C vs C++ for GTK

[Patrick <optomatic rogers com>]

Hi Everyone.

Sorry for the flame war bait, I know how passionate language debates 
get  but I need some guidance. I am using PyGTK right now and I am happy 
with it, but a day is coming soon were the speed limitations and 
less-then-straight-forward threading will be an issue.

I figure my next move should be to learn C or C++. I would like to stay 
up-to-date with things and I would like to be able to reuse GTK code 
from other Apps.

I thought that C++ must be the way to go as it can do everything that C 
can "plus plus" but some heavy hitters don't seem enthused with it, 
Linus Torvalds in particular has been quoted as calling it a "horrible 
language".

I can only spend 8-12 hours a week programming, I am not a professional 
programmer, is C++ to complicated? Is C going out of date? Am I limited 
with C?

Thanks-Patrick