AMERICABLOG has picked up the Obama/Caldwell story

Aravosis' conclusion is to give Obama a pass on this one

see link:

http://www.americablog.com/2008/01/obama-and-gays-again.html

Obama and the gays, again

by John Aravosis (DC) · 1/21/2008 06:02:00 PM ET · Link

Obama's relations with the gay community were off to a great start yesterday morning. Obama had just addressed the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, MLK's own church (text of the speech and video here), and Obama went out of his way in the speech to call the black community to task for having "scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them."

Not bad, considering candidates don't usually admonish their own in order to get votes.

Then, word started getting around (i.e., I started getting lots of emails) that Obama was embracing yet another homophobic friend-of-Bush, a la the controversy a few months ago in which Donnie McClurkin, a gospel singer (and Bush supporter) who advocates that gays can (and should) be "cured" emceed an Obama fundraiser. This time around, it's Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, a black minister who says he's been asked by the Obama campaign to travel around the country on their behalf. The controversy? The minister's church runs a ministry that tries to cure gays.

Or at least they did. The ministry's Web site no longer contains the page promoting their anti-gay/ex-gay ministry, but I still have a copy that you can see below:

(MORE)

He suddenly now realizes that Obama is anti-gay and he is being played for a fool?

Before anyone objects to my pointing out that he's an ex-Republican, Aravosis used his website as a focal point for those who favored excluding the transgendered from ENDA. That's an example of his continuing right-wing bias. Transgendered people hate his guts. He also originally supported the Iraq war, was very gung-ho about it, even over the objections of those on his gay-politics newsletter email list who complained it was off-topic. He called them "peaceniks", and to my knowledge he's never apologized for that and admitted he was the one in the wrong.

Apparently no one cares. We should just sit back down in the rear of the bus.

Help. x(

Well if John Aravosis is giving him a pass, then I guess I'll just shut up about it.

he has talked to the Obama campaign and they have assured him Caldwell will have zero part in the campaign.

Whether he's being given a snowjob or not, I have no way of knowing, but the piece indicates to me, at least, that the campaign knows this guy is toxic.

Obama wants to unify all peoples of this country --right?

Good.

He can start by telling parents that sending their children to places like Metanoia is about the same as giving them lobotomies with an extra dash of guilt and shame.

He can mention that places like this are horrid and barbaric.






But he won't.

I've been calling on him to do that for months. If he wants to trot McClurkin out there, then he needs to address the issue at hand: the entire "ex-gay" fraud.

I know that's a pigs flying hockey game in hell wish, but a gay can hope, can't he?

wouldn't be given a stage to spout his anti-gay vitriol.

That, we have come to learn, was far from the truth.

or not.

that either confirms or denies Caldwell's statement that he will be campaigning for Obama. I'm pleased to hear that the campaign is refusing Caldwell's efforts, according to what Aravosis wrote.



That said, I've seen the Obama campaign say one thing and do another on this issue before, so I'll have to take a "wait and see" approach on this one. Tiny steps forward are good, Senator Obama.

(insert catty - but true - remark here about falling on one's sword, etc.)

Well, I don't know about you but I'm glad that's all over with. Ah-h-h, back to business as usual.

*wipes brow* that's a relief! It's still a problem that this guy was GWB's "spiritual advisor" but that 's far better than hugging another ex-gayer as tight as McClurkin.

Obama is only using us as a wedge issue until he wins South Carolina.

After that he will tell us we can get back on the bus.

I hope no one will be fool enough to buy the lies and spins that are headed our way starting next Sunday.

His use of race, gender, age and homophobia to further his personal agenda is a slap in the face to anyone who has ever spent one moment caring about or working for civil or human rights.

He is most definitely Ronald Reagan's political spawn.