Posted on 05/14/2012 11:18:05 AM PDT by Kaslin
Barney Frank told the panel on ABC’s This Week that “I don’t think anyone’s vote was changed” when Barack Obama endorsed the legalization of same-sex marriage — but that might be too optimistic an analysis. The New York Times reports that the White House went on a charm offensive with leaders of faith organizations, including and perhaps especially African-American churches where opposition to gay marriage runs high. So far, the charm offensive has had mixed results:
About two hours after declaring his support for same-sex marriage last week, President Obama gathered eight or so African-American ministers on a conference call to explain himself. He had struggled with the decision, he said, but had come to believe it was the right one.
The ministers, though, were not all as enthusiastic. A vocal few made it clear that the president’s stand on gay marriage might make it difficult for them to support his re-election. …
In the end, Mr. Coates, who supports civil marriages for gay men and lesbians, said that most of the pastors, regardless of their views on this issue, agreed to “work aggressively” on behalf of the president’s campaign. But not everyone. “Gay marriage is contrary to their understanding of Scripture,” Mr. Coates said. “There are people who are really wrestling with this.”
This was the danger of going on the record, a danger Obama’s allies on the Left apparently discounted. Obama drove turnout in 2008 in part through the enthusiastic participation of these very same churches. Having now sided with the people who call these black pastors and congregations “bigots,” especially in North Carolina where two-thirds of black voters supported Amendment One, Obama is not at risk of having them flip to Mitt Romney — but he does risk losing that enthusiasm, fundraising, and organization.
It’s not just about the policy itself, either. The churches now wonder whether Obama will back efforts to force churches to perform same-sex marriages, a topic which one religious leader broached with the President during one of the calls:
“Some of the faith communities are going to be afraid that this is an attack against religious liberty,” Mr. Hunter remembered telling the president.
“Absolutely not,” Mr. Obama insisted. “That’s not where we’re going, and that’s not what I want.”
Really? The Obama administration’s track record on religious freedom singularly argues otherwise. Most recently, the White House stabbed their allies in health-care reform in the Catholic Church in the back by using the ObamaCare law that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops supported to create a mandate that requires church organizations to pay for contraception, sterilization, and abortifacients. Even more to the point, the Obama administration tried to apply the ADA to force a church to rehire a minister they’d terminated, an attempt that got a 9-0 rebuke from the Supreme Court.
The only time this President is solicitous of religious freedom and principles is when he’s trying to cover his own rear end.
On the other hand, Obama’s declaration has resulted in a lot of enthusiasm at churches … for Romney, as Andrew Malcolm explains:
Near the end of the competitive part of the recent Republican presidential primary season, Gov. Mitt Romney began showing growing support among evangelical voters. The Mormon had been losing that influential portion of the GOP base by lopsided proportions. Not anymore.
Thank you, Barack Obama. …
In a major examination of evangelical support for Romney the Deseret News Sunday quoted several Southern academics. Dave Woodard of Clemson University called Obama’s carefully-staged statement a gift for Romney highlighting his candidacy’s uniqueness in supporting traditional marriage.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt he’s sealed the deal,” with most evangelical voters, Woodard told the paper. “I think he can make up for any other problems he has with them with just this one issue.”
Woodard added: “There is beginning to be some genuine enthusiasm for Mitt Romney. They’re not just going to talk about his Sunday morning activities. He has the convictions on the issues they like.”
Newsweek may have crowned Obama with a secular halo this weekend, but he’s not getting hosannas from the churches — and that might be all it takes to send Obama into retirement in January 2013.
It doesn’t matter. The point is the poster was wrong with the use of the broad brush.
Some of these are definitely married, and others I don't know their marital status...so I can't say I know for sure of any single blacks who won't vote for Obama, but I'm sure there are a bunch.
rb3, I think Doc is just frustrated. 90 to 95% of blacks supporting a candidate that half the country doesn’t is frustrating.
Thank God for you, Herman Cain, my many great friends who happen to be black, and the 5% who do not worship the blackness of Obama. Without them, my heart would be in a very bad place. I can not guess the stress and pressure you and others may be under because of your willingness to stand against the tide.
You are a blessing to everyone, including those hypnotized by the “I won.”
Stay strong.
Thank you! Phenomenal violin, my favorite instrument I would never be able to master it, so I play it on my keyboard!!
I agree, unfortunately he is not the only one
That is totally wrong and insulting to many fine conservative blacks.
Blow back and Barney in the same post.
groan...
I know he isn’t the only one. I think what I am more annoyed about at this point is he has not come back and acknowledged the mistake he made with the broad brush.
My daughter was attacked and called a racist in 2008 because she was supporting the McCain/Palin ticket in the school mock election - she was 10 years old. The majority of it was coming from white kids. I dealt with the mother of one of them privately because I knew her well - but all of them were roundly put in their place by a black woman - who was also supporting the McCain/Palin ticket.
Even if I were happy with the GOP candidate this time around, once Herman Cain dropped out I decided I would put no presidential signs on our property this year. I will not subject my daughter to that again. House and Senate - absolutely - just not for president.
Herman Cain, Tim Scott, (black congressman from S.C.?)Star Parker, Mia Love (UT), Kevin Martin, Michael Steele, Lloyd Marcus (Tea Party activist), Rev, Jessie Peterson, Alan Keyes, Ken Blackwell, etc..
Think before you type, Mr. Savage.
If the idiot at Pennsylvania Ave most recent sellout had no affect on how the black community may vote (or if they vote), we wouldn't even see news articles such as these. For those of you that were not raised in the hood, allow me to spell it out to you: Bonehead hit a 3rd rail in the black community.
I can also say that I have heard MANY of my fellow black folks stated they won't be voting for him again (there have also been a few on TV). And do you know how many Tea Party groups were started by black folks? Are you aware of how many black folks have been ASSAULTED at tea party rallies by leftists?
... and these were people who made this decision long before he decided to go rainbow.
Permission to be speak freely in Freeperland?
Thank you.
Folks, by ringing your hands thinking that all blacks are just stupid and vote for this idiot just because he is black , we are missing a golden opportunity. Fact is most blacks for democrat because the biggest employer in the black community is (surprise!)Government. So, unfortunate for many, voting for big government is a 'pocketbook' issue. I don't like it either, but that's the way it is.
But few thing pisses your average black person off more than some (biting my tongue) will stand up and claim their behavioral choice is equivalent to the civil rights movement of the past. Don't believe me? Go find that black person you know and present that to them. Then stand back and watch the response. If I wanted to, I can decide to stop being a heterosexual tomorrow. But I can't decide to become caucasian or hispanic next week. Sorry.
As for voting for president just because he is black, that may have worked in 2008, but this is 2012. He's got a record. And if we can knock that 95% number even down to about 70%, that alone puts 8-10 blue states IN PLAY.
Some of you have written that if blacks don't care about pols who support abortions, why would they care about one supporting the rainbow agenda?
ANS: many of them do, and you will hear the pastors scream against this as well(if you don't believe me, go to a black church and get an earful). And btw, please do not believe every black pastor shares the views of the loud mouths from Chicago.
The Tea Party Types need a bonafied outreach program to minority communities right now. I could easily make point after point on how That idiot's policies have directly impacted the black community - which by the way has gotten WORSE during his tenure (remember Michelle Bachmann talking about that?). And don't think black folks haven't noticed, either. The crap you see on that boob tube about blacks is only what they want you to see. And of one even thinks of stepping of the reservation... well, go ask Herman Cain or Juan Williams what can happen to you
I've already written too much when I should be working. But I'll close by asking you, Mr Savage, and everyone else that hasn't seen it a previous post that I wrote when the that idiot hit the political 3rd rail last week
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2882807/posts
See Post #26
jimjohn - out
People will get sick of the constant parade of gays and lesbos on tv talking about their lovers , and kissing and holding hands etc. 90% of Americans that aren’t gay will be so turned off to BO by all of this and will probably surmise that most that vote for BO are gay. Ha, that’s really funny and a great way to make fun of your liberal Obama supporting friends.
Forcing churches to support a sinful lifestyle choice will backfire bigtime.
Yep! They sure will. And I’d like them to say how they’ll explain that to God.
“blowback”?
A black pastor in the Washington, D.C. area has already announced he will not vote for Obama — publicly. He said he would not vote for Romney either. He would just stay home.
It won’t matter. They are black and will vote on the basis of race. That is all that matters to them.
Personally? I desperately want to see Black families restored. I desperately want to see the Black community experience a profound spiritual awakening. I want to see all these things, but I cannot, alone, make them happen.
Thanks again for your post.
That’s what I was thinking but what about us getting out to vote? They have voter fraud on their side!
Thanks - that was good to read! A pastor in DC to speak out publically speaks volumes where his heart is, his faith in grounded in rock! His congregation is blessed to have such a shepherd!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.