Last words from the Obama camp

I spoke with California DNC Chair Art Torres, who hugged me when I started talking to him, for some reason, and asked him about the Democrat's strategy to have representational delegates at the DNC convention. Apparently, it's something they've been doing at least since 1988 when Rev. Jesse Jackson ran for the Dem seat, who ended up winning well over 1000 delegates. Anyway, it's a process that each state chair is able to configure.

I went out in search of quotes from Obama supporters. There was a decent number of pandering politicians giving canned quotes on both sides littered across the 4th floor mezzanine in the Kodak theater. I set out to ask them, why wasn't anyone posing questions important to gay and lesbian voters?

I was glad to talk to Maria Elena Durazo, the head of the County Federation of Labor, who announced she was backing him a few weeks ago. Her support is significant, given Los Angeles' high number of Latino workers involved in labor-based work.

"I think his approach is based on inclusiveness," she said. "When he was working as a community organizer he worked on the basis of unity. He had to pull people together to get things accomplished. This is going to apply to all of our communities: gay and lesbian, Latino, African-American... everyone."

Then I made my way over to San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who said that Obama's "message is all about coalition building. He's been a fighter for civil rights, and his knowledge as a professor has built his knowledge on Constitutional rights."

Well said from a DA!

OK, I'm off to the voter party outside and then I'm going home!

Comments

[Neal]

You go, Missy!

[Walley in SF]

I think it would be a BIG mistake for Hilary/Barak NOT to consider being President/Vice President - as a TEAM I think they'd kick serious BUTT!

[chrisss]

So you'll support Barack Obama, a man who campaigned with a gay hater in order to pander to voters in the south.

Either you're completely out of your mind, or you'll support any male candidate over a female candidate.

[Roland Waters]

Ok I do not have a gay or LGBT question so to speak, and yet I do, because to be frank those are not going to have much merit within the next 5 years. If the Democratic National Movement goes unchecked we may not have the chance to bother to celebrate! So, what does Obama think about the fact that the Democratic Committee is being headed by a Pentecostal Woman who doesn't want nor intends to promote the gay agenda in anyway! She in fact on several occasions has stated she does not want legal same se rights for gay marriage or partnerships that even resemble gay marriage. Most of her views are extremely similar to that of a Republican, perhaps she is an infiltrator to turn the Democratic party more conservative. What does he intend as a Democrat to do with a woman who does not want rights equal to all! This applies also to Hiliary Clinton!

[aperdray]

Michelle, I'm with you.

The "campaigned with a gay-hater" thing is tired. And I think Obama addressed it and well at the time.

And turning it into an "any male over a female" argument is sexist. Perhaps, just perhaps, there are other things entering the equation beyond being male or female?

[Roland Waters]

Today most of the United States steps up to make their views known either by a vote or in a caucus faction. Today do we actually change the world simply by installing a Black Man or a White Woman in office? See I am not for change simply because a person is white,black,gay,or M or F. Change comes from within, not from without, so if a persons past is an example of who they are inside, well then I would have liked to have seen Edwards or Dennis K, or Ron P, as a real presidential candidate, but we live in a society that is ruled by the Media and owned by corporations. We feel we live in a free society, but yet we yield our cival liberties pretty easily to this country in order to say we are Americans. We are no longer the leading contender in the governing rule in the world market place, yes we are a faction, but we are becoming les and less so, so in order to ever go back to actually becoming a super power, we need to vote on consciousness, not because someone is black or female. I would love to have a Black Afro-American Female Contender who has great ethics and can stand on her own and fight the good fight for everyone on an even playing field, who is religious within herself but fights for Civil liberties for everyone.

I guess I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one!