Van Jones: Obama Wouldn't Lose Black Vote Even If He 'Came Out As Gay' (VIDEO)

Former White House adviser Van Jones thinks President Obama has already locked up the support of black voters ahead of the 2012 elections, regardless of his views on gay marriage.

"I think if President Obama came out as gay he wouldn't -- President Obama is not going to lose the black vote no matter what he does," Jones quipped Monday on MSNBC, responding to a question from host Alex Wagner about a potential loss of support among African Americans if Obama came out in favor of marriage equality.

"I don't understand this particular strategy," Jones continued. "Certainly, our numbers are a little bit more -- because we're more religious as a community -- a little bit softer on some of this stuff, but it's not a hardcore issue for that many African Americans. In fact, I don't even understand the argument that gay marriage is a threat to marriage."

Wagner then suggested that Obama "is, of course, in support of gay marriage," but couldn't express this belief publicly because of some sort of political pressure or calculation.

Last week, documents from anti-gay group National Organization for Marriage were leaked, revealing a campaign to divide gay and African American Democrats. A passage from the memo read:

"The strategic goal...is to drive a wedge between gays and blacks -- two key Democratic constituencies. Find, equip, energize and connect African American spokespeople for marriage; develop a media campaign around their objections to gay marriage as a civil right; provoke the gay marriage base into responding by denouncing these spokesmen and women as bigots..."

While Obama has consistently maintained that his views on gay marriage are "evolving," equality activists have recently ramped up pressure on him to be more vocal about his support for the cause. This push has recently manifested itself through debate over whether or not to include a marriage equality plank in the Democratic party platform. While some high-profile Democrats have spearheaded this effort, others acknowledge that it could be a difficult issue for the president to address during campaign season.

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Comments

[mochalovegirlxx]

04:15 AM on 06/02/2012

Van Jones is so good looking. I'm 22 but I would date him. Marry me Van!

[mochalovegirlxx]

04:10 AM on 06/02/2012

Van Jones is one fine looking brotha. I'm down.

[alferrer]

07:26 PM on 04/11/2012

They don't bite the hand that feeds them.

[Knowledgeseeker]

04:27 PM on 04/07/2012

The republicans have nothing better to offer.

[Toni Mueller]

12:25 AM on 04/06/2012

I'm just appalled at the way people are acting toward one another. Many call yourselves Christians and yet you use racial slurs, kill others if you think you're in danger, call our President all sorts of vicious names and accuse him of many things for which he is not responsible. You LIE!!!!
I'm voting for President Obama and hope he takes charge and gives us middle class what we need. I am not a second class citizen!!!!!

[Loulou72]

06:27 PM on 04/09/2012

I do agree that Christians should hold themselves to a higher standard..... but it's difficult, is it not, to be "perfect"? I'm not seeing a whole lot of perfection coming from the left. How can that be?

[rogersma]

11:24 PM on 05/07/2012

Well Obama sure didn't do a great job of unifying this great country so far. In fact it is more divisive than it has ever been. I hope he does not get re-elected just because I'm so sick and tired of the divisive turn we have all taken. Couldn't the Democrats find another candidate to run this year?

[Red Five Standing By]

05:00 PM on 04/05/2012

I liked the 'Saturday Night Live' skit that made the joke about President Obama hitting an all-time low approval rating with blacks of 99.1%.

[Midnight Cry]

05:31 PM on 04/05/2012

It is a sad day when people vote for the color of one's skin and not the content of their character....and their ability.

[mother10]

10:11 PM on 04/05/2012

oh my, way too sad...be quiet and take your hate to bed...like you give a care !

[brookmo]

03:28 PM on 04/05/2012

I am a black voter and the only reason he will get my vote is because a republican alternative is basically voting for suicide! If there were any viable alternative, white or black, that is who I would vote for. Obama is Bush lite and his idea of hope and change only applies to the haves.

[Midnight Cry]

05:32 PM on 04/05/2012

He's the 1%, trust me.

[mother10]

10:13 PM on 04/05/2012

I would trust Charles Manson first

[SAdams1987]

03:09 PM on 04/05/2012

What does this say about Jones' opinion of the black community, other than he thinks they are all homophobes. Yikes!

[Loulou72]

06:31 PM on 04/09/2012

What would one expect from someone like Van Jones?! Check out his bio!! Why he is even or ever has been connected to a U.S. President is food for thought!

[Alux]

02:24 PM on 04/05/2012

When is Obama going to take a stand for the black community. The community that gave him his start and has supported him through thick and thin forever?

Obama needs to come right out and say, like Marion Berry had the guts to say, "We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops.They ought to go "

[SAdams1987]

03:07 PM on 04/05/2012

So you want the president to be racist?

[Alux]

03:51 PM on 04/05/2012

Is Marion Barry, former mayor of Washington D.C. and current city councilman, a racist? I think he stands up for the black community.

[UKLLee]

05:28 AM on 04/06/2012

Too late...

[noavailusernames]

12:53 PM on 04/05/2012

Would they? I thought I read that the California blacks voted against gay marriage.

[carlgt1]

01:30 PM on 04/05/2012

well yeah thanks to the propaganda of right-wing groups such as was recently leaked. Then these same Repug hypocritical a$$hats have the nerve to say "Dems are 'using' blacks".....

[noavailusernames]

03:29 PM on 04/05/2012

Why would blacks who are 97% democrats listen to right wing groups?

[jmack9946]

12:17 AM on 04/10/2012

They are! ....and women.

[vette086]

12:36 PM on 04/05/2012

AND WHY SHOULD HE,THEY ARE CITIZENS,THEY ARE AMERICANS AND MOST OF ALL THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS.That make them qualified to vote...OBAMA 2012

[timesrtough]

12:03 PM on 04/05/2012

Not2Normal posts: LOL, now watch Righties spin this to have Alex Jones saying Obama is gay. Or that blacks vote for Obama no matter what because he's black. All anyone has to do is remind them that black people didn't choose Herman Cain ...
So if 95% of whites only vote for a white candidate, it is only because he is white. Lots of that said during the 2008 election. Remember? Whites will only vote for McCain because they prefer him over a black candidate. But if 95% of blacks voted for or will vote for BHO again, it isn't because he is black. No, it is because the full 95% of the black voters are so politically astute, well informed and have such a well thought grasp of the candidates’ positions that they make a logical and reasoned decision to vote for BHO. While the whites only see skin colour and will vote with their eyes. Really?

[Loulou72]

06:34 PM on 04/09/2012

Uh.... whites had no hand in electing Obama? Only minorities?

[jmack9946]

12:14 AM on 04/10/2012

most on entitlements.....it's called "Obama Bucks."

[SWGBBG]

10:41 AM on 04/05/2012

A happy moment in the history of the United States would be the re-election of President Obama. Hetersexual, Gay, Bi or Transgender...it would be a wonderful thing for a black man to make history for the 2nd time.

[noavailusernames]

12:49 PM on 04/05/2012

I can't wait for our first female, pedophile, Black/Hispanic mix, Muslim, Libertarian President. Now, THAT will make history.

[carlgt1]

01:31 PM on 04/05/2012

well according to Faux News & millions of white-trash freeper sheeple we've had a Muslim Kenyan Marxist prez for years....

[SWGBBG]

01:50 PM on 04/05/2012

Like I just mentioned in my comment........you forgot Lesbian Racist..........

[SWGBBG]

01:49 PM on 04/05/2012

NoUserName................You forgot......Lesbian Racist in your comment.

[Left with Nothing]

08:04 AM on 04/05/2012

Imagine being a race of people who only want people to constantly remember their heritage as being slaves? Pretty sad when you really think about it.

[ItsGettingWeird]

03:04 PM on 04/05/2012

For at least the first 100 years after the Civil War and Emancipation, White America still insisted that African Americans never be allowed to forget their slave heritage. Jim Crow laws and segregation helped the remember their "place."

I think African Americans have come a long way socially, economically, and politically. Especially when you consider that the "slave heritage" label has been held over their heads for generations.

Pretty amazing when you think about it.

[britjag40]

06:25 PM on 04/09/2012

And it was the Democrats that kept the black people down. just like today keep blacks on welfare, keep em poor, keep them coming back to the Democrats for more, if Obama was white no one would vote for him, and remember folks he is half white with no slave history, so lets look at who the racist really are

[trthsetsfree2]

12:13 AM on 04/05/2012

Van Jones maybe telling the truth. Even if he were gay Obama would not lose the black vote. Obama is contributing to the increased downfall by supporting only gay and women causes but some black people see nothing but his color.
"What profiteth a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul." Gay marriage is a product of Satan to destroy God's kingdom.

[Mistinguette Grandison]

10:40 AM on 04/05/2012

So by that standard, white people must be very racist, considering that they voted for 43 1/2 white president beforehand.
You should also know that Obama is not the first black person to run, and Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Shirley Chisom, and others didn't even get the black vote. Walter Mondale, a white male, got most of the black vote.
Bill Clinton got most of the black vote by 80%, Al Gore got most of the black vote by 90%, John Kerry got most of the black vote by 88%.
You should also know that most black people supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primaries.

And Herman Cain, 100% black and a descendent of slaves, got less support than Mitt Romney (a white guy) from the Black community.

It's funny how once the guy on the Democratic ticket is half black, black people are suddenly biased for voting for him. Maybe black people prefer sane people, and they are not in the Republican party.

[trthsetsfree2]

02:23 PM on 04/05/2012

Obama had the support of the Democratic Party and he has a black family. Herman Cain was a Republican.

[Mistinguette Grandison]

10:44 AM on 04/05/2012

He extended Unemployment benefits; he increased funding to historically black colleges, Community colleges and extended Pell Grants for low income students; he, along with Liz Warren, started up a consumer agency to help people with student loan debt and underwater motgages (which tend to affect POC the most). So, in other words, he IS supporting policies fin the interests of the black community, he just happens to also be president of gay people and women as well. You should also know that there are women and gay people who happen to be black. Some are all three.

[trthsetsfree2]

02:28 PM on 04/05/2012

He also denounces black men and wants to increase child support enforcement. He promotes gays and women and non black men almost exclusively. He increases the imbalance among the black family. Obama is horrible for the black community. His efforts keep the black community less self efficient and helps children only. Why does he ignore Shared Parenting which would presume equal custody to help the fathers return to active duty in their families?

[trthsetsfree2]

08:00 AM on 04/23/2012

Extended unemployment benefits is good but it also increases dependence. People need employment and opportunities to increase their independence. And I have already stated he helps gays and women only. His actions increase the imbalance between men, women and children, the real family. It is good he helps people with debts however, for the most part that is directed toward women and children only. The grave injustice he allows to be placed upon men counter balances all of his efforts because he undermines the family. Obama is exactly what our black communities do not need more. More divide and conquer policies that make it easier for our families, especially black families, to be taken advantage of by the 1 percenters. And same sex marriage adds insult to injury.