Why was Bill Richardson given a pass for saying people choose to be gay

[ecstatic]

But Obama is ripped to shreds by people who won't bother to find out whether Obama 1) personally recruited McClurkin, and 2) even knows about McClurkin's views?

Have any of the bloggers throwing out all these new hitpieces even tried to contact Obama to ask him about the situation without firing off their mouths?!



Or is it more convenient to write nasty, vicious attacks that assume the worst about Obama's character, DESPITE the fact that Obama has explained his position time and time again in front of ALL audiences???

[dsc]

1. Go ahead and do a search

You will find that I and many others gave Richardson no such thing.

[rurallib]

13. He got no pass, not even that night from Melissa Ethridge

No, if someone thinks Richardson got a pass they haven't paid attention. I believe you can trace his falling support directly to that day.

[dsc]

15. I started off primary season substantially in his camp

but that was the nail in his coffin for me.

[Kagemusha]

2. "Or is it more convenient to write nasty, vicious attacks"

Don't be ridiculous. Of course it is.

Obama's the more visible target, so there's more blood to be drawn from him. It's not like he's going to get nominated, but there's no political capital to bleed from Richardson over the issue.

[Clintonista2]

3. Um, how was he given a pass exactly?

If you're referring to DU, there were TONS of posts about it.

[Withywindle]

4. Well, I didn't give him a pass.

But the way he said it came off more as naive and clueless than malicious. (Of course refusing to educate oneself is offensive in its own right).

McClurkin, though, is a nasty self-loathing homophobic piece of work and no mistake. I'm not going to post hate rants on Obama because of this, but if he doesn't make a very clear statement refuting McClurkin's views, I'm going to be seriously disappointed in him.

[Adelante]

5. He didn't get a pass

I think Richardson would make a good president, but his mouth gets away from his brain sometimes.

[Ian David]

6. Because Bill Richardson is all afraid of sciency-stuff. It's folksy. Like Reagan, but less evil.

It was plain, at least to me, that Bill Richardson's heart is in the right place, but his brain sorely needs some fancy book-learnin'.

How refreshing it is to see someone who will do the right thing, even if he doesn't know or understand the arguments or science or talking points or facts.

Richardson is all heart, no fact.

Like the opposite of a book.

Imagine what he could accomplish as a vice presidential running mate to someone smarter than he is.

Which is pretty much any of the Democratic candidates.

A man with a heart like Richardson's will be truly awesome, taking his rightful place, as mourner-in-chief at every important funeral for the next eight years.

[seasat]

7. Richardson wasn't given a pass even though he corrected himself immediately.

He was harshly criticized even though he released a statement within hours stating that he misunderstood the question and definitely believed that homosexuality was biological. Barney Frank and several gay activists had to come to his defense. It took a month for it to blow over and you still see people accuse him of believing that as you just did.

I like Obama and will vote for him in our meaningless Florida primary if Richardson doesn't place well in the earlier states. I also believe that he wouldn't knowingly associate with McClurkin if he knew his views. It is a gaffe on the part of the campaign since they should have researched it. Like in the case with Richardson, most of the people initially throwing stones will be those that oppose him because they support another candidate. I hope the campaign is able to quell this quickly

[rucky]

8. because he apologized the next day.

and that's what we do when people apologize.

[Bluebear]

9. .

[Sandaasu]

10. I was wondering when this was going to come up.

He didn't get a pass. He was hit hard by our community for that, but the blow was softened by some factors that don't exist with Obama.

For one thing, he very promptly corrected himself. Nothing yet from Barack, I'm afraid. He also just said that it's a choice, he didn't say that it's a bad choice, like McCloset does. Both are bad, but one worse.

Also, unlike so many Dems who have given us some sweet talk, then done nothing, he really has done a good job in working for us in NM. He's already proven to us that he really is on our side. Not in every way, but at least he has a proven track record that we can look at and say, "Even if he doesn't fully understand us, at least we can be sure that he's trying to help us." Since then, he has continued to be outspoken about our issues, even getting on the Boy Scouts recently for their anti-gay policies.

[durrrty libby]

11. Take a look at Richardson support. He has very little, therefore

there aren't many people left to be outraged. Pretty simple

[Solon]

12. Richardson was given no such thing, period. n/t

[DURHAM D]

14. With regard to Obama -

this McSinger thing doesn't matter. I already knew Obama was homophobic. It was apparent in the early debate when he responded to a question about being tested for AIDS. It was before a black audience and he clearly telegraphed his problem by his response to the question.

Or, possibly he was pandering to the existing homophobia in the audience.

Either way or both - I have had his number for awhile. Us gay folk are pretty good at that.

[ecstatic]

16. Right... sounds like you're making a lot of unfair assumptions

based on your own personal prejudices. Biden had no right to bring up Obama's status or personal information in that debate. And Obama's response had nothing to do with homophobia.

[cuke]

17. You made an unfair assumption also

when you assumed that Richardson got "a pass"