Will Obama share stage with Ugandan author of "Kill the Gays" bill at Prayer Breakfast?

[Bluebear]

If it's winter, it means that it's time for the National Prayer Breakfast, the annual gathering held each February in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the network of evangelical politicos known as "The Family." Over the past few months, "The Family" has made international headlines because of its close ties to politicians in Uganda who are championing the death penalty and harsh jail terms for LGBT people.

You might think that "The Family" would want to distance itself from politicians who celebrate the murder of gay people. Think again. Because Uganda's largest independent newspaper is reporting that "The Family" has invited David Bahati -- the Ugandan Parliamentarian behind legislation that would kill gay people -- to attend their February National Prayer Breakfast.

If that's true, and Bahati comes to Washington for the National Prayer Breakfast, he'll be attending the event with President Barack Obama. Now we know that politics makes for strange bed fellows. But sharing the stage with someone who'd like to see a gay genocide? Well that would be like inviting Rev. Fred Phelps to a state dinner, and letting him use the Roosevelt china.

So far "The Family" hasn't confirmed that Bahati would be coming. But if you can believe Bahati, he's already received the invitation in the mail.

"I intend to attend the prayer breakfast,” Bahati told Uganda's Monitor.

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/will_obama_share_a_stage_with_ugandas_biggest_homophobe

[vi5]

1. Probably. N/T

[Jakes Progress]

2. Maybe bahati can get a photo op

that he can use when he goes home to campaign. But hey, it's only a dinner. Right?

[EFerrari]

3. IT'S ONLY A THREE COURSE MEAL!

[Bluebear]

8. lol...IT'S ONLY ONE OMELETTE~!!!!!1

[QC]

18. This will give us a chance to reach out to the murderous homophobes! n/t

[Bluebear]

19. Everyone must have a seat at the table! nt

[QC]

41. Especially hateful fundamentalists!

Hell, we should just give them the whole table!

For some reason, keeping them happy matters more than any other concern.

[QC]

4. HE'S OLNY GOING TO SING ONE SONG!1!!1!111

[glitch]

5. Good God I hope not.

But I have no expectations.

[Mari333]

6. not a good start to his second year is it

[Skittles]

7. he should, only as an opportunity to kick Bahati homophobe ass

which I do not see happening :(

[Chulanowa]

9. Why do we even have this thing?

It boggles the mind.

[Terra Alta]

13. I wonder the same thing myself.

Isn't there a thing here in the US called "separation of church and state"? What happened to that?:shrug:

[sensate2000]

10. it doesn't matter

He shouldn't be going to that weird cult's prayer breakfast anyway.

[Bluebear]

Well, you only have 2 posts in a year...

but boy, when you speak, you nail it! :)

[shadesofgray]

17. +1

[waiting]

11. I would literally jump for joy

If the president didn't attend the National Prayer Breakfast. But I highly doubt that he will skip it. More than likely, Bahati won't be there when the president is.

[Nite Owl]

12. Why is Obama going

to a breakfast for "The Family"?

[Bluenorthwest]

14. He had no problems with McClurkin

Says it all, really.

[msongs]

16. same religion, why wouldn't he go? nt

[Solly Mack]

15. That's some "fellowship" (coughchokespew) government as a whole could do well without

No good reason for government to attend such an event to begin with..

[Jakes Progress]

20. Can anyone possibly defend this?

Go on. Let's hear it. Just why would a decent person lend credence and cache to this nasty group let alone to bahati?

Anyone?

[Mari333]

21. crickets

*****

[TexasObserver]

22. Recommend

[Starry Messenger]

23. It's even *worse* than the Phelps scenario.

Phelps is a hateful assclown but at least he doesn't write laws.

[Tailormyst]

24. Why would this time be different?

His views on GBLT people have been made quite clear through his actions.

[gravity]

25. Bahati isn't the problem

It was the western missionaries who came in and scared Ugandans by saying that homosexuality will destroy their country and way of life.

I think Obama is trying to use this opportunity to get Bahati to back off his legislation. There is no other reason why he would be invited to such event.

[Jakes Progress]

26. We'll see.

Is it your belief that Obama will publicly disavow the legislation and the "evangelistas" who brought this about?

[gravity]

27. I believe it would be done privately

Publicly humiliating someone is just going to make things worst in Uganda.

Most evangelists are against the bill anyways even if they are against homosexuality. They will probably insists that the Christian thing to do is to forgive homosexuals and try to cure them or some other bullshit. The best result will be that he change his mind about the bill and hopefully it won't be passed. It is far from ideal, but Africa is way behind about homosexuality and better than a bill that advocates killing.

but we will see what happens

[Jakes Progress]

28. I believe that won't help.

I believe that someone who believes that gay people should be killed should be publicly humiliated. If bahati gets his photo-op with Obama he will just go home and use it for campaigning. It will make him a candidate for prime minister.

Now if you believe that bahati is really a good hearted person, one who has simply been fooled by the mean old white people, I could see your position. I still wouldn't agree, but at least the thing to do here is to meet with him before the dinner and have bahati himself disavow the legislation at the dinner. That would show that your method would work.

Lacking a commitment from bahati to withdraw the legislation, he should be castigated along with his missionary handlers in public. Otherwise we just support the hate.

[gravity]

32. That will embolden the enemy

and accomplishes nothing in helping gays in Uganda, no matter how just you could be at it. Ugandans already know that Obama is against the legislation and are even pissed off at Rick Warren for being against it too.

Obama is trying a diplomatic solution to the problem. I don't know if it is going to work or not, but it is better than complaining on the sidelines.

[Jakes Progress]

33. Criminey.

What part of dead gay people is so hard to understand? The enemy is not Uganda. It is the smarmy little shits in the religious groups that foster this hate. Haven't we seen how well trying to "get along" with evil works? Haven't we seen how well trying to go along does? If Obama just nods and murmurs his discontent, they just laugh at how weak he is. Calling them out won't embolden them. How much bolder can they be than calling for the death of all homosexuals?

Just how do Ugandans know that Obama is pissed or even against the legislation? How do you know? I know we want to think he is, but where are his definitive statements? If you think that Ugandan citizens will know that when this guy comes back with pictures of he and Obama shaking hands and smiling, you are just wrong.

More than a diplomatic solution (such a euphemism for ducking the issue) what is needed is sanctions and strong words. What if South Africa decided that all wives should be killed and buried with their husbands? What if Italy decided that non-Catholic christians should be executed? Just what does rise to the point of actually taking a public stand?

[gravity]

36. I talk to friends in Uganda and follow the politics there

I have a decent understanding of what is going on. They see it as the west imposing their values on them, and Obama saying strong words will embolden them.

The US and other European countries are already threatening sanctions to the country along with lots of NGO's. Some of the Ugandan leaders see that and are against the bill for that reason, but others are trying to use the issue to help get them elected thanks to some evangelicals who said that homosexuals will prey on their children and destroy their way of life.

The problem with sanctions too is that it is going to hurt the economy and drive more people into poverty. It is a fucked up situation and it needs all the help that it could get to stop it.

If Obama can get some of the evangelical community to denounce the bill, like many have in the past like Rick Warren, it could help soften the stance against homosexuality in that country. I don't know if it is going to work, but it is a much better idea than just making a useless stand. The president of Uganda is against the bill and if he can get some support in parliament, so it can be defeated.

[Jakes Progress]

40. We're going to have to disagree.

You have way too much faith in the evangelicals. My African contacts don't agree with you. Whereas they see the US as overbearing, they are completely enraptured with Obama. My friends (some gay) are scared to death of their little demi-god coming back with footage of his successful meeting with Obama. That would cement the deal for the death penalty for homosexuals. It would catapult this minor player into the lead of African spokesmen.

Much better would be Obama and Clinton endorsing and backing any politician in the area who is against the legislation.

Obama being the shy, retiring peacemaker will not work here. Got to say, it comes off as being a little blase about the issue to suggest that we just back off. Just what does call for moral outrage?

[QC]

34. As nice as it would be if this were more of Obama's intergalactic googledimensional chess,

the fact is that Obama does not make the guest list for this shindig. "The Family" does that.

[TexasObserver]

29. Let's hope not!

I didn't comment beyond noting my Recommend on this thread the first time I saw it.

The president is sometimes far too accepting of hatred of gays by the religious.

[David Zephyr]

30. Bluebear, thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Very troubling.

Edit: K&R!

[votingupstart]

31. i can't imagine the White house PR pool would even consider this.....can you imagine the fallout

[mitchtv]

35. My guess?

another squandered opportunity. But, I could be wrong, I'm no chess master

[Neecy]

37. Sure he'll go

He's never had a problem hiding behind religion to insult and offend us - why would this be any different?

[Terra Alta]

38. I still don't see how this does not

violate the separation of church and state clause.. the PRESIDENT attending a prayer breakfast?:wtf: Sure sounds like an endorsement of religion to me...

[Lilith Velkor]

39. Of course he will.