I do not think Obama should cancel his tour. If Obama were to get the nomination he does not need to appease left wing voters. He already has them. However, if actually wants to win the election he has to appease enough people in the South to get over the top. McClurkin's views are not Obama's views.

There is one thing I am curious about if anyone would not mind chiming in. What exactly is the definition of homophobic?

Sent by TR | 1:04 PM ET | 10-23-2007

Can't we all just get along. I'm a fan of Earl Ofari Hutchinson but in this piece, he's way off-base. Obama and his democratic counterparts for President need the faith vote. They've proved so by courting the religious right in the past months. And you don't do that by canceling one of their biggest gospel acts in Donnie McClurkin.

Christians disagree on perceived "values" all the time but they will still come together every week on one fundamental belief; their faith in Jesus Christ.

Has it even occurred to Hutchinson and the other critics that Obama might actually be doing the "Christian" thing that though he disagrees with McCluckin gay-bashing philosophy, he doesn't have to be disagreeable to him as a person?

Sent by Moji | 1:05 PM ET | 10-23-2007

Although his UNFORTUNATE opinion about gays, I love Obama. He seems to be a SERIOUS candidate and has great proposals (way better then Bush's ones). I always find his SPEECHES very INTELLIGENT, specially this one: http://www.weshow.com/us/p/20600/baraka_obama_on_the_tonight_show

Sent by Leila | 4:29 PM ET | 10-23-2007

On South Africa's murder rate,
(the real crime) is that the Whites there are in contact with the Anti Black African type Whites that love African resources (with out those pesky Africans that is) here in the U.S.. Whites in Africa are told to Not transfer skills to Africans like with the Affirmative Action programs there in South Africa. The plan or tactic is to delay and delay knowing that marginalized angry Black Africans of coarse will breed violence and give excuse to silly quotes like that of "James Watson" :DNA nut.

But the really disturbing aspect is that: Are they also stalling because of being quietly informed that another killer pathogen (disease) is on the way to take care of the naive patient Black Africans? Oh yes, conspiracy at this point yes.

But Black Americans And Africans, better demand the transfer of technical skills there in South Africa as so not be defenseless. By the way, believe it or not U.S. Blacks researched and invented a lot of biological and technical breakthrough's.

Crime Rate! The crime is not seeing the goal that's still in play by many racist like James Watson.

P.S. (not talk of nuclear plants being given to radical North African Islamic Arab countries which will facilitate the murdering all of Black Africa)

Sent by John Wright | 4:51 PM ET | 10-23-2007

About show with the African Forum founder? last week (one that left country for a while) That show was not aired. It resumed right after his talk was over. This happens fairly often

Sent by j Wright | 5:08 PM ET | 10-23-2007

I don't think that Obama should cancel his "tour" with McClurkin. I think that his casual association with this guy will show him another side of the Gay issue and the role of the Black church/community in the lives of Black LGBT citizens. McClurkin's statements as to Gays being compared to "Liars" is Idiotic and Moronic'; McClurkin lead a promiscious and morally/physically/spiritually dangerous and deficient lifestyle. He was a Liar...and he still betrays himSelf being a closeted Gay man. Paying lip service to the homophobic Black clergy does Not redeem him in the minds of those who are homophobes, nor does it give him cause to disrespect the LGBT community.

Sent by Toni | 12:05 AM ET | 10-24-2007

It was nice to hear such reasonable, even-tempered debate tonight.

"That's your problem"
"It's not really a probl-"
"Yes it is"
"That's your problem"
"That's YOUR problem"
*snorts into microphone*

Seriously, if I wanted to hear a bunch of children fighting, I'd walk into a day care and turn off the television.

Sent by IB | 11:14 PM ET | 10-24-2007

You are absolutely right about that IB. I was ashamed to be a part of it and embarrassed for myself walking out of the studio. If you noticed at the end I basically dropped out. I hadn't prepared myself for the tone of the discussion as the previous appearances had been rather civil discussions. (There is some background between the panelists)

I apologize. When I heard who the other panelists were. I should have simply declined and referred the producers on to other bloggers.

I encourage you to listen to my podcast tonight on the McClurkin Obama controversy.

Sent by Gina | 11:21 AM ET | 10-25-2007

This can and needs to be used as a teachable moment. Black folks are not a monolith. We cannot afford to close the door on any parts of our community including the Black LGBT or Black folks that are not clear on how homophobia hurts members in our community. We must have the conversations. The main things that I am concerned about right now is how the sexual abuse of male children by men is somehow a commentary on homosexuality. When men sexual abuse women/girls we do not tie it the nature of heterosexual behavior. We are clear the sexual assault / abuse is about power and control, not sex! We have got to talk about this. We cannot continue to perpetuate this miss information. I am also concerned that we as Black folks are too quick to participant in the discrediting of a viable Black candidate running for the presidential nomination. We are holding him to standards that we wouldn???t dare hold his white counterparts to (Clinton???s ???don???t ask don???t tell??? policy). No doubt there are folks that will vote for Clinton regardless.

Come on???My people, my people!

Sent by LD | 12:06 PM ET | 10-25-2007

For some reason I can't find the blog on Farrakhan's comments. I wanted to add to the conversation that Farrakhan, like any other politician or religious leader, cannot be taken to be the final word on any issue. As blacks and as Americans we should be mindful of our polarized approaches to Farrakhan's commentary. Farrakhan's message might be flawed in delivery-- but we also do not have many other alternatives in the way of black national leaders. (I for one think that he is very wise to make bold, brash, statements...his comments get lots of mileage and like Sharpton, bring visibility to issues that otherwise go unnoticed). Let's think about his criticisms of blacks who are too complascent with their middle class, educated status and examine what they could do to better the situation of those less fortunate. (Is this even a debatable issue?) This seems like a better option than crucifying a leader who has dedicated his life to the historic, social, and political lives of black Americans.

Sent by K. Barnes | 12:00 PM ET | 10-27-2007

With all the noise about gays hating DONNIE i wonder where is his freedom to change being considerd. It has been proven it can be done. THINK are gays taking away the rights of exgays? Seems that they are being persecuted.

Sent by viola | 8:26 PM ET | 10-27-2007

I would like to preface these rather harsh comments by saying that I am a lifelong Democrat and supporter of equal rights for homosexuals and transsexuals.

That having been said, I am SO tired of certain portions of the gay community crying "bigot" at the SLIGHTEST provocation when a significant portion of the gay community is arguably just as bigoted as their detractors.

I lived in the SF Bay area for more than a decade. I can't tell you how often my wife and I would be walking hand-in-hand in various SF neighborhoods only to be verbally accosted with lovely epithets like "F@#$ing Breeders." I was actually effectively refused service at a store in the Castro - I just sat there at the counter with the clerk just staring at me and refusing to respond to me. And that doesn't even begin to address the closet, pocketbook Republicanism rampant in many sectors of the gay community.

Physician, heal thyself.

In short, I don't think any Democratic candidate, least of all Barack, should kowtow to any pressure lobby, especially in this case.

MG

Sent by Matthew Gonzales | 12:27 PM ET | 11-08-2007