Obama's gay problem

(Cross-posted on Until.)

I first detected that Barack Obama would likely have a problem with gay voters in his debate appearances earlier this year, when in a debate he screwed up a question from Anderson Cooper on gay marriage. (Barack opposes "gay marriage" but endorses civil unions.) Freedom to Marry Executive Director Evan Wolfson noted exactly the same thing in an article for the Bay Area Reporter:

Wolfson said Obama's answer was "so disappointing and disingenuous."

"He implied that marriage is a religious term and denominations should be able to decide for themselves, but I'm for equality," said Wolfson. "But marriage is a governmental term that provides status – a license. That's the distinction he should be drawing."

Obfuscating on gay marriage would be a detriment to any Democratic dandidate. But Obama was particularly hurt as an African-American candidate, for he was unwilling to explain why he would eaglerly defend the need to extend marriage rights to racial minorities where those rights were previously excluded, and yet he would not extend the same rights to gay couples.

Obama's gay problem actually surfaced much earlier, for gays who studied his track record often came away with unease. For example, Irene Monroe wrote the op-ed "Don't bet on Barack", saying:

Obama’s The Audacity of Hope is not a must-read for LGBT voters because he fails to fully comprehend or sincerely commit to the issue of social justice for all Americans. He does not tackle head-on how the religious rhetoric of this political era has played an audacious role in discrimination against LGBT people, leaving us with little to no hope, his rhetoric included.

“In years hence, I may be seen as someone who was on the wrong side of history. I don’t believe such doubts make me a bad Christian, ” Obama writes.

As LGBT voters, our job is neither to judge nor vote for Obama on whether he is a good Christian. It is, however, for us to judge and vote on whether he is a good statesman.

If he should run for president, he wouldn’t get my vote.

Now, discomfort with Obama is spreading far and wide among gay voters as a result of Obama's insistence on using a gospel singer who is an outspoken anti-gay advocate in shilling for votes in South Carolina. Obama seems to have made the political calculation that appealing for the votes of Black religious conservatives is more vital to his interests than upsetting gay voters. Left-leaning blogger John Aravosis highlights Obama's apparent hypocrisy:

You strongly disagree with the bigot who thinks I need to be cured, and who has declared "war" on me and my people, but you're going to put the guy on stage with you anyway in order to make a few bucks. Nice. I wonder what Obama would say if Hillary invited David Duke to speak at an event but then said, not to worry, she really loves black people - kisses!

If you're afraid to lead, Senator, then maybe you're not the leader we thought you were.

Huge mistake.

Now Aravosis has printed a sampling of the emails from his readers on the Obama controversy. Here are a few of the many angry letters:

If hillary (or any other white candidate) invited a well known bigot to a campaign fundraising event, I can only imagine the backlash and repurcussions they would suffer because of it. I realize he is trying to appeal to some the conservative religious base, but this is unnacceptable. He won't get my vote. ndtovent |

Obama's done in my book. What kind of Democrat who believes in equaliy for all travels with and hires for his 'entertainment' a homophobic jerk? So I guess his audaciously hopeful for ya as long as you're straight? What a phony. Clevelandchick |

Barak, Kiss my money and my vote goodbye! If I want to be marginalized, treated like a criminal, etc, I'll look to the republicans. MajorD |

Just tore my Obama sticker off my bumper. Olivia |

I did not think I would be trying to remove the bus tire marks off my clothes this early in the campaign. Silly me. Angela Channing |

So I guess Obama doesnt have a chance in my book. Why doesnt he just hang out with the Cheney family hypocrits and all the Bathroon-Crazed Republican self-hating gays. Corey Mondello |

I've always had a suspicion and feeling that Obama internally was basically anti-gay and this generally proves that. However, he has one more chance, I'll withhold final verdict until I see his statement on this issue of this homophobe McClurkin. If he keeps this creep on his tour of SC, then it's over for my support of him, ever. Jim-n-Alpharetta

(Those were some of the nicer emails.)

According to opinion polls, about 10% of Democratic primary voters are gay or lesbian (and about 4 to 5% of the total US presidential vote). If Obama is not able to overcome the growing perception that his campaign is insensitive to gay voters at best, and overcome the perception that he is an closet anti-gay hypocrite at worst, then his chances of gaining the nomination are dicey. Perhaps he's already made this calculus and decided that he's more desperate to win the vote of Black religious conservatives. But whatever is going through his head, his campaign looks desperate. Firing McClurkin would begin to rescue him from this pickle.

Comments

[lkseo]

Did you watch the HRC forum? Obama was the best. http://citizenchris.typepad.com/citizenchris/2007/08/grade-the-dems-.html

You criticize Obama's writing and statements without quoting what he said. This is dishonest.

[Satsuma]

I have never had a good feeling about Barak Obama's commitment to lesbian and gay freedom. I don't trust that kind of smooth talking "liberal."

I'm voting for Hillary Clinton. I know she and her husband appointed Donna Shalala and Janet Reno to cabinate posts, and also Roberta Achtenberg. Jesse Helms called Roberta "a damn lesbian."

So the Clintons have a good track record doing ground breaking mainstream things for us. They were not perfect, but they were pretty clear in their early reaching out to our community in 1991.

And as a lesbian, I want a feminist in the White House, and I'm not waiting any longer for men to "get it." I can tell you that Hillary will not be saying insulting sexist comments about women behind closed doors in the Oval Office. But you will never have that kind of consideration from men behind closed doors ever!

Why would lesbians get conned by an Obama is beyond me! Maybe men can fall for this bait but not me!