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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Anderson Cooper's so put upon! The CNN anchor wants the world to clean up its environmental act because, quite frankly, he's sick of covering the story:

When CNN producer David Doss announced that Planet in Peril would probably become a regular feature on Anderson Cooper 360, Cooper groaned, “Jesus Christ! We really need to solve this whole environmental thing quickly, because I really don’t want to do it again.”

That's the best reason to recycle we've heard - well, ever!

If you guys don't know CNN's Jeanne Moos, you should.

By far one of the most clever - and funniest! - journos around, Ms. Moos recently took on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's "queer comments". And, to our surprise, Moos included us in her roundup! Swoon…

Thanks Moos! You're our dream woman - which is saying a lot!

Homo-journo Ryan Davis also got a shout-out. Check out his video, after the jump!

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Despite rumors that Anderson Cooper will be cutting the "live" time of AC360 in half, CNN mouthpieces insist the Coop's staying put:

Today's Variety story about Anderson Cooper 360 is flat wrong. AC360 continues to be a two hour program from 10 to midnight. At 11pm, Anderson reports live for 10-15 minutes and stays live as news warrants.

Phew! We were wondering how we'd fall asleep at night without Cooper's midnight send-off.

Bill Clinton holds no grudges. The former President appeared on Larry King Live last night to discuss his wife, Hillary, as well as his new book.

Of course King couldn't resist bringing up Larry Craig, the Republican Senator who famously - and hilariously! - took on Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Is Clinton jumping for joy over Craig's downfall? Hardly.

In addition to offering some empathy, the politico also takes a stab at analyzing Craig and others' self-hatred.

Check out the transcript, after the jump.

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Lewd Larry Craig's losing friends. Senator John McCain called for Craig to step down from his Senatorial post. Appearing on CNN's cartoonish Situation Room, the presidential candidate said,

I believe that he pled guilty, and he had the opportunity to plead innocent and so I think he should resign.

My opinion is that when you plead guilty to a crime, then you shouldn't serve. That's not a moral stand. That's not a holier-than-thou. It's just a factual situation.

I think he should resign. I don't try to judge people. But in this case it is clear that it was disgraceful.

Minnesota's Senator, Norm Coleman, also suggested Craig call it quits.

Meanwhile, Mitt Romney - whose relationship with Craig has been ruined - told Jay Leno Craig's actions hurt the party: "It's great fodder… but it harms our reputation with the American people, which is also - already badly tarnished."

As part of CNN's Larry Craig coverage, Kyra Phillips interviewed an Atlanta police officer named Darryl Tolleson. Tolleson's one of many coppers who cruise Atlanta's airport arresting "lewd" travelers looking for toilet trysts.

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Anderson Cooper switched things up last night. Rather than pitching the questions, the CNN anchor caught them on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In addition to discussing his famous family and life over at CNN, the journo compared his locks to ejaculate: I started [going gray] young. It's funny. It's like premature ejaculation. You know it can happen, but when it actually happens to you it's kind of a shock. We take it The Coop has some stamina…

[The Freak Speakers via Towleroad]