Oh, girl! Presidential candidate Barack Obama‘s bringing out the broads in his effort to beat rival Hillary Clinton:
While much of the talk has been about the battle for white men in the remaining states to weigh in on the Democratic nomination battle, Senator Barack Obama is out with a new spot in Pennsylvania that appears to go after his rival’s most loyal constituency: women.
The spot features two regular surrogates: his half-sister, Maya Soetoro Ng, and his wife Michelle. We also hear from his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who helped raise him…
Hillary and Chelsea better start tag-teaming the Keystone State.
summerscales
Obama has finally done an interview with the gay press. Read about it here:
http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/
sam
Just wait until he shows up on Days of our Lives
rickroberts
Too little, too late. He is saddled with his unfortunate to that vile racist Rev Jeremiah Wright.
Afroguapo
Barack needs to show some white relatives so that some insecure white people can identify with him more and pacify their ill-based fears that he’s going to do something bad to them if he gets in office. Hopefully, he can even bring out some gay relatives so that some gays on here don’t exhibit the usual histrionics of the sky is falling for gays.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0404wrightapr03,0,92000.story
chicagotribune.com
Factor military duty into criticism
By Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss
April 3, 2008
In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.
In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)
The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy’s premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief’s medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.
What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.
While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.
Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?
After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America’s biggest cities.
This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades.
Since these comments became public we have heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his comments and him.
We’ve seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright’s many sermons.
Some of the Wright’s comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should be condemned, but in calling him “unpatriotic,” let us not forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his country.
How many of Wright’s detractors, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly to name but a few, volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights struggle? Not many.
While words do count, so do actions.
Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism.
Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss are, respectively, Navy and Marine Corps veterans. They work at The Center For American Progress. Korb served as assistant secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration.
Leland Frances
Jessica H. Christ! Another epistle churned out by otherwise sane men from the propaganda room up St. Obama’s ass!
Lee Harvey Oswald served in the Marines, too, and also has a connection to John F. Kennedy. He shot him.
Jeremiah Wrong, whatever he’s done right, turned into a loon, preaching perpetual victimhood over self-actualization. He could be said to have the blood of his own people on his hands for perpetuating the myth that AIDS was a government conspiracy—the kind of belief that research has demonstrated leads many people of color to avoid medical care, refuse to vaccinate their children, and even avoid using condoms. Some 15% believe that AIDS is an attempt at black genocide. The immoral Tuskegee study on black men with syphilis is often cited as justification for these fears when, in fact, it was supported by virtually the entire black medical community at the time and for years afterward. The name itself comes from the fact that the research was welcomed and conducted at the black Tuskegee Institute started by Booker T. Washington.
“Phill Wilson, executive director of the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles, said past discrimination is no longer an excuse for embracing conspiracies that allow HIV to fester. ‘It’s a huge barrier to HIV prevention in black communities’, Wilson said. ‘There’s an issue around conspiracy theory and urban myths. Thus we have an epidemic raging out of control, and African Americans are being disproportionately impacted in every single sense.’”
SEE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33695-2005Jan24.html and
http://rand.org/news/press.05/01.25.html
Finally, no man of whatever color, profession, or military background who calls Louis “Hitler was a great man/It’s the wicked Jews that are promoting Lesbianism, homosexuality/white men are the enemy†Farrakhan a personal friend and gives him a lifetime achievement award in said man’s name should be admired or defended.
Afroguapo
Omigod, this Wright man is sooooo scary!!!!!!!! he really really hates gays. I see it now in reading this. I just can’t stomach it anymore, it’s absolutely horrific.
http://blackaids.org/ShowArticle.aspx?articletype=SITEFEATURE&articleid=519&pagenumber=1
rickroberts
Afro, it has nothing to do with whether or not he hates gays. I don’t even think we have discussed that. What we have talked about is the paranoia and racism. The man is nutso, and Barack looks up to him! That is the problem.
Afroguapo
Rick, some people on this site have portrayed Obama to be some latent homophobe by virtue of some tenuous connection to pastors when they’re not calling out Hillary and others who have questionable affiliations with other religious leaders. It’s a double standard much like your pro-feminist yarn but retrograde racial stuff and I am tired of Hillary being portayed like she’s the messiah for gay people. Yes, the man has said some horrible things but his 9/11 speech was distorted and not necessarily off the mark. The U.S. cannot presume that it is judge and jury in all things in this world and he said as much. As far as the paranoia, you would likely be a little paranoid too if you were an elderly black man who went through the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, especially in the South which is where you’re from I believe. My dad is over 70 and isn’t all Star Bangled Banner cotton candy about the U.S. because of HIS experience. Your experience is in stark contrast to Wright’s as you’re young and white. Let some straight people start telling you how paranoid and nutso you are about gay/straight issues and perhaps you’ll make the connection. And with respect to the link (which predates the fiasco), Wright is seemingly progressive on hiv/aids and gay issues.
Afroguapo
Spangled, I know how pedantic you like to get when ruffled 😉
jeeb
I would’ve thought the Oprah endorsement would’ve gotten him all the estrogen power he needed.
Mr C
Afroguapo please stop arguing with people that just doesn’t forgive, because truth is told. There is no such thing as GAY RIGHTS. Unfortunately for some folks GAY MARRIAGE will never be in America because the US Congress who makes and break the bills will not support it. And if it is left up to state’s rights. IT’S A WRAP! For sure.
So they are going to keep Jeremiah Wright and James Meeks, and DonnieMcClurkin in front of OBAMA so they will try to have a legitimate means of not wanting to vote for him. While their WHITE preachers who have been advisors to an entire party i.e. Republican has spewed hate from 911 to Katrina on LGBT. But you notice that they’re not making an issue about that. Unfortunately that is what prejudice is all about. They learn it from their Parents.
Please stop wasting your hard earn energy. This community is DOOMED and personally. I am more concerned about being BLACK and GAY in AMERICA. Then just being GAY. That SHIT doesn’t cut it for me. Most of these so called Gay Civil rights groups do not support most Black LGBT AT ALL. They use us when they feel the need to.
As long as Phil Wilson keeps telling the WORLD about the AIDS epidemic in the BLACK GAY COMMUNITY and thanks for making us aware so we can continue to enlighten one another. The WHITE GAY Community perpetuates it and makes us look like we all have it. Haven’t you noticed the DOWN LOW only pertains to Blacks and certain Latino factions?
All these MARRIED WHITE MALE BAREBACK BOTTOMS/TOPS and all these open relationships they have along with all this sex and not one wife, or partner is HIV positive??? YEAH RIGHT!
It’s not pushed that WHITE MEN Live on the DOWN LOW it’s simply called being discreet. Very conservative isn’t it?
Last year right before DC Capital Pride. They had a symposium on LGBT’s in DC. And Jason Bellini of LOGO was asked to be there and appeared. And he asked of this crowd of predominately WHITE LGBT folks from different organizations. “What is being done about HIV in the Black LGBT community� You could have heard Charmin tissue hit the floor and become an explosion. Which goes to show the fucking arrogance of these so-called Gay Civil Rights group? In order for a person of color to be a part of them they have to come out of character and act like something their not just to be accepted. .
FUCK THAT!
They are all FULL OF SHIT! So let it be. Barack will become the nominee regardless and out of their hate in which they don’t want the hetero’s to hate us GAYS…
GO FIGURE.
McCain will win and FUCK THE LGBT community as it will deserve it! Then talk shit as beatings, bashings, and all types of discrimination is coming ya’ll way.
GEAR UP GIRLS it will be a bumpy 4 years to come.
rickroberts
MrC, take a Xanax, dude. You’re such an angry Black man. Don’t we have enough angry Black men already?
tommy
Thanks for the enlightenment Mr. C , being such a racist white guy I never realized. Yes the ONLY reason I will not vote for Obama is that he’s black. NOt the myriad of other disqualifications.
Black or white you living on the down low with a wife or girlfriend, you are a coward and will not get my sympathy or support.
Mr C
First of all I never said all WHITE GAYS are prejudice. I put it out there and you chose to respond. If the shoe fits obviously you chose to wear it.
I personally don’t care who you vote for. That’s on you. I’m telling it like the hell it is and I’m not angry JUST HONESTY. So I’m NOT falling for the “Sean Hannity” method you’re trying to use for it is what it is.
McCain will show you. Just wait and see! Like I said: McCain will win and FUCK THE LGBT community as some of them will deserve it!
Then talk shit as beatings, bashings, and all types of discrimination is coming ya’ll way.
GEAR UP GIRLS it will be a bumpy 4 years to come.
PERIOD!
rickroberts
MrC is a typical angry Black male just like Rev. Jeremiah Wright. They are crusty old dinosaurs in this new century.
Steve
I have to agree with several posters, Rev Wright has become a loon. It was not the 9/11 comments that did it for me, but it was the other more racially motivated comments, such as the one Leland pointed out, are far more troubling. Wright for me is also not the primary reason for me not to vote for Obama in the primary, and I think it is completely fair for people to question this relationship.
Mr.C, dude stop with the caps. You come across as angry. The down low is a common discussion with gays of color, because homophobia is a greater force in these communities, it causes more black and latino kids no to come out of the closet and to partake in some dangerous behavior that can lead to HIV/AIDS. Homophobia is much more prevelent in part due to the churches and the role of church in many of these communities. That is a reality, and that is why it is more talked about in those communities because it is a much larger issue.
Afroguapo
And Leland comes across like a raving lunatic. Steve it’s certainly fair to question this relationship, but question the affiliations of the OTHER candidates as well. This is not the exclusive province of BHO. They are ALL not aligned with environmentally green, non-sexist, pro-abortion, pro-lgbt, racially enlightened sensitive and aware, economically egalitarian supporters. Bill is probably calling BHO an “uppity N” in the confines of his house when you have gay men on here who show their unfettered racism. That’s a very pollyannaish attitude and delusional to not realize they ALL have questionable “friendships”. I am of African and latino descent and didn’t grow up in an environment that was any more homophobic than any other traditional white family. I think what Mr. C was getting at is that despite some white men also having a propensity for same sex desires and there being many examples (Ted Haggard, Stuart Levine, McGreevey, Ed Schrock, that Bob guy in Florida) white men aren’t portrayed as duplicitous charlatans on the down low like black men. I am not an epidemioligist, but I think the source of higher hiv rates in the black community is attributable to higher concentrations of poverty (and thus lack of education/awareness and high degree of despair) and higher incarceration rates where many of them “went gay” and contracted it while in prison and don’t disclose when released. So you’re comparing apples and oranges Steve. Despite you and I both being middle class professionals in our prime, I would be accused of being on the down low before you would despite there being many more examples of mainstream white men being on the down low than black men.
Afroguapo
And Steve, it’s quite interesting that the ones who are so vociferously anti-BHO because of Wright’s vile racist behavior, are the very ones who continue to show their own prejudice and racism and condemn Wright for the very behavior they purport to reject. I guess it goes to the old adage, “we hate most in others that which we see in ourselves.”
Afroguapo
And the M.O. of Leland, Rick et al is to make it appear either tongue in cheek or merely to give an example (e.g. Rick pouncing for the N word when someone called his idol Hillary the B word) to get away with it. I feel like we’re on myspace for immature teens rather than a mature gay site. Webmaster/mistress, are there no Terms of Service or tenets for community behavior?
Exhibit A to post 18. – Res ipsa loquitur
No. 2 · Leland Frances
I think there are too many blacks on queerty. Come the new millennium, the number of African American adults behind bars will hit the million mark for the first time, That represents nearly an eightfold increase from three decades ago, when there were only 133,226 blacks in prison.
By 2010, roughly one in 5 black men will be or will have been in prison. Keep them behind bars.
Posted: Dec 5, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Jason
“we hate most in others that which we see in ourselves.â€
Exactly.
I don’t agree with all of Rev. Wright’s comments, but it’s hilarious and fascinating to me that some of “us” are quick to dismiss Obama’s camp as racist?!?!? Compared to McCain and Clinton?!?!?! Seriously?!?!?
Mr C
UMMMMM Steve: As for this statement: The down low is a common discussion with gays of color, because homophobia is a greater force in these communities, it causes more black and latino kids no to come out of the closet and to partake in some dangerous behavior that can lead to HIV/AIDS. Homophobia is much more prevelent in part due to the churches and the role of church in many of these communities. That is a reality, and that is why it is more talked about in those communities because it is a much larger issue.
Not true at all. Once white based media get a hold of these things this is how it’s put out there to everyone.
That is utter bullshit and YOU have no real proof. Just because someone gives a statistic doesn’t mean that is true. If your’re not Black or hispanic HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE THIS?
Homophobia is more prevelent in our churches and communities? Really.
What about,
ROD PARSLEY
THE LATE JERRY FALWELL
PAT ROBERTSON
JOHN HAGEE
THE ENTIRE SOUTHERN BAPTIST ORGANIZATION???
Who have said worse things than James Meeks.
But of course we send folks to hell.
Give me a break. You don’t think there are more WHITES being inccurred with this issue? Don’t be fooled by these reports you read that only concentrate on minorities than their own.
There are WHITE men who are married who get on sex chats all day. wanting bareback sex amongst other things. This is a fair shake. There are as many whites who are more homophobic, than blacks and hispanics. And they live silence as well and suffer.
So I’m not angry at all. Who ever is allowing you all to believe that we suffer homophobia more than any other race is utter bullshit.
Once again we are used in negative ways to these civil rights gay groups who can’t supply us with solutions if there is to be any. But will expose us in this manner as such
Angry or not this community isn’t a fair shake for all races. Bottom line
And Jason you said it best. Like I said before Clinton and some of her cronies have done and said just as much evil things than the Obama camp. But they can forgive her and not him.
Things that make you go HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
rickroberts
MrC, you need to stop antagonizing us. Why you be hatin’ on us? We don’t fit da mold. Dat right?
Afroguapo
Interesting that you take such great relish in being pitiful and common at the same time.
Steve
Mr C, firstly lets not confuse any issues here. By pointing out issues within the black and latino communities, it is in no way elevating the white community up on to some pedestal of purity. I can’t stand the notion that if somehow we want to address issues within a non white group of people that it is racially motivated. If you haven’t been already I would highly recommend posting on jasmynecannick.com, I think you are two peas in a pod.
I stand by my comment that the down low is a common discussion in regards to black and latino communities because of the homophobia within those communities. There is a reason that more black and latino boys and girls remain in the closet than white boys and girls. There is a reason that black gay men are contracting HIV at alarming rates(especially among men who sleep with men, almost 1/3 of these men are infected), and the alarming rate at which black women are contracting HIV through sex with men. Listen, it is a fact that many gay men do not disclose their sexuality, and as much as you may hate to acknowledge the fact, young gay men, and minority gay men are more likely to not disclose that they have slept with men. This says something, and how do you explain it?
White men most certain partake in similar behavior, however, far fewer white gay men are in the closet than minority men. And of course more white people are homophobic than black people…but considering that over 50% of the American population is white that should not surprise either of us. However, when delving deeper into the cultures of whites and blacks and latinos there are differences, and some large differences especially in relation to sexual identity issues. Are you honestly going to try and tell me that is not the case? I brought up the issues with black churches, because we have all listened to the Obama supporters on this site applaud Obama for talking about gay issues in front of black churches because of their vilification of gay people, and now you are going to tell me that is BS? I don’t get it.
Steve
ugh, posted too quickly, I want to clarify that when I say far fewer white gay men are in the closet, I am talking about percentages here…
Afroguapo
Steve,
I don’t think Mr.C was implying that your post displayed racial animus or that the white community was a paragon of virtue or that he was lumping you with people like Rick or Leland. I think he was just saying that it’s easy to broadly brush and make blanket statements when people aren’t members of the particular community and base it solely on what the media says. It would be akin to me offering certain theories as dispostive about the Chinese gay community when I know nothing about it except for what I’ve read in magazines or saw on the news. I concur with you as far as blacks and latinos being more closeted than their white peers. But, I think it’s primarily because of less economic mobility and thus less autonomy than white people, espousing traditional notions that heterosexuality is the only way to live (church factor), and fearing being ostracized from their community if they were actually out — which goes back to lack of economic mobility to “escape/flee” like white men in oppressive environments. I grew up rather affluent, traditional parents who were not that religious but went to church because it was the proper thing to do for one’s kids and came out in college. My dad said he always knew. My punishment for misbehaving was having my black & white tv moved from my room so I couldn’t watch Hart To Hart perhaps being one indication. Anyway, they were more disappointed that they would likely not have biological grandchildren from me, that I might contract hiv one day and that gay men were promiscuous which would lead to a string of fly-by-night lovers. I don’t recall God or religious dogma entering into the equation at all.
But I am not exactly certain that HIV in black communities is attributable in large portion to black churches being vehemently anti-gay. Just anecdotally, in my past experiences in sleeping with black and latino men who said they were on the DL, they were for the most part adamant about me wearing a condom because (1) they didn’t want their “cover” blown in case I had anything while they were living a double life and (2) they feared the staggering numbers in the community. Interestingly, of white men I’ve slept with in the past, it varied but many didn’t want me to wear a condom, perhaps because I “looked” safe, middle class, etc. or they thought they were impervious (some telling me they were immune because of the Black Plague as they had been penetrated by poz guys and didn’t contract it and thus had that gene that supposedly confers immunity) or because the numbers weren’t as bad/dire in their community. My other black male friends have similar experiences when we compare notes. I personally think the higher rates are caused by a higher incidence of incarceration among black men who have “gay sex” in prison either by choice/loneliness/libido, rape, or survival. In prison there are no condoms and when they are released, they go back to leading straight lives with no recognition/mention of their past. They should have condoms in prison because otherwise they are perpetuating a health hazard and consigning people to eventually getting it.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=35897
Mr C
Thanks Afroguapo for having my back.
Like I said before Steve WHITE based media perpetuates these things and if you know this to be the truth. Then show me a BLACK LGBT group that says the same with statistics and all.
We don’t make the spotlight like you guys unless it’s a tragedy or a person who has transcended all boundaries where they are acknowledge outside the LGBT community. But this nonsense of statistics is just that statistics we don’t deny that HIV and issues of “The down low†are within our community for it is and needs to handled. But to make it seems that we are THE BIGGEST of them all is “poppycock†If you did outreach in our community then you’d know. Obviously the Advocate, OUT,etc are not our friends. We have to be SUPER SUPER big to make their mags. So most rely on them to read and believe what they don’t factually know.
And as for Jasmyne don’t hate. She only looks out for hers as you’re doing for yours. When you are a community activist as she is. She sees these things whereas most of you choose not to see it!
Once again in the black and Latino communities it’s called “the down low”
And in yours its considered discreet, or an open relationship. Go Figure.
No damn difference. FEAR,HOMOPHOBIA, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF SELF PRESERVATION, and SHAMEFULNESS is a MULTIRACIAL problem not just black and or Latino.
Visit our community and see for yourself, or stop going on bullshit far fetch facts.
Steve
Mr. C and Afro,
I can appreciate they fact that you don’t like a white person to speak about the black experience. However, you are putting some words into my mouth, or rather, you are giving more weight to some of the words I said. I did not say that churches are the only place it comes from, you put those words into my mouth, I did not even say that it was a large part. I brought up the church because in several previous discussions regarding Obama and gays, he has had so much attention brought to him because he “bravely” chose to speak about gay issues in front of black churches, which everyone then pointed out are a particularly homophobic place.
I also do not read the advocate or out, etc…just because I am a white gay man does not mean that I do. There are many other sources out there…and not all of mine are racially biased from the white POV.
Perhaps I am wrong in thinking it, but can only imagine that the notion of machismo in the latino community as well as the years of trying to be kept in second class society as the black community really has potential to fan the flames of homophobia. I do strongly believe that the double minority status has a real potential to keep a lot of people in the closet and the potential to breed a lot more homophobia. Again, could be wrong, but to me its an interesting thought.
As far as statistics go, I don’t think you can disregard them. Numbers have a story to tell. Granted they can’t necessarily tell the whole story, but they can provide some insights about what is going on. You can look at the infection rates and the sources they come from and you can make conclusions, and it is not always pretty.
Also Mr.C, going back to the down low issue. From what I know, the term down low was created in the black community, it is not a term that white people created in order to discuss it. In fact, I have read a few articles from black men who actually take offense to white gay men using the term to describe what they do, and claim that it is indeed a term that should be restricted to black gay men only…damned if you do, damned if you don’t evidently.
I definitely enjoy the conversation, I do not set out to offend and apologize if I have.
Afroguapo
Steve, no offense taken whatsoever as you were merely stating your opinion in a mature civil way. I have no problem with white people making an observation/critique of the black community/experience when they’re doing it from a genuine place (like you) versus from antipathy for or out sheer ignorance of black people and their experiences. I was just trying to clarify and elaborate on some points as to contributing factors as to why there may appear to be more homophobia and a rationale for higher hiv rates due to previous incarceration which serves as a vector into the wider community. I think the Times ran a story about a prison in or near Brooklyn and when you looked at an aerial map of infected people, the prison was the epicenter with pools of infection emanating from it. I think the double minority point you made is in fact a credible one (I remember my dad said “wow, you’re already black in this country, life is going to be even more hard for you”) and that is compounded even further if you’re black, gay and poor/struggling. I think my transition was somewhat easier because of the resources and background I had. Just to illustrate, I saw Barbara Walters do a special on 20/20 about transgendered kids who knew their identity at age 5. They featured this affluent/rich Jewish family (dad had some succcessful business and mom was housewife) who begrudgingly allowed their son to grow his hair long, wear girls clothes to school and with his playmates and fully embraced his gender identity knowing one day he will get the operation and become a woman — they will permit him to take female hormones around puberty. The family was somewhat disappointed initially and embarrassed to some extent by what relatives and neighbors thought but they adjusted. This kid because of his background/resources, will likely have gender assignment surgery, go to a good college, forge a decent career and meet a man for a meaningful relationship. This is in stark contrast to a latino or black kid in the projects who has gender identity issues. His parents won’t have the resources for psychologists/therapists, hormones when he hits puberty, alternative schools, etc. as they are trying to eke out an existence barely for themselves. That kid will likely be the brunt of jokes and could end up getting black market hormones and not developing a career or meaningful skills when he’s older and facing discrimination from all sorts of levels: racial, sexual orientation, gender identity, classism.
rickroberts
MrC, it looks as if your boy has stepped in another big stinking pile of deep doodoo. So now you have to ask yourself: do you want to win in November? Still think Barack is the one who can do that? bwahahaha!