Sunday, March 23, 2008

Carson Courts Support Of Anti-Gay Minister

U.S. Rep. Andre Carson (D) spoke out against discrimination, homophobia and racism during his successful special election campaign in the 7th District, distancing himself from controversial Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan, who spoke at his grandmother's funeral and endorsed his bid to take her seat in Congress. On this sacred Christian holiday of Easter, Rep. Carson attended services at a westside church where the presiding minister has a reputation for delivering anti-gay bigoted sermons from the pulpit. On the Blue Indiana blog today, long-time Carson supporter Wilson Allen described Carson's success at winning support from the church's minister:

Today Congressman André Carson attended Easter services at Light of the World, a leading westside megachurch. The minister, Bishop T.G. Benjamin, gave as close an endorsement as the IRS will allow from the pulpit to Congressman Carson. Allegedly [Carolene] Mays had tried real hard for that very important statement of support but Congressman Carson got it!

Operation Rebirth is a website dedicated to ending the religious and spiritual abuse against black gays and lesbians inflicted by Black churches. The site describes itself as becoming "the watchdog within the black church, holding black clergy accountable for their anti-gay messages and its impact on the community as a whole." The site took to task Bishop T.G. Benjamin of the Light of the World Christian Church in its watchdog role, examining his sermon entitled, “The High Cost of Low Living”. Operation Rebirth quoted the following anti-gay diatribe by Benjamin during his sermon:

The most dastardly thing about homosexuality is silly silly homosexuals going around trying to convince people that what they're doing is normal. That’s the sin; the abomination. Instead of saying I have a serious problem and I am struggling with it and I know that it is wrong . . . Homosexuality is a spirit of the underworld and you who collaborate with that spirit collaborate with the devil himself. But be careful on who you think is a homosexual and who is not. Everybody that is effeminate is not a homosexual, they just didn’t have the kind of parenting where a father said ‘son take that switch out yo' walk boy, son we don't walk like that, or bend like that either.’ The first time a father sees his son do his wrist like this he needs to take his hand and say .....uh............uh...........here. Your wrist goes like this. Men don’t talk up here (high). It’s a choice, you can change, you can choose, you can choose. Every effeminate person is not gay and every weight lifter is not straight. He might be the biggest girl in the city.” Uproarious laughter breaks out in the congregation.


Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama has recently come under intense criticism for attending church services for the past 20 years at a southside Chicago church where the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a close friend of Obama's, has delivered sermons in the past which many consider to be racist and anti-American. It seems to me that politicians like Obama and Carson send mixed messages when they speak out against discrimination and intolerance while openly associating with and even seeking support from persons whose messages seek to divide rather than unite us. Their defenders will say that Wright's and Benjamin's controversial views are commonplace in black churches. It's a part of the culture we're told, and we should accept it for what it is. My friends on the left have always bludgeoned Republicans who associate with the likes of Bob Jones, Jerry Fawell or Pat Robertson. Their admonitions were deserved given the controversial and divisive statements these gentlemen made on any variety of social and foreign policy issues. I just wish they didn't apply a double-standard to politicians on the left who court support from equally as divisive and controversial figures.

12 comments:

Wilson46201 said...

It was widely publicized that the Sunday before the Special Election, your own Republican candidate Jon Elrod proudly attended Light of the World Church to get a little pre-election "bump"...

Gary R. Welsh said...

I can't speak to what Elrod may or may not have done, but I object to any politician attending a church service other than his own at election time in an attempt to win votes. Candidates weren't allowed to campaign in the Methodist church at which I attended when I was growing up, and that's the way it should be. Your words of what your candidate did speak for themselves, Wilson. As always, you're always waving to look over here instead of the issue at hand to deflect attention away from your candidate.

Anonymous said...

Gary, will you denounce Jon Elrod for this?


From March 9, 2008:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880309010

"Elrod spent a portion of his Sunday at Light of the World Christian Church, 4646 N. Michigan Road. Places of worship are important, especially when a candidate is trying to connect with black voters, he said.

"It's a good way to reach out to African-Americans in the 7th District," Elrod said. "

Gary R. Welsh said...

If Jon sought this man's endorsement, then yes, I would denounce it. It is not clear to me, Randy, that Jon sought his endorsement. Wilson boasts that Andre sought and received Benjamin's support. The story you reference says Elrod attended one of the services. It does not say he sought or received any support from Benjamin from the pulpit as Carson did.

Wilson46201 said...

But Gary, you just said "I object to any politician attending a church service other than his own at election time in an attempt to win votes."

So do you reject, denounce and renounce Jon Elrod for "attending a church service other than his own at election time in an attempt to win votes" ?

Gary R. Welsh said...

I could not have been more clear the first time, Wilson. I don't approve of it.

Vox Populi said...

So getting back to the point of the discussion, Andre Carson has said in the past that being gay is a lifestyle choice. It's clear that he and this minister are birds of a feather in that regard. First Farrakhan, now Benjamin... I expect Fred Phelps might be next.

Wilson46201 said...

Such comparisons as the proud Orentlicher Fanboy just made are not wise in Indianapolis politics...

Vox Populi said...

Wilson, you're a washed up, self-hating piece of garbage. Your candidate affiliates with anti-gay bigots, and you defend that bigot? You sicken me. Thank god this isn't Nazi Germany or you'd be the one with the pink triangle helping the Nazis find the rest of us.

Wilson46201 said...

Does "Godwin's Law" still apply?

Vox Populi said...

Not when it comes to you, Wilson.

tjefferson said...

Vox populi writes of Wilson:

"Thank god this isn't Nazi Germany or you'd be the one with the pink triangle helping the Nazis find the rest of us."

This is the most apt description of Wilson I've yet read. It is so true....Wilson craves acceptance by the powerful so intently he would gladly sell out his people, his family, probably his mommy.

STOP CHANGING THE SUBJECT, Wilson, and answer Gary's question. Have you and your candidate no decency?