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Barack Obama suggests men need gay friends to learn 'empathy and kindness'

Michie

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Former President Barack Obama suggested during an appearance on his wife's podcast earlier this week that men need gay friends to learn "empathy and kindness" while preparing for potentially fathering a son who identifies as gay or non-binary.

Appearing during an episode of "IMO," a podcast hosted by former first lady Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, the former president discussed with the two how best to raise boys.

At one point during their hour-long discussion, Barack Obama — who noted he was raised by a single mother — suggested that boys need male figures in their lives other than their fathers to provide perspective, and then immediately pivoted to explain the influence one of his gay professors at Occidental College had on him.

Continued below.
 

John G.

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Dear Americans please pause and think: is this the country you were born in? Would former president Eisenhower suggest anything like this?
Your country is in a downward spiral straight out of the first chapter of Romans.
 
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Yarddog

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Former President Barack Obama suggested during an appearance on his wife's podcast earlier this week that men need gay friends to learn "empathy and kindness" while preparing for potentially fathering a son who identifies as gay or non-binary.

Appearing during an episode of "IMO," a podcast hosted by former first lady Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson, the former president discussed with the two how best to raise boys.

At one point during their hour-long discussion, Barack Obama — who noted he was raised by a single mother — suggested that boys need male figures in their lives other than their fathers to provide perspective, and then immediately pivoted to explain the influence one of his gay professors at Occidental College had on him.

Continued below.
I wouldn't say that people need a gay friend but we all need to communicate with those that are different so that we can understand that we are mostly the same.
 
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RileyG

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Always heard that Obama was a closet gay. Tucker Carlson interviewed a man who claimed he smoked crack and had sex with him
I personally doubt that. Interesting he was opposed to same sex marriage, until it became acceptable to support it, same with Hillary Clinton…

Makes me wonder….,
 
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RileyG

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"Empathy" = Embrace.

Not all of them live like that, although a majority demand approval for their lifestyle, some of them who have same sex attraction don’t even use the term “gay” because of how it’s politicized….there are also some who are 100% celibate or choose to be married to the opposite sex.

Speaking from experience
 
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ozso

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Not all of them live like that, although a majority demand approval for their lifestyle, some of them who have same sex attraction don’t even use the term “gay” because of how it’s politicized….there are also some who are 100% celibate or choose to be married to the opposite sex.

Speaking from experience
The message Obama is promoting is the same as the message in the video. Children supposedly need LGBTQ+ influence to learn "empathy" and be a better person in general. LGBTQ+ is nurturing to children.
 
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RileyG

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The idea Obama is promoting is the same as the video. Children supposedly need LGBTQ+ influence to learn "empathy" and be a better person in general. LGBTQ+ is nurturing to children.
I don’t disagree.

Let children be children.

Sexuality and who someone sleeps with is for ADULTS ONLY.

Period!
 
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Palmfever

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Good for Obama, I guess? People can be friends with anyone regardless of sexual orientation.
I did not need queer friends to teach me empathy and kindness. What an idiotic statement.
If everyone needs a queer friend to learn these things, we are in trouble. There aren't enough to go around.
Then again, perhaps that explains some of the angry, contentious, frustrated individuals.
Could be an opportunity for business startup.
'Rent a queer.'
Live peacefully, as in the days of Sodom.
 
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PloverWing

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Interesting he was opposed to same sex marriage, until it became acceptable to support it, same with Hillary Clinton…

Makes me wonder….,

I am approximately the same age as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. (Obama is my age, and Clinton is a bit older.) A lot of the Christians of my generation went through a journey in the first few decades of our lives regarding same-sex marriage, as we reflected deeply on Scripture and Christian ethics and people's experiences. Following CF rules, I won't talk here about the reflections that went into that journey. But I can imagine that Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton had journeys that were similar to mine, and that they emerged with similar ethical convictions.

It's possible that they were politicians seizing on what was popular, as your post suggests. Politicians do that. But it's also possible that they had a genuine change of heart, as many in my generation did.
 
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Ignatius the Kiwi

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I am approximately the same age as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. (Obama is my age, and Clinton is a bit older.) A lot of the Christians of my generation went through a journey in the first few decades of our lives regarding same-sex marriage, as we reflected deeply on Scripture and Christian ethics and people's experiences. Following CF rules, I won't talk here about the reflections that went into that journey. But I can imagine that Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton had journeys that were similar to mine, and that they emerged with similar ethical convictions.

It's possible that they were politicians seizing on what was popular, as your post suggests. Politicians do that. But it's also possible that they had a genuine change of heart, as many in my generation did.
Yeah, most, especially on the left, abandoned Christian sexual morality and embraced the morality of the sexual revolution. I have no doubt that most progressives went through that journey. Doesn't justify it though.
 
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RileyG

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I am approximately the same age as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. (Obama is my age, and Clinton is a bit older.) A lot of the Christians of my generation went through a journey in the first few decades of our lives regarding same-sex marriage, as we reflected deeply on Scripture and Christian ethics and people's experiences. Following CF rules, I won't talk here about the reflections that went into that journey. But I can imagine that Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton had journeys that were similar to mine, and that they emerged with similar ethical convictions.

It's possible that they were politicians seizing on what was popular, as your post suggests. Politicians do that. But it's also possible that they had a genuine change of heart, as many in my generation did.
That’s true, thanks for your input :)
 
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RileyG

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What's ironic is that I suspect Obama's friends wouldn't be bothered by the idea of men having gay friends. Let's see how well they do with MAGA friends.
Why does it matter what someone’s sexual orientation is to begin with? People are people.
 
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Chrystal-J

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What's ironic is that I suspect Obama's friends wouldn't be bothered by the idea of men having gay friends. Let's see how well they do with MAGA friends.
Or traditional Latin Mass participants.
 
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Yarddog

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"Empathy" = Embrace.

The song is meant to poke fun of many people's fear of gay men. Troy Iwata, is a comedian on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and he is the singer of this song.
 
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Ignatius the Kiwi

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The song is meant to poke fun of many people's fear of gay men. Troy Iwata, is a comedian on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and he is the singer of this song.
Do you think LGBT groups don't seek to influence the opinions of children via media and materials geared at making LGBT seem normal? The song, while poking fun, still shows their actual intent.
 
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Yarddog

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Do you think LGBT groups don't seek to influence the opinions of children via media and materials geared at making LGBT seem normal? The song, while poking fun, still shows their actual intent.
What is wrong with them wanting to be accepted as just people. Most don't have some evil agenda to make children turn gay.

So many kids have problems adjusting as they grow. Many don't understand what they are feeling. Most fight it, hide it and some commit suicide.

Our kids need our help.
 
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