Democratic voters got a double whammy last night as Bill Clinton and Joe Biden took the convention stage in Denver.

Former President Clinton went first, urging his wife Hillary's supporters to back Barack Obama's candidacy. If anyone can convince people to do something, it's Bill Clinton.

The most compelling component, we thought, were the times Clinton directly said Obama's ready to lead, like this line: Everything I learned in my eight years as President and in the work I've done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job." That's a far cry from a recent interview in which Clinton said it could be argued no one's ready to lead the nation. Pundits and critics took that as a jab against Obama, whom Clinton disdained for the at-times bitter primary battle.

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Hillary Clinton's speech in Denver last night may not have swayed her most ardent supporters:

Clinton's performance fell far short of the panacea the Democratic Party had desperately hoped for, delegates said. Some worried that, after Clinton's public withdrawal, more voters might defect for Republican John McCain or simply stay home.

"I'm not going to vote for Obama. I'm not going to vote for McCain, either," said Blanche Darley, 65, a Texas delegate for Clinton. Darley wore a button saying "Obamination Scares the Hell Out of Me."

"We love her, but it's our vote if we don't trust him or don't like him," said Darley, who was a superdelegate for Bill Clinton in the 1990s.

Weeping, Dawn Yingling, a 44-year-old single mother from Indianapolis, said that the speech was "fabulous" but that she still isn't going to work for the Obama campaign. "She was fabulous, nothing less than I expected. It's hard to sit here and think about she would have accomplished. We're not stupid — we're not going to vote for John McCain," she said. But she'll limit her campaigning to a House candidate. "It will take a Congress as well as a president. That's what I can do and be true to who I am."

Like Yingling, other delegates promised they wouldn't vote McCain, but some also said they simply won't vote at all.

[image by Mark Wilson/Getty Images]

Hillary Clinton rallied the Democratic troops for Barack Obama last night, declaring, "Barack Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president."

After thanking her supporters and reflecting on the hard fought primary battle, the Senator, who was introduced by her daughter, went on to highlight some of the greatest threats facing the nation, from global warming to a sagging economy to outrageous oil prices. Those problems can only be fixed by a Democratic president, she said, and only Obama can restore the States' former glory.

And, yes, she makes special mention of the gays…

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Homo-journo James Kirchick thinks the backlash against ManHunt founder and former John McCain backer Jonathan Crutchley proves how "intolerant" gay people can be:

The fact that Crutchley is a Republican ought not to come as much of a surprise then, especially considering that he's a self-made millionaire. And he's hardly a radical right-winger either. "I'm a Massachusetts Republican," he wrote, "which is about the same as being an Alabama Democrat."

But such nuance is apparently irrelevant to those who equate homosexuality with political liberalism.
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For too long, many gay-rights activists have acted as if throwing temper tantrums will magically bring about their political agenda. But labeling everyone with whom they don't agree a "bigot" does not help the worthy cause of gay equality.

The truth of the matter is that civil rights for gays can't come about without the help of Republicans. And this means that gay people — and straight supporters of gay equality — need to stand with, not silence, people like Crutchley who are working to change the GOP from within.

While Republicans definitely do help with progressive politics - as we saw here in New York state - Senator McCain's right-leaning ways go beyond his definition of marriage.

For example, he approves of Don't As, Don't Tell, a discriminatory measure that hurts the entire country, not just gay folk. Also, the candidate voted against expanding federal hate crime laws and also came out against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Whether a homo wants to support such policies is their business, but don't be surprised if other gay people get their panties in a twist.

As the Democrats were holding their love fest yesterday, the Republican are releasing their party platform.

Though the Grand Oldies are trying to trim down their agenda, it seems they're still committed to coming out against the queers. You know, it wouldn't be a Republican party without a bit of divisive action.

And - surprise! - gay party members seem ready to roll over and take it, because no one enjoys getting fucked more than a gay Republican.

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While we're on the subject of beating dead horses…

John McCain's campaign released yet another statement about Madonna's ill-fitting comparison between their candidate and Adolf Hitler.

Said spokesperson Taylor Griffin:

It's a disappointing and vulgar attack on John McCain, who has devoted his life to the cause of freedom and the fight against tyranny. But, it's not surprising that Barack Obama and his fellow celebrities stick together.

Oy. We thought that moment had passed. Or is it past? Regardless - while a clever jab, Griffin, you're so early August!

As he prepares to accept his party's nomination in Denver this week, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama released a new video taking on John McCain's admittedly poor view of the economy. The ad, "Don't Know Much," offers a clever cover of the song by the same name.

John McCain sure won't be seeing any of Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour, which began with a bang this weekend.

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It's official!

Barack Obama announced last night that he's picked Delaware Senator Joe Biden as his running mate. Biden, who previously attempted to throw the press off track, brings 35 of Senatorial experience to Obama's ticket. And, thanks to his seat on the Foreign Relations Committee, first hand international policy knowledge, which will help even Obama's odds against John McCain.

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I can't believe I'm going to say this, but looking at the political landscape, Hillary Clinton is the most practical choice for Vice President.

Adding her name to the ticket would unite and energize the remaining Democrats who are slow to warm up to Senator Barack Obama. A recent poll of convention delegate showed that nearly 30% would like to see Mrs. Clinton as VP, by far the largest bloc. With the former First Lady on the ticket, all evidence points to united party and a Democratic victory in November.

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