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

[cam]

Obama's position on gay rights is clear. In trying to avoid an entirely predictable confrontation with Hillary's catspaw he is displaying the good judgement that has carried him so far, and which will serve the gay community well should he become POTUS.

[booksnmore4you]

There's nothing so fierce as a testosterone-driven "woman".

[petsounds]

It's misogynistic comments like that one that give many Hillary supporters a sense that they are on the side of justice. A lot of women out here, and some men too, believe that the root of most of the anti-Hillary feeling is simple hatred of women. Congratulations for pouring gas on that particular flame!

[justwaitandsee]

Thank you Huffington Post for keeping the fact straights; we absolutely can not have deceptive reporting with calculating motives involved.

[mrone2]

http://gaycitynews.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19249408&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=8

Gay City News
New York City
Thursday, January 31, 2008

ENDORSEMENT: Obama

What We Can Do For Our Country

By: GAY CITY NEWS

[Denni]

What does that have to do with an editor's false claim that Obama avoids the gay media (which he has NOT and there are a number of articles out there to prove that!?!?!)

[BenMurphyNYC]

This is Obama's 3rd slight at the LGBT Community - F HIM ! Three strikes and your out. I'm voting Clinton or Nader.

[queertodaydotcom]

LGBT rights are integrated into Obama's stump speech - NOT Clintons.

Obama would eradicate ALL of DOMA - NOT Clinton.

Obama co-sponsored a bill to protect the trans community/and lgbt community based on gender identity and expression - NOT Clinton.

Obama is the more pro-gay choice, who will unite people and educate them about the plight of all of us.

[WaynesWhirled]

Yes, it is well established that Obama talks a good game. But his actions tell a different story. Obama refused to remove the known anti-gay bigot Donnie McClurkin from his tour through South Carolina even though Obama had been made well aware of McClurkin's long history of preaching hateful bigotry against gay people.

And FYI: Clinton has pledged to eradicate the disparities within federal law for same sex couples and would eliminate DADT as well:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/04/politics/main3993547.shtml

And I don't know what "pro-gay choice" is. But I can tell you that Obama's tendancy to associate with hate mongering bigots does not do him any favors with the Gay community (We are not to big on Hypocrites either).

[BenMurphyNYC]

Can you remind me of the bill number of the Obama co-sponsor? I want to look it up.

*Clinton has never asked not to be photographed with someone because they supported gay Marriage - Obama has (google Newsom and Obama).
*Clinton was the first to call the HRC when the FMA came up to develop a strategy to defeat the FMA (youtube Solmonese and Hillary Clinton)
*Clinton has never defied the HRC and campaigned with an anti-gay minister, Obama has

Kennedy has been sponsoring ENDA like legislation since 2001 or before - and it always fails. ENDA pasing the House this year was historic - but it is still in the Senate, right? If we can can get part of it done now and transgender next - that would make me happy.

Obama says the right things on LGBT issues and then does another - what am I to believe? Record is important to me. Obama's record troubles me.

[billrott]

From Andrew Sullivan's Blog, the writer and editor of this paper is a Clinton campaign donor and supporter.

http://www.queerty.com/obama-blasting-publisher-gave-hillary-grand-20080405/

[northeast73]

SO WHAT!!!!!!!! Does the change the fact that Obama REFUSES to speak to them????

[Argoth]

So what? The fact that a Clinton donor wrote a "hit piece" on Obama is not enough for you?

[WaynesWhirled]

Clinton had a major announcement, which CBS and several other news outlets covered in which she pledged to eliminate the disparities for same sex couples in Federal Law. Clinton isn't being coy, or playing "cordial" . She is being very upfront about her support for the LGBT community. Unlike Obama who has anti-gay bigots like Donnie McClurkin and Pastor Meeks representing his campaign. Obama has a knack for hanging around bigots, and sooner or later he will learn that when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. And that's a major reason why a majority of the Gay community supports Hillary Clinton, not Obama.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/04/politics/main3993547.shtml

[cam]

Clinton would offer the Gay community fellatio at this point if she thought it would advance her cause any.

What ...? It's not like she'd ever be asked to deliver.

[several]

Speaking of facts:
From: http://PRIDE.barackobama.com/page/content/lgbthome

-=-=-=-=-
“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.” — Senator Barack Obama
-=-=-=-=-

And Here's a link to a PDF of Obama's positions and policy proposals on LGBT issues: http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/lgbt.pdf

You know how easy that was to find?
1) Go http://www.barackobama.com/
2) Hover your mouse cursor over the word "People"
3) Click on 'LGBT'

Now go to http://www.hillaryclinton.com/ and try to find something about LGBT issues. Go ahead. Give it a try. She's so proud of her support of the Gay Community that you can't even find the info on her website if you try. You can find it only with the help of Google.

When you finally find it, compare it to the PDF I link to above on Obama's site.

Learn the facts. You're on the internet. Use it already!

So an editor who got his feelings hurt because he's not important enough to get an interview. BFD.

[WaynesWhirled]

Strange that you don't talk about Obama's long history of having hateful anti-gay bigots like Donnie McClurkin and Pastor Meeks represent his campaign.

Now why would you leave important information like that out of your post? I wonder....­.

[mrqcguy]

As a Hillary supporter then I am sure that you are aware of her Husbands wonderful legislaton that he passed? What about "Dont ask, Dont tell" and the Defense of marriage act? Why dont you explain how these two pieces of legislation makes Hillary trustworthy on LGBT issues?

What is that I hear? Silence...­.

[billrott]

The editor for the paper is a Clinton Campaign donor.

http://www.queerty.com/obama-blasting-publisher-gave-hillary-grand-20080405/

[Stephen420]

Wow. I'm thunderstruck. Looks like a good call under the circumstances.

[BenMurphyNYC]

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

Obama dissed Mayor Gavin Newsom by asking Mayor Willie Brown to keep Newsom from being photographed with him (Google Newsom and Obama, SF Chronicle article should come up).

Obama dissed the HRC and Joe Solmonese and kept an event with an Anti-Gay minister in SC (Google Donnie McClurkin and Obama)

Obama dissed the PA LGBT community - read above.

I am not voting for an Anti-Gay candidate in November - no way, no how. That would be like a Black guy supporting a segregationist. I have no interest in that at all. It is Clinton or Nader for me at this point.

[several]

I think Clinton has some magic voodoo that makes otherwise seemingly intelligent people complete turn off their critical thinking abilities and to rationalize away anything that doesn't reflect positively on her.

Yes. Actions do speak louder than words. Hillary's website hides her support of LGBT issues (perhaps so the uneducated blue-collar homophobes in PA won't accidentally stumble across it?)

Obama has a 'pride' subdomain which is one hover and a click from the homepage where you can find his record and policies on supporting LGBT issues.

Obama wants DOMA eradicated.

Hillary wants to keep it but tweak it with a little lipservice.

Obama didn't diss the PA LGBT community. He dissed one editor of one paper. That paper is not the LGBT community. It is one small publication of many.

The editor is pissed off that he isn't important enough to get an interview, that's what the article is really about.

[scarletmenace]

Ben, what does "dissed" mean. I bet you don't know any more about any of these events than you've just written. It's ludicrous to suggest Obama is anti-gay, completely ludicrous. Why should he waste his time talking to obvious HIllary supporters anyway?

[scarletmenace]

Like Hillary so much? Explain this:

"I have always had a deep personal faith that was rooted in the Methodist church ... it also very much reflected how I thought about faith as I matured. You know, if you look at the Methodist book of discipline it talks about the four contributing streams of faith -- scripture, tradition, experience and reason. I always resonated to the fact that it was both revelatory and scripture-based but that you were invited to use your power of reason to think through your faith and to work through what it meant to you and how you would live it in your daily life."
--Hillary Clinton

"While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church....­.The General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church] shall be responsible for ensuring that no board, agency, committee, commission, or council shall give United Methodist funds to any gay caucus or group, or otherwise use such funds to promote the acceptance of homosexuality. The council shall have the right to stop such expenditures. "
--From the Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church.

[PhDiva]

Obama has a whole section on his web site focusing on LGBT issues. How do we know that the reason he didn't want to be photographed with Newsom was related to sexuality? Newsom is straight! This is getting silly.

[rocketgrrl]

while senator obama's "public record" is good on queer issues though not as strong as senator clinton's, i am equally concerned about his "actual attitudes" concerning gays and lesbians and gay marriage. below, i have pasted a quote from senator obama himself; it's probably not something you'll find on his website, but it is unnerving nonetheless because whenever someone, particularly a public figure, uses christianity to legitimize their bigotry, it is a cause of profound concern to me.....esp­ecially when coming from an alleged progressive who himself is the product of a type of marriage (interracial) that was illegal in the country until 1967 when loving versus virginia struck it down as unconstitutiona).

In a 2004 Chicago Tribune article: “Throughout the (senate) campaign, Obama has said that he opposes gay marriage but is in favor of civil unions. During a taping of WBBM-AM's "At Issue,'' he was asked his personal views on gay marriage. ‘I'm a Christian, and so although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman,’’ Obama said. But the Democratic state senator added that he does not understand people who say gay marriage somehow threatens the sanctity of marriage as an institutio­n.’
Citation:
Chicago Tribune | Obama opposes gay marriage
Nicole Ziegler Dizon
Published September 24, 2004, 3:23 PM CDT

[BenMurphyNYC]

I accept you changed - it took me 10 seconds dingus

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/lgbt/

[several]

Yep. Ten seconds *via a search engine.*

Now try to find that page by starting at http://www.hillaryclinton.com/ and clicking around for it **without using a search engine.**

Then come back here and tell us what to click on to find it, just like I did with Obama's site, _without using a search engine_ just using the menus and links from her home page.

(btw, what is a 'dingus' and what does "i accept you changed" mean?)

[MaineMike]

How did you find that page? I can't find it on the main hillaryclinton.com website. If you used Google, what did you search on?

[several]

I tried to post this a few hours ago and a moderator chose not to allow it through. Hopefully a different moderator who is not trying to impose their own agenda on this thread will let it through this time:

From: http://www.queerty.com/obama-blasting-publisher-gave-hillary-grand-20080405/
-=-=-=-=-=-
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.
-=-=-=-=-=-

Let the fact-checking begin.

[JMEB]

I am 100% gay but also 100% realistic. I understand that both Clinton & Obama have to be cordial but not warm to our community. They want to win!
The more they make us happy, the more they piss off the Middle America bigots, who outnumber us 10:1.
Sad but true.
Fortunately, the dialogue is about 100 times better now than it was 20 years ago. And maybe in 20 years, presidential candidates will be able to be open about being for the gay community.

[obtusegoose]

Well said.

[zebra3]

Barack Obama identifies as a black man because he is a black man. But I don't get the sense that he is a proponent of identity politics. Gay activists are major proponents of identity politics. Not every member of a minority group "believes" in identity politics. For one person, being gay is not only personally important to them, it's the center of their political universe as well. For another person, being asian might be personally important, but she might not expect that "asian issues" should be a feature aspect of every candidate's political agenda.

Reasonable minds can differ on the primacy of various "special interest" issues. If there's a long list of problems and issues facing the nation, a reasonable person could think that those should get more focus than issues affecting only a particuar minority group. That doesn't necessarily mean the person doesn't "care" about the latter. It's a matter of priorities.

Sadly, we are currently a polarized nation. We have a lot of work to do to repair the damage of a decade of divisive politics. If Obama does not speak to your specific minority group's issues, maybe it's because he believes that at this moment in time, it's better to speak to us about what unites so that we can come together in our hearts and minds before taking on the kinds of debates that can exacerbate our divisions when they receive too much focus too early in the process. Think about it. And grow up.

[jayburd]

Great post.

[victoriajubilee]

Excellent post zebra3 , I wish people would see this . You said it well.

[GwenElle]

Well said. A point I have been trying to make in other venues for month. Thanks for saying it better than I have.

[BenMurphyNYC]

I don't think Obama is doing anything to "unite" us when he campaigns with anti-Gay Preacher Donnie McClurkin against the pleas of the LGBT community.

I understand you think we should brush offenses like these aside and look at some bigger Obama-picture but that was f-/-/ing offensive.

Furthermore, I dont think your label of "special interest" is a fit for the LGBT community; how are we different from those who fought for Civil Rights in the 1960s or the women who fought for sufferage decades earlier?

[hwebb54]

Obama wants to try and play everyone into thinking he could be for something or could be talked into being against. He has stratled the fence better than any politician I've ever saw, especially one that has such a liberal voting record and liberal past. How is he fooling Republicans into thinking that he might actually come around to their issues? Why would a Senator like Bob Casey endorse him when the Casey family has been against abortion their whole careers. You would think you would find the candidate that best carries your issues that you care about forward. But Obama has tricked everyone in the media all the way to the daughter of a famous Republican president (Eisenhower) Once he gets to a general election, if Hillary doesn't figure out away to change the media's love affair with him, he won't be able to stratel that fence without someone pulling him down and busting his nuts. I really think Obama is a set up candidate to beat Hillary but once he faces McCain, the media is going to yell a big "gotcha!" and dismantle him down to size. Let's hope either that doesn't happen or Hillary pulls something out of her ass.....

[Shantee]

No one is going to find a candidate who supports all of their issues. Many Republicans like Obama, for the simple reason that they like him and they like his style. I'm an Obama supporter, but I don't agree with him on all the issues either. I think his message of hope and inspiration is very powerful-one that can move mountains. He's got a lot going for him and he's got quite an intellect and I like the fact that he doesn't get flustered or take the bait when Clinton beats on him. That takes enormous discipline.

What I find interesting is why voters often time will vote against their own best interests; like why the working class have bought into the theory that the Clintons get our pain, which is absolute bull. NAFTA has helped ruin the working class, yet many people don't want to make the connection; The Clinton machine has done a brilliant job in systematically manipulating the working class by pretending to speak their language. But many of us see through the inauthenticity.

'Obama presents a view of governing that is inclusive and relies on Americans to work with their government to solve sobering problems at home and abroad. By contrast Clinton promotes a self-centered governing style that drives home what she would do as president. She asks little of Americans and discourages opposing views.'

[jayburd]

You know, people used to say the same kinds of things about another politician. Guess which one...

Obama means it when he says he wants to be a uniter. He wants responsible republicans to be in his cabinet (all three of them).

[MissingAmerica]

I've yet to meet one gay or lesbian who does not read the regular newspaper. What difference does it make where it's printed, just as long as we know what it says?

[Talves]

Obama is a politician so of course he is looking to the LGBT communtiy for votes but he should not get any. I live in SF and was lucky enough to be married at City Hall a few years ago. While at the Clinton campaign HQ here I met Mayor Newsome who had lots to say about Obama and his homophobic behaviour. He is big on talk but short on actions. When Mayor Newsome was looking for support he asked to take a picture with BO but BO refused. What does that tell you? I have no doubt that Senator Clinton will work for gay rights and it is in our best interest to all vote for her. Not only is she the best qualified but she truly does care about us and our issues. Vote Clinton and not for the hypocrit.

[poppyseed]

If Hillary Clinton is such a strong supporter of the gay community, if she is really better on gay issues, why does she not support full repeal of DOMA? Only Obama supports full repeal of DOMA.

Clearly your support for Clinton is based on that she effectively panders to the LGBT community, nice for photo ops but she disappears when it comes to real legal changes that support equal rights for our community. I don't really care who hurts Gavin Newsome's feelings (boo hoo) and that you and Clinton supporter Gavin Newsome trash Obama for a personal slight against another self-serving egomanical Mayor from SF, I care which candidate will do the most for our community, and that is, clearly Obama. If you don't think it matters, why not ask your candidate why she won't support a full repeal of DOMA, if she really "truly does care about us and our issues." Talk about the hypocrisy.

[AjicNYC]

yeah dont hold your breath

[foufou]

How does one newspaper become the "gay media"? Is the "gay media" monolithic so that one paper speaks for the entire community? I'm confused..­...

[TakLoufer]

It's not just one gay paper he refuses to talk to; there are others in major cities like Chicago he has ignored. This was talked about on the Towle Road site a couple of days ago. Pro and con I might add.