New Obama Endorsement By Anti-Gay Pastor

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:00:19 PM EST
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After Donnie McClurkin, it was heartening to hear this today from Senator Obama:

If we're honest with ourselves, we'll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King's vision of a beloved community. We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them . . .

But new questions about Obama's commitment to fighting homophobia will be raised by the news, via owl06, of this endorsement by Rev Kirbyjon Caldwell. This is troubling because Rev. Caldwell is, like Donnie McClurkin before him, a believer that homsexuality is a curable disease of the soul:

We are pleased to announce the creation of “The Way, The Truth and The Life”, a program created to provide Christ Centered instruction for those seeking freedom from homosexuality, lesbianism, prostitution, sex addiction and other habitual sins.

Perhaps Obama is unaware of Rev. Caldwell's background and views regarding gays and lesbians. One hopes he does not embrace yet another homophobe in his campaign.

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New Obama Endorsement By Anti-Gay Pastor | 38 comments (38 topical)

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Already has (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by andgarden on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:06:10 PM EST

Cadwell was on the McClurkin tour:

"He's more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ," said Kirbyjon Caldwell, a Houston pastor who was on the tour and is backing on Obama.

Who is Caldwell referring to there? (none / 0) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:12:08 PM EST

Here Is The Lead In To The Quote (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by MO Blue on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:15:48 PM EST

In fact, for all the criticism on the left for President Bush mixing faith with politics, some of the speakers essentially described voting for Obama as akin to a religious cause.

"He's more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ," said Kirbyjon Caldwell, a Houston pastor who was on the tour and is backing on Obama.

Kind of even makes it worse IMO.


: Whoa (5.00 / 1) (#16)
by Plutonium Page on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:35:22 AM EST

Again, what you put in bold:

...some of the speakers essentially described voting for Obama as akin to a religious cause.
It is always very worrying when people reach that level of fanaticism about a politician.
I'm at a loss for words, really.

More context: (none / 0) (#5)
by andgarden on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:14:07 PM EST

At the event, McClurkin said more about himself than the man who the concert was supposed to help, Obama. But the singer said the candidate "is standing for change" and "a man not afraid to bring different opinions to the stage."
In fact, for all the criticism on the left for President Bush mixing faith with politics, some of the speakers essentially described voting for Obama as akin to a religious cause.
"He's more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ," said Kirbyjon Caldwell, a Houston pastor who was on the tour and is backing on Obama.
One of the more persistent problems that polling has shown for Obama among black voters is not his experience or whether he's 'black enough," as some critics suggested earlier in the race, but doubts among African-Americans about whether a black person can win. Rick Wade, an Obama adviser who focuses on black outreach, gave what amounted to a sermon on Obama's electability at the start of the concert.

I'm not sure whether it's Obama or McClurkin.


that's Obama (none / 0) (#7)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:16:43 PM EST

What's weird is he is announcing his support again now?

How strange is that?


South Carlina (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by rebecca on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 11:18:52 PM EST

Seems to be part of a pattern with Obama and campaigning in South Carolina.


The dog whistle faded (none / 0) (#8)
by andgarden on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:19:18 PM EST

Honestly (none / 0) (#9)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:24:06 PM EST

That is not an unreasonable assumption.

This could be much worse than McClurkin.


: The Audacity of. . .something (none / 0) (#10)
by andgarden on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:31:43 PM EST

Shame! (none / 0) (#4)
by mexboy on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:13:52 PM EST

Obama can't have it both ways. He can't have surrogates who bash GLT people and then say he supports them.
Where is his integrity?
I am waiting for it.

What if that pastor had said;
"We are pleased to announce the creation of "The Way, The Truth and The Life", a program created to provide Christ Centered instruction for those seeking freedom from black skin color, prostitution, sex addiction and other habitual sins."

: agree wholeheartedly (none / 0) (#26)
by tnthorpe on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 12:14:24 PM EST

how many sides are there to a politician's mouth?

In appealing (none / 0) (#11)
by athyrio on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 10:44:16 PM EST

To people like this, Obama is turning into a republican before our very eyes.....How amazing...

Naif! (none / 0) (#13)
by chemoelectric on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 11:34:06 PM EST

Obama doesn't know what the heck he is doing; he is like a naive kid who doesn't realize the long term harm that can come from poorly chosen associations.

Today I learn where Obama's substanceless, high-schoolish speeches are coming from; they are written literally by twenty-somethings: two 26-year-olds, one of whom is the head speechwriter, and a 30-year-old.

It's a shame that Hillary Clinton is an established member of Beltwaythink, so that if John Edwards falls back I'll have to support a man who is ready for Washington but in the sense that he ought to be member of the House. I can only hope that he picks individuals with more life experience to serve in his cabinet and to lead him; but I'm not counting on it.

interesting (none / 0) (#18)
by eric on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 09:04:22 AM EST

Interesting. Do you have a link to where you learned about his speechwriters? I am very curious about were all of that inspired vacuousness comes from.


: NM (none / 0) (#21)
by eric on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 09:13:27 AM EST

I found an article in the NY Times.
I like this bit:

He and Mr. Obama had talked about the post-caucus speech for about 30 minutes, settling on a theme of unity and an opening line: "They said this day would never come."
Classic straw man. It's actually something that Bush does all the time - "They" say this, "They" say that. They say we can't beat the terrorists..." Etc.
Who is "They", Obama? Who said you couldn't win? As I recall, he was ahead in the polls in IA.

Caldwell... (none / 0) (#14)
by dutchfox on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:45:10 AM EST

was an up and coming evangelical pastor of a growing mega-church, when I first heard of him in the late 1980's. (I lived in Houston.) He's an ordained Methodist clergyman, but is definitely conservative.

: I remember... (none / 0) (#15)
by dutchfox on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 05:59:13 AM EST

seeing him offer the benediction at Bush's inaugural in 2001.
He's one of those typically Southern, 'gospel of success' entrepreneurial conservative Christian clerby. IMO, not an MLK!

If he gets the endorsment (none / 0) (#17)
by lilybart on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 08:50:00 AM EST

after speaking out about the exclusion of gay people in the black church community, then it is fine.

You only change homophobes by allowing them to see another way and you don't do that by rejecting them.

Pffft (5.00 / 3) (#19)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 09:07:18 AM EST

Would you welcome the endorsement of racists?

Personally, I find your rationalization of this offensive.


It's their story (5.00 / 2) (#20)
by andgarden on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 09:11:11 AM EST

and they're sticking to it.


I wondered what your take was on (none / 0) (#22)
by oculus on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 11:12:29 AM EST

the portion of Obama's Atlanta speech/sermon addressing homophobia w/i the black community.


Talk is cheap but actions matter (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by RalphB on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 11:32:19 AM EST

My reaction? (none / 0) (#24)
by andgarden on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 12:04:39 PM EST

That's nice, now when are you going to actually apologize about McClurkin?


Do you think Obama campaign lined up (none / 0) (#25)
by oculus on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 12:11:39 PM EST

McClurkin to campaign with Obama because McClurkin is anti-gay? (I never heard of McClurkin before you mentioned his appearance with Obama; is he a famous singer?)


I've come to believe (none / 0) (#28)
by andgarden on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 12:31:34 PM EST

that that's exactly what Obama did.


: Then he really is going for Repub. (none / 0) (#29)
by oculus on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 12:38:28 PM EST

votes, but the worst type of Republicans.

: Did my google research on McClurkin: (none / 0) (#30)
by oculus on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 12:49:51 PM EST

lived several years as a gay man, then "converted" with strong religious component; sang at RNC in 2004!; Grammy award winner; views on homosexuality are well known.
So, I think you are correct.

Does G-Dub.... (none / 0) (#27)
by kdog on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 12:19:19 PM EST

have to apologize for Ken Lay?

Does Hillary have to apologize for Norman Hsu?

I say no.

If I was Obama, I'd say "thanks for your support of my candidacy and platform which includes equal rights for homosexuals", and leave it at that.


The Gay community (none / 0) (#31)
by athyrio on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 01:14:24 PM EST

is starting to respond to this endorsement

Funny That Page On The Church's Website (none / 0) (#32)
by MO Blue on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 02:51:34 PM EST

is no longer available. There yesterday - gone today. That page now gives you this message:

HTTP 404 File Not Found
The resource you are looking for may have been removed, had it's name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

heheheheh (none / 0) (#33)
by andgarden on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 02:59:46 PM EST

Here It Is (none / 0) (#34)
by squeaky on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 04:34:01 PM EST

The Wayback Machine has it archived


Seems Like It Is (none / 0) (#35)
by squeaky on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 04:40:42 PM EST

Not Caldwell's operation but that of Pastor Robert Taylor,
Executive Director. Metanoia Ministries.


Here Is My Take On It (none / 0) (#37)
by MO Blue on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:02:06 PM EST

Pastor Robert Taylor is the creator of the program and provides material for start up programs in churches. IOW if a church wants to offer this program they contact Taylor's group and he provides the initial resources.


My Take Too (none / 0) (#38)
by squeaky on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 06:12:30 PM EST

Since it is no longer on his website, Caldwell may have just cut his link to Taylor's program, for Obama's sake.

No doubt, IMO, that he is STILL outta touch with his views regarding sexuality though.


Did He Just Kill The Webpage Or Did He (none / 0) (#39)
by MO Blue on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 07:13:37 PM EST

really kill the actual program at his church?


: We'll Have To (none / 0) (#40)
by squeaky on Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 09:00:49 PM EST

Call up the church and ask to be "cured'.