Did the "ex-gay" McClurkin controversy make you think less of Barack Obama?

And I sent in an email asking for my $75 back.

There are some things from which you should distance yourself.

Hell he needs to do more than distance himself from people that attack children and families - he needs to say no I will have no part in this.

n/t

Point One- All politicians play these little games so it would be hypocritical of me to single one out

Point Two- It breaks my heart to see these games being played on gay folks but it's played on them because the Democratic party knows they have no place to go... They can cut off their noses to spite their face by voting third party, voting Rethuglican, or staying home...

Most folks are not one issue voters.

Yes, it made me think much less of Obama, and drove home the point that DU is full of gay-hating BIGOTS.

I've always loved DU for a good, healthy debate about policy. This kind of stretching the truth into unrecognizability is a reason why I generally avoid debates with most conservatives.

<------------used to be Obama

I might have stuck it out, but the news that McClurkin wasn't just a singer but the MC, and that he did launch out into his whole ex-gay thing? That was it.

I will still vote for him if he's the candidate, and there's a lot to be said for getting past the Vietnam generation. And he's a damned sight better than any of the Republicans. But in the primary, I'm going to vote for Chris Dodd at this point.

So far I see a run of the mill politician willing to say anything and engage in dirty and divisive politics - you know, a regular politician. And frequently clumsy.

interesting. "you" who?

over Donnie McClurkin are.

on DU that defended is hateful, hurtful, bigoted actions.

I was leaning towards him at the time too. He's recovered some since then, and he's back on my short list, but still, I can't see him the same way anymore, I'm afraid.

But then I guess it's good to know where people really stand.

Really, just "yes" and "no"? Why not just put "with us" and "against us" and pretend everyone "with us" is perfect?

Honestly the reaction here was about as bad. Obama went for the lowest common denominator and found it.

I was skeptical when he began courting the evangelicals, but when he applied his lips firmly to the backsides of the homophobes I was utterly appalled. Since then he's done nothing but make me shake my head.

there is more than meets the eye.

mentor during the Lieberman/Lamont campaign in 2006 here in CT. I have considered him an overrated, egotistical fuck ever since. The McClurkin thing added to my disdain.

McClurkin just clarified him even more.

Things that made you go hmmmmmm. Then this last blitz of uber-religious pandering cemented it for me.

but I didn't know that he mentioned it during the CT campaign. Not good.

Obama was a noob and was assigned to Lieberman. This is technically correct.

no are gay?

Yea, I thought so.

I'm a lesbian and I wholeheartedly support Obama. The McClurkin thing was a dumb mistake, but once it was discovered, it would have been a bigger mistake to drop him. Obama made it very clear that he doesn't agree with McClurkin's views, but to have dropped him completely would have made HIM seem intolerant.

This actually similar to the discussion about Ahmadinejad. You don't have to particularly like someone or agree with them to have a conversation. Hell, the only way we will get anywhere is to start having that conversation. And BTW, I'm agnostic, as well. I'm just not foolish enough to pretend that most of the country has a secular worldview.

like McClukin who refer to homosexuality as evil.

So that would have been a good use of the intolerance card on Obama's part.

And I'm guessing if you believe you don't "have to particularly like someone or agree with them to have a conversation," you think it would be okay for Obama to chat with the Ku Klux Klan?

There are exceptions to all rules ripple.

It was a stupid mistake by his campaign not to have vetted McClurkin, but again, if he had dumped him when he learned the truth, it would have been a much more costly mistake politically.

Actually, I'm not opposed to having a chat with the KKK or any group or person that engages in terror or hatred. The only way to make people respect humanity is to make them SEE humanity. While we still have at least a few states left that haven't enshrined discrimination into their constitutions (unfortunately, mine isn't one of them), I believe a new approach is in order.

I choose to look at Obama's record and the way he constructs the conversation about our issues. He truly reframes the discussion in a way that appeals to the better conscience of people. He promotes the broader ideals of equality, fairness, and justice- principles that even McClurkin fans will hopefully be proud to stand behind. We can continue to call people names and bring out their worst instincts, or we can challenge them to live up to their best instincts. Personally, I think the latter will be more successful.

I hope you understand at least a little bit where I'm coming from. If not, that's cool, too. McClurkin was a bad mistake and one of the hazards of trying to appeal to such a broad spectrum of people. If it's an unforgivable offense to you, so be it. Although I strongly disagree, I certainly don't blame you for feeling that way.

much as I would classify it as a deal breaker.

That's because over and over in my mind, I think what will he do next?

I mean, it's not like he went into this blind with McClurkin.

He was advised/warned, whatever you want to call it, yet he did what he wanted.

Yea, we disagree about embracing certain people, but I respect your interesting opinions.

When the McCloset story just broke, Obama's campaign said they wouldn't drop him, but also reassured people that he was but one singer among many(more than half of which are homophobic, BTW), and wouldn't be able to voice his views. Yet look at what happened, McCloset MC'ed the event, and was allowed at least a half hour to go on an "ex-gay" spew. Obama lied, period.

Obama is still the best candidate. and I wonder how much McClurkin really hates gays since he perfomed for a pro-gay politician.

Goodness knows you'll never see Ted Nugent at a Brady Campaign fundraiser.

I question why we have a state where 75% of what is essentially the Democratic base thinks homosexuality is "unacceptable" as an early primary state anyway? Welcome to South Carolina :eyes:

He's not a cacodaemon or an ambulance chaser, therefore he's still the best candidate.

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They are both dead as far as their candidacies are concerned.

It's disturbing how many people can look at the McClurkin incident and not see it as abusive, cynical, duplicitous, bigoted playing of the race and religion cards and a breezy disregard for the lives of others. It's more than just alarming. People who don't see this as the sleazy pandering to institutionalized prejudice and racism (remember: the afterthought gay was white) for quick, tactical gain really need to get their eyeballs checked; those who see it as "not such a big deal" are selfishly granting their champion the privilege of the gods.

What a deeply ugly episode and a lingering swamp of sanctimony.

Though it's more than likely that I just saw him in a different light. Regardless, I'm not voting for him.

It really will trouble me, as a gay woman, to have to vote for Barack now. I feel like his true colors are showing.

Maybe I shouldn't speak about it - might get kicked off DU.

If the guy had simply been a performer, that would have been fine but choosing him as MC says a great deal about someone seen to be pushing diversity as part of his campaign. Is that unfair? Fine, I can live with that.

to the depths. :puke:

It sure as fuck did. I lost an enormous amount of respect for Obama because of that.

snuggling up to the evangelicals. We don't need another president who takes his orders from a god or from evangelicals. And if its not that, then its pandering at its worst.

He's still my second choice but ultimately it was the tipping point for my Biden support. I don't believe for a minute that Obama is anti-gay...I just think he handled the situation very poorly and for me it highlighted his "greenness". I would be proud to have him as my nominee...and would love to see him as VP for Joe Biden.

and the disgusting dissembling, dismissing and defense of this debacle by Obama's supporters on this board made me sick.

Obama didn't just insult LGBT Democrats....he also spit in the face of straight Democrats like me who value equality, respect and civil rights for our LGBT brothers and sisters.

and nothing he's done or said in the past few months has changed that.

...but it did.