James Dobson’s comments on “fruit cake” Barack Obama have been getting a lot of play this week. Journo Jeffrey Feldman can’t help but wonder why the press hasn’t been taking a closer look at Dobson, who definitely qualifies as a bit nutty: This week, right-wing pundit and leader of the ‘beat your children’ movement, Dr. James Dobson, accused Sen. Barack Obama of committing violence against Biblical teachings.

Despite Dobson being a best-selling self-help guru famous for advising parents to whip their children with sticks, every mainstream media outlet somehow managed to overlook this fact. Instead, media coverage of Dobson’s remarks stripped him any and all potential controversy with respect to … Continued…

One expects Ralph Nader to say things like, “there’s no difference between Democrats and Republicans,” which is a really crazy statement for someone to continue to say after the eight years we’ve had. One also expects Nader to say some things that a lot of liberals might agree with. But now it seems we should expect Ralph Nader to say things like this: There’s only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He’s half African-American. Whether that will make any difference, I don’t know. I haven’t heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What’s … Continued…

Democratic presidential Barack Obama released a gay pride message earlier this month. His Republican rival John McCain.

Now, in an effort to remind voters of McCain’s commitment to restricting gay rights, National Stonewall Democrats are circulating a video of the candidate’s most shameful moments, like how he opposes gay adoption rights, marriage and other “straight” privileges. It’s not pretty.

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper found himself the center of attention on his eponymous show last night.

The silver fox had invited Focus On The Family’s Tony Perkins, journo Roland Martin and Reverend Al Sharpton, whom we were surprisingly happy to see you. Well, we weren’t happy to see him, but we were tickled pink when, while discussing James Dobson’s blasting of Barack Obama, Sharpton kinda, sorta outed Cooper: “I may have some very conservative personal feelings but I feel you have the right to live your life differently. I may think that what you do Anderson is gonna put you in Hell, but I’m gonna defend your right to get there.”

Cooper blushed before thanking Sharpton for his concern and insisting that he personally is “not that concerned” about his afterlife. And, really, why would he?

Watch the video, after the jump!
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Senator Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton will soon return to the campaign trail.

Mr. Clinton, who is currently in Europe, told reporters through a spokesperson today that he’s “committed” to helping Barack Obama win the White House. Said Matt McKenna, “President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States.” Neither Clinton nor the Obama campaign would elaborate on what role Mr. Clinton will play in the general election.

Mrs. Clinton, meanwhile, will appear with Obama on Friday in Unity, New Hampshire. And trust that the former presidential hopeful had a bit more … Continued…

Evangelical leader and perpetual curmudgeon James Dobson accuses Barack Obama of “distorting” the Bible and spouting “a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution.” [AP]

Barack Obama has had some pretty gay moments over the past few years. And by that we mean he has consistently mentioned queer communities in his stump speeches. Some excited voter - or crazed fan - has collected Obama’s greatest same-sex hits into a meaty nine-minute video.

Relive the lavender love, after the jump…

[Image via Obama’s Flickr site.]
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Barack Obama’s opponents would love nothing more than to “smear” him as a Muslim. Thus, as we’ve seen a number of times throughout this election, the candidate has repeatedly reiterated his Christian beliefs. Now, after months of campaigning, Obama’s attempts to eschew Islam have become so numberous that some Muslim voters are wondering whether Obama’s really got their backs.

The debate of course has Obama in a sticky situation, and one with which we gays are familiar: Obama being accused of being a Muslim constitutes a conundrum for a self-described inclusive politician — not unlike a liberal politician being accused of being gay. Theoretically, those who embrace diversity and tolerance say there’s nothing … Continued…

Barack Obama and his team obviously listen to criticism. The presumptive Democratic nominee last week debuted a new campaign logo, a play on the presidential seal, but yanked it in the face of bad reviews: [Slate’s] Mickey Kaus predicted it would be disappeared over the weekend. His exact words were: “But unless David Axelrod is insane, the thing will never be seen again.” Kaus was right. While we don’t have full details, someone at Obama’s press center, when asked if the seal would be used going forward said simply, “No.” Good, because the seal reeked of hubris, not something you want when going into a general election…

“…Sixteen months after announcing his candidacy, and after twenty-six Presidential debates and thousands of public-speaking engagements, Obama remains a puzzle to many voters. Almost as dedicated a policy wonk as Hillary Clinton and arguably more centrist in his economic beliefs, he offers plenty of specifics about what needs to be done. But his captivating eloquence and his slogan—“Change We Can Believe In”—have seemed to lift him dangerously high above the concrete. He has proved his steadiness of purpose without clearly defining his priorities. What, above all, does he intend to accomplish if he is elected President?” [New Yorker]

There’s no doubt that this year’s primary season tested Democrats’ patience. Not only did it drag on longer than a bad date, but the complex and often irksome superdelegate system - coupled with the Florida and Michigan debates - made this year’s election seem more like a drama than a political process. Now that the Democrats have their nominee, Barack Obama, a gay man by the name of Will Bower hopes to dismantle months of hard work: [Bower] said he helped establish the grassroots group Party Unity, My Ass this month to connect voters who are angry that Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee.

“I feel that Barack Obama is an anti-democratically chosen candidate,” … Continued…

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama released his first national campaign commercial today. Hoping to reintroduce himself to potentially wary - and weary - voters, Obama retells his biographical tale, focusing on how his love for America led him down this presidential path, hence the commercial’s title, “Country I Love.”

David Mixner’s been in the political fray for over forty years, since Martin Luther King inspired the burgeoning activist’s social responsbility.

In the years that followed, Mixner fought battles great and small, worked inside campaigns, got arrested protesting unjust wars, joined the McGovern Commission - which rewrote the Democratic party’s rules - and would later rally gays around his old friend Bill Clinton, whom Mixner met while crusading against the Vietnam War. Mixner went on to join Clinton’s campaign and became the first openly gay man actively - and very publicly - involved in a presidential election.

Those were optimistic times, but Clinton would later break with Mixner by signing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which prohibits openly gay soldiers from serving in the military. Furious over Clinton’s apparent betrayal, Mixner came out against the discriminatory policy, a move which ended up getting him booted from the inner circle. Of course, Mixner’s always been more comfortable on the outside. In fact, he describes himself as “the best outsider on the inside.”

Now, as we charge toward November, Mixner’s hoping to bring the gays to another Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama. During a recent conference call with the Senator’s campaign, Mixner invoked the Clinton campaign, saying:

[This is] probably for the first time since the 1992 convention, we have an extraordinary opportunity to make history as a community. We have four months to do it, so we must gather and unite in our opposition to McCain and in an opportunity to really create something special in this country – not only for the country, but for ourselves and future generations of LGBT people.

Considering Mixner’s mixed career, editor Andrew Belonsky chose to start this interview on a decidedly untraditional note…
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While we’re on the subject of gay marriage and the presidential election, Florida’s proposed ban on same-sex nuptials could be essential this November: [Florida] has a large evangelical community and where the presidential contest is shaping up to be tight.

According to the latest Quinnipiac University Swing State poll released on Wednesday, Obama’s lead over McCain in Florida is 47 percent to 43 percent — hardly a wide margin.

“Florida is close enough … that energized social conservatives could affect the outcome there,” said [Poli Sci professor Cal] Jillson.

Social conservatives are gearing up in Florida, where the amendment needs 60 percent support by voters to pass.

The issue could also heat up elsewhere if a couple … Continued…

Gay marriage may not become a national issue this election, but it’s certainly becoming more of an issue for Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
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