I think not. AlterNet.org, an organization purposing to strengthen "independent journalism" recently published an article by Bill Berkowitz titled, "Religious Right Plays the Race Card" Aside from his poor use of the term "race card", Berkowitz presents a half way balanced argument. He asserts that the "religious right" has been seeking out African-American churches to cry alongside of them in the crusade against gay rights, namely gay marriage, in an effort to court the black vote. Well, we all know that's not going to happen so let's just squash that notion right now. This issue will not send masses of black people to the Republican polls come election time. Not yet at least. It does however, challenge the moral conscience of those who have remained brainwashedly loyal to the Democratic party.

It is interesting that the masses still don't realize that on a whole, African-American people are not doing cartwheels over the homosexual agenda. We're talking about a group of people steeped in a rich spiritual history of Christianity. I don't care how far from truth we have fallen as a people, there are still some principles by which many black people still abide. Likening "gay rights" to "civil rights" was one of the biggest mistakes made by those pushing the gay envelope--John Kerry included. So why it continues to be a shock that black ministers and clergy members are siding with conservatives on this issue is beyond me. Bishop G.E. Patterson, presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ one of the largest predominately black denominations, has been quoted as declaring there is no such thing as "gay rights" because in order to properly assert your "entitlement to something" your posture must be "right". Thus, living the homosexual lifestyle is not "right" and therefore doesn't entitle you to specific privileges for solely being "gay". There are no rights attached to a lifestyle that deviates from God's intention. I'd have to concur with Bishop Patterson on that one and that pretty much settles the gay v. civil rights argument in my opinion. There is no way black people will be won over on that one. Even Jesse Jackson can't bring himself to compare the two. Maybe if there was a billion dollar gay corporation in the mix, he'd change his tune.

Berkowitz is clearly not writing from an unbiased perspective. He says some things that make me wonder:

"Given their overall political agenda, it isn't surprising that black conservatives - who manage to get a disproportionate amount of face-time on media outlets like the Fox News Channel - are eager to speak out against same-sex marriage."

Berkowitz hasn't even seen the half. Whether or not he personally believes this (since he is conservative), a comment like this just goes to show how threatened white liberals are that they could potentially be losing their grip on black people. Black conservatives manage to get a disproportionate amount of face-time on Fox News? Cry me a river.