Nearly two years after announcing his candidacy, Senator Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the United States. And, unlike years past, Obama's victory was clear-cut: the Senator won 349 electoral votes. He needed 270 to clinch the office.

Taking the state a bit after midnight last night in Chicago, Obama opened his acceptance speech with some of the most inspiring words ever uttered in our nation's history:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
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Its the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

The politico went on to declare that "change has come to America," before concluding:

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids. To restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace. To reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many we are one.

Obama's rival, Senator John McCain, offered an exceptionally gracious and teary concession speech. Though his supporters in Arizona booed at the mention of Obama's name, McCain urged them to rally behind their new president:

These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight that I will do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face. I urge all Americans who supported me to join not only in congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and honest effort to find the necessary compromises to bridge our difference.

Watching the results last night, we were in a bit of shock when Obama was announced the winner - had we done it? Had our nation really elected a black president? Yes. Sitting here, this morning, a bit hung over and exhausted, we're getting a bit misty as the reality set in - hundreds of years of oppression and racism were stomped. Surely division will continue to plague this great nation, but never before have the American ideals been as clear, vibrant and promising.

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Some Virginian troublemakers are distributing a flier claiming Democrats should vote on November 5th, not November 4th:

A phony State Board of Elections flier advising Republicans to vote on Nov. 4 and Democrats on Nov. 5 is being circulated in several Hampton Roads localities, according to state elections officials.
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The four-paragraph flier concludes with: "We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but felt this was the only way to ensure fairness to the complete electorial process."

Virginia's state police are looking into this mess, but they have no leads yet. Obviously they should start with people who want to see the Democrats fail in the election.

The latest season has been a test of the States' electoral acceptance.

Never before have we seen a black man come so far along the Presidential path. It's apparent the United States is facing a social puberty of sorts, shedding its "traditional" views and expanding the national horizons.

And race isn't the only thing that's changing.

According to a Zogby International poll, a majority of Americans would vote for an openly gay president:

More than six in ten U.S. voters say they could support an openly gay candidate for president of the United States, and 70% say they’d support the appointment of an openly gay cabinet secretary, according to a new nationwide poll from Zogby International.

Sixty-six percent of poll respondents said they could support an openly gay vice-presidential candidate, while 69% said a gay candidate for U.S. Senate could get their vote. The poll of 1,089 adults was conducted August 13 to 15 for the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute (GLLI), a non-partisan leadership development organization.

Of course, these results could be a bit skewed. No one wants to come out and say, "No, I wouldn't vote for no homo." It's just tacky…

Will Charlie Crist be John McCain's running mate this November? That's what some people are saying. And the Floridian governor recently came out for the Republican candidate. Too bad he's also got loads of baggage - years of queer rumor. Those rumors will definitely grow come a nomination. Bob Norman writes:

If McCain chooses Crist, it would be interesting to see how the voracious national press (as opposed to cautious Florida newspapers) would handle the issue. Would the New York Times put a small team of reporters on the story in an effort to dig up the truth?

I think so. Just last week, a writer with a major national magazine called me on the topic. He said he was doing a general piece about the recent spate of Republican outings and scandals, but the V.P. talk surely has given a bit of urgency to the project.

Well, at least the McCain camp's getting a heads up, so to speak…

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had what may be their final debate last night…

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Left-leaning non-profit Code Pink protested at a Mike Huckabee rally this morning in San Francisco. Obviously perturbed by their presence, the Republican presidential candidate kept his cool as he exploited their activism for political gain:

"Thank you very much. You know what? The beauty of America is that a person can come and even make a disruption, and you know what, that person is not going to be taken out and shot… We live in a great country, folks, that a person can make her statement - and she's gonna get to be heard. She's probably get a nice little story on the news tonight for having disrupted this… Try that in Cuba. Try that in Iran."

Cue lap dog applause.

Some gay folk have very short political memories - or lack common sense!

Three days after John McCain used dirty tricks to scare up some homophobic votes, The New York Sun reports that a number of Giuliani's former gays are turning to John McCain. Said New York's former Log Cabin leader Scott Musch, "A lot of people are getting behind McCain, especially with the endorsement and Giuliani going behind McCain as well." We suppose the news shouldn't surprise us. The Log Cabin Republicans did recently defend McCain's gay-baiting, writing: "The attacks on Sen. John McCain by the gay Left are completely out-of-bounds and don’t reflect the facts." The facts? You want to talk about facts? Here's a fact: McCain's just as much of an opportunist as Mitt Romney. Or just as malleable, at least.

McCain once spoke out against a federal ban on gay marriage, but later aired ads advocating a discriminatory measure in Arizona, his home state. A ban may not be good for the nation, but it's good for his home state. If McCain thinks that, then what must he think for the rest of the country? Nothing good, we're sure. That said, we can't help but chuckle at another Musch comment: "Romney isn't going to get Log Cabin support at all, considering his about-face on most of the things he stood for in the Massachusetts government… He's turned 180 degrees around."

The "diverse" Democratic candidates are forcing identity politics down America's throat. So says Jeffrey Feldman, at least.

The gay vote matters, to be sure, but only minimally. That's why gay groups and individual activists are hoping to broaden the pink electoral power.

Via 365 Gay:

The LGBT vote is considered a decisive electoral force and according to exit poll data make up approximately 4 percent of the voting population. This year LGBT civil rights activists hope to increase that percentage and the Human Rights Campaign and National Stonewall Democrats have specifically targeted four states - Florida, Minnesota, Nevada and South Carolina.
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The workshops will consist of mock caucuses during which participants will learn tips on how best to discuss federal issues like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the Matthew Shepard Act and marriage equality…

Will their efforts be in vain? Not if you get off your ass and vote!

Roseanne Barr's never been a shrinking violet, but her latest rant is beyond heavy-handed. The comedienne took to her blog to take on presidential candidate Barack Obama and his medial mogul booster Oprah. Preemptive sic:

barak obama is an empty suit selling "hope" in lieu of Truth. Oprah Winfrey helped to elect Arnold Swartzenegger. I have no doubt that she voted her purse by doing this, as she is a large land owner in California, and that ilk fears Dems because they do not want to pay their "fair share" of Cali tax.
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Oprah, you play the race card and the gender card too.

You are a closeted republican and chose Barak Obama because you do not like other women who actually stand for something to working American Women besides glamour, angels, hollywood and dieting!

Roseanne's blog has since been suspended. Don't fuck with Oprah.

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Another one bites the dust! Though he hasn't yet made it official, Democrat Bill Richardson dropped his presidential bid.

Richardson is shelving his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination after back-to-back fourth-place finishes in the first two contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Richardson, 60, planned to announce his plans Thursday, according to two people close to the governor with knowledge of the decision. They spoke late Wednesday on condition of anonymity in advance of the governor's remarks.

Richardson has not given an other candidate his support. He did, however, tacitly endorsed Obama during the Iowa caucuses, which no doubt pissed off the Clintons.

Bill, of course, gave Richardson a seat in his cabinet. We doubt Hillary will do the same…

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney appeared at the George Bush Presidential Library this morning to deliver his "defining" speech on religion. The Mormon explained that his particular beliefs will not influence his decision making, just as John F. Kennedy kept his Catholicism private. Here are some of the more disingenuous excerpts:

Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.
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As Governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.
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Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?

"They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.

Read the entire text after the jump….

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The Log Cabin Republicans took another swipe at Mitt Romney.

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The queers keep flocking to Hillary Clinton's camp. The Democrat's campaign released yet another list of pro-Hill homos. The Washington Blade reports that 21 gay "professionals and activists" are throwing their weight behind the Senator from New York.

Names on the list include H. Alexander Robinson, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition; Dana Beyer, who is transgender and a member of the Human Rights Campaign board of governors; and Rep. Patricia Todd, the first openly gay member of the Alabama House of Representatives.

“I am honored to have the support of these leaders in the LGBT community,” Clinton said. “Together, we can end the divisive politics of the current administration and renew the promise of fairness and equality for all Americans.”

No doubt the campaign's tickled pink over the recent show of support, particularly Barney Frank's rip-roaring endorsement.