What I want to hear in the next Obama conference call

[dsc]

I might well not be home for the next one, so I may well rely upon second hand reporting, but that said, this is what I would like to have happen.

One, McClurkin needs addressed. Even if it is to say they think we are wrong and that they did the right thing, it needs addressed.

Two, Questions need to be taken or at least answered via online. Again, even if we don't like all the answers it would be nice to have some.

Three, Specific, measurable goals need to be discussed. One of the big three (hate crimes, ENDA, DADT) needs to be put on the table as a specific promise to be raised in Obama's first State of the Union or similar speech. I would like a 100 day time frame but will live with a year for enactment. Specific numbers and levels of staffing should be discussed. A promise of a gay, lesbian, or transgendered cabinet appointee would be very nice, but at least a promise to go further than Clinton did is required.

Four, Sam Nunn in particular, and homophobes in general, should be exiled from his campaign.

[mitchtv]

1. I would like to see a Public condemnation

of the anti Gay initiatives in Calif (and FLA). I know in the last call, someone said he did, But I need something more before I fight for him. Hell, even the puke Govenor condemns it.

[dsc]

2. yeah that would be good

and necessary. I should have included that.

[galledgoblin]

3. any talk about Sam Nunn as VP

needs killed.

[terrya]

10. That needs to be made quite clear to the upper echelon of the Obama campaign.

Goddammit, if they want us to come on board, that's not going to fucking happen if that enemy of our community is selected as VP.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. He's the nominee. There is where it ends for me.

I'm very tepid about the General. All I can do is vote. I can not give money and time unless I know I will be represented, or at the very least I need to know I will not be openly 'preached' against at any future Obama events as nominee or as President.
I'll help our State and local Democratic candidates. They always speak up for me, which is in fact their job. They have courage rather than unmitigated ambition.

[dsc]

5. I really hope he will make the effort

the first call scared me in that they appeared to not know there was a problem.

[xchrom]

7. i feel the same as you. nt

[xchrom]

6. please remember -- dadt is not up the president alone.

it's how we got it in the first place -- the senate will have a say so.

[dsc]

8. I am assuming a friendly Congress

[trickyguy]

9. I was lucky to be in on the first call. Over 1200 gays and lesbians were "on the line".

And I agree that some goals need to be discussed specifically.

Particularly as you mention, hate crimes, ENDA and DADT. These are certainly as big as gay marriage.

It would be great if there was a chance for a Q&A session, but I doubt it.

But what blew me away was this call came from the Obama camp right after he became the nominee.

I think Obama is going to help the LGBT community no matter what the time frame.:toast:

[canis_lupus]

11. Very good points, dsc!

I've read that Obama is on board with ENDA and hate crimes legislation and that's a good start. I know there's controversy over the issue of marriage equality and while this probably isn't politically correct for me to say, I'd much rather focus on employment and discrimination issues that marriage because I think they'd be easier to get passed. (And, yes, I realize marriage is a big issue, but it's not a priority for me right now and would be a much more divisive issue among voters.)

[davidinalameda]

12. McClurkin has been addressed ad nauseum by Obama

[dsc]

13. That just plain isn't true

Obama only spoke once about this (on MTV the following day). He gave a false (maybe knowingly maybe not) answer when he did. He claimed that McClurkin "only sang a few songs" and "didn't speak". That is just plain not accurate. His campaign issued one release, stating Obama's disagreement with McClurkin but avowing that dialogue is important. Later an aide of his stated "we got what we needed with McClurkin" after Obama won South Carolina.

[davidinalameda]

14. so maybe not ad nauseaum but he has addressed it

I really don't know what you all want from him except to get down on his hands and knees and beg for your forgiveness and then drop out of the race in favor of hill


http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/obama+mcclurkin


Obama on The Gay and Lesbian Community
By L. Cherry Vincent - Oct 23rd, 2007 at 10:29 am EDT
Also listed in: 5 groups
I wrote a post a couple of days ago about Obama's "Embrace the Change " gospel tour in SC. Usually when I write a post no one comments, but not this time. The feedback was quite informative. But I must take a moment to help spread the word on Senator Obama's views on the Gay and Lesbian community. The senator recently released this statement:


"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 of 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."

Now, even though Obama has offered this statement, we still have those who are dissatisfied with Donnie McClurkin being a part of the "Embrace the Change Tour". Some feel that this is "offering a platform to a man who refers to homosexuality as a "curse". I say we should once again read Obama's statement and understand his views on the Gay and Lesbian community.

[dsc]

15. change gay to black

change McClurkin to Prussian Blue and see if you think that would suffice. If and only if it would in my hypothetical should you think it suffices here.

[davidinalameda]

16. you and yours will ignore anything that Obama says on gay rights

because you're so fixated on McClurkin

and I'm sure that more than a few anti-Obama members of this forum will never vote for him no matter what because he beat St. Hillary, the patron saint of pride parades

yes, people said that they would vote for hill because she marched in pride parades even though she is worse than Obama on gay issues

dsc-you keep fixating on McClurkin and ignoring everything else that he did and said in the primaries

[Toasterlad]

18. What Did He Do?

Please try and answer without bringing up Hillary Clinton, who is no longer the issue*.

*in case you didn't get the memo, Obama won. We are not interested in anyone else's views on GLBT issues. HE is the nominee. HE is the one that has been chosen to represent us. Please tell us exactly how he plans to do that.

[davidinalameda]

21. have you taken a look at his site

start there

and you might want to take a look at his speech to a black church where he called them out for homophobia

"If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community. We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity.

So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others – all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face – war and poverty; injustice and inequality. We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late."

he has spoken more about GLBT rights than any other Democratic nominee for president

[dsc]

22. your last line isn't saying much

but is also debateable. Clinton spoke quite a bit in gay rights too. But as pointed out down thread actions would be nice too. It isn't just that he had McClurkin speak, it is his not being forthright about having done so which is troubling.

[Bluenorthwest]

23. At Martin's church

You mean where he neglected to point out that one of King's closest advisors and greatest mentors was a gay man, who attended that very church at times?
Just saying. He said little when he could have really taught some facts to counter the bigotry. A crumb is a crumb. I've heard far stronger statements in many black churches, as long ago as the 80's.
It would be very nice if the man who we have to vote for would at least promise that our community will not be subjected to further basing by his religious affiliates in public. That is not much to ask. Don't trash us at Inauguration using the likes of Donnie and Kirbyjon. Such 'ministers' also offend many who hold an actual faith you know. Not every religious person falls for every charlatan with a cross.
If Obama was really a man, an adult, he would have apologized and promised no more, just to be polite, if not in order to do the right thing.
Obama was upset at Don Imus, but turned around and used the same tactics. And he's our nominee. How thrilling.
I'll be voting 'no on McCain' and I am sick of not having a candidate to actually vote in favor of, one who will actually treat my community as equals deserving basic respect. Deserving the respect the candidate demands for himself and his own family. He should practice his faith and do unto others.
You want excitment over Obama? Let him promise no more public bashing sessions, no more religious wedge driving and gay baiting, be it willful or due to negligence. Donnie of course wept openly for GW Bush at the 2004 GOP convention on national TV, while outside good Democrats were being dragged away for protesting Donnie's object of affection. So Donnie's modus should have been well known to any and all with eyes and ears.
For Obama, sorry seems to be the hardest word.

[TechBear_Seattle]

19. Actions speak much louder than words

Especially during campaign season, where even the most honest of candidates lies more than half the time.

[davidinalameda]

20. show me the lies

what's that-you can't

thanks for playing

[TechBear_Seattle]

24. Allow me to rephrase

It is not a lie until it is proven to be false. So let me say instead: Actions speak much louder than words, specially during campaign season, where even the most honest of candidates will say whatever it takes to sway the vote, whether or not they mean what they say or have any plans to act on their promises.

Certainly you have enough experience with enough elections to know this.

[Zuiderelle]

25. "more than a few anti-Obama members of this forum will never vote for him" Where? What "more than

a few" are you talking about? Why do YOU insist that there are "more than a few" GLBT people here who will not vote for him? I've only seen one or two say that they won't vote. Most of us have said outright that we WILL VOTE FOR HIM, despite these few reservations we have.

YOU are the one being divisive here, claiming that this issue which concerns many of us, has been addressed adequately, when it has not.

[Moloch]

27. I'm sorry your messiah, Hillary, didn't win...

but you'll just need to get over it. Obama is the nominee and he is an outspoken advocate of gay rights and always has been. His administration along with expanded Democratic majorities in the House and Senate will repeal DADT.. add sexual orientation to hate crime laws, repeal DOMA and add sexual orientation to federal anti-discrimination laws.

There's also a whole lot of other reasons to support Obama, too.. like ending the war and making health care affordable. You certainly won't get that with McCain.

Its alright, though. Thankfully, most of the GLBT community is behind Obama.. the fringe obstructionists will be far outvoted.

[Zuiderelle]

28. It's like you just post shit without even reading what people say.

just ignore me now, I'm tired of your crap.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted sub-thread

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

[Toasterlad]

17. Oh, I Get It...Obama SAID He's Pro-Gay!

Why didn't you say so sooner? As long as he SAYS he's pro-gay, we don't need to pay any attention to what he DOES. Hiring Donnie McClurkin to perform and preach anti-gay rhetoric at Obama's fundraising concert despite the objections of gay groups across the country was totally cool, because Obama said he doesn't agree with McClurkin! OMG, you are SO RIGHT!!! What more do these gay people WANT??? Obama has CLEARLY SAID that he supports the gay community! So who gives a fuck what he actually DOES?

Honestly, these gay people and their faux outrage!