Former NBA superstar turned political expert Charles Barkley appeared on CNN's sensational Situation Room last week to discuss his electoral love for Barack Obama.

Surely former Republican Barkley wanted said appearance to be remembered for his pro-Democratic standing, but it's his damning criticism of the GOP that makes headlines today, specifically the 44-year old's description of "conservatives" as "fake Christians," specifically with regard to gay marriage. Score!

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Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee reiterated his archaic views on abortion and gay marriage yesterday on CNN.

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Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton sure were chummy during last night's CNN-sponsored debate. Obama started off on the right foot by assuring the voters - particularly the Democrats - that he and Hillary are friends. Said the Senator from Illinois, "And I also want to note that I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign; I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over." He did, however, first thank John Edwards, the Democrats new saint, as one pundit put it later in the evening.

Clinton also gave Edwards some love, but made sure to extend an olive branch to Obama, as well.

The debate turned out to be less bickering and more mutual masturbation as the candidates took a unified front. "As we move forward in this debate," said Obama, "Understand we are both Democrats and we understand the issues at stake. We want change from George Bush." Clinton echoed Obama's comments, but with a bit more self-awareness than the younger politico, "I think we as Democrats have to be willing to fight for universal health care."

Iraq proved to be the only place the candidates showed real difference as Clinton again defended her vote to go to war. Regardless of this bellicose difference, Obama and Clinton sure did make a great show of it, which inevitably led to the trouble-making Wolf Blitzer (who, we feel, picked on Hillary unnecessarily) to inquire:

The more I speak to Democrats out there — not only the Democrats here at the Kodak Theatre, but all over the country — they take a look at the two of you and they see potentially a dream ticket. A dream ticket for the White House.

There may have been some nasty words exchanged or angry words or whatever, but the question is this: Would you consider an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket going down the road?

Things got so hot in the theater, Stevie Wonder stood up and did a bit of a jig. Perhaps he was shaking off some political ejaculate?

Obama left the door open a little more than Clinton, who also used the occasion for a bit of tacky self-promotion for her national town hall meeting Monday. (Strategist Mark Penn later got a plug in on MSNBC, as well. Shrewd!) The message was clear, though: "We are both dedicated to doing the best we can to win the nomination, but there is no doubt we will have a unified Democratic Party."

It seems to us that a Clinton/Obama ticket may be the best route for the Democrats. We put Clinton first because, let's face it, Hillary ain't going to be VP, especially not to Barack Obama. Obama, however, could fit quite nicely in the role and such a scheme could potentially lay the groundwork for a sixteen year Democratic run. That is, however, a bit of a quixotic, potentially naive projection - and not necessarily what the candidates want. The Democratic candidates, however, would be well-advised to consider such a tag team.

Ronald Reagan's name came up 53 times during last night's Republican debate. These guys have a total hard on for the former president. In fact, rumor has it that Mitt Romney came in his pants when comparing himself to the Gipper.

We've lusted after former CNN anchor turned Fox Newser Bill Hemmer for - well, for far too long to admit. Our fantasies came crashing down this morning, however, when a reader sent us this very official missive:

Dear Queerty:
So, Bill Hemmer of Fox News Channel made it official this morning during his news program that he has a girlfriend!! In fact he took her to the top of the Empire State building yesterday, and proudly pulled out his cell phone while live on the air, found her picture on his cell phone and forced it in front of the camera for the world to see the lovely Mrs. future Hemmer.

His co-host of America's Newsroom, Megyn Kelly seemed shocked and amazed by stating "that doesn't sound like you"! I guess Mr. Murdock or Roger Ailes have finally figures out (and straighten out) Hemmers sexuality for him.

Finally!

Thank God we now all now know Mr. Hemmer is straight. Now I can sleep well now knowing there is no future for he and I!!

While this Boston-based reader may be sleeping well, we're vowing never, ever to sleep again. In fact, we'll never eat again, breath again or blink again. Our future has never seemed so bleak - or short. Why, Bill Hemmer? Why?!

• From "Abigail's X-Rated Teen Diary": "Vote John McCain, but do it quickly! He could be dead tomorrow."

• Amy Winehouse dragged to rehab after crack video. And her hair's black again!

&bull: Some enterprising schmuck has posted a Brokeback Mountain oil painting on eBay. Bid: $2,500. That's gross. And the painting's ugly.

• New research shows that same-sex couples "are just as committed in their relationships as heterosexuals and the legal status of their union doesn't impact their happiness". Because we're so gay!

• Police dispatcher behind teenaged swim team porn site pics.

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The Democratic front runners took to a stage in South Carolina last night.

While health care and black politics dominated the CNN/Black Caucus-sponsored debate, we gays did pop up, albeit very briefly, during Barack Obama's diatribe on how the Democrats have failed to reach religious-minded voters:

Obama: I think there have been times — there have been times where our Democratic Party did not reach out as aggressively as we could to evangelicals, for example, because the assumption was, well, they don't agree with us on choice, or they don't agree with us on gay rights, and so we just shouldn't show up. And when you don't show up, if you're not going to church, then you're not talking to church folk. And that means that people have a very right-wing perspective in terms of what faith means and of defining our faith.

Wolf Blitzer: All right.

Obama: And as somebody who believes deeply in the precepts of Jesus Christ, particularly treating the least of these in a way that he would, that it is important for us to not concede that ground. Because I think we can go after those folks and get them.

Obama's been making many a homo headline recently. The Senator from Illinois included gays in his Sunday speech at MLK's Ebenezer Church. All the attention hasn't been so positive, however - ex-gay advocate Kirbyjon Caldwell recently threw his weight behind Obama. Obama has yet to make a statement on the endorsement, but some are hoping he'll refuse the minister's electoral love.

CNN's Anderson Cooper may be hosting a New Year's Eve extravaganza for the news network, but that doesn't mean he's feeling the spirit. Via Page Six:

…Cooper doesn't like ringing in the New Year… "Each year it gets worse and worse, and then I always think it can't get any worse, and then it always does," he told Paper magazine. "No matter where you go, I think everyone is having a bad time on New Year's. There's so much pressure. It's like amateur night."

The ever-professional Cooper will be joined tonight by queer-friendly comedienne Kathy Griffin. It's a match made in heaven…

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Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee popped into Larry King Live last night. And, as happens, the queers came up in conversation.

With regard to Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Huckabee said that he'll let the military work that out. Meanwhile, the former Arkansas Governor again defended military officials and again defended his HIV/AIDS quarantine comments:

That was 1992 — 15 years ago. And I know some would say but we knew it then. But, you know, I talked to medical doctors back then and even who have said this to me now, we said we knew, but we weren't absolutely, positively sure. And the information we were getting was from our government. And, frankly, a lot of people who weren't trusting our government than anymore than are trusting it now.

We wonder why…

• Recently arrested hustler Cody Castagna's mug shot makes us wonder why Republican Richard Curtis would hire him in the first place.

• Zoe Leonard's 1992 "I Want A President" still resonates.

• Did Canada's New Democratic Party drop a lawyer for being trans?

• HX editor Brandon Voss talks gay with Friday Night Lights' Kyle Chandler for The Advocate. The gays apparently urged Chandler to try the theatrical arts. Figures…

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Keith Kerr appeared on CNN's American Morning to defend charges that he works for the Clinton Campaign. Kerr caught our eye, of course, when he asked the Republican presidential candidates why they support Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

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Newsman Tom Brokaw came under fire earlier this week for neglecting to mention gay folk in his new book, Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today. Upon hearing the news, legendary gay activist Frank Kameny wrote Brokaw and his publishers a scathing letter which reads, in part:

The whole thing is deeply insulting. As I said, you have de-gayed an entire generation. For shame, for shame, for shame. You owe an abject public apology to the entire gay community. I demand it; we expect it.

Brokaw offers no apologies in this CNN interview. Rather, the venerable journalist dismisses Kameny's criticism, saying, "it was not an oversight on my part to try to downplay the rise of the gay rights movement, which did come later." He's also sure to remind readers that he took "friend" Larry Kramer's advice and aired the first television documentary on AIDS. That's something, right?

Read the transcript after the jump…

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The Republican presidential candidates better be prepared for some queer queries during tonight's CNN debates. A number of American citizens have submitted their YouTube videos and are wondering exactly what the Grand Old Partiers have to say about Don't Ask, Dont Tell and other homo-centric policies.

Here's a question for Rudy Giuliani from New York resident Stewart Zamudio, who has impeccable enunciation:

Hi, my name is Stewart Zamudio from Hauppauge, New York. And this question is for the former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Rudy do you believe that Gay Americans should be able to serve in our United States military and also do you believe that Gay Americans should be able to get married?

We've included another video from Charles Bright from Arlington, Virginia. He phrases his question thus: "What do I as a gay man lack that allows the law to prevent me from entering into a legal contract with the person I love or serving in the military"? We'd love to hear how the politicos squirm around that one…

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The Republicans will take the CNN/YouTube stage next Wednesday, November 28th. And, by the looks of it, the Grand Old Partiers are going to have a grand old time answering some distinctly gay questions.

First up, Lynn and Pat Mulder, whose gay son was murdered earlier this year, wonder how the candidates will combat the violence-inducing "social climate of condemnation and rejection which is often the result of misguided religious teaching".

After the jump: gay former baseball player Billy Bean wonders how the Republicans will secure his rights in the face of religious bigotry. We're sure the Republicans are wondering the same thing.

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