February 3, 2008

Gay City News Drinks the Kool-Aid

Gay City News has endorsed Barack Obama. You can read the whole empty justification here; I have no desire to stain the Newswire with such sorry, stale apologetics.

I will, however, repeat for you my reaction to the piece (which, as of this writing, GCN has not yet posted):

“We must yet take it on faith…”

That sums it up right there: Your confidence in Obama is faith-based. Sorry, folks, but I want plans, not platitudes.

It’s especially disheartening to see a gay publication buy into the “building bridges” meme; how can you justify “building bridges” with the very people who marginalize, demonize, and ultimately want to destroy LGBT Americans? Your wunderkind Obama, and by extension you, extend more consideration to the Republicans (and other sworn enemies) than he/you extend to your very own gay and lesbian family.

Put down the Kool-Aid.

I’m not the only one who feels this way. Among other, even more pointed comments (and yes, the NObamas far outnumber the Kool-Aid drinkers):

Audacious, But No Hope for Gays

This is NOT a plug for Hillary Clinton, but a criticism of boarding the electoral train as if it is the way to effect social change. Particularly with a guy like Obama (or Clinton, for that matter). Neither candidate backs our full legal equality. Why do we endorse anyone who doesn’t endorse equal marriage rights for same-sex couples? As Larry Kramer asked, “Where’s the self-respect?”

Obama, a corporate candidate, advocates spending more money on national “defense,” such as enlarging the army. He has recklessly suggested bombing Iran and invading Pakistan. Will there be anything left over for domestic programs, drastically cut in recent years to funds wars for US empire?

Historically, social change has been made in the streets. Movements involving women, African Americans, workers and gays attest to this fact.

Bob Schwartz, Chicago, IL

Obama Does Not Believe In Equal Rights

How can any gay person vote for this man? He does not believe that we should have the same rights as he. He is opposed to gay marriage. [Civil] Unions? Separat but equal does not work, as any student of cilvil rights knows.

Obamas own parents would not have been married when he was born in many states, or they could have been prosecuted. Miscengation was still on teh books in 1967 in 16 states and was not repealed by the Supreme Court until that year.

I refuse to vote for anyone who does not believe I am equal and says so.

You want to vote for him because he is better than any repub? Go ahead. I refuse. Remember how Clinton betrayed the gay community?

How long is the Democratic party gping to take us for granted? Forever until people make a stand and say no, I am equal and deserve equal rights and you better support that.

Stephen Brown, New York, NY

Not a well formulated endorsement

I am no fan of Hilliary Clinton, or Bill for that matter, but your endorsement of Obama has obviously not been thought through clearly enough. It seems based on what would sound better then what is sound. For example, “He will serve the nation well if he can articulate a comprehensive approach..toward the mess in Iraq..of America’s standing in the entire Islamic world.” In order for someone to get my vote they first have to articulate why they should. “In his recent comments about…Ronals Regan…Obama ought to have made more clear his understanding…hope for unity can not substitute for hard choices.” To me he made clear his praise of a mass murderer!!

Then you breeze over what you refer to as, “The McClurkin episode.” Which I would not term as simply misguided, but openly homophobic.

Then you push aside Clinton’s support of Robert Johnson, Charles Rangel, and Maxine Waters, to basicaly accuse her of running a racist campaign.

This inept journalistic viewpoint is one of the main reasons gay journalism is not taken seriously.

Robert Rizzuto, New York, NY

How does this help us at all

Obama is spouting one thing and then in the next he’s embracing, not just mcklurkin but also Bush’s “spiritual advisor” Rev Caldwell.

I can’t endorse that and neither should you be. The fact that Obama is embracing a lot of republican ideas and and is also willing to use obvious anti gay pastors to gain votes within the black community is disturbing. I can tell you now, if Obama wins the Presidency, he will be very right of centre.

You have been warned.

L:aurance Allen

Obama ties to homophobic ministers troubling

Nationally syndicated columnist Rev. Irene Monroe, an African American lesbian, has written often about her opinion that Obama’s campaign is using gays — tossing us crumbs and then backing off to cut slack for anti-gay ministers — not just McLukin. Her views are disturbing and make it hard for me to back Obama any more than Clinton. It’s vote-for-the–lesser-of-two-evils time again. I’d like to trust Obama but I don’t feel I can.Your endorsement seems too idealistic.

Susan Jordan, Rochester NY

Are you NUTS?

Obama’s own parent’s marriage was not recognized in some states yet he can oppose gay marriage?

Is this a gay newspaper or a political journal? Why don’t you defend your readers? Hope and Change and No Queers.

michael, new york

If you truly have the best interest of this country at heart, Hilary Clinton is who you should be endorsing.

As you summed up in your article, both candidates have had similar attitude towards the LGBT community and either will be a step in the right direction. So, let us put this aside as this isn’t the only issue we need to look at for this primary race.

We need to look at experience, leadership, and who can be President. I watched all 2 hours of the democratic debate, where an inexperienced politician fumbled with his words and didn’t answer questions. He gave ideals- instead of real situations and potential solutions- and he stated that “he wants to be right from day one”. We all have started a new job, sometimes with all the qualifications and sometimes with some of the qualifications, and the one thing you can be sure of is that you will not start off “right” from day 1. So, what make him think that he can make those promises?

… From Clinton, we know she has the experience, the ability to jump right in and hit the floor running, and the same amount of passion that interests us from the other candidate. …

Ron Zacchi, Astoria, NY

I consider this a betrayal

Obama cynically exploited homophobia first with the McClurkin incident, then with Kirbyjon “ex-gay minister” Caldwell. Although neither candidate supports marriage equality, Obama consistently states his opposition in the most RW-friendly, religious terms possible (”something sanctified between a man and a women.” I don’t know what you people are thinking, but this gay voter will never support Barack Obama.

DJS, New York, NY

If you want to see the pro-Obama comments, they’re there — and they’re decidedly in the minority.

Posted by: Sapphocrat

Permalink | |