Was Obama's remark homophobic?

[LoZoccolo]

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden urged people to be tested for the AIDS virus, noting that he and Obama had done so. Cracked the Illinois senator: "I just want to make clear I got tested with Michelle," his wife, Obama said drawing laughter from the predominantly black audience.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/29/politics/p005955D08.DTL&type=politics

[TwilightGardener]

1. Right now Republicans are laughing at us. They of the "Double Gitmo"--

anyone who thinks he's homophobic needs to take a PC chill-pill.

[Kagemusha]

5. I totally agree with you. It's OK to be proud to be heterosexually married too.

Nothing wrong with that. I remember that at the time, it was a big gesture by Obama and his wife, for the simple reason that they were showing that it's OK to get tested even though you are NOT homosexual - there's big stigma issues in Africa over it. I'm sure it made a deep impression on Obama himself; that's why he vividly recalled the circumstances. (Edit: Had a brain snag for my subject line. Whoops.)

[glowing]

2. That's not enough reference material for me to make a judgement.

I think he didn't want to appear loosy-goosy and skirt chasing... that he was tested with his wife. Were they talking about gay people when this came up, or does everyone still associate the disease with gay men and black people?

[MaineProgressive]

4. That's my point.

It was clearly aimed to appeal to homophobic feelings and send the message that Barack is a "tough, heterosexual guy."

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. Perhaps I'm being ignorant, but I don't even see the point of contention.

Perhaps it's because I can't hear how he said it, but I don't see where anything regarding homosexuality comes into play. Is it the HIV part we're talking about here? I don't get it...

[rhombus]

6. Adultery never comes to mind, huh?

Heteros don't get AIDS. We get ya.
:sarcasm:

[MaineProgressive]

8. Why do you keep pretending that I implied

heterosexual people don't get AIDS? That's exactly the erroneous point Obama was subtly driving home. "I got an HIV test, even though I don't need it (of course... wink wink haha)."

[rhombus]

10. No. How do you know Obama doesn't need one?

Just bcos he's hetero, does that mean he shouldn't get an HIV test? Come on, this is getting ridiculous.

[msongs]

7. i thought his remark was funny nt

[alphafemale]

9. How would acknowledgment that AID's isn't a "GAY" disease be homophobic?

Sorry. Don't get it.

People who've been sexually active SHOULD be tested regularly.

[Virginia Dare]

11. No, I think he was trying to make the point that..

he's not promiscuous? :shrug:

[geek tragedy]

12. Lack humor much? eom

[skiddlybop]

13. What would he have said if it was Hillary.

Same fucking thing. I went with my wife, not someone on the stage.

What the fuck are we supposed to do, wait for Ann Coulter to make the same remark as the original poster?

[MaineProgressive]

14. I'm glad equal rights for gays, African Americans, Jews, etc.

isn't dependent on the results of a DU poll. :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

Apparently, if it doesn't affect you directly, it doesn't matter. What the hell happened to my party?

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

15. I'm not an Obama support in the least...but come on guys...HOMOPHOBIC?

That's just retarded.

[LBJDemocrat]

16. Seconded

Stop grasping at straws, fellas.

[LWolf]

17. I don't think so.

AIDS is not exclusive to the gay community.

I thought it was more defending against the possible perception of promiscuity.

[dsc]

18. the irony is that alone among the candidates

he specificly mentioned homophobia in the African American community as a problem in regards to AIDS. I wish he wouldn't have clarified the AIDS test but I think he did so more on the basis of affairs than sexual orientation.

[Peregrine Took]

19. Definitely a weird and awkward moment. His wife was yucking it up out of

embarrassment.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. Yes. And he's got a very expensive house!

And a very big haircut!

Plus he hates white people and he's going to turn American over to the commies!

:eyes:

[LordJFT]

21. Give me a break

He's making the point that he's not promiscuous. There was a lot of talk at the debate about how HIV was becoming a big problem for black WOMEN. I'm a huge supporter of gay rights but sometimes people try to make statements seem offensive.

[zulchzulu]

22. WTF was Biden trying to do?

I can only guess. Obama is one of those clean n*ggers. Yeah, Biden was still thinking he's at a cocktail party in Betheny Beach.

I thought Biden was pathetic in even bringing it up. I thought Obama did a great job smacking Biden down like a cross-eyed Blue Hen.

[dsc]

23. pointing out that AIDS testing isn't dirty

or shameful. That is what Biden was doing and to his credit, what Obama and his wife did when they publicly got an AIDS test.

[hedgehog]

24. I read that remark as asserting that he'd been faithful to Michelle.

[closeupready]

25. No, I don't think it was homophobic, but the tone was unnecessary.

Who cares. (From a gay man.)

[PBass]

26. My immediate response was to think homophobia, but

reading the comments about promiscuity (I went with my WIFE) seem more plausible, and ring more true.

I think jumping to the homophobia conclusion is a reflection on me, and the dumbed down culture we live in.

I think the point was that he is emphatically monogamous.

[ruggerson]

27. I watched Obama say that on the debate

and homophobia never once crossed my mind. I though he was joking around playing the scared husband who wanted the world to know he hadn't cheated on his wife.

[beaconess]

28. Of course not - he was half jokingly clarifying that he wasn't slipping around

getting tested for AIDS on the qt - has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

[Imagevision]

29. No but now I do believe there are "plants in DU asking stoopid questions...

[elizm]

30. Oh, please! Get a life. n/t

[MrSlayer]

31. I don't see where it is remotely homophobic.

And I also don't get why it "drew laughter" from anyone. It's not funny and it's not homophobic. Maybe it's me. I'm puzzled by the statement.