ENDA, Obama and the cultural war

The House Democratic leadership delayed a planned vote this past week on ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007. The bill, introduced by Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, makes employment discrimination against homosexuals and bisexuals illegal.

One reason that momentum on moving the legislation has stalled is because Rep. Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin wants a provision covering transsexuals and transgenders, originally in, then removed, put back in.

President Bush has indicated that, if passed, he will veto this legislation. And he should.

There are a good number of reasons offered by the administration, and by others, why this bill is constitutionally problematic.

But beyond the bill’s many technical constitutional difficulties, it’s worth considering it in the context of the ongoing cultural war taking place in this country.

Those pushing ENDA would have us believe that this is about making our country more just, fairer, more free. But is this really what is going on?

Consider the uproar of recent days among Sen. Barack Obama’s gay constituency about his hiring of gospel singer Donny McClurkin to perform in Mr. Obama’s campaign tour through South Carolina.

This is a critical state for the Illinois lawmaker, with a huge churchgoing black electorate.

What could be a better idea than headlining a Grammy-winning gospel singer to perform as part of his swing through the state?

The problem is that Mr. McClurkin not only preaches the gospel of the straight and traditional life, but he himself was once part of the gay lifestyle. He says that he was sexually abused as a child, which set him on the trajectory of homosexual behavior.

But through prayer and resolve, Mr. McClurkin changed. And he insists that anyone can change, as did he.

When word of the decision of the Obama campaign to employ Mr. McClurkin got out, Mr. Obama soon heard from Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay-rights organization.

According to press reports, Mr. Solmonese urged Mr. Obama to cancel Mr. McClurkin’s appearance and subsequently expressed disappointment when this did not happen.

Now wait a second. Let’s recap where we are.

We’ve got legislation moving through Congress, pushed by gay activists, that would make it illegal for an employer to not hire, or to fire, someone because of their sexual orientation. But the head of the nation’s largest gay-activist organization asks Mr. Obama to fire a man because he is a Christian and an advocate of traditional values?

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