The McClurkin Apology: For the record, is there any Obama supporter

[denem]

who believes that Barack Obama should NOT apologize for the remarks of Donnie McClurkin on the stage that his campaign provided, as MC of the event the Obama campaign organized?

MClurkin appears in GD-P shortly before each primary. Of course it's political, but politics aside, Obama should have apologized.

Hillary Clinton is unlikely to receive few if any votes from African American's for her apologies. I don't think Obama would get any more LGBTQ votes from an apology - for those aware of the McClurkin saga, the damage is done.

My take is this: Giving a stage to McClurkin was a serious mistake. Yes Obama should have apologized at the time, in full. He should still apologize. There may be few votes in it, but the injury to the LGBTQ community is real. It's the right thing to do.

So do any Obama supporters disagree? And do we have to have a dozen posts on McClurkin on the eve of the Pennsylvania primary?

[angie_love]

1. I agree.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Of course he should

Hell, he should denounce and reject him as well.

[saracat]

3. I agree but he seems to stand with him just as he does with Wright.

[Yes We Did]

4. Just drop it. He did. He doesn't have to again.

Hillary's campaign has done the same shit. Get over it.

[denem]

8. No, it's a moral issue.

If doing 'the same shit' is OK, I would expect you to cease criticizing HRC's campaign

[Yes We Did]

33. Pot meet Kettle.

Really, how dare you.

[democrattotheend]

5. I don't really know much about the McClurkin episode

I think it was before I was following the primaries religiously. It was before Iowa, right?

I need to know more and then I can answer.

[Raine]

13. I don't know about it either.

Infact I don't have a clue.

[democrattotheend]

42. The only place I hear about it is here at DU

It doesn't seem to get any attention from other blogs or the MSM.

[leeman67]

6. This Obama supporter agrees

if it is exactly how you framed this. I seem to recall (and I could be wrong) that Obama did at least repudiate Mclurkin's statements, if not apologize for them. Technically, Clinton didn't apologize about the Ferraro remarks either, only saying that she repudiated them. So if my memory serves me correctly (and I will stand corrected if it doesn't), then they're basically even. Can we move on now and get back to REAL issues?

[Bluenorthwest]

32. No he did not apologize or repudiate the statements

He simply said he disagred with some of McClurkin's preaching. He also said that he will keep listening to those who harbor bigotry toward gays, and called them 'good, decent, and moral people'.
In all honesty I have absoluetly no respect for those who are screaming about Ferraro who did not also scream about McClurkin. Same thing, same thing.
I am reminded about the McClurkin incidenct, the worst case of open hate speech against a minority I had ever heard under a Democratic banner, done intentionally to draw bigoted voters, each and every time an Obama supporter claims some campaign high road, or accuses the other side of being Rovian. What is more Rovian that religious based gay baiting? Nothing.
I have asked the Obama campaign to simply say that Donnie was not ASKED to do the hate sermon. They refuse. I think he was hired to do just that. Donnie sang to GW Bush at GOP Convention 2004, while I campaigned for Kerry. Obama hired Bush's man to bash and he never came close to an apology.
And as far as I'm concerned there is no such thing as two vile sets of attacks making things 'even' or better. What we have are two rotten campaigns, both of which make me sad to be a Democrat.
Minority baiting is always wrong. Even when you yourself are not part of the targeted group. Even when it is gay people, it is always wrong, even if you wear a cross and sing about Jesus while you do it. Obama's events with McClurkin were insulting to several groups at once, unless you don't think being painted as people who need to hear hate speech to get up and vote.

[izzybeans]

7. How many times will satisfy you?

a Brazilian?

[denem]

11. No, we need to move in

In the absence of Obama apologizing, the least we can do is not defend this.

[LittleClarkie]

16. It seems there are those who think he already has

perhaps his wording wasn't sufficient.

[denem]

20. His wording before the event.

I can't believe there is still a debate here. McClurkin got up and repeated his 'ex-gay' poison.

[rodeodance]

15. How many times has he apologized for this issue?--

[izzybeans]

27. Your right I reread the statements, its more of a rejection and explanation

clearly not an apology.

[rodeodance]

28. thanks--it was a serious question.

[izzybeans]

34. Your right it was.

I think there is a fundamental disagreement of political style on this McClurkin thing. Obama needs to explain it more clearly. he stated his support for glbt rights but does not provide any real explanation for the campaign event.

[tishaLA]

9. He should apologize, no question

[Levgreee]

10. what statements did McClurkin makes on Obama's stage? I thought it was just guilt by association

[rodeodance]

12. like Fererro.

[LittleClarkie]

18. Wasn't Ferraro on Clinton's campaign committee?

That would seem to be more than guilt by association.

Meanwhile McClurkin was somebody they hired for entertainment and didn't vet properly because they didn't think of him as a spokesperson for the campaign.

Since Ferraro was working with the campaign itself, I would see that as a bit more than guilt by association.

[terrya]

22. AFTER the gay community asked the Obama campaign to drop him.

Senator Obama had a chance to drop him after he was told what McClurkin was all about and whom he was shilling for...and Senator Obama refused to drop him.

So, it wasn't like Barack Obama was entirely blameless as some people still believe.

[Liberal Veteran]

29. So making this speech didn't satisfy you?

For most of this country's history, we in the African-American community have been at the receiving end of man's inhumanity to man. And all of us understand intimately the insidious role that race still sometimes plays - on the job, in the schools, in our health care system, and in our criminal justice system.

And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we're honest with ourselves, we'll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King's vision of a beloved community.

We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity.

Every day, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions; across gender and party. It is played out on television. It is sensationalized by the media. And last week, it even crept into the campaign for President, with charges and counter-charges that served to obscure the issues instead of illuminating the critical choices we face as a nation.

So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others - all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face - war and poverty; injustice and inequality. We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.

Because if Dr. King could love his jailor; if he could call on the faithful who once sat where you do to forgive those who set dogs and fire hoses upon them, then surely we can look past what divides us in our time, and bind up our wounds, and erase the empathy deficit that exists in our hearts.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. Actually

the words 'embrace' and 'scorn' are the lexicon of the Ex-gay movement. It is the way they talk a code. I do not wish to be embraced by Obama or McClurkin, simply accepted and respected. And given equal treatment under the law.
Obama refuses to say 'accept' and uses the churched out codes speak. Recently he has said 'gay and straight' without the Exodus code, and that is something.
But the Ebenezer speech? Bayard Ruskin, a gay man, attended that church and was one of Dr King's right hands and his mentor in the ways of Ghandi. Why not an acknowlegement of that history, that shared family history?
Why not a simple apology for McClurkin? Why not say it was a mistake to have him. His supporters say it all the time, but Obama has not. Why the hell not?

[Liberal Veteran]

40. Let's just get down to brass tacks...

If Obama went on national tv and repudiated and apologized for everything McClurkin stands for in no uncertain terms and slashed his wrists in penance, you'd parse his words to be a half-assed apology with no meaning.

"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity and rights of all other citizens. And so I strongly disagree with Rev. McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as president of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division," Obama said.

Obama repeatedly has spoken out against homophobia in the black community and on several occasions to large church congregations.

He's been pretty clear, but you want a pound of flesh.

[rodeodance]

25. what is your point?

[Bluenorthwest]

37. Didn't vet properly?!?!?

McClurkin has done numerous national TV shows as an anti-gay preacher. He has a book, a church, and in fact he sang for George W Bush on TV at the GOP 2004 Convention. " Stand, Mr. President, stand"...
What kind of vetting are you looking for exactly? He's famous as what he is. Not just a bigot, but a Bush backing bigot. It pissed me off when Bush used him, then Obama did the same damn thing.
At Obama's events, McClurkin was the handpicked MC and only speaker. Even after his attack sermon, no apology, and McClurkin remained with the campaign.

[Raine]

21. What was it?

That Obama is luck to be black or something like Hillary is lucky to be a woman? Seriously I don't have a clue.

[denem]

17. The 'ex gay' mantra - God has saved me from homosexuality.

The 'ex-gay' creed is that homosexuals don't exist - they are a failure of faith in the God who could save from from their sins.

[Bluenorthwest]

36. Half hour sermon against gays

Called us bigots for defending ourselves, live on Obama's stage. Obama said it is ok, Donnie only 'wants to change the unhappy ones'.
Obama did not apologize, rather he said the homophobes are 'good, decent, and moral people'. He does not feel the same way about Ferraro, so obvioulsy he can tolerate bigotry that is not directed at him. That is not courage, that is self interest. Everyone does that.

[Liberal Veteran]

14. I think this speech was apology enough.....

For most of this country's history, we in the African-American community have been at the receiving end of man's inhumanity to man. And all of us understand intimately the insidious role that race still sometimes plays - on the job, in the schools, in our health care system, and in our criminal justice system.

And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we're honest with ourselves, we'll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King's vision of a beloved community.

We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity.

Every day, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions; across gender and party. It is played out on television. It is sensationalized by the media. And last week, it even crept into the campaign for President, with charges and counter-charges that served to obscure the issues instead of illuminating the critical choices we face as a nation.

So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others - all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face - war and poverty; injustice and inequality. We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.

Because if Dr. King could love his jailor; if he could call on the faithful who once sat where you do to forgive those who set dogs and fire hoses upon them, then surely we can look past what divides us in our time, and bind up our wounds, and erase the empathy deficit that exists in our hearts.

[Bluenorthwest]

46. That was not even addressed

to the community he needs to apologize to. He talked about gay people, in code speak, as opposed to talking to us, in direct language.

And if it were not for McClurkin, I'd be in Obama's camp. Prior to McClurkin I was in his camp, with Dennis in first place and Obama my favorite to take the nomination. So, he lost my vote, and has yet to ask for it again. The issues stays fresh in my mind due to the high horse ridden by Obama supporters, as if the McClurkin events were somehow understandable, while they parse words and split hairs over everything said about Obama looking for fault to find.
Double standards make me ill. Those practicing them while also declaring the evil of the other side for doing the freaking same thing is revolting. Ohh, Hillary's Rovian, while our guy only panders to religious bigots using gay people as bait, something Rove would never do. Hypocrites are the lowest of the low. There has been very little honesty about the McClurkin events on the Obama side. I see nothing to respect in the way it was handled by him or by his camp.
Talking about me at church is not the same as asking for my forgiveness. In a way, it is nothing more than gossip, to avoid a face to face apology, yet go to others and act as if you are righteous. Without his apology, in fact, his words were a bit of an insult to the pulpit. Obama has called that a sermon, and as a sermon, it was filled with self serving spin, in the house of God.

[dchill]

19. What Obama should do, is get on DU first thing...

every day, and scan for things Hill's folk in GD:P need apologized about - regardless of whether he needs to or has already done so.

[denem]

23. No - simply issue an apology

I reject and repudiate. It's enough, and it has not happened.

[dchill]

24. Like I said...

Every effing day.

[terrya]

30. Well, once again, it was a big fucking mistake coming in here.

Because, once again, someone doesn't seem to think that it's no big deal for people to be labelled as "sick" who need to be "cured". And for a Presidential candidate to give the hatemongering shills who voice this disgusting, bigoted crap a voice during a fundraiser.

Oh, wait a minute. Senator Obama "strongly disagrees" with McClurkin's views. You know...I "strongly disagree" with the idea that Julia Roberts is a good actress. That's how meaningless "strongly disagrees" can be.

So, once again, I find I have to try to explain how odious, how nasty, how disgusting these "ex-gay" people are. Because, well, they are supported by the very worst of the enemies of the GLBT community. The very same enemies who deny me and the GLBT community equality...who deny my very existance as a gay man. And I see that trying to explain this is utterly futile.

So, out I go.

[Liberal Veteran]

35. I'm gay and an Obama supporter as is my husband....

He certainly never claimed to agree with McClurkin. He has denounced bigotry against the gay community.

And he has been actively courting the GLBT community and getting their input into his campaign.

If you can't forgive him, perhaps it is a flaw in you rather than him.

[dchill]

41. If you don't mind, before you "go"...

please explain to me how my post belittled your situation in any way. I ONLY meant to belittle those who seem to feel that Obama needs to repeatedly "deal with", "address", "apologize for" or any other qualifying demand that exists under the sun for anything that they disagree with, real or imagined. I do not mean to "deny your existence" as a gay man, or a Democrat, or a Hillary supporter (if that's what you are.) When the shoe is on the other foot, Hillary doesn't seem to need to apologize for any breach of fair play. common decency, or truth. That is all.

[Bluenorthwest]

49. I'm not Hill's folk

And if he managed to apologize even once for what he himself chose to do, although he was asked not to, it would be accepted. He has not apologized, and that is the whole point.
If he had, this would have been a closed subject. Instead many months have passed while Obama has parsed some phrases here and there, never looking at gay people and saying, I was wrong.

The McClurkin events set the tone for this whole election. It was a new low for Democratic politics as far as I know. Holding up a minority like that, fuck that no matter who is the target, and no matter who is the panderer. I reject such tactics wholly, and with no reservations, as should this Party as a whole, uless it wants to live like we are now living. This whole set of tactics is unacceptable, and I myself will not remain a part of a Party that intends to use race and gender and sexual orientation as tools of the politics of desturction. It is not just wrong when they do it, it is wrong when anybody does it.
I tell you what. You are worried about the candidates, I've seen so many, but the real issues at stake at this point are about the future path and lexicon of our Party. So you go worry about Barry and Hill. Some of us would like to keep this Party to its principles, and not become the Republicans all over again. I've been a Democrat all of my life, and voting for either of these candidates is going to be a real problem for me. They have run vicious campaigns, and in Obama's case, aimed some my way, something I had only see out of the worst of Republicans. My loyalty to the Party is being pushed to its limit. These two ego freaks, going on and on, insulting loyal Democratic factions willy nilly, while no one calls Bush a monster, no one says Bush is a curse, no one preaches against Bush, no, they hire the guy who sang for Bush to sing for them, and work in a bit against the fageles, while he's at it. Why are they not calling for Impeachment? Why don't they talk about issues instead of parsing each other's words and playing fucking schoolyard games. Straight folk make me sick sometimes, so out of touch with so many things, look at them posturing like it is really about them. Not us. Not Bush. Not war nor peace. All about them.

[Politicub]

26. Where's Olbermann's special comment about McClurkin?

And the ex-gays?

Crickets...

I thought so. Giving the ex-gays a platform for their spew? Everyone - avert your gaze! Pay no attention to the ex-gay on the stage.

[rodeodance]

38. Lets see if does his thingy on BO!

[depakid]

31. What he should do morally and what's wise politically are 2 different things

[kdpeters]

43. The McClurkin/Ferraro incidents are entirely analogous to one another

Obama hasn't shown as much contrition as I would personally wish, but he's shown enough for me to accept as much and move on. McClurkin is no longer associated with the campaign. It's over. It's time for you to accept it and move on too.

Likewise, Clinton hasn't shown as much contrition for Ferraro as I would personally wish, but she's shown enough for me to accept as much and move on. Ferraro is no longer associated with the campaign. It's over. It's time for you to accept it and move on too.

[sniffa]

44. Yes, he should

It took me a while to get behind him, but I still want him to apologize for this.

[Solon]

45. A few, however, for most of them, GLBT people are "non-persons" they don't matter...

and hence can never be offended, so Obama doesn't owe an apology to people who don't matter.

[annie1]

47. if they pray the gay away then they'll be no one to apologize to. problem solved.

[kwenu]

48. RE-TREAD THREAD, RE-TREAD THREAD, RE-TREAD THREAD. THE FORK WAS STUCK IN THIS TOPIC WEEKS AGO!!!!

COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW PLEASE.

[Bluenorthwest]

50. To every Obama supporter who said he should apologize

My thanks. And thanks to all of you for opening the discussion. This has been a huge issue for me, as an individual, due to my own life experience. It is very heartning to see that some Obama supporters do think poorly of that McClurkin stuff. He sang for Bush, I mean, that alone should have been warning.
Anyway, in other places I read many awful things about this.
I am glad to see some honest discussion about it. I came to DU over this issue looking to talk, and talk has been, well, rather of a low level. I almost left the Party over it, when it happened. My father's ghost would haunt me, my cousins and siblings would disown me, we are Democrats. But I almost left. I'm still not content with what is going on, and in all honesty, I think the tone of the campaign at large was set with those events and the refusal of apology. It has been knuckleball every since. Those who see it all coming from one side, that stuns me. It is just not honest at all. Just as Olbermann spoke out about Ferraro, this Party should have stood and rejected the very idea of any such speech as McClurkin's at official events. Obama should have been very clear that such a sermon was not wanted, and should not have taken place. He said none of that. This Party should not be having bigot fests against anyone, in the name of religion or in the name of delegates. That is the real thing, not Obama or Hillary. Are we going to do it this way, with Evangelists and country club prejudices in full swing? Really? Is that who Democrats are now? And why?

[RoadRage]

51. If he did apologize,

would you stop supporting Hillary, and vote for Obama? Is this one issue the only thing keeping you from supporting him?

If not - then why does it even matter? Most people have many reasons for supporting or not supporting a candidate - i don't think anyone has used McClurkin as the only reason they don't support Obama. Frankly, Obama has come out stronger for GLBT issues, but if a McClurkin apology is more important then the actual facts on support for that group - then really, I don't think there is much more he can do anyway. Why waste time and the garner the media attention to bring up a very old issue if it's not going to help him in the long run?

[LittleClarkie]

52. Either this issue is a deal breaker for you, or it's not.

Either Obama's going to offer an apology that is acceptable to those who are offended, or he's not.

I highly doubt anyone here (mostly) is connected to the campaign, or at least not closely enough to say "Hey, Obama, I think you need to issue a better apology about McClurkin!"

By now most of us are aware of the issue. We don't have short term memory loss. We're not Drew Barrymore and this isn't "50 First Dates".

What is gained by bringing it up time and again? It's not a new issue. None of us here can give you what you're looking for from Obama.

So don't vote for him already.