Gay Paper: Obama Refuses To Talk With Gay Media

UPDATE: The publisher behind the anti-Obama editorial donated $1000 to Hillary Clinton's campaign, Queerty reports:

Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal's no doubt pleased with this week's edition.

His paper made a splash yesterday when it published both an extensive interview with Hillary Clinton and a big, blank middle finger to Barack Obama, who PGN accuses of avoiding the pink press. But an Obama interview isn't the only thing missing from the paper.

Segal - who did the Clinton interviewed and also penned an exhaustive editorial bashing Obama's - failed to disclose that he donated $1,000 to the Clinton campaign back in March of 2007.

* * *

The Philadelphia Gay News is hammering Barack Obama for what they say is his consistent refusal to speak to gay media outlets.

In its latest issue, the paper features a front-page interview with Hillary Clinton and a large blank space under a photo of Barack Obama, with a banner headline reading, "Clinton Talks, Obama Balks."

The paper's accompanying editorial states:

At this point in the Democratic presidential campaign, we're able to view the candidates by their actions. And we have found that Sen. Barack Obama would rather talk at the LGBT community than with them...

The fact is that Obama has spoken with the gay press only twice, and one of those interviews...was in 2004, before he became a U.S. senator. The other limited interview occurred after controversy erupted when his campaign added an anti-gay minister to his tour of the South. It has now been 1,522 days since Obama has been accessible to our community.

You can read the full interview with Clinton here, and CBS News' coverage here. Queerty has more.

UPDATE: Queerty points out that the editor and publisher is a Hillary supporter, having donated $1000 to her campaign.

Comments

[trueAutonomy]

"The fact is that Obama has spoken with the gay press only twice, and one of those interviews­...was in 2004" That is not true. They have totally neglected the fact that he appeared on the Gay Debate on MTV's "Logo" network last year. I'm not defending him, but newspapers, editorialists & bloggers need to be kept honest.

[BenMurphyNYC]

I am not an Obama supporter - but Obama was also first to agree to do the Logo Debate if memory serves correctly (Clinton was last).

That's one of the reasons why it is so difficult for me to figure out Obama - he says the right things, has the right things up on his website, speaks about homophobia in inconvenient places but he also does an event with Donnie McClurkin, disses Mayor Newsom and refuse the PA interview. It is difficult to separate the words from the actions and come up with a clear picture of where he stands.

[hinnis]

OBAMA’S ANTI-GAY SUPPORTERS
http://tinyurl.com/423etc
http://tinyurl.com/2w3rcj
http://tinyurl.com/2m57sv

[mesuki]

Just another one of her donors proving that they are just as devious and dishonest as she is. Oh Well!.....­...Birds of a feather flock together.

[WaynesWhirled]

Do you mean like the anti-gay bigots that Obama is so fond of "flocking"with? Donnie McClurkin and James T. Meeks perhaps? One preaches that gay people are a disease and need to be "cured" while the other just wants all gay people to burn in the Fires of Hell. Yeah you're right, bigots like that want to flock together, and it's sad that Obama wants to be the lead bigot bird.

[domdella]

get your facts straight..­...your misrepresenting both of those guys....es­pecially mcclurkin.­..

[vlebje]

Except that this bird is very dangerous. It is not just the fact that he actually remains on the staff; that only makes Hillary a liar, which we all knew already. This guy is working for countries that are totalitarian and oppressive of it's people. Just a quick Google trip to trade unionism in Colombia will show you what Penn, et al, are trying to do and what horrible lengths they will go to. The country is racked with conflict, with trade unionists being favorite targets for death, disapperarances, kidnappings and the like. It is an effort by American and European multi-national corporations to take advantage of the chaos with their Shock Doctrine. Penn is actually a soldier in this war, making it possible to kill off union workers and to grease the way of his rich corporatist "friends." It is the will of the American government, in the treaty provisions, to use any force necessary to rid Colombia of any unions, and to privatize as much government capital that they can. Does this all sound familiar? It sure does. This is the SOP for the Bush and Republican administrations. And Hillary is hosting and cozying up to that very machine. My charge that Hillary is really a union-busting, job-exporting Republican is not without foundation.

[veemarge]

Completely off-topic.

[LondonTownNY]

The Clinton's are political whores with dirty operatives in every sub sect of the electorate ready to pop out at any time to slander their opponents. Every time you peel back the skin of these people, just like the sleaze ball who wrote the negative editorial on Obama, you find out lo and behold...a­nother tie to the Clinton's. The simple truth is that the independent media in this country knows exactly what the Clinton's are. The reason why Hillary is PINOCCHIO on a daily basis is that TRUTH, EVIDENCE & FACTS are a very big problem when you are trying to sell the Clinton Legacy to America.

[dlkincaid]

This man has refused to attend anything that has a remote presence where Blacks and African Americans (as he likes to be called) are concerned. Why are you people so surprised that he has done this to a Gay organization? He would not attend The State of Black America, will not even mention that Jena 6 mess (Pat Buchanon's words) and last week would not go to Memphis, TN (and you like to compare him to MLK - what a joke?). The pundits on the infamous MSNBC said on last week - Obama can choose when to be Black or not and sadly Blacks are buying it (hook line and sinker). Well not this Black (my preference) and if he is the nominee of the Democratic Party - I will not vote. John McCain and other republicans hate me and I don't see a choice, but I will never vote again. It really doesn't matter - I am 62 and a Black female - who lost my job of 27 years of the god like Reagan and am losing my home under Bush. No one really gives a damn anyway - so there be it. Just wanted to put my 2 cents in - I am a Black female and was a community activist and know this beyond a shadow of a doubt - Racism is alive and well and living in America - the handlers of Obama has done a good job of fooling the masses.

[mshawn]

Yes, it would have been much better for Obama to go to Memphis to exploit King's memory like Senator Clinton with her crocodile tears or Senator McCain standing under the balcony where King was shot.

No, all Obama did was speak to King's message of economic and social justice and challenge people not merely commemorate his assassination but to carry on his legacy. But Obama's the a-hole because he gave his speech from Memphis instead of blatantly exploiting the anniversary for his own benefit.

[Suprshrink]

This post by mshawn is incredibly dismissive and inaccurate. There are many of us who lived through and have strong feelings about the civil rights movement. We were touched by King as if he was talking about any one of us and our rights in this country. Obama, on the other hand, has little to no experience of having grown up in a racist America. He didn't grow up in the South where racism was blatant, or in the North where it was subtle. He didn't have to live in South Central L.A. or Watts or Oakland, California. He has used his African heritage to convince black voters to vote for him, but he has never been one of them. He has never shared their experiences.

[domdella]

U R REALLY DELUSIONAL­.......spe­ak for yourself on the obama issue....b­lack people understand how many doors this opens for us.....tha­ts y where lobbying so much for obama....b­lacks across the nation benefit from him being president.­..I for one benefit from obama being in the position he is in...the mindset america has of blacks is that were lazy, we love rap music, we love chicken (thats true lol ) and we can't add to save our lives....o­bama paints a different image....a­nd we at least benefit from that...now i can run a company and be viewed at as an equal.....­.he never mentions jena 6 cuz thats the job of the NCAAP...if he were running for president of the NCAAP then jena 6, Genarlow wilson, meghan williams would all be topics of his speeches..­.but he is campaigning for a position that helps everyone of all races.....­its always the older generation who stunts the growth of the younger generattion, trying to close us into your beliefs...­.we keep an open mind about everything, thats what makes the younger stronger than older people whose minds are already closed off....and if you didn't get he memo....he gave a speech in indiana reguarding MLK......

[RedBirdy]

Yeah, it'll benefit us. Let's see, how many whites are still in poverty and homeless. Having white presidents didn't help them too much. The black community cannot expect miracles from a black president. You are setting yourself up for disappointment. Obama can't hold a mirror up to this nation, and all of a sudden, oh yeah, blacks don't like chicken, or rap, or commit crimes. We need to look within ourselves and strive for more, become more responsible, hold those accountable for their actions, educate our children, etc.. and not hope his candidacy will change american's opinions of our community.

[jelly450]

No, he didn’t attend the 40th MLK assassination remembrance, but he did speak at EBC Birthday CELEBRATION in January. Barack personifies King’s Dream. An Ivy League educated Black Man, running a very competitive race to be the President of the United States. Don’t you realize how big this is? That’s why the King family told him to continue his campaigning.

Obama can choose when to be BLACK? As a Black woman you should know that’s an ASININE comment. Being Black is not something you can turn off and on, like a lamp. Give me a break, like anyone can be BLACK when it is convenient.

Barack is not a Civil Rights Era Politician, nothing wrong with being that type of Politician. In fact, he is a product of their hard work for change and equality. Since he isn’t a Civil Rights Era Politician he does not alienate people, he unifies people of ALL races, genders, and backgrounds. You feel as though you can make a difference and you want to make a difference, you think it does not have to be the same. For Blacks it is not a matter of prejudice but Pride. We are proud of Barack and want to see him succeed.

More important: at 62 should remember Jim Crow laws, and be Ashamed of yourself if you do NOT VOTE. PEOPLE DIED SO YOU CAN VOTE. I have family members that WERE KICKED, BEATEN, AND ATTACKED BY DOGS, SO YOU CAN VOTE.

Community Activist my A$@

[RedBirdy]

I don't even know where to begin on this comment. I don't think King meant, getting an IVY league education, and ignoring segments of your community and playing up others to your advantage, is the DREAM. I agree with many points. Mainly the Jena 6. He couldn't touch that issue at all because he was afraid of others reactions. Hell, Bill Clinton spoke more about Jena 6 than Obama. She shouldn't be ashamed. They died so she'd have the right. Well, it's her right and if she chooses not to excercise that right, I'm ok with that. It's her decision. And you don't know where she grew up. My parents grew up in the northeast and didn't have to deal with much Jim Crow bullshit. Stop attacking others on this site. It's sickening.

[Didi47]

dlkincaid:

My heart absolutely goes out to you and thank you for standing up for the truth. I really hope and pray that your life turns around and that somehow you can save your home. Is there anyone in the community you can go to for help? I really hope so.

[Dave01]

I recently sent a letter to the Human Rights Campaign that requested they remind their readership of the horrible sell out the Clinton's are for the gay community. The letter was too long to post here but I will provide the gist of it.

Bill Clinton, although running on the platform of allowing us to openly serve in the military sold us out the day he signed DADT. I personally had served 3 years and planned on continuing for a full 20. I was serving openly prior to DADT, you see the commanding officers were allowed to use discretion when enforcing the ban on gays serving, the DADT took that discretion out of their hands. I was given a dishonorable discharge although I had nothing but raving reviews in my record.

He sold us out once again by signing DOMA. My partner and I have now been together for 18 years, yet due to his signing that horrible bill, like ALL gay couples in the US, we are still unable to receive equality within our governments eyes. This is due to BOTH Clintons.

She has been in the Senate for 7 years now and has done nothing to benefit us. She hasn't introduce legislation to overturn these discriminatory laws, yet expect usto embrace her. The only time she or her husband is interested in our community is when they need something, our vote, but then completely sells us out or forgets about us entirely.

[BenMurphyNYC]

You’re wrong on Senator Clinton's record. Joe Solmonese -- 'senator clinton first summoned me to the hill' to discuss the strategy of the HRC in defeating the FMA. Not just to stop it in 2004 but to kill it dead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSPxGmePSiA

Joe Solmonese talked to Obama before the McClurkin event - maybe Obama should have listened.

Clinton also was a 2001 co-sponsor of the ENDA legislation. I am tired of Obama supporters trying to label the Clintons as anti-gay, racists and misrepresenting record. The record is there for you to look up - the Internet can be your tool for knowledge - not just deceit.

[Didi47]

Dave01:

Oh just shut up and give us time to take a breath for God's sake. Like, you Oabamyts - are like bloody fleas. You just keep repeating the same bile, over and over.. and lie to people with no bloody problem at all. Yech

[NCGigi]

The conservative Democrats turned against President Clinton and he was forced to compromise with DADT. The DOMA act was likewise a betrayal by the entire party. History is bad enough without a re-write.

[several]

Ok, let's also look at this from a numbers perspective too.

Philadelphia Gay News circulation statistics:
Period - Jul '07 - Dec '07
Free Copies - 12653
Paid Copies - 45
Total - 12698
Press Run - 17351
(i'm pretty sure that means they had 4833 copies they couldn't even GIVE away.)
This is a decline of 708 copies from the previous six month period.

Source: http://www.verifiedaudit.com/masthead.php?pid=4405&mid=000

As for their website, they don't even get enough hits to show up on Alexa:
http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/epgn.com

A leading Presidential contender is swamped with interview requests. They choose their interviews according to the number of people the interviews are likely to reach. Do you honestly think a paper than can't even give away a paltry 13,000 copies in six months and has pitiful site traffic is worthy of the valuable time of the leading contender for the White House? It has nothing to do with sexual preference and everything to do with good campaigning.

Obama didn't diss the entire gay media. He dissed a tiny little freebie paper who is really pissed about being tiny and unimportant.

It's not about who PGN's target audience is. It's about they fact that they have barely more than 1000 readers per month. Get over it.

[Suprshrink]

Obama refused to have his picture taken with Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco mayor, because he feared he would be associated with a politician who supported gay marriage. He is very calculating about who he is with (other than his minister) if he thinks he might have to explain an awkward position.

[buddhistMonkey]

Could you please cite the source where Obama said that he "feared he would be associated with a politician who supported gay marriage?"

Thanks in advance.

[several]

Gee, ya think he might not want to have his picture taken with Newsome because Newsom recently admitted to an affair with Ruby Rippey-Tourk, the wife of his re-election campaign manager Alex Tourk who resigned on January 31 after learning of the affair? Hmmmm? Hmmmm? Jeeeezus people.

[Maifmart]

The paper's normal circulation doesn't matter, how the front page ended up plastered all over the internet is curious. With friends such as the publisher who needs enemies, Hillary is hoping for a PA win and wide spread display of this vociferous support could stir up her Reagan dem's religious sensibilities.

[becky]

So what if he donated to the Clinton campaign, now it's a crime to donate to the Clinton campaign.
You Obama worshippers are too much. You are paying so much attention to Hillary, do you even
know what your own candidate is doing? Never hear much about him, he must be doing a lot of negative things, since the press doesn't want to cover his negatives, there is nothing to say about him
right now.

[HowardRoarke]

I know its hard to be a Clinton supporter, but please reread what you wrote.

If the publisher of the NYT donated to McCain, would you trust anything he had to say on Democratic candidates for President?

It's his right as a citizen to donate to whomever he wants, but once he does so, his claim to be an impartial judge is gone. At that point, anything he writes might as well be the McCain fan club newsletter.

[Maifmart]

Plus it's good way for cheap reporters to keep their money.

[TheHunt]

the heroes and heroines that make up the LGBT community of america have no friend in the hillbag. fact of the matter is barack obama has been there for LGB and Ts from the start of his political career while bubba and the bag have repeatedly pandered to everybody no matter what they stand for including villainous opposition to a complete set of rights for everyone in america.

[Suprshrink]

Please, your sweet talking is just too soft on the Clintons. Can't you think of better names to call them?

[deejsmom]

is there no honesty or credibility left on the HRC side? Even the media that are pro-Hillary, be it liberal, feminist, or gay would stoop to this? Signs of desperation?

[mponti]

END THIS DISCUSSION:

As Bill Maher said last Friday:
"...(W)hat is so great about the internet? It enables pompous blowhards to connect with other pompous blowhards in a vast circle jerk of pomposity.­"

[HowardRoarke]

Well, only a few pompous blowhards get their own HBO shows to spout off on.

At least here the spouted to can spout back at the spouters.

Bill is protected by that screen - no circle jerk for him, he's just an exhibitionist.

[dvdpt]

I am a fan of Bill Maher I'm very surprise he made such a comment like that I could have swore
I have seen Bill Maher article on the internet I do believe it was on the Washington Post
It seem to me that Bill Maher could be the jerk of pomposity.

[daltexdude]

I am amazed that so many in the LGBT community are enamored with all things Clinton. I think that a great number of those in the gay community don't support Obama because he is half-black. When I first came to terms with being gay (I am a black male), I thought that the gay community would be one big open tent. What I discovered over the years is that while some gays enjoy embrace diversity, a large number of internet profiles of many white gay men list every nationality / ethnic group BUT blacks as their preference. While one's romantic interests and political interests are distinct (I understand that), I believe that some of those white gay men who would NEVER date a black man would NEVER vote for one either. I am pleased that a sizable number of Obama supporters are white. I just wish that those in the community who don't support him because he is black would just fess up and admit their prejudice. For the record, I am not a black who always throws up race -- in fact, I rarely attribute human behavior to racial preferences. But when it seems obvious, I call it that way.

[signifyingnothing]

Here's an anecdotal response to your post. As a white gay man, I have known other white gay men who are indeed racist. This has always made me very sad. I always believed growing up that if you're an outsider you should simply know better than to participate in the oppression of other outsiders, but we all know that this is not always how things turn out. For me, it's equally disappointing to meet black people who are homophobic, which happens from time to time.

On the other hand, I think a lot of people don't date interracially more because they're afraid of stepping outside of their comfort zones than because they believe that whites are somehow innately superior to blacks. Either way it's sad, and also racist, but it doesn't necessitate that these same people would vote against someone based on race. I hope--and I could be wrong about this--that most gay white people are not stupid enough to believe that a black man wouldn't make a competent president. Those white gay people of whom you are suspect definitely exist, but I think they may be fewer than you imagine. Whom a person chooses to sleep with, or date, is definitely different from whom a person votes for.

Again, this is in no way a defense of the stupidity or superficiality of any white person who would "NEVER" date a black person. There are some dumb, shallow f**ks in our community!

[2008andbeyond]

I think it was Dan Savage that said something about so many gay men who like to identify with and support the martyr and dysfunctional woman, no matter who she is. Hello Hillary.

[WaynesWhirled]

Maybe it's just that Gay people don't want to vote for a Man like Obama that supports and defends hate mongering bigots.

[LB72]

I am so sick and tired of the self-absorbsed, self interested, selfish and nacissistic lbgt community trying to make themselves the center of very important elections. this is coming from a gay man. You dumba...ma­de this mistake in the 2004 presidential election knowing that Dr. Evil(Karl Rove) would use the gay marriage issue to scare off a lot of voters. You people need to have some kind of forsight. By you people making yourselves the center issue in a campaign you ultimately hurt your cause bygetting presidents elected who would appoint judges to undermine your rights and causes. Chill the f..k out. Obama supports the agenda of lgbt. Try to resist being the center of another campaign, otherwise a ultra-conservative supreme court could have us all back in the dark ages.

[WaynesWhirled]

And I'm so tired of all these hypocritical liars who keep droning on and on about HOPE and UNITY and CHANGE but when it comes to actually trying to change the laws that discriminate against gay people, Obama and his supporters are the first to tell the LGBT community that we should go and sit at the back of the bus and just be quiet. So much for change, sounds like the same old story.

Hypocrites

[mntnguy]

I am a gay male in sunny San Diego,CA EX USN. This is absolutely crazy did anyone see the list of the most liberal sen in Washington Hello who topped that list. This piece was written by a poor queen getting the wool pooled over her eyes again. The Clintons did this to us once not again. As someone who was in the military I felt completely screwed by Bill Clinton and his group of Wal-Mart Democrats! go home Hillary! I at least respected her until the late hour of this campaign. I also see alot of post about His minister in here"NEWS FLASH GAY and Lesbian People. The problem is not I repeat not! His minister!!! Most ministers if honest with you will tell you that they believe homosexuality is a sin! stop trying to change the church and it's doctrine get over it. Church is for small minded people that need to have something bigger than themselves in it they are the ones who scare easy and bow to fear!!! I know in San Diego it is Obama nation in the GLBT community. Clinton has very little support here.

[Stephen420]

I'm not sure all this is not just bickering to no end. Neither Democrat will put us at the top of the agenda in his/her administration. Don't Ask Don't Tell seems to be the rule for our whole society right now. It seems that str8 people, for the most part, are more tolerant than when I was a kid, but that doesn't mean they give a damn about LGBT issues.

The bottom line is that Hillary gave the interview and Barack did not. While I will definitely support the Democratic nominee, whoever it is, I think that Hillary, like most str8 women, is the more comfortable with a pro-LGBT message than Obama. Plus there's the deeply insulting "I'm a Christian" remark - implying among other things that Christians can't be pro-gay, implying that if only he weren't a Christian he wouldn't state the same position. Baloney.

[LAJonathan]

Obama gave a speech on the acceptance of "our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters" to over 3,000 black, texas, Christians. Hillary has NEVER spoken out in hostile territory and Obama has done this repeatedly during this campaign. Its called ACTION. HRC has the NERVE to use the term "just words" she's the epitome of the statement.

[MaineMike]

Is granting an interview more important than their voting record? Their voting record on GLBT issues is very similar and where different, I believe Obama's is better. www.hrc.org has info.

[Denni]

Does anyone associated with the Clinton camp have a sense of professional ethics?

[buddhistMonkey]

No. This has been another edition of Simple Answers to Simple Questions.