Obama: Many African-Americans agree that homosexuality is "a curse", gays are "trying to kill kids"

Obama: A great many African-Americans agree that homosexuality is "a curse" and that gays are "trying to kill our children"
by John Aravosis (DC) · 10/25/2007 04:26:00 PM ET
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Keep digging, Senator.

Obama is now trying to get gays and black religious leaders to sign a letter that's basically supporting Obama's position that he should have homophobes and bigots on stage with him. A few problems. Let me quote the letter:

Pastor McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many Americans, most especially to gay Americans. This cannot and should not be denied.

At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin's beliefs. This also cannot be ignored.

Really? I'm aware that some people claim that there's a lot of homophobia in the black community - frankly, I wouldn't know - but Obama is now saying that a great many African-Americans agree with McClurkin? Meaning, they agree that gays are trying to kill our children, that America is at war with the gays, and that homosexuality is a "curse"? I'm willing to believe that we may have to do some educating of a lot of Americans of all races and creeds, but I'm having a hard time believing that a "great many" of them believe the kind of wacky stuff that McClurkin does.

If we are to end homophobia and secure full civil rights for gay Americans, then we need an advocate within the Black community like Barack Obama.

You can advocate just fine even if you lose the presidency.

But this line is the most important:

At the same time, while Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Pastor McClurkin's comments, he will not exclude from his campaign the many Americans including many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin.

Great, so we're to believe Obama would not exclude anti-Semites or racists from his campaign either? Well, would he? Someone needs to ask him that question - Senator, are you saying that you would welcome anti-Semites and racists into your campaign, even though you strongly disagree with them, because you believe in some kind of big tent of bigotry?

I simply don't believe that Obama would have the same reaction, be just as welcoming, if we were talking about racists or anti-Semites. He wouldn't say that we're all one big tent. He would kick the racist or the anti-Semite to the curb. Not to mention, "the big tent" concept traditionally means people who have differing political views, even differing political loyalties (Republican and Democrat). I've never heard a politician invoke the big tent to mean racists and their victims. This is new. And it's terribly unnerving. I mean, we're to believe that the fact that Obama, alone among Democratic candidates, is willing to openly welcome bigots into his campaign, and that fact makes him the best candidate for voters concerned about civil rights. And the corollary, the worst candidate for someone who cares about civil rights is the candidate who actually stands up against the bigots. So the best way to promote tolerance is to tolerate and embrace intolerance. And I suppose the best way to tackle the issue of domestic violence is to not exclude wife beaters from your campaign either? That's just wacked.

Rather than writing letters, Senator, why don't you just fire the bigot and be done with it?

issue.

I'm disgusted by McClurkin - and just can't understand why McClurkin supports Obama.
Does the anti-gay gang know something we don't?

The letter is written as if it's a POLICY tiff--like the Public School V. School Voucher debate, not as if it's gay people v. people who find a MORAL problem with those gay people being what they are--ironically, what "God" made them...! And he basically tells everyone to "come on down!" As though that will make everything hunky dory.

I don't think the price is right for the gay folks--I just don't. It really is an attempt at creating a "Big Tent of Bigotry."

Who is ADVISING this man? They should be shot!!! This is horrible. Horrible!!! It's like MACACA on steroids!

You'll be needing a link to your story: http://www.americablog.com/2007/10/obama-great-many-african-americans.html

And to the letter: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/25/obama-campaign-releases-o_n_69892.html