Zimbabwean political party Movement for Democratic Change, which is hoping to oust power hungry Robert Mugabe in run-off elections later this month, pledged that they will make room for the nation’s homos. Said party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa, “Our vision is to build a Zimbabwe that has sufficient space and comfort for all.” Many activists, however, wonder if MDC is simply playing politics. [The Mask via Mamba]

The Democratic presidential candidates yesterday issued lackluster reactions to California’s blissful gay marriage ruling.

We haven’t heard anything from John McCain’s camp, but a reader did send over this circa 2006 commercial of the Republican coming out against gay marriage in his home state of Arizona.

Let this be a lesson to those who plan on voting for this old curmudgeon.

The Democratic presidential candidates have both released responses to today’s gay marriage ruling in California. And they leave a lot to be desired.
Continued…

John McCain released a new ad campaign today depicting the year 2013, four years into his potential, admittedly presumptuous presidency.

We have to tell you, the commercial plays a trailer for a utopian 24. The narrator sounds an awful lot like Dennis Haysbert, who played David Palmer, America’s first black president. Smart move, McCain! But, unfortunately for you, we’re not convinced.
Continued…

Virginian Representative Tom Davis, who previously fought against gay rights, had some choice - and rude - words about Barack Obama in a recent memo: “Hispanic voters are a swing group in this election and future elections. John McCain, being from a border state, may be out of sync with many Republicans but he has standing among Hispanics. Barrack [sic] Obama has not made the sale to Hispanic voters. Thus, this issue is a tar baby for anyone who touches it, with land mines everywhere.” Tar baby, of course, is an archaic racial epithet. [Politico]

America has lost quite the citizen. Former Rep. Larry McKeon of Illinois died after suffering a stroke.

Despite his scant sixty-three years, McKeon, who was his state’s first openly gay politician, had a resume that reads like an American dream: An Army veteran and former lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, McKeon came to Chicago in the 1980s to pursue a degree in social service administration.

He worked as a director at United Charities and became involved with gay activist groups, leading to his run for political office. In 1992, he was hired as executive director of the Chicago Human Rights Commission’s Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues.

McKeon was elected to the House in 1996 by voters in what was then the North Side’s 34th District. During that campaign, he acknowledged being HIV-positive.
Continued…

Jim Neal’s Senatorial dreams were dashed last week when he lost to fellow Democrat Kay Hagan.

The road to Washington wasn’t the most level, especially considering Neal’s relative obscurity and the fact that Hagan won the support of party leaders, who apparently worried Neal couldn’t take on Republican Elizabeth Dole.

While some would be sore about their loss, Neal’s taking it all in stride. He hasn’t yet decided what the future holds, but this homo-politicos sure of one thing: he made - and will continue to make - an impact.

Neal and our editor chatted yesterday about the candidate’s loss, gay group Human Rights Campaign’s non-endorsement and why this year will change America’s electoral process forever.
Continued…

As Barack Obama gets closer and closer to locking up the Democratic nomination, the hootin’ and hollerin’ about him being a buh-lack Muzzlin is gaining volume.

The t-shirt at right is for sale in a bar in Cobb County, Georgia; in Indiana, one Obama campaigner was told by a citizen: “Hang that darkie from a tree!“; and it is widely accepted that part of the reason Obama was defeated by such a huge margin in yesterday’s West Virgina primary is because of the color of his skin.

CONTINUED »

Alright, pretend to be surprised… Hillary Clinton won the West Virginia primary!

The New York Senator basically swept the contest, taking about 67% of the largely white, working class state. Rival Barack Obama, the man many believe will win the Democratic presidential nomination, only received 26% of the electoral backing.
Continued…

“Barney Frank’s funny.”

That’s basically the thesis of a New York Times collection of the homo-politico’s classic knee-slappers, which the paper says gives him the top spot as the Hill’s “master of the one-liner.” A sample: • “I am grateful for the obscurity of the opposition’s argument.”

• “So, apparently, same-sex marriage is the V8 juice of America.”

• “I am afraid that this bill is becoming the legislative equivalent to crack. It’s going to give people a short-term high, but it is going to be dangerous in the long run to the system and expensive to boot.” That last one came in relation to a bill authorizing $4 billion for the mythical war on … Continued…

Testimony begins today in the divorce trial of Jim and Dina McGreevey. The trouble began, of course, when former New Jersey Governor Jim came out, thus stoking Dina’s wrath. She alleges that her soon-to-be ex-hubby committed fraud by entering into a straight marriage. He claims, of course, that she knew he liked boys, because the couple had a number of encounters with McGreevey’s male driver. Expect loads of finger pointing and salacious testimony over the next few days. [MSNBC]

A hardy homo congratulations to sappho-politico Randi Shade, who just won a seat on Austin’s city council. She beat incumbent Jennifer Kim by 37-points. One could say that Shade licked her, if you know what we mean. [Gay Politics]

From The Editor: I heard something interesting while in Philadelphia this weekend. A gay man mentioned that he and many of his friends - all of whom support Hillary Clinton - plan on voting for John McCain if Barack Obama gets the Democratic nomination. Like so many others, these voters don’t think Obama has the experience necessary to run the country. So, readers, this has me wondering: are there any other men or women out there who plan to back McCain’s campaign if Clinton loses the nomination? And, if so, why?

Republican Vito Fossella’s even sleazier than we imagined!

The Staten Island lawmaker - who sought a ban on gay marriage - has been making headlines in recent weeks because of his drunk driving arrest and admitting to fathering a love child. All the drama had people speculating Fossella would soon resign, although he claims otherwise. In fact, this ballsy man may even run for reelection.

Well, things got even uglier in Fossella’s orbit this morning, as sources claim the “family values” politico has even less family values that previously imagined: he shuns his lesbian sister, Victoria, a Staten Island gay activist with a partner and two children.

Holiday’s must be really … Continued…

The presumptive political nominees, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, are already mapping out their national strategies. And, according to people close to McCain, he and his peers are going to pull some old tricks: “Republicans will seek to portray Mr. Obama as out of touch with many voters on issues like abortion and gay rights.” [NY Times]