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Donnie McClurkin and Perfecting Gays
Among the great advice my father gave me as a child -- besides never buy tires at full price -- was that the only thing lower than a car dealer is a used car dealer, and car dealers are scum of the earth.
To paraphrase -- the only thing worse than a bigot is a black bigot...
And to take it a step further would be to include a black bigot who drapes himself in the cloth and hates in the name of the Lord.
And, yet, there is Donnie McClurkin who's planning an SRO three day stand with the brother who would be president, Barack Obama.
A lot of folks are calling McClurkin anti gay or a gay hater or a straight out homophobe 'cause he says that he's in a "war" against homosexuality, and homosexuality is a choice and gays can be fixed.
A lot like, I'm sure, Ann Coulter would tell you Jews can be perfected -- and while we're on the subject of the absurd, the Patriots can be beaten because their passing offense really can be stopped.
Anyway...
With Obama coming under fire for including a hate monger in his Compassion and Unity tour, McClurkin shot back at all the anti-hata haters and said that his comments were taken out of context.
A lot like, I'm sure, Bill O'Reilly will tell you his comments are often taken out of context.
McClurkin feeling that gays can be perfected does not come from nowhere. According to McClurkin, as a child he was raped by a male family member, which so affected him, he "became" a gay man for some 20 years before religion helped "straighten" him. I want to stress very, very emphatically that a young person being molested by ANYONE is beyond humorless. It is sick and depraved.
But as far as McClurkin becoming gay as a result, then later having ministry cure him, well...
A lot like, I'm sure, Ted Haggard would tell you a little church can cure you of the need to have your gay masseuse sell you a little meth.
According to a piece in the Chicago Trib, McClurkin now says he is straight and that his ministry is open to those who say they no longer want to live as a gay person. What he doesn't do, he says, is crusade against homosexuality.
And for the record, my house is open to all people who no longer want to be redheads. If you're a redhead, then get the F out! But I'm certainly not crusading against redheads.
And this is the guy Obama's gonna share a stage with?
In an official statement Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Reverend McClurkin's views, yet he still intends to share a stage with him.
But, Barack, you can't say you strongly disagree with the head of the Klan, then invite him on stage just 'cause he knows his way around a Johnny Cash song (no disrespect to the late Johnny Cash or his family, just the first singer who popped into my head).
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the purity standard for Obama is more than anyone could stand and as a Black man in America you understand that better than most.
_____________________________________________
Well, as long as we're talking about it, why should we have a "purity" standard for anyone? Why criticize Republican candidates for speaking at Bob Jones U, with its history of racism, when all the Repubs want to do is "open their arms to everyone? Right?" If we're going to have a "big hypocricy tent" it should be a big tent for one and all, no?
Oh, okay, I didn't think so.
No one should get a pass on hypocricy just because other hypocrites try to hold them to a higher standard than the one to which they hold themselves. That bullshit just wash anymore. It's transparent as hell, and it's just plain wrong.
Barak: Drop this guy or lose and deserve to.
It really IS that simple. Some things are beyond reason.
Your failure to support gay marriage because of your religious beliefs - something NO president should base ANYthing on - left me cold. This on chills me to the bone.
I'm gay. I was a potential supporter. I will now, never vote for you EVER!!!!!
Tone deaf and stupid we've had enough of in the White House.
Right -- there is a separation of Church and State. Nixon was a Quaker who whose religion is against war. He didn't say I have to end that war because my religion prohibits it.(I wish he had) He expanded the Vietnam war and 38,000 more Americans died. So for Obama to say his religion does not permit gay marriage is a total copout.
More than a total cop out. Obama's own Church supports gay marriage. Welcomes gay people. It is Barack Obama, not his Church, who sits on a high horse about gay rights. It is Obama, not his Congregation, that selected the likes of Donnie "this is war, the gloves are off" McClurkin to be one of his messengers.
This is all about Barack Obama. Period.
"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny . . . I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be," Coretta Scott King said, quoting her husband.
"I've always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy," King told 600 people at the Palmer House Hilton, days before the 30th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on April 4, 1968.
She said the civil rights movement "thrives on unity and inclusion, not division and exclusion." Her husband's struggle parallels that of the gay rights movement, she said.
- Chicago Sun Times, April 1, 1998, p.18.
"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.
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."
- Barack Obama, October 2007
"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens."
Barak Obama - 2007
Yes, he has clearly stated his beliefs. He believes that my rights as a gay man should be decided by the states. In other words, my rights and the rights of my family should change when we cross a state line. Even though I am a tax paying American citizen. He bases this decision on his religious upbringing and "tradition."
Well, it wasn't that long ago that inter-racial marriages were illegal based on religious beliefs and tradition. Should we have allowed the rights of inter-racial couples to be determined by the states? Why not?
Barak Obama is a hypocrite.
Stop forcing your ignorant lifestyle on me and my family.
Yes, he's clearly stated his disagreement with McClurkin, but only after the sh*tstorm started.
I don't agree with Mr. Mclurkin, yet I should hope that his position on the questions he addresses are entitled to as much liberty of expression as anyones. I don't mind for a minute that folks disagree with him, just as they ought to disagree with, say, David Duke, but I'd suggest that his views are certainly less offensive than Duke's, and, what's more, they appear to be grounded in his own experiences after travelling down some rather rough roads. For the love of God, take a powder.
Stop McClurkin? He's free as a birdie to make a ('less offensive') fool of himself over and over again, as are other authorities with 'questions' about whether a straight man can be cured and made gay or whether the earth is flat or whether evolution is a myth (see methicillin resistant staph).
His views are LESS offensive than David Duke's??? Why would you say that???
Are you saying that blacks are more deserving of equality and respect than gays?
This is why gays still have to fight for equality. Because so many people still believe that being gay MIGHT be a choice. Or, that is MIGHT be a valid religious belief to believe that being gay is a sin.
Until the vast majority of the country finds anti-gay bigotry just as repugnant as any other form of bigotry, gays will always be considered second class citizens.
The intolerance of gays by SOME christians does not have to be tolerated just because they package their bigotry as a religious belief.
That same religion used to be used to justify slavery, racism, segregation and laws against inter-racial marriage. It was wrong then and it is wrong to be used now against gays.
Give a thug a margin of error and he'll hit you over the head with it. I don't agree. People like McClurkin and David Duke will use every opportunity to make you disappear. That was the problem with the Jews when the Nazis came to power. They believed so much in the good intent of man that they couldn't believe their existence was threatened. Be careful. Be very very careful.
ENOUGH ENOUGH ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE LOSING HOMES IN CALIFORNIA, THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY IS IN SHAMBLES. WE ARE INVOLVED IN TWO WARS ONE OF WHICH WE SHOULS NEVER HAVE STARTED AND SHOULD END TODAY.BUT YOU CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT A GOSPEL SINGER WHO HAS PERFORNED FOR OTHER CANDIDATES BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS. SO OBVIOUSLY THIS IS HIS SPIRITUAL BELIEF AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS.AGREE TO DISAGREE WITH HIS SPIRITUAL BELIEFS.BUT HE WON'TBE MAKING POLITICAL POLICY
Some of us can think about/discuss more than one thing at a time. Perhaps you need to step away from the caps-lock button, and go have a lie-down. The rest of us grown-ups are trying to have a conversation. You can stamp your feet or huff and puff in all-caps as much as you want, but we're going to HAVE the conversation, along with all of the other matters that are of concern today.
As to whether the gospel singer's story has anything to do with politics? When a man who would be president choses to invite and share a stage with any kind of bigot, it becomes political. Especially when the event is for a political rally for said candidate.
Oh, I'm sure. You have all the energy in the world when there's an opportunity to watch one Black man attack another Black man openly.
Having Fun?
These issues affect me and my family, personally.
Barak Obama believes that my civil rights should be decided by the states. In other words, as a gay man, my rights change when I cross a state line, despite the fact that I am a tax paying, American citizen. He bases this decision on his religious upbringing and "tradition."
Well, Mr. Obama, it wasn't that long ago that inter-racial marriages were illegal, based on religious beliefs and tradition. Should we have allowed the rights of those American citizens to be determined by the states? Why not?
Let me remind you that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Stop forcing your ignorant lifestyle on me and my family.
the weird thing about this is that Obama belongs to the United Church of Christ and they support gay marriage. So, why doesn't he?
And, he has stated that he believes that marriage should be left to the various church denominations? If that be the case, and some churches are willing to marry gays, why doesn't he support state marriage licenses for gays? Or, why doesn't he deny state marriage licenses to atheists?
...word.
And as for NoMoBull: the "this is his spiritual belief and has nothing to do with politics." uh-huh. So you slept through the last two elections, I take it. A refresher: the Bush wins were decidedly false but you might remember how they were in many states hijacked by Bible-thumping, hateful, moralistic, Boogey-Man-fearing people who wish and would force their ways on all Americans if they could.
Mr. Obama will do well to remember our nations other "traditions" just as Orleans has pointed out. Slavery was a tradition. Killing Native Americans was a tradition. Keeping the vote from the women... a tradition.
This is simple: don't like or "feel uncomfortable" at the thought of two persons of the same sex being together, eating together, raising kids together, sleeping together, fighting over where to spend the Holidays, exchanging Valentines, splitting a mortgage, expressing fondness and love for one another... fine. That's your call. Discriminating against them because of your "discomfort" is wrong. And bigoted. And sharing a stage with a known and, evidently, PROUD bigot is shameful. Really: this is simple.
You have no right to be married either under the constitution or under ANY state law, even those states that sanction gay marriage. The state confers the PRIVILEDGE of being married on their own terms. All of those laws now currently conform to any right conferred under the US constitution. Obama is a constitutional scholar, he knows this. His views are tempered not entirely on his religious beliefs, but on the traditions of society. Marraige has traditions wrapped up in not only state but also churches. What the law can provide is an institution that confers the same rights under a civil union for gay couples. Federal law could define civil unions in this way and divorce them from the church. It is not likely that it can dictate a new definition of marraige. The courts have already ruled that marraige as defined between a man and a woman is not disciminatory on the basis of sex as it permits both men and women to be married. On the question of race it found laws prohibiting intermarraige to be discriminatory as it excluded one based on race.
Come on John. I used to watch you on Morning Joe MSNBC, and you are mainly the reason I don't watch Morning Joe much anymore. You showed great intelligence and that up front in your face attitude. Don't tell me that you don't know that Donny McClurkin is actually gay himself. His comments about gay people and he himself being a man of the cloth so to speak is just another lock on his closet. He's the Larry Craig of gospel. Don't tell me that you can't see that. I won't believe it.
Of course, he's gay! That is the point. You can't pray away the gay. That is why he's offensive. He's just like Not Gay Larry.
Yep,
And I'm sure his male relatives who raped him as a boy understood that too. They must have KNOWN he was born that way.
Politics, ask John McCain at Bob Junes U, an equal opportunity corrupter. Religion, hypocrisy's altar boy.
Where was your article on Hillary when she was endorsed by the brother minister in Oakland that is anti-gay? Where is your article on John Edwards coded racist language about being able to stand up and beat the Jesse Helms machine? I'm not saying that Obama is doing the right thing, but the purity standard for Obama is more than anyone could stand and as a Black man in America you understand that better than most.
But...Jesse Helms is white. What am I missing? And being endorsed by someone is not the same as sharing a stage with them.
Mr. Obama positioned himself as the standard bearer of the "purity standard." If you paint a big ass target on your back, you really ought be ready to avoid absurd mistakes such as this.
It is pretty hard to "avoid absurd mistakes" when you are a newbie like Barak Obama.
He jumped into the Presidential fish tank and than found out the other fish where sharks.
Politics is a nasty bit of business.
You are one self righteous ass. Obama is not sharing the stage with McClurkin. He is not scheduled to even appear at these gospel events. Of course you had no need to actually promulgate truth here, you;re just another partisan hack trying to take the man down.
there is a big difference in someone endorsing Clinton and Obama inviting a bigot to perform at a political rally for him.
I fail to see the difference. Endorsements are usually given at political rallies, where they can all have their picture taken together.
Endorsements can't be controlled. Any can endorse a politician as much as they want even if the politician says "nay" to such endorsements.
Obama's permitting McClurkin to share a stage with him is a choice. He chose to do this. He invited the person who was offensive.
The purity standard for him is more than anyone could stand because he came out as the "candidate for change" -- a change away from the "impure" or "less pure" and "tainted" "typical" "Washington" candidates. If he's to be better than they, then his standard must too be self-reflective.
McClurkin is not sharing a stage with Obama but I guess the truth doesn't matter to you. He is not now nor was he ever scheduled to even be at these events. These events were scheduled as gospel concerts not gay bashing ministries. This entire controversy is a disgusting display of faux outrage. It will be difficult for me to ever support gay rights after the wreckless conduct of the gay community over this incident. As far as I'm concerned the gay folks can go Cheney themselves.
It is not about who endorses a candidate, but rather about who that candidate endorses.
Obama is endorsing Donnie.
Jesse Helms is a white homophobe. I don't get the point you are trying so hard to make here. Are you saying two wrongs always make a right or just this time?
And why do you not be honest and open with your opinion rather than try to spin this thing with false information? Edwards is a racist 'in code' for talking about a white politician, but Obama is ok to stand with a man who says he is at war with my family, that the gloves are off and that we are a curse to be cured?
Obviously, you live on a one way street.
What sheer and utter self serving BS. Obama is not endorsing Donnie. Got a link to any such press conference where that endorsement is offerred..of course you don't. McClurkin is making himself availible to the Obama campaign under Obama's terms and not vice versa. Tell your boss, Hillary Clinton that you'll be giving back the money and that Obama will be getting the Black vote in South Carolina. How novel..a black man preeminently qualified for the office of the presidency actually reaching out to a constituency that has been waiting for a viable person of color to offer themselves in the election. This just in...this is not Jesse Jackson..he won't be so easy to take down.
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