OBAMA SPEAKS TO THE ADVOCATE

[camiloj]

cross-posted at http://www.thecamilopost.com

The nation's number one political and lifestyle magazine for the LGBT Community has a one on one with Obama. Hardcore activists will whine and bitch as usual, but I think the man does something so few politicans actually do.

Tell the truth.

Comments

[thd3]

One thing I believe Obama understands is that the Democratic party has traditionally (well, since the 1930s) been comprised of a loose coalition that often contains disparate elements. FDR had to work with Catholics, Jews, intellectuals and labor unions to keep the original New Deal coaliton together. That coalition began to splinter with Nixon's victory in 1968.

In order to win better treatment for gays, you also have to try to win over people who may not be inclined to support gay rights, like African-American ministers. Obama understands this. Bill and Hillary both have never really been able to put the coalition back together. Of course, no one has since 1968 (Carter only won because of Watergate, and Clinton only won by plurality). If we're ever going to win Presidential elections, we need to get this diverse coalition working again. Obama seems best suited to do that now.