Rev. Irene Monroe: "Obama the vote-whore with ‘ex-gay’ at his side"

Since so many have called for 'other perpectives' on the issue:

It was intended to be an unprecedented example of how Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s grassroots political campaign could win over just as many religious conservatives as Republicans can. Instead, it has run afoul with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer supporters, as well as others, who bought into Obama’s rhetoric as a healer and consensus builder.

At the Values Voter Summit in Washington last weekend, Obama’s campaign announced that they, too, could help conservative voters have a voice in the presidential campaign. They then announced they would be hosting the “Embrace the Change! Gospel Series.” It’s a gospel fest to run in three South Carolina cities - Charleston, Greenwood and Columbia – this coming weekend with gospel mega-star Pastor Donnie McClurkin as part of the concert line-up.

It appeared to be an innocuous announcement showcasing some of gospel music’s most successful artists that would mark the final days of Obama's “40 Days of Faith and Family” campaign in South Carolina. But it’s actually outing some of the black gospel chitlin’ circuit’s closeted gays ministers and biggest opponents of queer civil rights.......snip

Many African Americans also suspect Obama of using the “race card” to win their votes, but his emotional detachment with issues blacks care about is a big turnoff. African-American journalist and CNN contributor Roland Martin stated, “You can't find one major moment where black voters have embraced him and showered him with love. I was highly critical of his performance at the June debate at Howard University because that was his crowd. But he failed to ignite the room. One huge Obama supporter told me that his daughter went to the event backing him, and came out loving Clinton.”

According to a recent CNN poll, Clinton leads Obama among black registered Democrats, 57 percent to 33 percent. African-American women overwhelmingly support Clinton 68 percent to 25 percent, whereas African-American men favor Obama 46 percent to 42 percent for Clinton. But it is African-American women who hit the polls in much greater numbers than African-American men.

McClurkin is not the only singer on the gospel tour who has publicly spewed vitriolic statements against LGBTQ people. But he is the biggest one Obama can use to try to win over black evangelical voters.

So once again, Obama is proving that his campaign marketed as “The Audacity of Hope” is really based on the audacity of hypocrisy.

http://www.bilerico.com/2007/10/obama_the_votewhore_with_exgay_at_his_si.php#more



The Reverend Monroe is an ordained minister, religion columnist, public theologian, and motivational speaker. As an African-American feminist theologian, she speaks for a sector of society that is frequently invisible.

trying to include as many people as possible, but he has got to quit making these rookie mistakes. He'll look back on all of this 12 years from now and understand why he should have waited 12 years.

The only problem is he doesn't recognize things that can become political dynamite.

being so wet behind the ears and not being able to surround his self with quality people. I define "quality people" with Hillary's people being the benchmark. Like them or not, Hillary has the best politically astute people around her.

...his brain is not.

You cannot do either well if you try to play both rolls. So you can't blame Obama for not using his brain. He is carrying out the strategies that his staff has come up with based on a general theme or direction Obama has told him he wants to do. When Obama's people come up with something that doesn't come across as well as they thought it would when they brainstormed it in a conference room, Obama comes across looking like he's not using his brain. Yes, Obama has to approve it, but there is probably a degree of group think that disconnects everyone from the masses.

"How dare you cross Queen Hillary!" "Wait your turn!" "Get out of my way, everybody! The queen has spoken!"

Yes, the words are harsh, but I can't retitle the Reverend's piece.

Since we are getting so excorcised about the terms McClurkin used.

n/t

And so is Hillary.

K&R ;-)

If it matters to anyone, this wasn't a "controlling event" for her as she has been lambasting Obama for some time now. There's "a history," for whatever that's worth --

http://www.google.com/search?q=Irene+Monroe+obama&hl=en&rls=GGLJ%2CGGLJ%3A2006-40%2CGGLJ%3Aen

So, you evidently blame the Reverend for her "lambasting" history, rather than examining your candidate's views on GLBT issues?

So please don't put words in my mouth. My only point is she has been a critic of Obama for some time now. If you don't like the word "lambasted" ... fine. I think it fits. You are correct - seems her major points of contention with Obama is on the issues of LGBT and faith.

It would be stirring to see him evolve on this issue, seriously, as I really considered him before theis debacle and his handling of it.

:eyes:

You and I both wish all the candidates would evolve on GLBT issues. Obama's as good on those as any of other Dems (except DK, of course).

That McClurkin wing.

"Oprah's Bid for Obama Oppresses Gays"

Yeah, Oprah, opresses gays! RIGHT!

http://www.nathanielturner.com/oprahsbidforobamaoppressesgays.htm

doesn't deserve my respect.

And anyone who says that Obama is detached from African-American issues doesn't know a damn thing about him and his past.

It just explains why he won't have mine.

Second, bringing up my avatar and my vote really doesn't make any sense because I never mentioned anything about being forced to change either one.

And third, I was commenting on the article. I didn't mention you and I really don't care who you vote for. To each his own.

:eyes:


I wonder which campaign she's subbing for?

maybe she just needs to be embraced and enlightened about her language. :eyes:

That includes those on DU who fit this description. :hi:

your spoke about. Awfully judgmental. If you're looking for holier than thou, take a look in the mirror.

But that's the only way you can score cheap points, I understand. ;)

that in that thread you came up with some very disturbing reasons to explain why a gay-bashing bigot's words shouldn't be considered hateful, and yet here in this thread you're somehow upset over the language a woman uses to rail against bigotry.

I didn't "explain why a gay-bashing bigot's words shouldn't be considered hateful" at all. I am sure I am not
the only one who finds any reverend who uses the word "whore" to refer to a Democratic presidential candidate
to be distasteful -- as distasteful as a reverend who once referred to homosexuality as a curse in 2003.

and you reasoned that it wasn't hateful because some people somewhere called alcoholism a curse. (If you can't figure out what was horribly wrong with that comparison, you need some guidance) You were also pushing the notion that people of faith in the AA community who agreed with McBigot's view, weren't being hateful, they were just misguided.

No, whore is a sexist word that I'd never use against anyone, but I'll take that over the flowery language bigots use to cover their hatefulness. (and that last sentence was in no way directed at you)

Your attempts to paint me as something I am not is ridiculous. I made it very clear that I am
not supportive of McClurkin's views at all. Remember, zealotry is the ugly sister of bigotry
(and that last sentence was in no way directed at you).

you made them all yourself. Good bye.

An example of a reasoned point:

DemFemme (66 posts) Tue Oct-23-07 04:05 AM
Response to Reply #124
128. Obviously, more work needs to be done.

Edited on Tue Oct-23-07 04:17 AM by DemFemme
Not only by GLBT, but by those who support tolerance and enlightenment who are not gay. I am not gay, but I have convinced many who
think it's a lifestyle choice that it's not (using scientific data and asking when they decided to be heterosexual - that usually stops them
in their tracks - lol!). That's the start I meant - from this moment on and not remanded to past struggles for acknowledgment.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3634480&mesg_id=3635910


Yeah, I'm so supportive of homophobia. :sarcasm:


Goddess spare me from any further dialogue with dishonest zealots!

Yes, I'd say this is well worth reading.

it's a screed, a name-calling, foul screed, not worthy of a person of the cloth and not worth reading.

any of Obama's speeches would make for more enlightened discourse than what she wrote.

Grassroots has turned to GayBashingroots for the Obama Gospel Tour.
Shame on you Barack. There are things more important than money.

Show us the evidence.

thanks, Bluebear.

Jesus, I can't believe some of the stupid shit around here. I don't know how many people have tried to explain it to people like you. And it's like talking to a brick wall.

:eyes:

As long as her candidate wins. Reminds me of. . . .

I had this naive belief that these people could understand about condoning bigotry. But, I guess I was wrong. Oh, well.

Jesus, I swear it's been mentioned about 10,000,000 times around here that it has NOTHING to do with being a supporter of another candidate. It...is...about...condoning...bigotry....and homophobia. Perhaps we should use one syllable words and draw some pictures to try to get the point across.

What a poor handle you chose for yourself, because you have spent 24 hours telling us that this is nothing, that McClurkin has a right to his feelings because he was molested, that if we condemn McClurkin we are condemning buddhists, and NOW it is an "emotional issue". Congratulations, your blind devotion to your candidate has eclipsed people's feelings and realities in every thread you have commented in.

Hello, this is my fucking life and my rights. Emotion that.

Just because their candidate is saddled with this issue makes it like their candidate is above criticism, even worse, they PRAISE the homophobe in question, making them homophobes by proxy.

Yet this is what she posts outside the view of her.

Jerry Falwell had a cousin who was gay...and we saw how well THAT worked, education wise.

And IF its true, I cannot believe she would use her own step-daughter as a springboard for the vile shit she has been spewing.

given the amount of bigotry they put up with.

And this to me is the crux of the issue

It appeared to be an innocuous announcement showcasing some of gospel music’s most successful artists that would mark the final days of Obama's “40 Days of Faith and Family” campaign in South Carolina. But it’s actually outing some of the black gospel chitlin’ circuit’s closeted gays ministers and biggest opponents of queer civil rights

The big story here is not whether or not Obama's candidacy supports or condones McClurkin. No the real story is that a big ole spotlight has just been cast on something that the Black community would probably not have out in the open. It's going to be interesting watching the contorted rationalizations over the coming weeks over this issue.

An here's the kicker: In response to the Jena 6 and other cases, a number of prominent Black civil rights leaders are launching an "unequal justice" campaign. It will be very interesting to see how our community will advance this cause while at the same time taking a position that supports both Osama and McClurkin.

It will be interesting to say the least.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant. :popcorn:

This sounds like the enlightenment one apologist was pushing on another thread. I doubt she'd recognize it unfortunately.

the exaggerated rhetoric is always the first clue

... with someone who has not reached the same conclusion as you have. I am either eviscerated or ignored here and, since you have engaged me, I suspect the former is my fate regardless of how respectful I have tried to be.

I respect your inference that this issue is your deal-breaker. In a perfect world you would respect that it is not mine.

Peace.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3635367&mesg_id=3638541

I truly want to know what is exaggerated, but whatever. Cheers.

That's garbage talk, she's implying he's not really black, or that he's not black inside.

to distance herself.

However, that poster was going from thread to thread pollinating each one with the same message and that is spam.

And second, McClurkin can be wrong, but it's his decision whether to call himself ex-gay or not.

I think it is hypocritical for someone else to decide if a person is gay or not. You can disagree, but McClurkin says he was gay and now says he is not. Unless you live in his body, you are not the authority on that statement --McClurkin is. Let him decide what he was, is or isn't.

Time to crack open your Bible to Jesus's "Sermon on the Mount?" :crazy: :evilgrin:

Here's a portion of "The Cliff Notes" version

Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Judging others
Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

I'm also suggesting that religious leaders who use "inflammatory language" may need to re-study their New Testament. :shrug: Yes, this pot is happy to meet your kettle. But it still does not make it morally correct. :(

which is the worst kind of hypocrisy. And if you're offended by inflammatory language, you probably wouldn't have liked the real, live historical, "throw the money changers out" Jesus.

Pot meet Kettle. No one is without sin. :shrug: However, it is not unreasonable for us to HOPE that our religious leaders at least try to "walk the walk" ... remember that nasty ole' Inquisition? ;)

and a hypocrite like the rest of humanity. However, I try, I also albeit fail often, to treat others like I would like to be treated.

Yes, I'm saddened that a Christian leader would act in the manner above. Sorry, that's just this ONE sinner's opinion. :shrug:

I wish I was as brilliant as Joe Biden, but we have something in common - we often do not know when to wrap it up. :blush:

I hope you have a good evening. :hi:

I am not the authority on his sexuality. Do you believe you are?

Maybe he wasn't gay in the first place, maybe he was and still is, maybe, maybe, maybe.

Ask the man what he is. If he is lying that's on him, if he's in error, how the hell are we going to know better than either him or people that actually know the man?

The guy isn't hiding his sexuality, he says he was gay and he says that's why he had those relationships. He says he is not anymore. Sound possible, well, no, not really, but I am not him.

Also, How they treat me.

"I was highly critical of his performance at the June debate at Howard University because that was his crowd. But he failed to ignite the room."

That was 'his crowd'? And her criticism of his performance hinged on his being able to "ignite the room"?

WTF?

Maybe if she'd at least mentioned in passing an issue he'd made a statement on or something of substance.

And then there is this pile of uniformed bullshit "but his emotional detachment with issues blacks care about is a big turnoff".

She must not have an knowledge of Obama's actual record.

Finally, at least Obama has a record of bringing people together and working things out. Her solution is.... non existant.

she needs to view blackamericaweb.com something to know exactly how African Americans feel about this campaign. Nice try though

Her quote,
"(Obama's) emotional detachment with issues blacks care about is a big turnoff"

He is "emotionally detached" from issues "blacks care about". If you can figure out what that means, then you are light years ahead of me, but I can tell you, she was leaving open the question of whether Obama is "really" or "emotionally" a black man.

So she gets to decide who is gay but she also gets to decide who is really black. Wow. I guess her insight is better than her usage.

because Bill Clinton was, by some African Americans, considered "The First Black President," HRC can be seen as correspondingly as "The First Black Sister?" :crazy: Yeah, can I get a witness? :eyes:

:eyes:

Try TD Jakes if you want to get someone with credit.

:shrug: I'm just a lowly sinning Catholic of the Franciscan variety, but such inflammatory statements are not what I would expect from a thoughtful "religious leaders." However, I would be a hypocrite to not note that some of the most *nutty* and *misguided* religious leaders are Catholic. So perhaps, I know of which I speak? :shrug:

TD Jakes...You are joking right?

He is better known. She does not speak for anyone in the AA community.

The fact that he has more people following him than she does invalidates anything she has to say?

Spare me, TD Jakes is the very embodiment of what she is criticizing about a lot of the Black Clergy, especially the pastors of these so-called mega churches.

By your logic, we should just accept the word of Pat Robertson over that of Jimmy Carter because there are more people following him

Jeez.

Learn some critical thinking skills

Not after your melange of apologist posts.

And how many people do you have following you?

These are the foundations of a substantive post according to EK.

Cmon, get with the program

"Well you know those Holiday Inns used to be very nice hotels until they let those homosexuals in" " I knew things weren't right went the switched the bed spreads to paisley from that lovely shade of lime green they used to have". "Old Howard is probably spinning is his grave"

On the issue of GLBT rights.

That's done.

I wouldn't find anyone who uses the term vote-whore motivational. I guess when you are trying to find someone to support your argument you really have to dig deep down in the gutter.

So be it.

Enjoy the concert tonight.

They're so much classier. Especially when they declare war on gays and call them a "curse".

Don't have a Reverend....because of people just like the 'Reverend' Irene Monroe and the (late)'Reverend' Jerry Falwell. Both are hate spewers and deserve no respect from anyone....and certainly don't deserve to be called a Reverend.

Wonderful.

why shouldn't she call it exactly what it is? it is CRAVEN VOTE WHORING by a desperate politician who is getting his ASS KICKED in the polls!! consorting with BIGOTS for votes is DESPERATE!! :crazy: