Why Barack Won't Dump McClurkin: It's Cynical Politics Baby Pure and Simple
Politicians do two things better than anything else. The first is they are masters at saying whatever it takes to get elected. The second is they obsessively crunch numbers; and the only number that counts is the number of votes they can get to put them over the top. These two crass and cynical talents of politicians aren't mutually exclusive. Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama is a fast study of a well-meaning politician that's cultivating those talents.
The Donnie McClurkin flap is a virtual textbook example of that. When this writer called Obama out on his scheduled October 28 South Carolina gospel tour appearance with the Grammy winning, anti-gay morals crusader, Obama snapped back with a public statement hotly insisting that he's a staunch opponent of homophobia and that he vehemently disagreed with McClurkin's views. He probably means it. He's been the paragon of political correctness on gay issues in press statements, and in his campaign stump speeches. But Obama is a politician. It would look awful strange for him as a liberal, and a self-professed change America, consensus guy to say and do anything else. That goes hand in hand with the second thing politician Obama has mastered, counting votes. When it comes to getting those crucial votes, flowery statements and speeches on tolerance mean little.
Obama has looked hard at the numbers in South Carolina and elsewhere, and knows that there are a lot of socially conservative blacks who loathe gay marriage and any talk of gay rights. Their numbers have not budged one inch downward in the past decade. In 1996, 65 percent of blacks were opposed to gay marriage. A decade later a Pew Forum poll found that 64 percent of blacks still vehemently opposed it. While the opposition to same-sex marriage among blacks is frozen in time, white and Latino opposition to it has dropped. The only other group whose disdain for gay marriage hasn't budged an inch downward is the hard line evangelicals.
Put the words black, evangelical, and voter together and it translates out to thousands of potential voters ripe for an overt or subtle tap of anti-gay sentiment. South Carolina is the first big state primary, and blacks make up nearly fifty percent of Democratic voters in the state. A good chunk of them are evangelical leaning. Their votes can make or break Obama's national efforts. McClurkin can help, and help him in a big way. He's black, popular, and an outspoken evangelical. Obama can have it both ways with him. He can publicly denounce his views, which he has, while latching onto to his crowd-pulling coat tails.
The South Carolina saga is no aberration when it comes to a politician reading the evangelical political tea leafs. The first big warning sign that the issue of gay rights could inflame, polarize and even energize blacks within and without the black pulpit came in October, 2003. At a tightly packed press conference, five of Michigan's top black prelates publicly called on the state legislature to amend the state constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The subsequent ballot measure passed and more than fifty percent of blacks backed it.
That touched off bells and whistles among GOP strategists. They knew that they had hit the political jackpot. Gay bashing could gain a few more black votes for the GOP, soften black support for the Democrats, and all without the risk of alienating core white conservative Republicans. The Massachusetts court ruling in November 2003 upholding gay marriage was even more cause for euphoria by GOP strategists who were working overtime to hammer down the blooming alliance with black evangelicals. A Pew Research Poll taken right after the court decision found that far more blacks than whites sharply disagreed with the court's decision.
Bush capitalized on that sentiment and of course the rest is bitter history. But the gay bash card has lain tantalizingly on the political table since the 2004 election and it can be played by any politician seeking votes among conservatives. Democrats do not dare play the card the same crude, naked bigoted way that some Republicans played it. That would ignite howls of hypocrisy and alienate party liberals. In fact, it's almost laughable to hear the tortured gyrations that blind faith Obama backers go through to justify his flirt with McClurkin. If Republican presidential contenders Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, or Mitt Romney had publicly hyped an appearance with a very public gay basher, they'd scream bloody murder. But Obama did just that and he gets a free pass. Amazing!
While Obama will publicly say and do the right thing in condemning homophobia through the front door, the temptation to cash in on it through the back door is evidently just too irresistible. It's crass, cynical, but it's politics baby pure and simple. And that's all the more reason to keep the heat on Obama to dump McClurkin.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is
The Latino Challenge to Black America: Towards a Conversation between African-Americans and Hispanics (Middle Passage Press). hutchinsonreport@aol.com
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It's a shame that Obama doesn't use this moment to teach, that some of the earliest supporters of Black Civil Rights Movement was built on the support of white and black Gay People. Gays marched in the those marches on Washington, and throughout the South and the nation.
Will Obama now gring on avowed Racists and anti-Black spokespeople to balance out the program? Probably coundn't get away with that move, but then gays are pretty much still fodder for the "against" big $$$ campaign. It's unfortunate some parents have no problem contributing to these bigoted environments only to end up sacrificing their own children, whatever their color.
Bush refused to talk with evil but yet Obama will......
Hutchinson has it all wrong.
Let's say, for example, 100 black Christians are going to be there Friday night.
If you told them McClurkin wasn't against affirmative action, maybe 50 would actually care and not go.
What if you told them McClurkin was against abortion? 100 would show up.
What if you told them McClurkin was for full abortion rights? 100 would show up.
By that same token, what if you told them McClurkin was against any gay rights? Maybe only 93 would show up.
What if you told them McClurkin was for full gay rights and equality? 100 would show up.
Stop trying to for white politics onto the Black community. McClurkin is gospel superstar. I guarantee you, more than a few publically gay black men have his CDs. He is a gospel superstar, nothing more, nothing less. Some of us are commenting on this situation and wouldn't know who McClurkin was if he were wearing a shirt that said, "Hi. My name is Donnie McClurkin.
And let's say we can impose white politics into this situation. We all know full what Obama, the first "viable" black candidate can't appear to "radical" for any element of the Dem constituency. For blacks, that means he can't speak out everytime there's a racial incident. So for all these GLBT tears, there seems to be a lack of acknowledgement that lots of blacks aren't exactly getting our dream black candidate.
Again, no one going to the concert Friday night cares one cent about McClurkin's politics. Most of them won't/don't even see McClurkin as being anti-gay rights. And if the audience whom Obama is courting doesn't see McClurkin's performing as being a wink to the anti-gay rights wing, how can anyone else?
PS If you reply to this comment, I may not respond back for a day or two. I need a break from all this Obama/religious black people bashing.
bashing...
When folks quit seeing this or that word as "theirs", we can start seeing the truth past the words. And, actually start changing people's minds and hearts in the process.
So Obama is just another politician? From the comments around here, I was beginning to believe that Hillary was the only one guilty of hypocracy and political expediency. Welcome to the real world.
At least hypocrisy knows no color in America! If I, as a gay man, started making loud public statements about how there should be no civil rights for Blacks, or how we should change the Constitution to exclude Blacks, or how Blacks shouldn't be allowed to marry, I'd be quickly labeled a racist; possibly lynched. But the Black community has no qualms about denying me my civil rights, or excluding me from the Constitution. Hate-mongering in the name of Jesus Christ! How American! Justifying exclusion and hatred, based on sexual orientation. It's mind boggling! But don't dare justify exclusion or hatred based on color! Or you're a racist!
You might just want to check out some gay personals sites on the internet. Those millions of men aren't in blackface; they're Black! Gay black people exist. Saying there are no Black homosexuals is as ridiculous as saying there are no Iranian homosexuals. The Black community's now taking talking points from Ahmadinejad? How charming.
Incredulous, whenever a another black person expresses anti-gay feeling to me me, I simply say "Ok. Now, I don't ever want you to complain to me about anti-black racism again". Any black person who is not for gay civil rights has no moral authority to complain about anti-black racism.
As for Obama...ye
"But the Black community has no qualms about denying me my civil rights, or excluding me from the Constituti
I'm black and I'm not denying you anything -- so far as I'm concerned, if you're gay, that's your affair and my opinion has nothing to do with it. I've spoken out against homophobia on many occasions, and guess what? It wasn't just black people who engaged in it.
Rather than painting the "black community" as some monolithic entity, you should try judging black people as individuals, just as I do with the "gay community".
I agree, I hate to see this become a "blacks vs. gays" thing. We should never assume an entire group of people think or act the same way.
What exactly do you mean by Black community? As has already been mentioned it is not some monolithic blob wherein there is no diversity of opinion. Having said that, is that what the gay community is?
You imagine the Black community is thinking about you at all? So you can talk to anyone within and get an all inclusive statement on the matter?
Deal with the racism in the gay community.
Obama can make himself look like a pandering "sometime" friend of the LGBT community, or he can take a stand for EQUALITY as a leader, he can't do BOTH.
I am really disappointed in Barrack as an openly gay supporter of his campaign..
The gay minister who campaigned with that loathsome homobigotted singer is also an embarrasment, to allow himself to be USED by Obama's campaign.
Rev. Andy Sidden....
What's wrong with you, Hutchinson? Obama is the best thing to happen to the Democrats since JFK. He's inspirational and inclusive. He's the kind of candidate that everyone says they like to see, and when he finally comes along everyone finds some silly little reason to knock him and vote "Ms Enevitable
So Obama is the messiah and we should just let him use anti-gay sentiment to win the election without saying anything. We should say nothing as he throws gays under the bus so he can get anti-gay evangelicals to vote for him (because that is gonna happen)?
Double standard once again. If this were Hillary, you'd be (rightly) screaming your head off, but since it's your little tin god, it's OK.
Actually, I was very impressed by Obama's speech at the 2004 convention, but I don't think he's that much greater than any other politician, so therefore "everyone" doesn't say they like to see him - nominated, I assume you mean. If he is nominated I will vote for him, but I'm sure that his every move is calculated as much as Hillary's or anyone else's. None of them really impresses me that much, though they're miles ahead of the R's. At least Dodd has stood up and led more than once - most recently in the FISA cave-in - while the so-called frontrunners waffled, waited, and cowered in the shadows.
I know this to be a trashy moment for me, but what the heck....
With Mr. Obama's support withering on the vine like blogosphere by the minute, it would seem to me that something will have to be done to restore some sort of credibilit
My money is on Oprah being very publicly trotted out, to lavish praise over 'her man'. I would wait to savour this moment of abject cynicism from Mr. Obama (incidentally, such a move would horrifically backfire in certain quarters; does anyone recall said talk show host being royally sliced and diced by none other than Nan Talese herself?).
Yes indeed its all "Just Business".
Oprah has her fans but that would definitely be a mistake. Running back to Mommy doesn't make anyone look presidential.
Obama for President!!
Obama for straight folks' president
Do you think Barack encourages ethnic factionalization? One more reason not to vote
for him as far as I'm concerned.
thinkers applying to be on the ballot...
If there were any so-called reasoned thinkers in the mix, they'd be dead or marginalized even by now.
This article proves the concept that it takes one, to know one. Or not?
The assumption that this is done purely for cynical reasons is in itself a cynical assumption.
Allow this viewpoint, if one were not cynical but rather, rational: Obama wouldn't say ANYTHING about gay rights if he was doing this solely to get Southern voters. Plenty of those folks know what his stance is on gay rights and on homosexuality, and the fact that he's even gone and repeated it drives that point further home. Even if he WERE to convince some gay hating southerner to vote for him, if the guy just went to Obama's website, he'd know that Obama isn't anti-homosexual at all.
By that logic, it wouldn't even make any sense to waste time even trying to pander to bigots. If a Republican that has voted consistently for a gay marriage ban were to look for those votes, that would make sense. Obama, who has publically repeated his stance, would be spending his money better appeasing HuffPo bloggers by preaching to the choir and rallying the base.
I think Hutchinson needs to take a step back and wait until after this event, and gauge what is really said rather than make cynical assumptions before it even happens. There is a huge disparity between canceling debates on Fox News and bringing some whackjob "gay reformist" minister along on a religious tour. There is nothing to gain from a Fox News debate, because Fox News is a media outlet that will shape the way their viewers see the debate. ON the other hand, McClurkin's only value is to bring out people who would otherwise avoid an Obama tour of the south. This grants Obama and the rest of his speakers the ability to reach out to those very same people and use the podium to really preach fairness. That potential is right there, but is strangely not included as a part of Hutchinson's argument.
Hutchinson has been pissing on Senator Obama's campaign from day one, and this just another excuse to bash Obama. What he won't tell you is that EVERY member of the Congressional Black Caucus has shared the stage with Black clergy who share the same views as McClurkin. In fact, the church that hosted Corretta Scott King's funeral in Georgia is headed by an outspoken gay critic, Bishop Long, as well as one of the daughters of Martin Luther King Jr. who is also a crit, also a vocal critic. This didn't stop former Presidents Clinton, Bush or Carter and current president Bush from attending services. Long, like McClurkin, have campaigned for many Democrats. Hutchinson, Ridley and any every Black blogger trying to exploit this matter knows very well that there hasn't been one Democrat who has one a southern state without winning the Black church. That may explain why only two have won the presidency in the three decades. Bill Clinton warned John Kerry that gay marriage would kill his campaign. It wasn't the swift boaters that lost him the election; it was Black Christians in OH. Let the LGBT Community go after Donnie McClurkin; it will be OH 2004 redux.
His statement alone has cost him votes with Black Evagelicals. You would never hear HILLARY make an open statement on behalf of Gays. She smart, She knows how to play the game. Barack statement during the Democratic Convention "we have gay friends in red states" probably cost in some votes from the black evangelical community. No sir, Hillary is to smart to do something like that. She does her support behind closed doors, no tape recorders allowed.
Obama is for gay rights. he is not for gay equality under the law as guaranteed under the 14th ammendment.
I was torn between Obama and Hillary, but the homo hatin' wacko Bible thumper on the tour bus compelled me to make a choice.
Hastily adding a token gay minister after Obama realized the gay electorate were pissed says PANDERING.
If I want a pandering candidate who speaks out of both sides of his mouth, there are several GOP a-holes I can choose from.
Sorry Obama, you lost not only a vote, but a C-Note in campaign contributions.
Maybe the good Reverend McCrackwhore will give you some of his pass the plate contributions.
Uh huh.
So you are now going for Hillary, who when asked if she agreed with General Peter Pace that homosexuality was "immoral", responded "Well, I am going to leave that to others to conclude."
Way to go for gay rights!
(And false statements by commenters: If you had actually been considering supporting Obama I doubt that you would now call him a "homo hatin' wacko Bible thumper."
PS I'm making up that $100 donation that you supposedly were going to send.
Actually..
KarenZipdrive:
You may want to take another look at Hillary. She received an endorsement from Rev. Mayberry in California and now pays him a $10K per month "consulting fee". You may remember him, as he believes homosexuality is a "sin" and compares it to "thievery".
The only candidates that support gay marriage and are in complete alignment with gay interests are Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel.
Just thought you might like to know.
Actually- I apologize for needing to make a correction. Hillary is paying Senator Darrell Jackson from South Carolina $10,000 per month (he's a different anti-gay Hillary supporter).
Reverend Mayberry likened homosexuality to thievery. He's also an anti-gay Hillary supporter.
karenzipdrive
The CLINTON'S ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOR THE ANTI-GAY, "DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT" AND "DON'T ASK DON'T TELL"!!!
HILLARY ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT SUPPORT GAYS.
Way to go- vote for someone who has actively tried to stomp out gay's equality.
As someone who firmly believes anyone and everyone should be able to get married, i CANNOT BELIEVE YOU WOULD PUT THE ANTI-GAY CLINTON'S back in office.
You should be ashamed.
Hillay will take you with open arms, then sell you down the river.
You don't know much about Hillary's history with gay rights, do you?
Thanks again Mr. Hutchison.
You were the one who brought this whole debacle to light. You say today that Obama "gets a free pass" I don't think so, at least not from this gay voter. McClurkin's "Pray The Gay Away" attitude directly feeds into the homophobia of all Christian Churches not just Black ones. I am bitterly disappointed that Obama has turned out to be just as "triangulating" a politician
as Mrs. Clinton & will likely not be supporting either of them. If Obama truly realized the danger & damage of these "no-mo-homos" as I like to call the alleged "ex-gays" he would do as you suggest & cancel McClurkin's appearance.
As this story, and Mr. Hutchinson’s obsession with Barack Obama continues to dominate the headlines and front page of the Huffington Post, we are distracted from other issues of equal importance. There is a war in Iraq, and our government is amping up the rhetoric to spread this war into Iran. The military forces are stretched to their limits, and military action towards Iran, in addition to being morally reprehensible, could also result in the reinstatement of the draft. The cost is now expected to exceed a trillion dollars.
Thousands of our citizens have died as a result of this war. Tens of thousands are trying to recover from amputations, traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. And yet, there are politicians who voted for this war (and for the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment) who are leading in polls by double digits.
There are 45 million people without health insurance in our country. There are scores more who can't afford premiums, deductibles and co-pays associated with insurance that they do have. There are politicians who have complicated solutions that will take 9 years to achieve. There are no guarantees of success. Some have failed miserably at this in the past.
So for me, the truth is, I wish all of the Democratic candidates held the same position as Dennis Kucinich when is comes to Gay Rights. But they don't and we have to make a choice about who is the most likely candidate to begin getting us out of the mess that we are in. And with that said, I sincerely support the LGBT community and I hope that the emphasis on this story will further your cause. I hope it may bring people to the table and enlighten them all. I hope that you heal from any pain that has been caused you in your life as a result of narrow minded bigotry. If you want to use your vote to focus on this one issue, I support you. With that said, however, I hope that you will find a way to focus on the other issues as well.
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