (and glitziest) fundraisers to date. In a tight race with Senator Hillary Clinton this could well turn into the litmus test, indicating how much of the LGBT community will support Obama in the primaries. More importantly for me though, this is a test of character.

http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=73&id=17035

[JohnJames]

You're assuming this wasn't calculated on Obama's part to win over uneducated homophobic black voters. Republicans have been doing this for decades and it works. Perhaps he even thinks the whole controversy will make him look more "moderate". I'm not sure, but the past seven years have taught me to be very sceptical of politicians.

[kj593]

This demonstrates the quiet racism that has been driving this whole unfortunate incident.
"on Obama's part to win over uneducated homophobic black voters"
For this entire story to work you have to believe two things (1) Obama is extremely cynical politician who believes that the way to reach the African-American voting population in South Carolina is to appeal to bigotry and (2) African-Americans are fans of McClurkin's music, in large part, because of his views on homosexuality. That's the ONLY way any of this makes even a modicum of sense.
So Obama, the self-hating African-American, selects McClurkin to appeal to the latent bigotry inherent in black voters. That's the story and you kids have been pushing it like it's no tomorrow. John Aravosis is a prime example. Here's what he had to say yesterday:
"this pattern of embracing gay-bashers and wife-beaters is starting to suggest that perhaps Obama is trying to curry favor within his own community at the expense of lots of other communities, and worse, his soul."
No one has stopped to consider the racist thoughts underpinning all of this. McClurkin wants to support Obama's campaign--a campaign, which from the start, has been about building a broad base of support. His views on LGBT issue is one of the best amongst the Democratic candidates. Yet, McClurkin wants to do what he can to get him elected. Even after Obama's public statement rejecting McClurkin's views, the man (for all his faults) still wants to be part of the program. Instead of seeing this as a positive (a bigot embracing an inclusive campaign), it's become something perverse: Obama is embracing a bigot. Why? Because he's trying to appeal to "uneducated homophobic black voters".
This whole incident gets sadder by the moment--more misinformation and distortion repeated as fact. It's irresponsible and disgusting.

[dtd]

Let's be fair. Why would anyone suspect a grammy award winning artist who has appeared on countless news programs and television shows to be offensive? His music is played daily on radio and he appears weekly on BET as well as TV ONE, the only two Black owned cable networks. If no one raised these flags over the years, why is it reasonable to expect Senator Obama's aides to have seen them?

[BrianZ]

Oh wait is it a news flash that homophobic attitudes are rampant within the black community? No, I think Obama's little open letter above confirms that. And why would you NOT fully check someone before you include them in something so important as a major event being sponsored by the campaign for someone running to be nominated to run for president? Sounds sloppy as hell to me. Reasonable that they would have seen them? Really I am sorry that is not an excuse. If you simply do a generic search on the web, never reading anything but headlines, perhaps then I could see it. Even Donnie's Wikipedia entry tells it all. Again it was pure sloppy work, or a planned strategy to burnish Obama's image.
And it really is regretable that anyone wants to make this about race when it so obviously isn't.

[starrianna]

because Obama is running for higher office, that's why.

*** Would you hire Martha Stewart to promote stock investments?

*** Would you hire Jane Fonda for a USO tour?

*** Would you hire Larry Craig to babysit your teenage sons?

*** Would you hire Leona Helmsley for a Fair Housing Seminar?

[Qbear]

"They're trying to put out the fire," said the gay Obama supporter of the call planned for this evening. He said he hoped heads would roll. "Somebody made the decision [to include McClurken] and somebody approved the decision," the supporter said. "The question is, Will he hold someone accountable?"
Which is somewhat similar to what the New York Observer's Jason Horowitz has heard, again from a Obama "gay supporter":

A prominent LGBT community supporter of Obama, who will be on a scheduled conference tomorrow with campaign manager David Plouffe and deputy Steve Hildebrand, told me, "This clearly demonstrates what a crappy campaign staff this is outside the arena of finance."
"The person who came up with this idea and the people who approved it should be held accountable. The question is will Barack hold anyone accountable for this."

The supporter said, "The headlines are terrible that he has this anti-gay gospel singer with him on the tour," and "if McClurken is really vitriolic and virulent in his comments, then Barack has a serious problem."

According to the supporter, Obama now either risks upsetting and potentially alienating his gay and lesbian supporters or, if he distances himself from McClurken, he risks aggravating the black community in South Carolina.

"It's a choice that now has to happen," said the supporter. "And proper staff workers would have insured that this problem would not have arisen."


Perhaps after the conference call we'll know if Plouffe has been successful in defusing the controversy, or whether this will continue to be a problem for the campaign.
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/10/obamas_antigay_supporter.html

[Qbear]

And Monroe added, "Obama is proving that his campaign, marketed as 'The Audacity of Hope,' is really based on the audacity of hypocrisy."

So quickly and widely did unhappiness spread among Obama's own supporters over the anti-gay singers' lead campaign role that his campaign manager was forced to schedule a conference call with big gay financial contributors to the senator to try to justify the tour.

But even though he had an opportunity to cut himself loose from the bigots after the controversy over them broke, Obama didn't exactly "embrace the courage." He contented himself with issuing a press release in which he said, "I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as president of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."

But the anti-gay bigots stay on the campaign tour. The candidate pledged to add an out gay minister to the roster though none has been named.

It's worth noting that Obama's campaign Web site posted his disagreement with McClurkin only in its LGBT section - but not with the other press releases.

If a presidential candidate had been caught scheduling a vote-getting tour with a trio of anti-Semites, that candidate would be toast. And even if one is generous enough to ascribe scheduling the tour with the gay-hating gospel singers to lousy staff work, when Obama had the chance to step away from them and cancel their role in the tour, he didn't do it.



Obama's cynical, vote-seeking gamble that he can pander to Southern bigotry by campaigning with the anti-gay gospel trio while mouthing pro-gay platitudes, and get away with it, shows that he's just a bloviating empty suit from the Windy City.

Doug Ireland
http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18956221&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6

[Progress]

Along the same lines of "big tent" campaign tactics, to prove he is truly into this idea of bringing together diverse groups, I think he should invite David Duke and the KKK to sing "Dixie" on stage with the rest of these assholes.

[kj593]

If David Duke was willing to embrace Obama's message of hope and inclusive campaign, seems to me this would be a positive thing.
Oh, I'm sorry, you were trying to make a point by equating a gospel singer invited to perform at a gospel concert, with a Klan member invited for, I'm not sure. I guess to make this work, you have to have Obama sponsoring White Power rallies in Mississippi to attract the white supremacist vote. White Supremacists For Obama. Catchy.
This analogy isn't EVER going to work, unless you expressly assume that McClurkin was invited BECAUSE of his views about homosexuality (and not because he's one of the most popular gospel singers in America) and because those views are APPEALING to black voters in South Carolina (and not gospel music). I don't know what you call smearing a whole race of people to prove your superiority on an issue, but it sure SOUNDS like racism. But that's just me.

[JohnJames]

Just dump the freak, Obama, if you really want to prove you're not just another cynical politician using homophobia to garner votes.

[godlessclif]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindred:_The_Embraced

Obama is ready for the Embrace.

[godlessclif]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindred:_The_Embraced

[Progress]

What the hell is he doing any kind of "gospel" concert?

[JohnJames]

Gay people are going to hell and we can all agree to disagree and get along with the fundies. I don't think so. Obama is clearly clueless about the gay experience.

[arethabaez]

Puleeese. How many pols in this country don't know and hang out with gays? Don't you remember all the gay staffers running the repubs offices.
Bush , Newt,Condi, Karl all have gay friends and they know the score. Bill Clinton & Rudi were roomies with gays. So you think Barack has been that culturally deprived in Chicago? It's not a personal homophobia, IT'S POLITICAL HOMOPHOBIA!

[dtd]

And how many Democrats have not shared the stage with Black clergy who share McClurkin's views? ALL! Democrats mine for votes in the Black church just was Republicans do in White churches. The only difference is now the LGBT wants to make a big deal out of it because it's Obama.

[Qbear]

HIRE a different gospel singer or the LGBT supporters WALK, (regardless of what 10 underwhelming credentialed gays/lesbians sign on some stupid letter.)

We haven't come this far, to ride in the back of the bus for ANY candidate. You'd think Oprah would know this, if Barrack's campaign doesn't.

[kj593]

Qbear:

When, in the history of EVER, has an ultimatium worked? Even in your personal life? I'd be willing to wager never, but I'm open to be proven wrong.
What's curious is how this stopped being about a gospel concert and became an anti-gay rally. Did Obama pull his support of EDNA? Is he promising to pick Trancredo as a VP? His whole record on LGBT is being disregarded because: um, he's trying to appeal to the homophobic black community by having a bigot perform. Really? It couldn't be he has one of the most popular gospel singers performing at a gospel concert? Nope, apparently it's an anti-gay rally and McClurkin is the spokesman. I mean Obama's African American, at least in part, and well you know how THEY feel about homosexuals. Wink, wink.

[TurnThePageGA]

So I guess you all think that none of these candidates should try to appeal to this part of the African-American community or is this just limited to Obama. Even Dennis appeals this community. Hillary and Bill beat give all kinds of platitudes to leaders of this community while pandering to get votes from this community. I just start reading this blog, so I have not ascertained who is in here with there fake outrage using this to sway votes to their candidate, HILLARY. If you are not voting for and supporting Dennis Kucinich then you are a FAKE!

[Qbear]

wink wink this

http://pabe.files.wordpress.com/2006/08/jodie-foster-flipping-bird.jpg

[Qbear]

When, in the history of EVER, has an ultimatium worked?

The COLD WAR

if you lauch a nuclear weapon you and your country are ASHES.

[arethabaez]

I don't think Donnie was chosen for is homophobic appeal but once his hate agenda became known it should have been a no/brainer to dump him. If Bob Hope could give the ax to Anita Bryant in 1977, what's up with Obama in 2007???? People realized that haters (Yes,even gay-haters)are bad for business. GET THE MESSAGE????

[dtd]

Oprah has had Donnie on her show, and she got high ass ratings!

[BrianZ]

And his polling numbers are near historic lows. Awesome! Maybe Obama is better suited to the talk show circuit.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2008__1/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Oh and just FYI: Ever since Obama F'ed this situation up with McClurkin his polling numbers have fallen from 24-ish% to now 28 LOL Seems that a lot of voters are a bit convinced this is indicative of someone they don't want to vote for.

Best of luck to ya in 08 buddy!

[MarkInEugene]

This is absurd!! How can Gays and Lesbians be asked to compromise on their dignity and self respect??????
The Obama campaign is smarter than this!!!!
There is no compromise when someone is trying to make you a second class citizen!!!!
COME ON PEOPLE!!!! DIG DEEP...FIND TRUTH!!!!
We are unique, rare, individuals in society and we always will be a MINORITY!!! Basic laws of genetics guarantee that the number breeding pairs of heterosexual individuals will stay in a constant ratio to homosexual individuals.
YOU NEED BREEDERS TO MAKE PEOPLE!!! GET IT!!!
THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT...GOOD GRIEF...GET A CLUE!!!
EDUCATE YOURSELF FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!!

[Nommo]

Oh, get over yourselves. The world does not turn on who is gay or who ain't. You never heard of McClurkin before this, and you certainly won't remember him after all this fades to black. How many Black evangelicals do you know?
Clearly no politician is going to waste his/her time with one issue loonies. Obama has every right to deal with whomever he wants to. You should worry far more about that dope fiend in the white house already.
If this is issue enough for all the queers to vote for someone else, then go on about your business and stop squawking about McClurkin.
You better pay attention to those who want to do all kinds of violence and sanctions upon your community. I can tell you that it ain't McClurkin. He has his own issues.

[Qbear]

If you think you are convincing ONE LGBT American to overlook this afront Obama has flung in our faces....um..... not so much.

and the world doesn't revolve just for straight folks...EITHER!

You also don't tell me or any other queer what we can or can't discuss ANY PLACE WE CHOOSE, so you go F*CK YOURSELF!

[dtd]

"How can Gays and Lesbians be asked to compromise on their dignity and self respect??????" You do it everday! What do you call supporting a Democrat who no more believe in gay marriage than a Republican. If you were truly respected and Democrats didn't think your orientation was a sin, they would respect your American right to enter into a contract, which all marriage is. But they don't. Why? Because we are all homophobic to a certain extent and hypocrits as well. Most of us are just homophobic lite. Taking on Donnie McClurkin and Senator Obama without taking on all clergy who share his view, just not as vocally, or the candidates that embrace them is effectively saying we can accept some bigotry just not that much bigotry. The LGBT community are as hypocritical as the straight community.

[lentinelia]

This is breathtaking bullshit.

[starrianna]

From www.americablog.com:

Obama is trying to get gays and black religious leaders to sign a letter. Let me quote:

"Pastor McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to MANY Americans, most especially to gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied."

"At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin's beliefs. This CANNOT BE IGNORED."

Really? I'm aware that some people claim that there's a lot of homophobia in the black community - frankly, I wouldn't know - but Obama is now saying that a great many African-Americans AGREE with McClurkin?

(1) the GAYS ARE TRYING TO KILL OUR CHILDREN,
(2) that AMERICA IS AT WAR WITH THE GAYS, and
(3) HOMOSEXUALITY IS A 'CURSE'?

I'm having a hard time believing that a "great many" of them believe the kind of wacky stuff that McClurkin does.

But this line is the most important:

He will NOT exclude from his campaign many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin.

Senator Obama, are you saying that you would welcome anti-Semites and racists into your campaign, even though you strongly disagree with them, because you believe in some kind of big tent of bigotry?

No. He would kick the racist or the anti-Semite to the curb. Not to mention, "the big tent" concept traditionally means people who have differing political views, even differing political loyalties (Republican and Democrat). I've never heard a politician invoke the big tent to mean racists and their victims. This is new. And it's terribly unnerving.

Obama, ALONE among Democratic candidates, is willing to openly welcome bigots into his campaign, so the best way to promote tolerance is to embrace INtolerance? And I suppose the best way to tackle the issue of domestic violence is to not exclude wife beaters from your campaign either? That's just wacked!

Rather than writing letters, Senator, why don't you just fire the bigot and be done with it?

[mongus]

It sounds like Sen. Joe McCarthy was your hero.

"Let's get those people....let's accuse them of treason or whatever,... let's shut them up,...they are out there, ..I know it,.. trust me they are going to destroy America, believe me, I am telling the truth. We need to smear their names, destroy their credibility because I KNOW these people have every intention on bringing us all down. How can you trust those people that don't believe ME. Don't let them talk, don't let them express their opinion, because this is America, and those kind of people don't DESERVE their freedom of speech rights, becuse I KNOW that they are "un-American". We need to stand up to these people, if we don't, THEY will keep saying things that WE don't agree with.

Joe McCarthy is dead, and so is YOUR kind of thinking.

[Progress]

This is the most specious line of crap I've read in months concerning the right to free speech. Free speech, yes. But not on my time and not on my stage buster. This whole affair would come into crystal clear focus if Obama were making the same defense for David Duke and the KKK on stage with him to sing, "I once was a nigger: but now I'm healed."

[kj593]

If a racist or anti-Semite professed himself to be a supporter of Senator Obama's inclusive campaign, would he kick him to the curb? Of course NOT. Would you really want him to? Obama hasn't changed his message of inclusivenss or his position on LGBT issues, but a "bigot" still wants to do what he can to support his campaign. And you say this is a BAD thing. Can you tell me, and I'm asking in all honesty, what efforts by gay rights groups has attracted a minister (of any race) who espoused anti-gay rhetoric as a supporter of that effort? Isn't this a positive FIRST STEP toward curing the ignorance that underscores the homophobi that drives this anti-gay rhetoric?

[TurnThePageGA]

Is HILLARY or John McCain excluding from their campaigns anyone who shares McClurkins views? Don't waste my time. I already know the answer to the question. You tell HILLARY to come out with a ststement against my church, The Church of God in Christ, about what you call their bigotted "OFFICIAL" statement on Homosexuality. Seeking and accepting endorsements from these leaders, who have alot more influence on this subject than Donnie McClurkin will ever had, is a greater THREAT to the GLBT than letting someone sing on stage about how to "hang in there" when life gets hard.

[kj593]

Two words: Harold Mayberry.

[dtd]

"Obama, ALONE among Democratic candidates, is willing to openly welcome bigots into his campaign, so the best way to promote tolerance is to embrace INtolerance?"

Again, the distortions and mistruths. Do me a favor and look up Bishop Eddie Long in Atlanta, GA. There's not a Democrat who has sought votes or money in Atlanta who has not shared the stage with this man who is so fervently anti-gay that he held a march. If fact, he hosted Corretta Scott King's funeral which was attended by ALL living presidents. And btw, his Sundday congregation is more than 25,000 STRONG. If you really want to take on the Black church, you really should know what you're up against. And be prepared to lose b/c there is no way that the Democratic nominee, whoever that may be, is going to risk losing the Black vote.

[Nardwilly]

When and where did Donnie say

(1)the GAYS ARE TRYING TO KILL OUR CHILDREN,
(2) that AMERICA IS AT WAR WITH THE GAYS, and
(3) HOMOSEXUALITY IS A 'CURSE'?

He believes it is sin. Many Christians believe it is a sin. The Episcopal church face schism because the majority in the Anglicans belive homsexual activity is a sin.

If the Gay community defines the belief in the sinfulness of their acts as homophobic, they are choosing to describe a large number of people as hopelessly homphobic. This is destructive and radical.

Get over yourselves. Gays are not 10% of the population. Many gays do not view gay issues as paramount.

[AAnon]

No but you have to try to get the ignorant to understand. It is difficult I still know people who think blacks should be slaves.

Times will change all, but then it will be some other group gettings its collective ass kicked.

HUMANS=STAIN

[starrianna]

From www.americablog.com:

Obama is trying to get gays and black religious leaders to sign a letter. Let me quote:

"Pastor McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to MANY Americans, most especially to gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied."

"At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin's beliefs. This CANNOT BE IGNORED."

Really? I'm aware that some people claim that there's a lot of homophobia in the black community - frankly, I wouldn't know - but Obama is now saying that a great many African-Americans AGREE with McClurkin?

(1) the GAYS ARE TRYING TO KILL OUR CHILDREN,
(2) that AMERICA IS AT WAR WITH THE GAYS, and
(3) HOMOSEXUALITY IS A 'CURSE'?

I'm having a hard time believing that a "great many" of them believe the kind of wacky stuff that McClurkin does.

But this line is the most important:

He will NOT exclude from his campaign many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin.

Senator Obama, are you saying that you would welcome anti-Semites and racists into your campaign, even though you strongly disagree with them, because you believe in some kind of big tent of bigotry?

No. He would kick the racist or the anti-Semite to the curb. Not to mention, "the big tent" concept traditionally means people who have differing political views, even differing political loyalties (Republican and Democrat). I've never heard a politician invoke the big tent to mean racists and their victims. This is new. And it's terribly unnerving.

Obama, ALONE among Democratic candidates, is willing to openly welcome bigots into his campaign, so the best way to promote tolerance is to embrace INtolerance? And I suppose the best way to tackle the issue of domestic violence is to not exclude wife beaters from your campaign either? That's just wacked!

Rather than writing letters, Senator, why don't you just fire the bigot and be done with it?

[godlessclif]

Maybe they can all agree that Ted Haggard is completely Heterosexual.
Ted Haggard song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZmHC75FDqQ

[shag11]

I have no respect for Barack if goes forward with McClurkin.

[starrianna]

Another quote by "wshanks":

"Obama is engaging this man, and, perhaps, will have an affect on his purported gay-bashing. Have you considered this? That perhaps the way to end homophobia is to engage homophobes rather than insult and ignore them?"

Obama is ENGAGING this man?

ANSWER: NO

You and your friends have said that Obama is not even appearing with him onstage.

That is anything BUT "engaging" him.
Unless you mean engaging as in paying someone to be married to your campaign.

[kj593]

You are right, he's not engaging him. Also note that McClurkin isn't sharing his views; isn't preaching about his beliefs; isn't holding a prayer vigil to cure anyone's homosexuality. He's SINGING GOSPEL SONGS. None of which have anything to do with his views on homosexuality. Yet that hasn't stopped one person for saying that Obama is giving him a PLATFORM for his views.

[TurnThePageGA]

HILLARY is paying an anti-gay Minister in South Carolina as a paid member of her staff $10,000 per month. Where is your outrage on that? Where is the GLBT outrage on that? We already know the HRC is supporting HRC. They too are FAKE as some of you in this blog. You won't even get a statement from Hillary denouncing the Ministers views, let along fire the guy. And by the way Earl Ofari Hutchinson where your blog on that?

[dtd]

We all know that HRC has been quietly supporting HRC. They are simply using this as a vehicle to go public with their support. They've known about McClurkin's views for years along with other prominent Black clergy who have donated to the Clintons or supported them publicly. And it's never been a problem until now. What's most revealing about this whole manufactured controversy is just how out of touch White Liberals are with the most reliable and NEEDED segment of the Party--African Americans. They have know idea what they are risking by launching this campaign against McClurkin and by extension the Black church. While most don't share the view that homosexuality is a curse etc., they do believe, like MOST Christians believe irrespective of race, that homosexuality is a sin and no amount of outrage is going to change that, but what can change is their willingness to vote at all if gays and lesbians continue to compare their views with that of the KKK. A SC LGBT group is threatening to protest outside of one of the gospel concerts--all 5 of them. That should be a hilarious sight watching an old church lady go after them with her Bible. LOL!

[echoesohio]

Yes, we know. It's all Hillary's fault. Everything is Hillary's fault. This morning I'm a bit constipated. Dammit, Hillary!