A D.C. gay man is trying to rally voters against Sen. Barack Obama, seeking to damage the Democrat’s presidential campaign and punish the party for disenfranchising voters.
Will Bower, a Huffington Post columnist who lives in Washington, said he helped establish the grassroots group Party Unity, My Ass this month to connect voters who are angry that Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee.
“I feel that Barack Obama is an anti-democratically chosen candidate,” he said. “I think it’s the worst of the system that has put him at the top of the ticket.”
Obama crossed the Democratic Party’s revised, 2,118-delegate threshold June 3 to secure the nomination. At last count, Obama had won 2,201 delegates.
Bower, who strongly supported Sen. Hillary Clinton during the primary and remains a registered Democrat, said his organization joins a growing list of grassroots groups that are frustrated that the complex Democratic primary process did not better represent voters.
“It’s very nuanced and intricate,” he said. “That’s what’s agitated me the most.”
Among his chief complaints are that Obama’s campaign did not accept plans to allow new primary votes in Florida and Michigan after the states violated party rules and saw their primaries effectively nullified, and that the Democratic National Committee did not appropriately handle the delegate disputes in those states.
Bower’s message has captured the attention of several media outlets, including MSNBC and Fox News, which have featured him on the air.
“The most important issue to me is the democratic principle itself,” he said on Fox News. “I see this season as having put forth an anti-democratically elected candidate. So for me, that’s the biggest issue of all. And if we go down a path, where, you know, the parties don’t uphold democratic principles, then who’s going to uphold democratic principles? So that’s my biggest issue of all and that transcends Republican or Democrat.”
A spokesperson for the Obama campaign did not respond to the Blade’s request for comment.
Damien LaVera, a DNC spokesperson, noted the organization has explained its actions to resolve the primary disputes and is focused now on defeating Sen. John McCain, the presumed Republican presidential nominee.
“We are going to work hard to compete for every vote,” he said, “but we’re confident that the more voters learn about John McCain the more they’ll see he’s the wrong choice for America’s future on everything from LGBT issues to the war in Iraq, the economy and health care.”
It’s unclear what effect party dissenters, such as Bower, could have on the general election.
One recent poll showed Obama has not united Democrats in the same way that McCain has rallied Republicans. According to the poll, almost nine in 10 Republicans support McCain, while not quite eight in 10 Democrats back Obama.
The poll of 1,125 randomly selected adults, conducted June 12–15 for the Washington Post and ABC News, also showed that nearly a quarter of those who favored Clinton over Obama in the primary prefer McCain for the general election.
Bower said Party Unity, My Ass, which also goes by the moniker People United Means Action (PUMA), would not instruct its undocumented number of members to vote against Obama come November.
“At this stage of the game, I’m planning to vote for McCain,” he said. “That’s me as an individual. I’m not speaking for PUMA or its members.”
Bower said some group members, however, are discussing how they might disrupt the Democratic National Convention through such tactics as coordinating a march or asking delegates to walk out.
“I will keep speaking for PUMA,” he said, “and let other voters know that we’re there, we’re not alone and you don’t have to fall into the party line and vote for Barack Obama.”
Bower’s efforts come as the Obama campaign is working to engage gay voters nationally.
Matt Nosanchuk, a gay Obama supporter who hosted a Washington house party Monday that featured a conference call with the candidate, said Obama spoke “sincerely and authentically” on the call about several gay issues. The event was closed to the media.
“He recognized and expressed explicitly the federal issues that are outstanding and need to be addressed,” Nosanchuk said, “and he pledged as president to do that.”
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SteelyBear on 6/24/088:54 PM:
Nurseratchet - I agree with your post. And recent polls are showing Obama trailing McCain. Wouldn't surprise me if he costs us this election. Let's face it: there are plenty of people who will not vote for him because he is black. Not to mention the other valid reasons. Here's a stone for you: sounds to me like there are plenty of black folks with a chip on their shoulder who need to get over it. Here's to 2012.
Mr Chris on 6/23/087:25 PM:
No you should'nt be threatened. And only you know if you are really racist.This campaign has produced some real feelings. Do I feel some of you have a problem with race HELL DAMN YES I do. But hey don't vote for him Nurseratched. And I hope McCain DESTROYS the LGBT Community and teach your ass a valuable lesson about hypocrsy.
Hillary can't do anything any different than Barack and as far as this Marxist/Comm associations think about the radical side of this community before you go throwing stones WHITE STRAIGHTS folks that stands with Hillary aren't GAY FRIENDLY either.
Nurseratchet on 6/23/087:04 PM:
We cannot be threatened by riots to vote for a black man who has neither the credentials nor character to be President. It has nothing to do with his skin color but everything to do with his Marxist/Communist associations. I a DAMN tired of being called a racist because I will not vote for Obama. And I am REALLY tired of hearing, "Hillary's people will get over it and come around". NOT IN THIS LIFETIME GIRLFRIEND! VOTE THEM WRONG! My answer to your "Yes we can" is NO YOU WON'T !!
Nurseratchet on 6/23/086:57 PM:
I WOULD HOPE WILL BOWER WOULD CONTACT LARRY SINCLAIR, ALSO A GAY MAN, WHO HAS REPEATEDLY TRIED TO GET HIS STORY OUT ABOUT OBAMA'S DRUG USE. ***************** “To be honest with you, its not so much whether you believe me or not, as much as you hear me.”
-Larry Sinclair at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C., June 18, 2008
Larry’s words, my post! http://www.larrysinclair.org/press.html
Mr Chris on 6/23/084:57 AM:
Well SteelyBear, The same thing went on when a lot of WHITE GAYS didn't like the choice of Obama. Why is that because Queen Mother Hillary didn't get it? I am one who has never had an issue with race. But you tell me since when we have unity in this Gay community? I haven't seen it yet. The weekends are the most segregated time for LGBT for the most part. Some of these folks planning to vote McCain out of anger because Obama played by the rules???? PLEASE had Obama been white with the same Portfolio Will Bower and a lot of others would accept and move on. But they can't. And why is that?
Mr Chris on 6/23/082:28 AM:
Well SteelyBear, The same thing went on when a lot of WHITE GAYS didn't like the choice of Obama. Why is that because Queen Mother Hillary didn't get it? And when I am one who has never had an issue with race. You tell me since we have unity in this Gay community? I haven't seen it yet. The weekends are the most segregated time for LGBT for the most part. Some of these folks planning to vote McCain out of anger because Obama played by the rules???? PLEASE had Obama been white with the same Portfolio Will Bower and a lot of others would accept and move on. But they can't. And why is that?
Andrew_Helber34 on 6/22/085:55 PM:
SteelyBear, Obama won the election only because Hillary ran a terrible campaign. Had Hillary came out swinging like she did the second half of the primary season she would have been the nominee with no arguments. She should have fired Penn a long time ago because that jackass cost her the caucus states. I am following Hillary's call and supporting Obama because the alternative of Mccain isn't an option and this country can't go through another 4 years of chaos.
Andrew_Helber34 on 6/22/085:50 PM:
I supported Hillary during the primaries and I am very proud of her campaign. But to see this Jackass on Fox News makes me sick to my stomach. Hillary and Obama agree on 98 % of the issues, so you are willing to vote for Mccain who is the polar opposite and is not a friend of the gay community? Well jackass, the Mccain straight-talk express left the gate a long time ago...hurry and get your ticket! Sounds like you have deeper reason as to why you won't support Obama. I would respect you more if you just came out and said it.
SteelyBear on 6/22/081:19 AM:
Mr. Chris, I find your opinion very unsettling at the least. I heard the same type of talk when the potential for Hillary to "steal" the nomination through superdelegates was being tossed about. Typical. And yet, of course, that is how Obama won - through superdelegates. It is a sad statement when the black community doesn't get their way: and someone insinuates that violence is the answer to come. That sure as hell doesn't sound like unity to me.
J Lynn on 6/20/089:08 PM:
To Hillary supporters who have already come to terms with the current circumstances in which we find ourselves as a party and as a nation, I say thank you. Thank you so much for having the strength to overcome your well-deserved grief. Thank you for understanding that we're in this together, for understanding that we share common interests which are best served by acting pragmatically. To those who still vow vengeance, I hope you will come around. Please don't help elect a man who represents entities whose interests are diametrically opposed to your/our own. Seriously, lives are on the line.
Ridgerider on 6/20/0812:34 PM:
I am a LONG-time Hillary Clinton supporter, a very LONG-time supporter. I am not over joyed about Obama being the Democratic Party nominee, but I will support his candidacy, encourage others to do so, and vote for him. I think most Hillay supporters are like me, disappointed but realistic. Obama may not be perfect, but like the imperfect U.S., he's certainly better than the option. That FOX is promoting this dufuss's silly posturing is not at all surprising. FOX is the media outlet of record for the far-Right gay-hating theocrats and neo-conservatives.
Mr Chris on 6/20/086:34 AM:
I am dying to see what will happen in DC on Nov 5 when this predominately BLACK city finds out that a WHITE GAY MALE out of hatred derailed this election. If you guys think it's problems now......
GET READY!
