How Obama inspired me to write my first post

Thanks for sharing Faren (0.00 / 0)

You're not alone in your dissapointment. As for me I can't support Barack Obama. But like you, I still can't believe Obama did this and then not expect us to be upset over it.

IMO, you can't have it both ways and Barack seems to think he can. Working side by side with homophobes does not represent Democratic Party values (IMO) when standing up against intolerance should. To invite McClurkin on the tour, witness McLurkin bite the hand that fed him on stage, and Obama not coming out and saying, 'I made a mistake' was a major campaign gaffe, right up there with Kerry's "I was for the war before I was against it." 

The cat's out of the bag on this one and unfortunately he's beginning to isolate those in the progressive blogosphere who was willing to suport him.

In solidarity,

NH Ex-pat

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 07:11:48 AM CDT

Divide and Conquer (0.00 / 0)

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 07:36:42 AM CDT

Solidarity (0.00 / 0)

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 08:39:09 AM CDT

Outted (0.00 / 0)

I have been at a loss for words on this issue and so, I have posted earlier more of a Rorschach Test on Social Courage, rather then utter some half formed blather for sake of retort.

Anyways, I am a flaming heterosexual and completely sympathetic to the struggle for equal rights by your community, as well as some others. I am not for or against gays. Homosexuals are humans, like most of us, and I try to engage a gay or lesbian as a person, first and foremost.

My tact is either very backwards or very forward looking. That is hard for me to tell, but I would think that as a gay man, I am guessing that you would prefer to be thought of as, well you, free of labels. Sidney Poitier said it best, I think.

The LGBT movement is well underway and this election cycle will be yet another battle in the long war. As a third party observer, that looks at your struggle in context with many others, I can only hope that you are not willing to throw the baby out with the bath water.

There are many that will try to spin the events over the McClurkin controversy as a gaffe, a blunder, some HUGE strategic error by Barack Obama. Those that do have only one objective and that is to pander towards the lie that Obama isn't ready to lead America. That is a LIE! He is ready.

What I have learned, as my stomach turned over the last few days, is that Barack is not playing it safe. His campaign is a little messy, kinda like running the country. There are strong willed people that have come to the side of Barack Obama and they don't always agree. Thank God that they don't. One voice in the ear of our president is dangerous. See Cheney.

This "mess" is exactly what is best about Barack Obama. If your looking for easy, one sided solutions; "dubya" is waiting for you. If you want a glossy, makeover that purports to be the alpha-omega that will cure all the ills and right all the wrongs with out breaking a sweat, then, Hillary is your girl or so she would have you believe.

When I started typing this, I was bummed, frankly. I didn't like having Barack sweating it out over this issue, so close to the debate and so late in the season, but now I am less concerned.

I am more relaxed for two reasons. First, I believe that "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" and if this matter ends Obama for America, so be it. Second, I think Obama can come out of this and I hope America will see him sweat this out. We don't keep any wind up Obama-bots in the closet, to bring forth outta political desperation. For triangulation and shifting positions, you will need to look somewhere else. Those types of politicians can make leadership look effortless. They can because they aren't REALLY trying!

If you looking for an honest candidate, with his sleeves rolled, sweaty and grimy from the hard work before him, look no further then Barack Obama.

I have attached some things I came across while I was searching for my muse.

This Week in the Early States
Re: I just love  |

ByRichard Moon (Jersey City)
  Oct 28th 2007 at 10:52 pm EDT
I am an avid Obama supporter who happens to be gay (out for 14 years, partnered for 10 years). How he has handled this situation has only strengthened my support for this extraordinary candidate.

Like many people, my initial reaction was based on the media reports and a very narrow analysis. That initial reaction was not positive. But Barack Obama inspires us to dig a little deeper, beyond the sound bytes and media spin and to search for a resolution that challenges the divisive conventional thinking and brings Americans of different opinions together. In a sense we are each being challenged to bring about an important cultural paradigm shift.

Barack Obama's response to the objections, unequivocally supporting gay equality, was perfect. Plus, adding the openly gay Rev. Andy Sidden to the lineup. And then the joint letter from African American and LGBT Leaders was also perfect:

Link

I encourage you to read that joint letter again. It is extremely well written and articulates what this movement is all about ("It is clear that Barack Obama is the only candidate who has made bringing these two often disparate groups together a goal.").

I certainly believe that Pastor McClurkin is misguided in some of his opinions, but it is time to reach out across the various divides, look for common ground, engage in dialog, work together to solve the big problems we face as a nation. And in the process we will narrow those divides, grow as a society and serve as a positive example for the rest of the world.

This is exactly why we need Barack Obama, and the movement that he represents, to lead this nation.

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Tue Oct 30, 2007 at 11:33:39 AM CDT