Comments on: Do it for Del

By: Do It For Del

Do It For Del — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:12:38 +0000

[...] here to read what one columnist will take from the inspiring life of Del [...]

By: Rev. Erin Splaine

Rev. Erin Splaine — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:31:14 +0000

If Sen. Obama’s opposition to equal marriage was solely a pragmatic political nod to “extremist Christians” he would not have to go the extra step he always does of volunteering that his opposition is based on his narrow understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

In-fact his publicly stated theological – not political – understanding of marriage as being “between one man and one woman” pre-dates his run for the presidency. Cloaking his bigoted stance as political pragmatism does a disservice to all LGBT people who have put their hopes in his candidacy.

Sen. Obama lost my trust and my vote in October of 2007 when he refused to disinvite outspoken homophobe Donny McClurkin from participating in his Gospel Tour of South Carolina. He actually went a step further and had Mr. McClurkin introduce him at one of the early stops which Mr. McClurkin did after giving an impromptu rant against the evils of homosexuality.

The tour was designed to introduce Sen. Obama to the very religious African-American voters of that firewall state. Sen. Obama knew that the long-term gain from that very important voting bloc was more important to him than any hit he would take from the LBGT community. He divided so he could conquer.

Sen. Obama has proven that we are not part of the change he professes. We would all do well to beware of false hope.

BTW John Kerry is singularly responsible for not winning in 2004. His delay in responding to the Swift Boat Vets, his lack of spending real resources on the ground in Ohio while ending with millions in the bank are but only two reasons.

By: LOrion

LOrion — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:41:55 +0000

?The MILLION signs.Wasn’t Sept.1 the day that Right Wingers were going to plant 1,000,000 YES on 8 signs in their lawns?
(Better not get near mine!) Did it happen??? How many?

By: Chris Sullivan

Chris Sullivan — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:42:40 +0000

In an ideal world, Obama would support gay marriage. However, right now, he simply can’t afford to – so his compromise is to support civil unions. Because gay marriage became such a hot button issue in the last election, it was able to motivate the extremist Christians and get then out to vote in record numbers, which may well have cost Kerry the election. Obama couldn’t risk having that scenario occur again. He is for repealing DOMA and would not attempt to prevent states from passing pro gay marriage laws. It’s not an ideal compromise, but given the political realities involved – its the best that can be expected.

By: Rev. Erin Splaine

Rev. Erin Splaine — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:26:39 +0000

Sen. Obama’s hypocrisy is galling.

That he would send his condolences to Del’s “spouse Phyliss Lyon” just days after he repeated his oft stated opposition to equal marriage because of his “Christian belief that marriage is between one man and one woman” is insulting.

We would all best honor Del and Phyills’ work by holding Sen. Obama to his own ideal of inclusion and demand that he change his bigoted opposition to equal marriage.