Take Away McClurkin's Grammy

[Scriptor Ignotus]

well, McClurkin seems to be one hell of a polarizing figure. There are daily, if not hourly posts about what a bigot Obama is for having such a hate-spewing, homophobic monster at his event. Well, McClurkin won the Grammy in 1998 for Traditional Soul Gospel Album: "Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs,". Seeing as how McClurkin is such a bad guy and all, then why not petition the The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to revoke his award? This isn't unprecedented, Milli Vanilli had theirs taken away.

I mean, aren't the Grammys basically endorsing homophobia by letting him keep the award? Aren't the members of the Academy all bigots by association? Doesn't the Academy deserve any criticism for awarding a homophobe their highest honor? I believe McClurkin made his offensive comments after he received the award but he could still be penalized retroactively if the Academy chose to do so.

Shouldn't his critics aim some of their ire at McClurkin's other non-Obama associations? If Obama can be vilified, then so should everyone else recently associated with him, right? That would seem to be BET, Stevie Wonder, the Apollo Theatre, Disney, Good Morning America, the United Negro College Fund, NAACP (he won their "Image" award), Soul Train, TV Guide, Paramount Pictures and Extra!, to name a few. (I got these from McClurkin's website, but they seem to check out and are mostly after his offensive comments.) All the awards he's won should be revoked, right?

Well, let's see your righteous indignation at these targets. They had him on their shows, gave him awards and showcased his talents in their movies and programs. I can't wait to see all the posts fill up DU giving it good to all these McClurkin-loving outlets. I can't wait to read your letters to the Academy, demanding they revoke his Grammy.

Believe me, I'm not upset to see anyone bash McClurkin, the guy deserves it. And I think Obama was in the wrong on this issue too. But there's so much inconsistency and transparent faux-outrage that I have to speak up and say enoughs enough. If you truly despised McClurkin and thought he had that detrimental of an impact to the GLBT community, you would do a lot more than just post something on an online forum stating this fact. Wouldn't you?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. I myself will never eat at Olive Garden..

as long as Mussolini was once the dictator of Italy.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

3. hahahaha

:rofl:

[northzax]

2. um, just to fact check

Milli Vanilli had their grammy taken away because they committed fraud directly related to said grammy award. McLurkin, of course, is a fabulous singer, that is what his grammy is for, not his political views.

and, it's the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, of course.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

4. changed

wikipedia led me astray. go figure.

The National Academy of Arts & Sciences, Inc. is known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS

[mrreowwr_kittty]

5. I've challenged a few of the more absurd McClurkin harangue-ers to take some action

You know, actually get off their asses and get the word out into the community about the McClurkin thing, since no one outside of the lefty blogosphere knows anything about it. They could be starting organizations, protesting, knocking on doors, writing LTTEs, staging protests at Obama events. No takers. Apparently, typing angry messages into a left wing political discussion board suffices as meaningful activism to them. :shrug:

[Scriptor Ignotus]

8. ah, glad i'm not the only to see this -eom

[readmoreoften]

11. How do you know what people are doing in their daily lives off DU?

if you're gay I imagine that you remember we already faced a ton of hostility in 2004 over the election with a large number of Democrats blaming us for the loss. Why on earth would we organize a mass public protest against Obama so that the media could whip the nation into a gay-baiting disaster? Wouldn't it make more sense to persuade him to stop pandering in a way that wasn't thoroughly divisive?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

13. "so that the media could whip the nation into a gay-baiting disaster?"

From your very own keyboard.

Gee, ya think maybe Obama was facing a similar risk with the African American community in SC had he disinvited McClurkin?

"Wouldn't it make more sense to persuade him to stop pandering in a way that wasn't thoroughly divisive?

Why yes, it would! Since the McClurkin incident, has the Obama campaign made a similar mistake? Not that I know of. And he did issue a statement repudiating McClurkin's views. That's not the apology that people want but a public apology to the gay community may be taken as a slap in the face to the A/A religious community, among whom McClurkin is very popular.

[readmoreoften]

6. Did they ask him to emcee their event and let him talk about anti-gay bullshit?

No. And that's why no one is boycotting the Grammys.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

7. Are you ever going to do anything but blog about it?

I notice you didn't answer the OP's charge. If your outrage is confined to Obama, and you're convinced his presidency would pose such a grave threat to LGBT rights, then what are you DOING to stop his election?

[readmoreoften]

12. Why would I post my offline habits online?

I'm a college teacher with a wide base of students. And yes, I've made quite a few voters aware of the incident. Thanks for making sure I'm a "good progressive" offline. I'm far as concerned, getting people to understand why the anti-gay movement is dangerous is far more important than Obama's candidacy.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

14. What if Obama gets the nom? Are you going to support the Republican?

And as far as I'm concerned, not voting or voting 3rd party is the same thing.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

9. they gave him their most prestigious award

so they deserve none of your criticism whatsoever?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

10. I can already predict the answer: No

There are very specific conditions that meet the narrow criteria needed to win the coveted McObama Worst Homophobic Bigot Evah Prize. They involve being on stage, gospel singing, MCing, being African American, and a guy named Obama.

Proudly displaying endorsements from homophobes or hiring them as consultants for $10000 a month like another candidate did is no problem, just ask the poster you responded to. S/he will tell you that since those things don't involve being on a stage at a gospel concert, they are hunky dory.