Roger Ebert has a curious article on "The Fury of the Crash-lash." It seems that calling "Crash" a better movie, which Ebert does, is considered more than a little homophobic. He gives a helpful response.
The nature of the attacks on "Crash" by the supporters of "Brokeback Mountain" seem to proceed from the other position: "Brokeback" is better not only because of its artistry but because of its subject matter, and those who disagree hate homosexuals. Its supporters could vote for it in good conscience, vote for it and feel they had made a progressive move, vote for it and not feel that there was any stain on their liberal credentials for shunning what "Crash" had to offer.