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The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend:
"a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."

He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior." (CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)


Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).

"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008



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A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist."
(Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)

"A nutty lesbian blogger."
(MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)


Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush


who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
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Obama won't back down from SC concert with homobigot ex-gay Donnie McClurkin

by: Pam Spaulding

Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 20:30:00 PM EDT


The Obama campaign had a chance to comment on why he decided to sign on for a gospel concert tour in South Carolina this weekend featuring recloseted anti-gay homosexual Donnie McClurkin (my earlier post is here).

One gay activist involved with the Obama campaign said the situation puts the candidate in a bind, since he risks offending evangelicals in South Carolina if he cancels McClurkin's appearance but could alienate gay supporters if the performance proceeds as planned.

"This story is quickly turning into a disaster for Barack," said the supporter who is active on gay and lesbian issues. "He's screwed if he goes through with the trip with Donnie McClurkin….But he's also screwed in South Carolina if he dumps McClurkin. I hope that the staffer who set this up has already been fired."
There wasn't any response one way or another until now, and the Illinois senator and White House hopeful has made it clear what it comes down to when it means placating the homophobic religious black vote versus gay and lesbian voters (including gay people of color, who are the ones on the front line of discrimination in their religious communities).
About 6:40 pm today, the Obama campaign issued a written statement from the candidate saying that he "strongly disagree(s)" with McClurkin's views. Still, a spokesman said McClurkin would remain part of the concert line-up.

"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. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country," Obama said in the written statement.

"I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend 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," the statement added.
This is a sorry response, a feeble attempt to have it both ways. Overcoming homophobia does not include sharing the stage with a man who compares gays and lesbians to liars.
McClurkin explains, "There are certain things like, you know, anybody who has a lying problem; they get to the point where they hate being so, having such a lack of character that they make a change."
That said, this is a much larger problem than Barack Obama and the decision of his campaign to kowtow to the religious black vote versus his LGBT allies.

More below the fold. 

Pam Spaulding :: Obama won't back down from SC concert with homobigot ex-gay Donnie McClurkin
Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters' Alvin McEwan must have been reading my mind:
Remember, the African-American community has no out lgbt leaders gracing the covers of Ebony, Jet, or Essence. The African-American media does not necessarily take it upon itself to present issues indigenious to the lgbt of color experience.

And for the most part, neither does the mainstream lgbt community.

So McClurkin can easily portray himself as a victim and the lgbt community as religious oppressors in these avenues.

And this could lead to another possible distraction to divide the mainstream lgbt and the heterosexual African-American community.

...The fact of the matter is that McClurkin has extreme popularity in the African-American community. And the lack of lgbts of color to give our side of the issue only makes the entire community look not only anti-religious but racist.
A few of us are out here talking about the complexities of tackling homophobia in the black community, but no, we're not discussed or known in the black MSM -- you're not going to read about the National Black Justice Coalition in the above-mentioned magazines. It's a blackout of sorts, no pun intended.

Earl Ofari Hutchison made it clear in his Huff Post piece, "Obama Should Repudiate and Cancel His Gay Bash Tour, and Do It Now," that Obama is well aware of the math and the equation of making the decision he made today.
A Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies poll in 2004 found that blacks by a far larger margin than the overall population opposed gay marriage. That raised a few eyebrows among some political pundits, but there were much earlier signs of blacks' relentless hostility to gays and gay rights. A survey that measured black attitudes toward gays published in Jet magazine in 1994 found that a sizable number of blacks were suspicious and scornful of them. Many blacks also were put off by Kerry's perceived support of abortion. In polls, Kerry got 20 percent less support from black conservative evangelicals than Democratic presidential contender Al Gore received in 2000.

In Florida and Wisconsin, Republicans aggressively courted and wooed key black religious leaders. They dumped big bucks from Bush's Faith-Based Initiative program into church-run education and youth programs. Black church leaders not only endorsed Bush but in some cases they actively worked for his re-election, and encouraged members of their congregations to do the same.

This lesson isn't lost on Obama. Desperate to snatch back some of the political ground with black voters that are slipping away from him and to Hillary; Bush's black evangelical card seems like the perfect play. Obama wouldn't dare go down the knock gay path, and risk drawing the inevitable heat for it, if he didn't think as Bush that anti-gay sentiment is still wide and deep among many blacks.
For Obama to have to take on the entire mantle of addressing the anti-gay rhetoric promoted by the likes of Donnie McClurkin and his supporters is a lot to ask, but there are going to be precious few voices in the black community who are going to be willing to call out McClurkin on his bigotry and ex-gay misinformation and do something about it. We now know what the "something" is.
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"take on the entire mantle"
Obama didn't have to "take on the entire mantle of addressing the anti-gay rhetoric promoted by the likes of Donnie McClurkin...".  All he had to do was not share a lime-lit stage with him.  I think if he had wanted to, he could have finessed the situation.  That he apparently didn't try to says loads about where his heart is  -somewhere between calculating and phobic.

Lurleen on Twitter

responsibilities
As I said, I'm not letting Obama off the hook. The fact is that he's in this untenable position says a lot about the lack of public dialogue on the issue of homophobia in the black community. It was actually news that he discussed it during the Tavis Smiley forum. That's sad commentary on "leadership" that pols would rather dodge the issue than confront it. He should have challenged McClurkin to publicly defend his comments in order to bring the issue to the fore.

[ Parent ]
true enough.
i wasn't disagreeing so much as moaning and groaning.  i'm very disappointed in this development.

Lurleen on Twitter

[ Parent ]
End of the Road

For me, at least.

I totally understand the difficult position in which the Senator may find himself. However, it is also clear that the campaign knew exactly with whom they were getting into bed when they signed on to have McClurkin sing for him.

As I told the campaign, and the DNC, in emails tonight. If Obama does not repudiate the hate expressed by Mr. McClurkin, he gets not one red dime from me - and that goes for the DNC as well, assuming Obama is either the President or Vice President candidate.

I'm sorry, but since being bashed with a brick in a likely anti-gay attack in 2004, I cannot countenance anyone who will surround himself with the forces of hate.



Bigot Obama has made his choice.

Apparently he doesn't really want to be President.  It's not going to happen for him now, not with tens of thousands of Democrats actively working to make sure he isn't elected.  We can't afford to have another openly bigoted man in the oval office, we must make sure that that doesn't come to pass.

 

I'm not talking about not voting for him now.  Now I'm talking about actively writing letters to the editor, letters to friends and family, putting up a web site, doing an e-mail campaign, etc...  People need to be warned about this two-faced hypocrite bigot. 



Obama should make a public statement at the concert

in support of gay inclusion and respect for ALL the Brothers and Sisters, not just some. The black mainstream has been able to pretend It's Not Their Problem (issue) for too long.

I'd rather he made such a statement at the concert than just cancel his appearance. You can't persuade if you don't show up. 



you know, that is a brilliant idea.
he does have that opportunity to move the conversation forward.  i hope he has the strength of conviction for equality to do it.

Lurleen on Twitter

[ Parent ]
this idea will effect change

Obama, with his skills at working a crowd, should take your advice and confront the issue in front of the audience there to see McClurkin.

If he does do that, then he can salvage this decision only to some degree; it will mean that he is airing out the "dirty laundry" in front of probably some of the most virulent anti-gay folks in the religious black community -- and the defensive response will indeed lose votes for him.

If he doesn't say anything there, well, he's going to find gay votes (and dollars) deserting him for sure.



[ Parent ]
He's after voting numbers

We glbt's can't compete against Christian groups because we don't have the numbers at the voting booth, and there is no common denomiator such as "praise the lord" to organize us.  We individually make alot of noise on the computer, but not the same as organizing and getting out the vote.



Make alot of noise. Life is short.

don't be so quick to condemn him
i mean i'm not trying to defend obama. i don't much care for him, and i think this is a bad move. i just think its also a little naive not to consider whether any of the other candidates (excluding kucinich, of course) would do any differently if backed into this corner.

backed into this corner?
he put himself there deliberately.  or at best naively.  not sure which is worse.  in any case, it's not like this was thrust upon him.  candidates go looking for places to be seen. 

Lurleen on Twitter

[ Parent ]
Six less NH votes
Well if he expects to win here in NH, pandering to the religious right is going to get him the oposite.  There are 6 potential votes in my household which now are leaning away form him.

Herb in NH
This is a tad OT, but this am on NPR listening to a report on the NH primary they mentioned there are 1.3 million people in NH.  They followed up by saying (it's a local public station) that is less than the population of the San Fernando Valley heere where I live in LA....
Make your votes count NH.  Thanks Herb for not supporting someone who so easily throws GLBT citizens under the bus.

[ Parent ]
The Big and the Small

The much bigger issue, the one Pam writes about above—that is, the lack of visibility of gay black spokespeople—is what people should be focusing their energies on.

The issue of Obama is a small one. He was never the friend of black people. He was never the friend of gay people. He was never the friend of working people or poor people. He was never the friend of people in the developing world. Perhaps at some level he may imagine that he is, but if so, this is a delusion not so different from the delusion of a sincere evangelical Christian.

So don't worry about it. We have not lost anything here. We never had Obama in the first place.



Yes, "friendship" with Obama goes only one way
True of most politicians, but this one is starting to seem particularly pathological.  What a huge disappointment and utter emptiness he's turned out to be.  Maybe he once had some core values, but if so, he's let his rapid political rise go to his head.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto

[ Parent ]
According to Rod McCullom...

...on his web site, McClurkin isn't the only homophobe that Obama will be partying with in South Carolina.

Although I was insecure with Obama because of his evident lack of experience, given this development, I will not even come close to casting a ballot in his direction.



I wish I knew

I wish I knew where Obama stands on almost any issue. He is so ready to shift and pander that I long ago decided that he can't be trusted to 'do the right thing'. He says some really nice things - which he generally does not back up with votes or actions.

He is a pretty face - and we need a leader this time around. While the other frontrunners in the Democratic Party have similar policies and proposals I will support a fighter - someone who will fight the corporations, fight for the environment, fight for civil rights, fight for the poor and the middle class, fight for women, and fight for universal healthcare. I'd prefer Gore but right now Edwards gets it (of the ones that actually have a shot). 

 

Obama has disappointed me too many times. 



Obama sure isn't a fighter
His vision of leadership is to try to make everybody like him.  And then, when he finally succeeds in becoming the most popular guy, like, ever--magically, politics will be transformed, all problems will be solved.

Nice comment, Carolyn.

"Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain" -- Iowa state motto


[ Parent ]
Making headlines on AOL

A great group out of Brooklyn, "Truth Wins Out" made a statement that made news.  It is in the "Entertainment" section of AOL.  Hope this story builds up into a big embarrassment for Obama.

 

www.truthwinsout.org



Make alot of noise. Life is short.

it's like this...

   LIke I always say.....straddle a fence, it cuts off circulation to your balls. 

    I'm sick and tired of the lack of articulation by the candidates to find the language, the courage and the ability to use INCLUSIVE language, to show how the inclusion of gays and lesbians in mainstream institutions is a compliment to society and that OTHER nations manage it without detriment.

   Almost every last one of them is a LAWYER...and in the court of public opinion they can't win the case for gay citizens?

   Man...that is SO fucked!



Thanks
That was really on, Regan.

[ Parent ]
he's consulting the wrong folks

   Barack Obama has a GOLDMINE of black pundits who can articulate perfectly what gay folks share and are invested in, and it's those folks he could look to for the motive that would bring these two contentious issues where they belong: that gay people have the potential to be straight people's allies against common concerns. The problem is people don't think they DO have anything in common with someone gay.

What a waste of valuable ground and noble plans.

Here's my short list of black pundits who have the skills Obama apparently doesn't. Either he doesn't have the skills or he IS a homophobe, just doesn't want to look and sound like one.

Which is just more of the phony bullshit one more showman is selling.

Here are my particular heroes

1. Cornel West

2. Eugene Robinson

3. Colbert King

4. Earl O. Hutchinson

5. Tavis Smiley

6. Leonard Pitts

Short list, but still....



yes, any one of these pundits would be great!

They are all very friendly to LGBT.

BTW, this controversy over Donny McClurkin (sic) is getting into the national news.



[ Parent ]
Great list
Regan, your short list is great. Also check out Michael Eric Dyson. He has been a powerful straight ally for lgbt equality in the Black community.

[ Parent ]
The name of the tour s Embrace the Change.

The name of the tour in conjunction with the featred singers list shoud tel you all yu need to know....

 Does anyone else find it ironic that the name of the gospel tour is "Embrace the Change"? Hmmmmm, embrace the change, with special guests who think you can will the gay away. Putting one and one together, adds up to 2...



The trollish sounding blogger formerly known as BURNSEY

He doesn't have any LGBT allies

that I know of - he made a pitiful appearance at the LGBT debates and has always been more interested in religious right voters than gays and lesbians.

 

Of the "Big Three" Edwards comes across the best, and he is pretty sad. 



Big Surprise
I don't understand the hoopla. Did anyone really think that given the choice, ANY candidiate, republican or democrat would pander to us over the religious bigots? Look at the numbers. Politics is about getting elected, period, end of story. 

GLBT gospel singers

should be invited by Obama to join the group, as mentioned on Signorile Show today.  If he is truly for democratic values then invite all groups to the tour.



Make alot of noise. Life is short.

[ Parent ]
Pam discusses the Obama/McClurkin situation on the Mike Signorile show 10/23
Her 19 minute interview with Signorile that just concluded a few minutes ago, available for download on Rapidshare (10.4 MB.)

http://rapidshare.co...

Enjoy!


My Open Letter To Barak Obama
Mr. Obama, you have walked into a minefield. 
Your inclusion of Donnie McClurkin in your "Gospel Tour" of South Carolina is a blatant pander to African-American Evangelicals.(NOTE: I am a devout member of an African-American Missionary Baptist Church. It gives me a little more insight into the complexity of the issue, considering that I am both GAY and CHRISTIAN...then throw CAUCASIAN into that mix, as well)
Some of my fellow Democrats have urged that I give Obama more "time" to clarify his position. He's already released a statement that goes up to the line and stops short of denouncing McClurkin's positions. That simply isn't enough for me.
More time? Martin Neimoller says it better than I could ever attempt.
In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
-Martin Niemoller
When does the clock run out? Where are you willing to draw the line, Mr. Obama?
McClurkin's comments are the equivalent of the BS from the religious right mantra of "love the sinner, hate the sin". It's nothing more than thinly veiled hatred. Fortunately, the congregation of which I am a member accepts me for who and what I am and respects me, even if they don't agree. THAT is tolerance.
Some have suggested that I'm over reacting to the situation. I don't think so. Just as there is no place for a pro-life conservative at a political rally at Planned Parenthood...Just as there is no place for a neo-Nazi at a Jewish political function...Just as there is no place for a Klansman at a political candidates forum sponsored by the NAACP, there should be no place for Donnie McClurkin at a Democratic candidate's rally..
.
The following quote is a rather chilling statement from Donnie McClurkin (source: http://www.crossrhyt...)
"You can't talk about the redeeming and saving power of Jesus Christ when you're still living in the abominable. I know I may get into trouble with some who may think that I am a little too strong saying that homosexuality is abominable but there's a Bible that I have got to concur with. I've got to agree with it. Not to the slighting of those that are involved but to the pulling down and destroying of the thing that they're involved in. We can't kill the people, the people are too precious to God. Everyone is too important to God and God does not dispose of people!"

"We do it with the drug addict! We do it with the alcoholic! So why can we not do it with those who have sexual differences? Pull them in, embrace them, love them. Give them the truth of God with the love of God and watch people's lives change. I see it happen all the time. I've got people in the church that I'm still working with who are young and old. They'll say, 'Pastor, it's been a whole month, nothing's happened!' And I tell them it's good and to not even worry about counting the days, take one day at a time. Love God, every day fall more in love with God and you'll find these things falling off of you. And that's how we do it, we do it one day at a time and increase our intimacy with Jesus Christ and we see him change our nature, realigning our passions."
McClurkin espouses the "destruction of homosexuality". Homosexuality can't be destroyed without the destruction of homosexuals. How is this not anti-gay? How is this not calling for violence against my GLBT brothers and sisters?
Mr. Obama, I was prepared to support you should John Edwards decide to leave the race.
That won't happen now. Ever.
David Greer


"A time comes when silence is betrayal" - Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

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