Recap: Obama refused to take photograph with Newsom after same sex marriage controversy

[ruggerson]

This story is only a couple of days old, so it can't be dismissed as "old news" by the Obama crowd.

Do rational people start to see a pattern here?

Not that Obama is a homophobe.

But, that the man who claims to be for the "Fierce urgency of now" cynically calculates how he might be politically damaged by being associated with equal marriage rights.

This is political courage?

http://www.sfgate.com/flat/archive/2008/02/05/chronicle/archive/2008/02/05/BAM5US1B5.html

"Seeing Mayor Gavin Newsom on the national stage with former president Bill Clinton on Monday night is a reminder of how political winds can change. On the eve of the biggest night of the presidential primaries, Newsom shared the spotlight during a town hall meeting staged and broadcast on cable TV and satellite radio by the Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign.

But just four years ago, current Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is said to have declined to have his picture taken in San Francisco with Newsom, who was then at the center of a national uproar over his decision to allow same-sex marriage in San Francisco."

"I gave a fundraiser, at his (Obama's) request at the Waterfront restaurant," said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. "And he said to me, he would really appreciate it if he didn't get his photo taken with my mayor. He said he would really not like to have his picture taken with Gavin."

<snip>

"In fact, early last year, Newsom alluded to the incident in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Speaking to Reuters on Jan. 26, 2007, Newsom was asked about three potential Democratic candidates: Obama, Hillary Clinton and Al Gore.

He was asked about the flak he took after announcing that San Francisco would allow same-sex marriages - flak that included claims he had helped Republicans by handing them a wedge issue heading into a presidential election year. In the interview, Newsom admitted he'd been hammered over the decision. "And I'm not just saying from Republicans," he added at the time.

"One of the three Democrats you mentioned as presidential candidates, as God is my witness, will not be photographed with me, will not be in the same room with me," Newsom told Reuters, "even though I've done fundraisers for that particular person - not once, but twice - because of this issue."

[LakeSamish706]

1. Sorry to say, but thats his prerogative to not want a photo shoot with this person...

You have no idea of the reason why, so where do you get of with an assumption?

[ruggerson]

2. Because Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom have no reason to lie about it

[LakeSamish706]

3. So says you... Lets hear from Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom then... n/t

[ruggerson]

5. Read the story

[VolcanoJen]

76. You don't have any idea why Obama refused to pose with Newsom.

And, neither does Newsom.

It could very well be that Obama didn't feel comfortable having a photograph taken with a man who cheated on his wife with his own campaign manager's wife. We really don't know the answer to this question.

[ruggerson]

77. For the 1000th time

this happened in 2004. The adultery happened years later. What part of this don't you understand? I sometimes think some of you deliberately mislead people.

[VolcanoJen]

78. Well, the adultery we know about.

You still don't have any idea why Obama didn't post for that photograph. Maybe he was in a hurry. Maybe he was in a shitty mood. Maybe he actually doesn't like Gavin Newsom.

You're devining his intent. For the 1,000th time.

[ruggerson]

81. Both Newsom and Willie Brown have said it

so I'm not "devining" (sic) anything.

And what does the adultery have to do with anything?

This. incident. happened. in. 2004.

[usregimechange]

4. And they can divine Obama's motivation?

[ruggerson]

7. You guys are getting more transparent as time goes by

[Jamastiene]

84. Wish they'd finally get so transparent I couldn't see any of them

anymore at all. I'm fed up with the homophobia they spew every chance they get. :eyes:

[VotesForWomen]

17. of course. and it's the perogative of fair-minded people not to vote for him. nt

[MagsDem]

21. Yeah, he's a regular profile in courage

And oh so VERY transformational, too. Why oh why do you believe in this guy??? It makes no sense for the base of our party to embrace someone that is just obviously so completely fake. None of his actions match his rhetoric. None.

[Alter Ego]

42. That's why we don't support Mrs. Clinton

She's so goddamn scripted and false it's not even funny.

[UALRBSofL]

43. This speaks a bit about his centrists views

A true progressive believes in same sex marriage. If people were really ready for a true progressive they would have voted for Kucinich. :)

[mondo joe]

6. His fans who swoon for McClurkin wouldn't like that. NT

[chascarrillo]

8. Duplicate.

[NMMatt]

9. Clinton actively supported the opposition to Newsome so spare the fucking sermons -nt

[ronnykmarshall]

66. First off his name is Newsom.

And I don't recall Hillary or Bill endorsing either Matt Gonzolez or Angela Alioto in the 2003 election.

Care to back up what you just said?

[Unsane]

10. Gotta pic of Clinton with Newsom?

Didn't think so.

[mondo joe]

11. Yeah.

[Unsane]

12. I stand corrected.

nice find

[mondo joe]

13. It took 2 seconds and Google. NT

[Unsane]

15. FWIW I think Newsom is a slimy fellow.

Not because of the same sex issue, but because he had an affair with his aide's wife.

[mondo joe]

16. If MLK, JFK and FDR could have affairs, I can hardly hold it against lesser men such

as Newsom.

[Unsane]

20. With their friend's wife?

[Tektonik]

19. issues and personality should rarely be regarded together

[FrenchieCat]

22. I disagree.........low assholes that don't have respect for their friends or their wives....

don't need pictures with Obama.

Thank you very much though.

I wouldn't want one either.

And I do quite a bit of work in S.F.

[MagsDem]

25. Um, except he hadn't had the affair yet when Obama snubbed him

I think you need to open your eyes and be aware that this man is not who you think he is. His actions simply do not match his rhetoric in situation after situation.

[FrenchieCat]

26. I smelled him long ago........

Something about my BS detector.

Are think you are the one with the eyes shut tight....and I'm not quite sure why.

But whatever it is, I'm glad it ain't contageous.

Did you want to talk about Global Poverty tonight, or is that too simple and unimportant of an issue compared to having to take pictures with political grand standing mayor?

[MagsDem]

28. No you didn't

You just don't have anything you can really say to excuse the fact that Obama is a fake, a phony, and a coward. Leave it to an Obama supporter to claim that a politician actually having the courage to stand up for marriage equality is "grandstanding." You don't even have a clue what it's like to love someone and have kids with them and be with them for 30 yrs and not be allowed to marry them, do you? Typical Obama supporter.

And no, I don't want to talk about your candidate's vanity legislation, handed to him so he can look good for an election. I mean he does have to have something under his belt besides sponsoring legislation to name a post office, doesn't he?

[Unsane]

31. Wow, but you support DOMA-signing, DADT enabling Bill Clinton?

[MagsDem]

34. Bill isn't running

I support the non-DOMA signing, non-DADT enabling Hillary Clinton. But you know what, I would support Bill Clinton over that phony, cowardly, lying Obama in a heartbeat.

BO is the most fake, full of shit, politician I have EVER seen in our party. He lies about his healthcare plan, he lies about taking money from lobbyists (he just has them bundle it for him instead), he lies about his association with slumlord Tony Rezko, he lies about social security. As far as I can tell he lies more than he tells the truth. The only other politician in 30 yrs of watching politics that has set off my bullshit detector more is George Bush. It makes me sick that he has a D after his name.

[mckeown1128]

40. Insult him all you want...

that doesn't make it true.

What is the problem with him not wanting his picture taken with the mayor? Nothing. He can have his picture taken with whoever he wants. Don't try to paint it as something to do with gay marriage because that is a BULLSH$T assumption.

[Unsane]

48. Do you have a link showing that Hillary Clinton opposes DOMA and DADT?

[mondo joe]

50. Yeah.

http://www.hrc.org/news/5207.htm

[Unsane]

61. Here's the real link which shows that Obama and Clinton have the exact same positions

http://a4.g.akamai.net/f/4/19675/0/newmill.download.akamai.com/19677/anon.newmediamill/pdfs/Questionnaire_ReportCard.pdf

[mondo joe]

62. Did you actually look at my link? It is the cover for that link.

[Unsane]

64. Did you look at mine? Show me where she's taken a more progressive stand than Obama on gay issues

and I'll give you a nickel.

[mondo joe]

65. As I've said repeatedly, HRC scores them identically. Duh.

But on matters of trust among GLBT voters, Clinton edges Obama every time.

[Indenturedebtor]

63. Meh

And just because he isn't willing to make something a trademark of his campaign doesn't mean that he won't support it.

Winning the WH with a mandate will do more to promote GLBT issues than making a big stink about these issues to galvanize the Puke base. This is one of the wedge issues that Rove used to get the elections in 2000 and 2004 close enough to steal.

He's stood up for many other unpopular Progressive causes, and has spoken out about civil unions etc, but he has to get elected to sign the laws that Congress needs to pass. If he gets elected he can change the discourse. If he doesn't he can't.

I don't think he's perfect. But I think he has the best chance to further the Progressive causes, including GLBT equality, that we all care about!

I don't think 99% of Obama supporters (especially here) think he's perfect or even believe quite a bit of his rhetoric, but we do believe that he has the greatest power to change things and we love his platform. I was for Kucinich (which i knew would never happen), then Edwards, and now fired up for Obama. None of them were perfect. No matter how much we love Kuch and Edwards they're no longer in the running. How much are they going to do for the issues you care about now huh?

Sad but true.

[Jamastiene]

86. Bingo!

There are going to be some really unhappy and guilt ridden people when they start to wake up and see what they are supporting. I'm going to say "We told you so" too.

[ruggerson]

47. You're very disingenuous

because you've been told numerous times that this occurred in 2004, years before any personal stories about Newsom started appearing in the press.

Both Willie Brown and Newsom say that Obama snubbed him because of Newsom's equal marriage rights actions.

Since you're willing to be serially duplicitous about this, what does that tell us about the rest of what you write?

[Clintonista2]

38. How embarassing for you.

[ruggerson]

74. lol

[TheDonkey]

24. When where those taken?

[rjx]

27. Obama openly admits that he is AGAINST same sex marriage

Because of his religion

Anyways
I said it in another thread. Maybe Obama didn't want his picture taken with Newsom because Newsom was in the spotlight for gay marriage, and Obama doesn't support it. Many people would have thought if they saw Obama and Newsom together in a photo (at that time) that Obama would probably be for it as well. Only Obama knows why he wouldn't have his picture taken with Newsom.

[MagsDem]

30. Which means you can vote for Hillary, or you can vote for a coward

Nothing transformational about a politician so afraid he will be tarred by association that he can't even bear to have his picture taken with a politician he is happy to have fundraise for him. Not too principled about his religion to grab the money, is he?

Same old same old, and I mean old. No one knows what was in Obama's mind, huh? LOL. Right. Change my ass.

[SIMPLYB1980]

44. Well done.

[ronnykmarshall]

68. SNAP!

[BlackVelvet04]

69. LOL Nice. n/t

[LakeSamish706]

14. Look, I am not going to play this down... Cause I certainly don't know how...

Obama feels about the Gay and Lesbian community... But I do know how I feel... I spent most of my life working with gays and lesbians in the hotel industry, and would not have missed one moment for the world.... I do hope that Barak has a serious understanding of GLBT cause it is very important to our society IMO....

Edit to say... This is not about me and I am not gay....

[kdpeters]

18. Nothing but a bunch of silliness.

Gossip, hurt feelings, and vendettas between political candidates is not an issue of any importance to the gay community. That's all this is and you do more damage to your own credibility the more you bring up this nonsense as an issue of importance to you as a gay person.

Obama snubbed Newsom makes ruggerson feel oppressed.

I was there on the steps of City Hall that Valentines Weekend four years ago. Where were you?

[MagsDem]

23. I don't think it's about gossip, but I do think it matters

Because this is a continual pattern of the actions not matching the rhetoric. We can expect Obama to advance gay rights when he doesn't even have the guts to get his picture taken with a heterosexual, courageous gay rights supporter? Not hardly.

[oasis]

29. Hillary said "talk is cheap" in reference to Mr. Obama. This is just another

example of his empty words.

[MagsDem]

32. That's exactly right

I read somewhere this evening where she had said he doesn't walk the talk, and she is exactly right. She really should be out their kicking his ass with that meme, because it is entirely true. I don't know why she hasn't gone on the attack sooner, but she needs to start right now. At this point I think it is her duty to save us from this creep.

[Unsane]

33. Maybe she can work to strengthen her husband's gay rights limiting DOMA

Who's the real creep?

[MagsDem]

35. Barack Obama is the real creep

And if he gets in the WH you will have the worst case of buyers remorse you could have ever imagined about a politician. You know how those decent, but ignorant people who voted for GW Bush have felt for the last few years? That's how you're going to feel in a few years of Obama wins. Remember this post when you do.

[mondo joe]

51. In my opinion, the one who gives a platform to his bigoted friend.

:shrug:

[Prefer]

37. How dare you Blaspheme our Profit!

Do you know that he cares about each and every one of us? He only wants to set us free.

My friend, you need some Obamazation. Become of the body.

Obama Loves You!
Peace

[Orsino]

58. She said that right after announcing her support for same-sex marriage, right?

Let's not split too many hairs. Both our candidates have thrown gay rights under the bus. Who gets photographed with whom seems unimportant next to Clinton's and Obama's discriminatory platforms.

[terrya]

36. It's whether you think Gavin Newsom is a hero in the fight for same-sex marriage equality.

I happen to think that Gavin Newsom is a hero. Some people here, and apparently, Barack Obama, think otherwise.

[Rockholm]

39. I agree with you, Terrya.

[Fabio]

46. Alot of people think he was in the right to what he did...

it was in the interest and by demand of his constituents. However, the timing was ill conceived. He was a new mayor at the time. He could have waited until after the election. In that sense, it was naive about the national consequences.

[hulklogan]

49. 0 Just keep waiting for equal rights until after the 2030 election you demanding gays

You're going to lose us every election ever!!!!! :silly: :silly: :silly:

[Fabio]

52. Gavin is mayor for life in SF.

The politics worked for him, but hurt nationally. I am not saying he did the wrong thing.

[mondo joe]

56. It hurt nationally? Please elaborate. Thanks.

[ronnykmarshall]

67. Mayor for life?

What do you mean by that?

[Fabio]

82. very popular in san francisco

[ronnykmarshall]

90. Still doesn't answer my question.

[yeswecan08]

41. Obama has moral courage - simple as that

[Fabio]

45. I like Mayor Newsom

but the same sex marriage law in SF was ill timed (during an election year). It was a factor in making sexuality a pretty big deal in the 2004 election - particularly on state ballots. None of this helped democrats, particularly John Kerry where the Massachusetts state legislature was also blazing the trail on gay rights/marriage ahead of the nation.

Does this mean Obama's behavior is acceptable? I dont know. But who really knows the reasons?

It's been a rough few years for Mayor Newsom on the personal front, and he would be the first to admit he has shown poor judgement. Obama could be thinking about this.

[UALRBSofL]

55. Fabio, your post just reminded me of something

In 2004 Barney Frank came out and said now is not the time to propose same sex marriage but we saw this on state ballots. Kerry was trying to win the election and Barney felt this would be trouble for Kerry. Of course GLBT activists disagreed and thought he was a traitor. Barney Frank, the only openly gay congressman was on to something and looking back at it he was right. Bush was running on the "evangelical, christian coalition" platform and pushing the marriage issue got the conservative vote out.

[goodhue]

53. Newsom is not exactly Mr. Credibility

eom

[Cameron27]

54. K&R

[GoldieAZ49]

57. A Picture is worth a thousand words

And Obama is not going to give the republicans a photo op to use against him and rally the repubs to vote against him.

[mondo joe]

59. Use against him in what way?

[zulchzulu]

60. Not a good idea for Barack to stand next to a radioactive womanizer

Gavin Newsom couldn't keep his zipper under control. The last thing Obama wants to do is have that putz gladhanding him.

[Iceburg]

70. But this is ok ...

http://bp3.blogger.com/_vH5f59Og-Sc/Rsk8dPZMnAI/AAAAAAAAA7g/JRs1kzPFYOU/s320/rove+obama.jpg

[sueragingroz]

80. YOWZA!

[Sapphocrat]

85. In best Steve Irwin impression:

Ooooooo! That's gotta 'urt!

:rofl:

[Jamastiene]

88. Zing!

Excellent comeback.

[ruggerson]

72. This occurred in 2004, long before any press reports of womanizing

Obama was concerned about the same sex marriage issue and did not want to be associated with Newsom while he was running for the Senate.

[Bonobo]

71. Maybe he did it because Newsome betrayed his best friend by having an affair with his wife?

[mondo joe]

73. This was well before that. Sorry.

[DURHAM D]

89. I am really starting to worry about the comprehension ability of Obama fans. n/t

[TheWraith]

75. So claims Newsom, at any rate.

Who's got a history as long as my arm of trying to inject himself into the national limelight by all sorts of means.

[sueragingroz]

79. A friend of mine is an independant gay man

I've known him for years and he supported Bush way back when because he thought that Bush was a moderate. Log Cabin Republicans were much "cooler" then I suppose. Anyway I used to argue with him all the time on this stuff.

Anyway we lost touch because we live so far apart but he pinged me recently. He was asking me about what was involved in immigrating to Canada. We traded a few emails back and forth and it turns out that he started to make plans to leave the country after Obama started to gain momentum in the race.

I couldn't believe my ears.. a (former) log cabin republican saying that he is leaving the country because Obama is surging...

Anyway... it's not relevant to anything. It's the guys personal choice but it was that conversation with him that got me digging into Obama's record on same sex rights.

And he gave me a wonderful parting line to our exchange:

"The democrats have a super power: it's losing elections."

[Jamastiene]

83. Obama is such a spoiled silver spoon prima donna.

How much more obvious does he need to be. Why doesn't he just get it over with and hurl a bunch of anti-gay epithets to wake his supporters up?

Oh, wait? I didn't even need to ask that question. He has already answered. They will still support him no matter what. He could say Hitler was great and they'd start chanting, "Heil, Hitler." :eyes:

[AtomicKitten]

87. As a San Franciscan, I can assure you Newsom is shilling for his candidate, Hillary.

You are jumping on something tee'd up just for people like you that are looking for a thread to grasp and pull. Newsom is involving himself in an increasingly partisan race, and you not liking Obama to begin with are more than happy to ride this blatant manipulative tripe. Yipeekaya, mo-fos.