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1. This is the most revealing part of the Blade's Valentine to Jeremiah Wright:

   "[T]he Rev. Ruth Garwood, executive director of the United Church of Christ Coalition for GLBT Concerns, said that while Trinity Church has the reputation of being gay-supportive, Wright and other church officials never accepted an invitation from her office to become an official UCC 'open and affirming' congregation for the GLBT community. At least three other UCC churches in Chicago have adopted the 'open and affirming' status and more than 100 UCC churches throughout the U.S. have adopted the status, as have churches in other denominations.”
   - http://washingtonblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=17266

   The author apparently misunderstood Rev. Garwood in one area. The ONA site indicates that there are at least 727 active ONA congregations in the United Church of Christ.

   Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Mar 20, 2008 7:15:28 PM

   
   

2. Michael, you're not doing Hillary any favors with your bizarre and almost unhinged comments in nearly every Towleroad post...

   Posted by: Ivan | Mar 20, 2008 7:23:43 PM

   
   

3. I quoted an article from a leading gay newspaper. Fuck off and die, Asswipe!

   Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Mar 20, 2008 7:50:14 PM

   
   

4. I don't see what is so reprehensible about this tape, it just says the truth. If Obama and his arrogant, strident wife think they can get elected by playing the poor me race card they are living in a dream world.

   Posted by: MHK | Mar 20, 2008 8:10:15 PM

   
   

5. "That McCain's campaign aide spread this runs directly counter to what McCain himself has said about the Wright controversy."

   Which would explain why he was reprimanded and suspended. From Talking Points:

   "Asked for comment, McCain spokesperson Hazelbaker emailed me the following:

   "We have been very clear on the type of campaign we intend to run and this staffer acted in violation of our policy. He has been reprimanded by campaign leadership and suspended from the campaign."

   I guess I'm not seeing how this makes McCain look bad. Like him or not, I think he did the right thing in getting rid of this kid.
   

   Posted by: Timothy | Mar 20, 2008 8:21:17 PM

   
   

6. AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!! It is not a bad video...it speaks the truth. People, wake up before it is too late. NOT good for America, Obama is not good for more reasons that I can write here.

   Posted by: RB | Mar 20, 2008 8:39:39 PM

   
   

7. http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/hillarys-prayer.html

   "Through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the Fellowship. Her collaborations with right-wingers such as Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) grow in part from that connection. "A lot of evangelicals would see that as just cynical exploitation," says the Reverend Rob Schenck, a former leader of the militant anti-abortion group Operation Rescue who now ministers to decision makers in Washington. "I don't....there is a real good that is infected in people when they are around Jesus talk, and open Bibles, and prayer."

   Posted by: astonedtemple | Mar 20, 2008 8:41:49 PM

   
   

8. "Fuck off and die, Asswipe!"

   Thanks for proving my point, Michael.

   Posted by: Ivan | Mar 20, 2008 9:29:21 PM

   
   

9. Come on down, Stoned! It's Easter week—forget "guilt by association" this is "crucifixion by assocation.

   OF COURSE, a gutter snipe like you would approve and promote the fascistic tabloid trash of the Mother Jones hit piece about Sen. Clinton and the Senate prayer group and the ridiculous wholesale moral equation of it with another different group entirely. McCarthyism lives, and it’s operating from deep inside Obama HQ. Tell us again, why did she have Vincent Foster murdered? Anybody remember how the Repugs pilloried Hillary in 1992 for saying she didn't bake cookies? Why, goodness me, she must have been busy cooking up AIDS in her own Easy-Bake Oven to kill all the blacks.

   For those not yet assimilated by the Obama Borg, here's an interesting story from the
   “The Atlantic Monthly, November 2006:

   “Clinton has also displayed a subtler touch in the Senate than anyone could reasonably have expected, making especially good use of the ever-dwindling opportunities for casual commingling of members of the opposing parties. The Wednesday-morning prayer group is one. Another is the congressional delegation (“CODEL,” in Hill jargon), on which members travel together.

   One spring Wednesday, a few months into the term, Senator Sam Brownback’s turn came to lead the prayer group, and he rose intending to talk about a recent cancer scare. But as he stood before his colleagues Brownback spotted Clinton, and was overcome with the impulse to change the subject of his testimony. ‘I came here today prepared to share about this experience in my life that has caused great suffering, the result of which has deepened my faith’, Brownback said. ‘But I’m overcome now with only one thought’. He confessed to having hated Clinton and having said derogatory things about her. Through God, he now recognized his sin. Then he turned to her and asked, ‘Mrs. Clinton, will you forgive me’? Clinton replied that she would, and that she appreciated the apology.

   This repentance fostered an unlikely relationship that has yielded political bounty. Clinton and Brownback went on to cosponsor one measure protecting refugees fleeing sexual abuse, and another to study the effects on children of violent video games and television shows.”

   If a worm like Brownback can turn, at least in this context, maybe you can someday, too, Stoned. Until then, write and let me know which airport you're selling flowers for Obama at. I need some for my Easter dinner party Sunday.
   

   Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Mar 20, 2008 9:59:01 PM

   
   

10. "forget "guilt by association"

    My god. You should talk!

    I'm 100% convinced Bedwell has some kind of mental illness.
    

    Posted by: astonedtemple | Mar 20, 2008 10:35:44 PM

    
    

11. This does not make McCain look bad at all, unless it happens again. It will look like a deceptive tactic ("Need a vacation? Great! Say this and we'll suspend you with pay!") if it recurs. Of course, that would only matter if the media decided to pay attention to that particular trend.

    The animosity between Clinton's and Obama's supporters has reached a sort of Cronenburg/ Clive Barker level, hasn't it?

    I make me sad. I should really stop.

    Posted by: Landon Bryce | Mar 20, 2008 10:41:16 PM

    
    

12. If you think this is bad, just wait until the general election - you ain't seen nothing yet. Good news is HRC is ahead in the gallop poll. Richardson has seen the writing on the wall, he isn't going to get thrown a bone by HRC so he figures to try Obama...wonder what he was offered, maybe VP? Noticed HRC was with Evan Bayh in Indiana - maybe he's on the short list for VP. He is extremely popular in the midwest and could pull in the conservative white male vote.

    Posted by: myer24u | Mar 21, 2008 8:32:34 AM

    
    

13. If HRC would do the math, i.e, face reality, she would conclude the only way for her to gain the nomination is by super delegated bucking the will of he voters AND the numbers (Obama: States won, pledged delegates, popular vote). Bucking the voters is much less likely since Obama's race speech: It (bucking) would be seen as a push by Democratic big wigs for the white voters, thereby tossing millions of black voters to the curb.

    Bottom line: The sooner HRC folds her tent, the more time, and better chance Obama has in directly confronting McCain one-on-one and becoming our next president.
    I hope HRC can stop being the self-centered, power hungry egotist for the good of the democratic party and Americans of all color, culture and background.

    Posted by: NowItMatters | Mar 21, 2008 9:36:39 AM

    
    

14. RB, I'm not sure hypocritical slave-holders like George Washington & Thomas Jefferson were good for America. Jefferson knew the "peculiar institution" he supported would eventually lead to a hellish consequence for America, but he did nothing to avoid it. It was called The Civil War.

    The election...no, just the nomination of Barack Obama would do a great deal in healing wounds that have stayed open since The Civil War. Four months ago I'd have never said that. Now, tell us again what's NOT good for America.

    Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Mar 21, 2008 10:08:12 AM

    
    

15. "His arrogant, strident wife"? Just how is Michelle Obama arrogant or strident? Because she says that finally felt that she was "really proud"?

    It's nice to see the coded sexism and racism expressed here. Translation: loudmouthed, uppity black woman. How dare a woman who is a Harvard educated lawyer have a brain and speak her mind?

    Good to know that feminism is respected here; I'm sure Senator Clinton would be proud!

    To paraphrase Orwell, some of us are more equal than others, especially if they aren't black women.

    The hypocrisy here is as thick and stinky as the sh@t as the foulest sewer.

    What's clear is that Senator Clinton was demonized by the Right for being a feminist, a woman who spoke her mind and said things that weren't always popular. Her Republican opponents have called her "lesbian," "bitch," "cunt," "arrogant," and a host of other words to denigrate her based on her sex and her not playing Suzy homemaker.

    But, it's okay to use the similar stereotypical and vicious comments against Michelle Obama because, you know, she's a black woman.

    Newsflash: because some criticizes her country that doesn't make that person any less patriotic. Remember, that's the whole line that the Republicans used against progressives and opponents of the Iraq War.

    Moreover, it's nice to see how people are giving a free pass to John McCain and his relationship with Hagee. Where's all the fire and venom for McCain? McCain who sucks up to all of the anti-gay evangelicals doesn't have to worry about the same kind criticism.

    One more time: To paraphrase Orwell, some of us are more equal than others, especially if they are white guys.

    What's one of the headlines on this site today? A gay man denied a password because of DOMA. Remember, if the Hillary was Bill's co-president, why no criticism of her for that? Why is it so easy to dismiss Bill Clinton's telling the Kerry campaign to throw gays under the bus and support an anti-gay marriage amendment?

    As for calling "Mother Jones" magazine "fascist," have you bothered to research it? The magazine is progressive journal that supports gay rights, the working class, women's rights, and the rest of the progressive agenda. Therefore, by definition, it can't be "fascist." Read a dictionary, "fascism" is anti-democratic, authoritarian and tightly aligned with business and religion.

    Facts? Who cares?

    And Bedwell, Gardwood spoke about the United Church of Christ affiliates in >>Chicago<<, not all affiliates. The fact remains, that Wright and Trinity United have been pro-gay rights, with Wright supporting gay marriage.

    It's hard for you to deal with facts that don't support your point so tossing them out or twisting them seems to be the best that you can do.

    Larry Kramer is one of the most dedicated and successful gay activists of the last 50 years. Has any of you read his works? Do you understand how often he's been denounced as extreme, radical, and anti-American?

    Hell, the majority of Right-wing jumped onto the bandwagon that gays were the great destroyers of American civilization. Watching gay people spew as much ridiculous hate as their enemies is horrifically fascinating in a study of the persecuted adopting the ways and mentality of its oppressors.

    Posted by: noah | Mar 21, 2008 12:33:34 PM

    
    

16. Commenters, go and get lives. Arguing with people on the Internet isn't doing you any good.

    Posted by: R | Mar 21, 2008 2:22:28 PM

    
    

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