President Obama's Gay Marriage Joke! Offensive or Funny?
by Maggie Taylor | Article Date: 05/10/2009 10:24 AM
The blogs are in an uproar over President Barack Obama's "gay joke" at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.
Recently out lesbian and wickedly funny woman Wanda Sykes opened the evening for the president making a joke about how everyone loves Obama..."even the press."
Sykes wondered why the press never catches Obama smoking but always catches him shirtless. "I don't need to see your nipples," Sykes said.
Despite the milestone of a gay woman opening the evening, blogs are abuzz regarding Obama's gay marriage joke concerning his friend and adviser David Axelrod.
"David and I have been together a long time," Obama said, explaining that many years ago he called Axelrod and said, "you and I could do wonderful things together."
The President, who has remained relatively silent regarding the gay marriage strides that Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Washington DC have recently made, and who does not support full marriage for same-sex couples, joked about Axelrod's response to Obama's proposal to work together.
"He said what partners all over America are saying to me right now. Let's go to Iowa and make it official."
Watch the video. Obama's remark is at about the 4:20 mark and you be the judge. Is it an offensive joke or just a witty acknowledgement that full marriage equality is inevitable?
O.k., where's the offensive part, i think that by him making that remark just shows how comfortable he really is with gay people. I mean, how many previous presidents have made a joke about one of his gay cabinet members and included himself in the punchline and not seem weirded out about it. I don't think he offended the gay community in anyway whatsoever.
do not know when someone doesn't recognize when someone is cool about certain things in a different way. I believe Obama did that. This topic was unnecessary to even question the implication of him acknowledging the ground-breaking Iwoan same-gendere marriage news story -so please find some real issues to discusss.This isn't one of them. No I'm not offended by this topic and no he wasn't joking about Gay marriage-it is you or who ever in the WHITE GAY COMMUNITY drumming it all in your WHITE head(s). Seriously....
Im more stunned he fired Gen Mckiernan, the highest ranking official in Afghanistan. I dont think this is a big deal. Now if he offers up a proposal to allow gay marriage in more states or to be recognised by the govt we can talk.
Hmmm. Donnie McGlurkin, Rick Warren, doesn't support full marriage and jokes about gay marriage. I don't think he's earned it the right to make jokes... Not until he puts his money where his mouth is about LGBT equality.
I prefer Wanda Sykes' joke when she told him she didn't want to see his nipples. I agree. Much rather see Michelle's guns.
do not know when someone doesn't recognize when someone is cool about certain things in a different way."
I don't know, that sounds a lot like separate but equal to me. He believes we should have the same rights as heterosexuals, but not really. We still have to sit in the section marked Civil Unions, while our heterosexual counterparts have the glowing "marriage" above their heads and can sit wherever they want.
I agree with Vittoria that he has not earned the right to make jokes, so while his comment may not have been offensive, it was certainly in poor taste.
Ketina7 also said, No I'm not offended by this topic and no he wasn't joking about Gay marriage-it is you or who ever in the WHITE GAY COMMUNITY drumming it all in your WHITE head(s). Seriously....
Seriously...if everytime someone questions a remark the President says, you then accuse them of being a racist, this is going to be a very long four years...and a very angry four years for you. Were you here calling everyone a racist when we were all questioning the things Bush said? Please try to be just a little objective and know that it isn't always all about race.
You got to view this joke in the context of whether or not Obama is truly a "Fierce Advocate." I'll LMAO at any joke he makes when he starts keeping his promises to our community. Until then, this gAyTM is closed...
I'm not boycotting, but simply PAUSING until I see results. I'm tired of being told one thing and getting nothing. REPEAL DOMA, PASS ENDA and END DADT!
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