The Barack Obama/Donnie McClurkin Debacle

By Clay Cane, Special to AOL Black Voices

In his momentous campaign for the presidency, Illinois Senator Barack Obama has managed to evade political attacks from Republicans and sidestep comments from Senator Hillary Clinton. Even after digging into his past, all right-wing detectives could find was that he smoked cigarettes.

Miraculously, Obama seemed to be favorably courting the votes of conservative African-Americans while at the same time labeling himself as a person who believed in equal rights for the gay and lesbian community.

During the Logo channel's gay debate in August 2007, Obama bragged, "I'm somebody who I think is willing to talk about these issues even when it's hard -- in front of black ministers." Many wondered if the non-threatening Obama could find a manageable middle ground between two divided groups -- the black church and the gay community. At that point, the answer was yes.

On the face of it, Obama was running one of the cleanest campaigns in election history; ironically, it was a move from his own camp that ignited a firestorm.

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Things began to unravel in early October when Obama's "Embrace the Change" gospel concert series announced Hezekiah Walker, Byron Cage and other gospel greats as part of the lineup. There was also contemporary sister duo Mary Mary, who in March 2007, encouraged gays and lesbians to "align themselves with the Bible" and compared homosexuals to murderers.

The most problematic addition, however, was Donnie McClurkin, a self-proclaimed ex-gay who "counsels" young people on how to convert from homosexuality. Donnie McClurkin is arguably the most famous, and most profitable, face in gospel music.

The "We Fall Down" hit maker is a two-time Grammy winner and pastor of Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York. McClurkin has been a prominent voice in the conservative African-American community, a demographic Obama has yet to grab. Some in the gay community were perplexed at how Obama could be for gay rights, but employ the likes of Mary Mary and Donnie McClurkin.

In an effort at damage control, Obama's camp released a statement on October 25th saying they were unaware of McClurkin's beliefs and admits the ex-gay's comments on homosexuality are "deeply hurtful and offensive to many Americans" but also states, "at the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin's beliefs. This also cannot be ignored." Reverend Andy Sidden, a white gay preacher was added to the lineup, while Donnie McClurkin remained.

"Here we have a perfect opportunity for African-Americans to internally address the issue of homophobia with an African-American presidential candidate and instead of inviting a Black openly gay pastor, they invite a white man," says Black LGBT activist Jasmyne Cannick on her web site.

Quick to respond, Obama's camp stressed his vision, the big tent, "to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree." McClurkin has said that he "prayed the gay away," and at the final installment of the gospel concert last week he stressed, "I tell you that God delivered me from homosexuality."

When Mary Mary and Donnie McClurkin performed for President George Bush in 2005, there was no uproar. President Bush is staunchly anti-gay marriage, even advocating a Constitutional amendment to ban it. Political strategists argue he won the election on his "Biblical" beliefs.

For Obama, the "Embrace the Change" lineup seems contradictory from someone who refers to gays as his "gay brothers and sisters."

Obama's camp repeatedly emphasized they were not aware of McClurkin's beliefs about homosexuality, which begs the question, if they did know of McClurkin's beliefs, would they have hired him anyway?

No one at Obama's campaign headquarters, Obama For America, returned a request for comment.