Comments on: Segal: Obama Hasn’t Spoken to Gay Press Since 2004 http://www.phillymag.com/blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/ Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:27:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: Wizard 101 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3526 Wizard 101 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:33:20 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3526 Google Larry Sinclair - that might be the reason that Obama does not want to do an interview that involves gay. Google Larry Sinclair - that might be the reason that Obama does not want to do an interview that involves gay.

]]> By: lynette /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3393 lynette Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:59:15 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3393 Senator Hillary Clinton is receiving calls from Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Chris Dodd and others to drop out of the Presidential Primary even though the difference between the two candidates in both is minimal and neither candidate can win the nomination without the Super Delegates. The question no one is asking is, “If the fortunes of the two candidates were reversed, would there be calls for Senator Obama to withdraw?” Frankly, I doubt it. The DNC would be afraid of alienating the loyal and highly vocal African American base. More than likely any attempt to push Senator Obama out of the race would be met with charges of racism. Women comprise fifty-one percent of the population and an even greater percentage of the voting electorate. Yet, women are vastly underrepresented in all three branches of government, from the congress to the cabinet, not to mention the Presidency. On a personal level, I am reminded daily of the subtle yet significant government sponsored sexism that permeates my life. Not a single piece of paper currency has a picture of a woman on it and the vast majority of pictures on stamps are of men. Pick up any newspaper and compare the number of photos of men vs. women, and you’ll be astonished by the results. From Wall Street to the White House, we are a nation of “men and girls.” Women are undoubtedly still the second sex earning 77 cents to the dollar when compared to their male counterparts. Hillary’s candidacy is significant to me as a woman. She knows what it is to be a woman, to be marginalized and sidelined. A woman in the White House is CHANGE, REAL CHANGE and the most significant political event of my lifetime. I am a registered democrat, but if Hillary is pushed out of the race, I will not vote and I urge other women to do the same. Why should I be loyal to a party where a group of men try to shame the first female candidate for the Presidency out of the race? Senator Hillary Clinton is receiving calls from Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Chris Dodd and others to drop out of the Presidential Primary even though the difference between the two candidates in both is minimal and neither candidate can win the nomination without the Super Delegates. The question no one is asking is, “If the fortunes of the two candidates were reversed, would there be calls for Senator Obama to withdraw?” Frankly, I doubt it. The DNC would be afraid of alienating the loyal and highly vocal African American base. More than likely any attempt to push Senator Obama out of the race would be met with charges of racism.
Women comprise fifty-one percent of the population and an even greater percentage of the voting electorate. Yet, women are vastly underrepresented in all three branches of government, from the congress to the cabinet, not to mention the Presidency. On a personal level, I am reminded daily of the subtle yet significant government sponsored sexism that permeates my life. Not a single piece of paper currency has a picture of a woman on it and the vast majority of pictures on stamps are of men. Pick up any newspaper and compare the number of photos of men vs. women, and you’ll be astonished by the results. From Wall Street to the White House, we are a nation of “men and girls.” Women are undoubtedly still the second sex earning 77 cents to the dollar when compared to their male counterparts.
Hillary’s candidacy is significant to me as a woman. She knows what it is to be a woman, to be marginalized and sidelined. A woman in the White House is CHANGE, REAL CHANGE and the most significant political event of my lifetime. I am a registered democrat, but if Hillary is pushed out of the race, I will not vote and I urge other women to do the same. Why should I be loyal to a party where a group of men try to shame the first female candidate for the Presidency out of the race?

]]> By: Clementine /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3338 Clementine Sun, 06 Apr 2008 07:33:50 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3338 Your headline is misleading, and suggests and agenda by the paper and Mr. Segal. Obama has been interviewed by the gay press. A simple google search would represent otherwise. If you wonder why folks don't want to subscribe or buy copies of your newspaper, perhaps you should look into the agenda of of your editors (or at least the folks who write your headlines). Yellow journalism is so 2002! Your headline is misleading, and suggests and agenda by the paper and Mr. Segal.
Obama has been interviewed by the gay press. A simple google search would represent otherwise. If you wonder why folks don’t want to subscribe or buy copies of your newspaper, perhaps you should look into the agenda of of your editors (or at least the folks who write your headlines). Yellow journalism is so 2002!

]]> By: Tony C /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3325 Tony C Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:33:24 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3325 There is NO difference between the positions of Clinton and Obama on Gay issues...except for the fact that Obama wants to repeal the entire DOMA statute while Clinton only wants to repeal one section. So gay people need to decide who to support based on other, more important issues. Obama is the clear choice for serious change in this country and would make a clean break with the past in this country! Let's not decide who to make our next president based on Mark Segal's ongoing dramatics. Maybe Mark just didn't stomp his feet enough to get Obama to pay attention. There is NO difference between the positions of Clinton and Obama on Gay issues…except for the fact that Obama wants to repeal the entire DOMA statute while Clinton only wants to repeal one section. So gay people need to decide who to support based on other, more important issues. Obama is the clear choice for serious change in this country and would make a clean break with the past in this country!

Let’s not decide who to make our next president based on Mark Segal’s ongoing dramatics. Maybe Mark just didn’t stomp his feet enough to get Obama to pay attention.

]]> By: Mark /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3319 Mark Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:25:28 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3319 Segal is ridiculous, although I give him credit for finding a novel way to seem more important than he is. I vote GLBT issues, and from "don't ask" to DOMA, Clinton has been a poseur at best and at her worst (borrowing from her pal Carville), a Judas. For eye-opening background, check into *her* DC prayer group. And while it's not in the headline, Segal said "local" gay press. Obama gave the Advocate an interview just last fall. Don't they count? Segal is ridiculous, although I give him credit for finding a novel way to seem more important than he is. I vote GLBT issues, and from “don’t ask” to DOMA, Clinton has been a poseur at best and at her worst (borrowing from her pal Carville), a Judas. For eye-opening background, check into *her* DC prayer group. And while it’s not in the headline, Segal said “local” gay press. Obama gave the Advocate an interview just last fall. Don’t they count?

]]> By: David /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3315 David Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:13:04 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3315 If Hillary is really such a strong supporter of gay rights, why does she oppose the complete repeal of an anti-gay law like DOMA? She supported it entirely until last year, when she switched to oppose one part of it. She still supports the rest of it. Obama supports repeal of the entire law. If Hillary is really such a strong supporter of gay rights, why does she oppose the complete repeal of an anti-gay law like DOMA? She supported it entirely until last year, when she switched to oppose one part of it. She still supports the rest of it. Obama supports repeal of the entire law.

]]> By: Michael /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3314 Michael Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:51:05 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3314 If Clinton is such a strong GLBT supporter, why is none of this information available on the Clinton website? Perhaps a link to your publication, a reprint of the article, or a clear explanation of her position on gay rights could be added to her website. None of that information is there now. If Clinton is such a strong GLBT supporter, why is none of this information available on the Clinton website? Perhaps a link to your publication, a reprint of the article, or a clear explanation of her position on gay rights could be added to her website. None of that information is there now.

]]> By: Mike /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3311 Mike Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:54:23 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3311 I think the stat refers to people who vote with LGBT issues as a prominent issue, like the Soccer Moms or NASCAR Dads. That other 7% would be LGBT people who don't really value LGBT issue positions in deciding who to vote for, but rather economic or perception of security issues. I think the stat refers to people who vote with LGBT issues as a prominent issue, like the Soccer Moms or NASCAR Dads. That other 7% would be LGBT people who don’t really value LGBT issue positions in deciding who to vote for, but rather economic or perception of security issues.

]]> By: Chuck /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3310 Chuck Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:39:09 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3310 "3 percent of all votes in Pennsylvania are LGBT votes". What?! Generally, the accepted statistic for the exclusively homosexual population is 10%. If you include bisexuals to that percentage, I can't even guess what the percentage would be. Where is he getting this statistic? “3 percent of all votes in Pennsylvania are LGBT votes”. What?! Generally, the accepted statistic for the exclusively homosexual population is 10%. If you include bisexuals to that percentage, I can’t even guess what the percentage would be. Where is he getting this statistic?

]]> By: Ronnie Kray /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3308 Ronnie Kray Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:15:35 +0000 /blogs/philly/2008/04/04/philly-grill-mark-segal-and-barack-obamas-big-gay-problem/#comment-3308 I would urge anyone who doubts Obama's commitment to the GLBT community to read this, his open letter: http://tinyurl.com/39ytr2 I would urge anyone who doubts Obama’s commitment to the GLBT community to read this, his open letter:

http://tinyurl.com/39ytr2

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