EXCLUSIVE one day early!!: **Official Obama gay interview**

[cboy4]

|| Election 2008 ||

Obama Talks All Things LGBT with The Advocate

In an exclusive Chicago sit-down with The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld, Democratic front-runner Barack Obama discusses "don't ask, don't tell," Rev. Wright, and what he would do for LGBT Americans if he becomes president.

By Kerry Eleveld
An Advocate.com exclusive posted April 10, 2008

Follow link to all of the questions

Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama has been weathering a small storm lately in the LGBT community for being too tight-lipped with gay and lesbian news media.

Unlike his rival Hillary Clinton, who's given interviews to Logo and several local papers since appearing on the cover of The Advocate last fall, the Illinois senator has only talked once, to address the Donnie McClurkin controversy. But last week, his campaign offered our magazine an exclusive sit-down in Chicago with the man who may well become the next President of the United States.

To some extent, it symbolizes the brilliance of a protracted primary contest where candidates continually pivot and adjust in order to engage ever more voters. Had the race stopped cold in the snows of New Hampshire, gays and lesbians would have been left with one interview of record for each Democratic candidate in total.

But in a wide-ranging interview this Monday, Sen. Obama discussed "don't ask, don't tell," Rev. Wright, and why LGBT folks should lead on marriage equality, not politicians. Some may call the chat a shrewd political move made by the Obama camp ahead of the April 22nd Pennsylvania primary. We call it access.

The Advocate: Let’s start with what’s hot, why the silence on gay issues? You’ve only done one other interview with the LGBT press. I know people wish they were hearing more from you.

Sen. Obama: I don’t think it’s fair to say silence on gay issues. The gay press may feel like I’m not giving them enough love. But basically, all press feels that way at all times. Obviously, when you’ve got limited amount of time, you’ve got so many outlets. We tend not to do a whole bunch of specialized press. We try to do general press for a general readership.

CONTINUED, PLUS MANY MORE QUESTIONS! -----------------> http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid53285.asp

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Debi]

2. The flames in this thread are unfortunate cboy4

thanks for posting the article.

[Coexist]

4. every other response is "ignored" to me, I am so sorry they did this to your op

it sounds, from what I can read, that it got ugly.

[Coexist]

3. knr

[flvegan]

5. What is the LGBT community's feedback/thoughts on this interview?

I read it, and frankly, it sounds to me to be okay at best. A step or two forward, and that he might advocate for gay marriage down the road (or at least not get in the way).

IOW, anything is better than Bush, et al on the LGBT issues, but he's no Kucinich. What has the gay community had to say about this?

[DarienComp]

9. Speaking only for myself...

I was never naive enough to expect a Kucinich to have a chance. I think that Obama wants to be President of the United States, not just President of the Gay Community, and so I don't expect him (or Hillary) to agree with us all the time. I think the complaints against him are shallow and superficial, and that at the end of the day, his positions on gay rights mirror Hillary's almost exactly.

[kid a]

6. That was a good interview. He makes a lot of sense.

As usual.

[peoli]

7. are gay people happy now?

[Bluebear]

12. No, you know us, never happy. Always bitchy about something.

:eyes:

[terrya]

13. We're always whining about something. Bitch, bitch, bitch, that's all we homos ever do,

I mean, hell, we're only one of the most dependable of voting blocs that the Democratic Party has. And we've only given millions of dollars to various Democratic candidates over the years.

And, you know, Senator Clinton seems to be going out of her way to be accessible to the GLBT press. And gosh, we just think it would be nice for Senator Obama to do the same.

But, hell, we're so fucking selfish. Us and that full equality thing and all.

[psychmommy]

31. that is really funny.

there are black radio dj's pissing and moaning about the same thing. he's not coming to our show-he's dissing hip hop. tavis whining-he didn't come to the annual forum. people bitchin because he didn't go to dr kings memorial. guess what you can never please everybody so you do the best you can. he is running the best campaign he can, he is doing a great job. i am sorry gay press, hiphop djs and tavis smiley-he is doing his best.

[Bluebear]

32. Sometimes your best isn't good enough.

[MonkeyFunk]

15. No

Not until he promises to stop Project Runway from moving to Lifetime.

[JoFerret]

25. Yes I am sure "they" all are

All it took was a little Obama love. No need for anything substantive. Gay people can all stop whining now. Obama has spoken.

[liberaldem4ever]

8. Thanks for posting this :-)

I wasn't aware he gave this interview. I'm really interested in what he will say. Thanks.

[Political Heretic]

10. His answers typify why I want him to be president. Shows excellent leadership: concern, engagement

without pandering.

[mkultra]

11. Im interested in hearing from the GLBT community

[cboy4]

14. Did everyone read the interview? I don't like this answer:

Back to “don’t ask, don’t tell” real quick -- you’ve said before you don’t think that’s a heavy lift. Of course, it would be if you had Joint Chiefs who were against repeal. Is that something you’ll look at?

"I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Obviously, there are so many issues that a member of the Joint Chiefs has to deal with, and my paramount obligation is to get the best possible people to keep America safe."

=====================================================

That's like hiring an alcoholic to lead Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

:thumbsdown:

[goletian]

16. thats like not showing the complete answer he gave.

"I would never make this a litmus test for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Obviously, there are so many issues that a member of the Joint Chiefs has to deal with, and my paramount obligation is to get the best possible people to keep America safe. But I think there’s increasing recognition within the Armed Forces that this is a counterproductive strategy -- ya know, we’re spending large sums of money to kick highly qualified gays or lesbians out of our military, some of whom possess specialties like Arab-language capabilities that we desperately need. That doesn’t make us more safe, and what I want are members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who are making decisions based on what strengthens our military and what is going to make us safer, not ideology."

=====================================================

[cboy4]

18. So all the "good" Joiny Chiefs of Staff are homophobes?

Why can't he pledge to hire someone with the views of Wesley Clark?

We need people in charge of the military who can start changing the anti-gay culture. And hiring someone who like DADT does not do so.

=========================================================

I believe the military needs to rethink the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I would ask the military to implement a policy that ensures that everyone who wants to serve their country is permitted to do so with dignity. I would ask the military to look at the British policy, which prohibits sexual misconduct by heterosexuals and homosexuals. I would submit the new policy to Congress to replace the current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
Source: Campaign website, Clark04.com Nov 20, 2003

[goletian]

22. i dont know, but obviously their job is our nations safety, first and foremost. - nt

[JoFerret]

26. And gay service people

endanger our safety??

Pathetic argument. And discredited. Just a smokescreen for discrimination and prejudice.

[goletian]

27. no fool. but believe it or not, national security ranks above getting rid of the policy

it sounds crazy as hell, i know, but thats actually what the military is about............ weird huh?

[quakerboy]

23. I don't see where that is the take away from what he said.

Help me through this here. I heard him say that discriminating against gay people is counterproductive to the military protecting the US and he would be looking to hire Joint chiefs who would do their best to protect the US. To me, that reads, he wants joint chiefs who are not anti-gay.

How do you get a message of "all good JCoS are homophobes"? Or that he wants to hire people who like DADT? I read the whole interview, and didn't find that anywhere in it.

[Forkboy]

17. You're left with two choices that see you as a vote. Nothing more, nothing less.

Some day this country will have the courage to elect people who give a shit about you, but this year isn't it. The gay community was already under the bus before the race even started. Kucinich might have seen a UFO, and we can't take a chance on a crazy man. He might have done something weird.

I say you all just move here to Mass while waiting for the next election.

Hell cboy, we'll have you being a Sox fan in just days. ;)

[cboy4]

19. haha....yea some day....maybe in a couple hundred years

when the Giants win the World Series.

And don't get me started on people kicking DK to the curb! x(

[Forkboy]

20. Maybe a Patriots fan then?

:hide:

[cboy4]

21. My team is horrific, but....5 of 'em bud

Hey...go read the story about the Red Sox shirt I posted in sports. lol

[phrigndumass]

24. Thanks for posting this, cboy!

Bookmarked for later.

:hi:

[JoFerret]

28. "The gay press may feel like I’m not giving them enough love"

etc.(Who does he actually imagine himself to be - distributing "love". How about focusing on legal rights first. Hold the love fella.)

Does anyone else feel a rising bile at being patronized?

Maybe I am just not prayerful enough.

Or maybe I have not yet found religion to deal with my bitterness at injustice.

Why did Obama turn to religion anyway? What's his excuse for his attitudes?

[Straight Shooter]

30. That stood out for me, too, "not giving them enough love."

They don't want your steenkin' love. They want your focused attention and sincerity. Too much to ask, Obama? After all this time, now you need the gay community because the votes are still all up in the air. Feckless candidate.

[Bluebear]

33. I don't want his love. Or hope. Just my rights :)

[grantcart]

29. This interview has been out for some time

[JoFerret]

34. And so....

....has he made any growth on this issue?

[JoFerret]

35. Obama - like many "liberals" - is homophobic

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid52812.asp