Al Sharpton Defends Anderson Cooper's Right to Sin

In a discussion about the James Dobson attacks on Obama I posted about yesterday, Anderson Cooper hosted Al Sharpton, author Roland Martin and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. As the three debated Evangelicals and the issues of homosexuality, HIV and AIDS, abortion, and religious tolerance, the conversation took a turn when Sharpton pointed out that Anderson may land in Hell for his behavior, whatever that might be...

Says Sharpton: "I may have some very conservative personal feelings but I feel you have the right to live your life differently. I may think that what you do Anderson is gonna put you in Hell, but I'm gonna defend your right to get there."

Answered Anderson: "I appreciate all your concerns about my afterlife. I'm personally not all that concerned, but that's a whole other discussion."

I've clipped the segment, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Anderson Cooper, You're Not My Boo

As part of their headline fashion project, CNN is now offering T-shirts based on the Donna Brazile/Anderson Cooper "boo" exchange.

related
Towleroad Guide to the Tube #301 [tr]

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #301

COUSINS: Take the Bush/McCain challenge.

DATE: JD hits the town for a date (that ends with a kiss) on last night's Workout.

ANDERSON COOPER: Wants to be Donna Brazile's boo.

IT BEGINS: GOP rolls out video using Democrats' words against Barack Obama.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Anderson Cooper Gives His Date a Scalp Massage

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper met up with some old friends at the 6th Annual Sesame Workshop Benefit Gala at Cipriani in Manhattan last night and gave his date a public scalp massage. Jealous, anyone?

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Anderson Cooper on the California Same-Sex Marriage Decision

Anderson Cooper talked to SF Mayor Gavin Newsom and Jeffrey Toobin, Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, and Dan Savage last night on AC360 in an extended segment on the California marriage decision.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Anderson Cooper Studies Bears in Their Natural Habitat

Some clever soul re-edited this AC360 report on bears to come up with a new report.

So adorable. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Cooper for Couric: CBS and CNN Talking Anchor Swap?

Is an Anderson Cooper for Katie Couric network anchor swap in the works?

According to the New York Daily News: "A blockbuster trade of TV superstars was floated Friday by TV insiders as a solution to CBS' Couric problem. Cooper, CNN's prematurely gray prince of cable TV, would replace Couric as the anchor of CBS' 'Evening News.' He already is a contributor to CBS' '60 Minutes,' they said. And CNN will eventually need to replace the iconic Larry King, who is 74. Why not Couric, who remains a marquee talent despite being a $75 million flop for CBS, the insiders said. 'Take Katie off the 'Evening News,' let her do Larry King, and then let Cooper anchor,' one network source said...Asked about the speculation that Couric could be cable-bound, a CNN spokeswoman said, 'Larry is the best there is; he will be here for a long time.' While much of the water cooler talk at CBS is about Cooper, network executives are also enamored with David Gregory of NBC - the network that once employed Couric. Couric, according to various published reports, would depart after the inauguration in January - if not earlier."

Imho, CBS would be getting the better end of the deal.

Insiders suggest Katie Couric for Anderson Cooper trade [nydn]

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #271

THE OFFICE: As performed by Nathan Alden Robinson. Not a gay story, but a touching one.

ANDERSON COOPER: Late last week Anderson and Kelly Ripa did a bit of thigh dancing.

WBC: The Westboro Baptist Church gets Rickrolled in Orlando.

DANNY NORIEGA: 24 seconds of something.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Anderson Cooper and David Beckham Face Off

On Friday, I posted about Anderson Cooper's upcoming David Beckham profile on 60 Minutes which aired last night. If you missed it, the full 60 Minutes segment is AFTER THE JUMP...

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Anderson Cooper Takes a Tour of David Beckham's Tattoos

Anderson Cooper learns how Beckham "bends it" on 60 Minutes this Sunday in a profile of the L.A. Galaxy superstar. Cooper tends goal while Beckham demonstrates his signature kick and Cooper gets in the game, making a few valiant attempts to block the goal. I'd like to see some of those other 60 Minutes correspondents try and do the same. Of course, when the motivation is getting a guided tour of Beckham's tattoos, who wouldn't give the goal a try...

Below, click to enlarge a couple screen caps of Cooper's goal-blocking attempts.

Watch two clips from the segment, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Anderson Cooper on the Lawrence King Murder [tr]
Even Schwarzenegger is a Fan of Anderson Cooper's Biceps [tr]
Brand Beckham Continues Quest for World Domination [tr]

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News: Ben Cohen, Ryerson, Bachelor, Illinois, Arctic Icecap

Bad sign for the future of the Arctic ice cap: thickest, oldest, toughest ice melting...

British rugby stud Ben Cohen releases details on a night with his gay fans: "'Moving away from the more traditional rugby testimonial theme, the Ben Cohen Testimonial Committee is holding a ground breaking event at The Dorchester in London,' his publicist Jill Tipping said. 'BENediction is an exclusive evening of fun, feasting and frivolity aimed primarily at including his legions of fans in the gay community in the testimonial celebrations. Guests are promised a 'whole host of treats and surprises making this event a real one off and not to be missed. Ben Cohen fans need to make sure that they reserve their places quickly as they are expected to snapped up fast,' Tipping said. Of course, we are not sure how far Cohen will take the concept of 'one off,' but he has never been shy about marketing his physical assets."

If you missed the first episode of this season's The Bachelor (and I have a feeling many of you did), you can catch up real quick: this mess was what it was all about.

AfterElton looks at Jimmy Kimmel and the gays.

Beckham power shops and rocks the plain white tee.

Central Illinois' only gay newspaper shuts its doors: "The Flame is out. After 111/2 years of publication, Prairie Flame, central Illinois’ only newspaper that concentrated solely on gay issues and events, has called it a day...Volunteers distributed copies of each edition over much of the state, from Springfield to the Quad Cities, Joliet, Champaign and Effingham. Circulation was more than 8,000, and there were more than 200 places where the free newspaper could be found. But production costs kept rising, and ad revenue could not keep up."

Anderson Cooper underwent surgery for skin cancer: "I’ve been off for the last couple of days. I had minor surgery on Monday. I hadn’t planned on mentioning this, but I still have stitches and you’ll no doubt notice them tonight. Don’t want you to think I got into a fist fight with Charlie Rose."

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo under fire for bullfight commercial: "The advertisement, for Fuji Xerox, shows the Portuguese winger taunting the bull with a football in the manner of a matador with a cape."

Ryerson University in Toronto sees gay bashing spike: "Ryerson's queer student group is scared homophobia is spreading across campus after its door was vandalized and grafitti saying 'gays must be exterminated' was left on a bathroom stall for at least three weeks. 'I have no doubt that we were targeted,' said RyePRIDE member Jesse Trautmann about a series of students' union stickers pasted on the group's door and nearby positive space posters on March 10. The office is located on the second floor of the Student Campus Centre. 'The amount of time it would have taken to cover the entire Rye- PRIDE sign — it was intentional.'"

Group pushes for "gay village" in Ottawa, Canada.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie still together, or just playing for the cameras?

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #255

1 HOUR IN THE LIFE OF A BANKSY: Banksy's latest work on Essex Road in London has been attracting a lot o attention. It's now covered up to protect it from vandals. A filmmaker shot this time lapse film of people coming to see it for one hour on March 6.

SALLY KERN: The Victory Fund put out this clip of Oklahoma State Legislator Sally Kern on a tirade about homosexuality when she thought only 50 people were listening.

JOHN MCCAIN IS ANGRY: McCain gets testy when a reporter asks him about a statement that he had never had a conversation with John Kerry about being his running mate in the last election.

ANDERSON COOPER: An old report from 1996 when Cooper was working for ABC News on a gay couple of 47 years. (via soupcans)

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Anderson Cooper on the Lawrence King Murder

Last night on AC360, Anderson Cooper covered the Lawrence King murder and bullying in public schools. The segment offered some details that I hadn't heard, such as some possibilities on Brandon McInerney's motive for the shooting.

View the Lawrence King segment from AC360, which the Huffington Post notes was sadly omitted from the program's official podcast, as well as statements made this week by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on King's murder, AFTER THE JUMP...

Statements from the Democratic candidates on the Lawrence King murder:

Said Obama: "It was heartbreaking to learn about Lawrence King's death, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. King's senseless death is a tragic example of the corrosive effect that bigotry and fear can have in our society. It's also an urgent reminder that we need to do more in our schools to foster tolerance and an acceptance of diversity; that we must enact a federal hate crimes law that protects all LGBT Americans; and that we must recommit ourselves to becoming active and engaged parents, citizens and neighbors, so that bias and bigotry cannot take hold in the first place. We all have a responsibility to help this nation live up to its founding promise of equality for all."

Said Clinton: "I was deeply saddened by the recent death of 15-year-old Lawrence King who was killed at his school in Oxnard, CA. No one should face intimidation or violence, particularly at school, because of their sexual orientation or the way they express their gender identity. We must finally enact a federal hate crimes law to ensure that gay, lesbian and transgender Americans are protected against violent, bias-motivated crimes. We must send a unified message that hate-based crime will not be tolerated."

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Even Schwarzenegger is a Fan of Anderson Cooper's Biceps

Anderson Cooper appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien last night and discussed the intricacies of presidential debates, adventures with stalkers, and also revealed that, like many others, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger can't help himself when it comes to Anderson's biceps.

Watch the clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Kathy Griffin Spreads 'Em for The Advocate

Remember that Kathy Griffin Advocate "cover try" she showed off on her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel. Well, that shot didn't make the cover of the mag's 'Hollywood issue'. Instead, that was reserved for a Britney-style thigh-spreader.

Of the shoot, Griffin told Kimmel:

GRIFFIN: This is what's called a "cover try". Being on the D-List, they won't just put me on the cover, so they told me I was a "cover try" so I may or may not end up on the cover but I love this photo shoot because it's airbrushed beyond belief, which is key, but it's me also just hugging a hot gay guy. And, uh...

KIMMEL: Is he gay, the guy?

GRIFFIN: I think so! The only straight guy who has that body is in prison and not at a photo shoot. But the photographer...has hooked me up with this gorgeous guy who coincidentally had this tattoo, and you know, me, shaking it up with the Jesus people is perfect.

While the interview holds little that you won't find in one of her shows (even writer Corey Scholibo had difficulty catching her at a non-"on" moment), the interview captures several anecdotes I hadn't heard before, including this one about the time Griffin met Liza Minnelli after a gig in Canada.

Griffin: "I knocked on her hotel room door. She opens it up. The room’s pitch black. She’s chain-smoking in bed. I get in the bed with her like Michael Jackson, and we watch The Asphalt Jungle. There was a guy who had been at the restaurant the night before — he’s one of these guys who seemed completely gay to me but had the hot girlfriend. I said to Liza, 'Did you get a gay vibe from that guy, or is it me?' She goes, 'How would I know? Look who I married.'"

Above is a video clip featuring Griffin and cover photographer Mike Ruiz. A bit of 'behind-the-scenes' footage. (warning: language NSFW)

Read part of the interview here.

In related news, Griffin reportedly made CNN anchor Anderson Cooper blush at her recent Madison Square Garden gig, according to Page Six: "Sporting a baseball cap (his attempt at going incognito) and a polo shirt that granted everyone access to the gun show, Anderson squirmed in his seat as Kathy likened him to a 'yummy panini' that she wanted to let drip from her mouth.

My Life on the Gay List [advocate]

Previously
Kathy Griffin's Advocate "Cover Try" on Jimmy Kimmel [tr]

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News: NYC Sushi, Hannah Montana, New Mexico, Kiefer Sutherland

Prepare for spring violence: Moscow Gay Pride parade set for May.

Anderson Cooper says "no" to Heath Ledger coverage: “For the last two nights we have reported on actor Heath Ledger. His shocking death is clearly a story a lot of people are interested in, but tonight we will not be reporting more on it. The truth is there is not really anything new to report. The full results of the various tests done on Mr. Ledger will not be ready for perhaps a few weeks and there is very little new information. I have no doubt other networks will spend a lot of time tonight discussing his death and the various rumors about what might have caused it, but I am not a fan of speculation, so unless there is something really new to discuss we probably won’t be covering it anymore anytime soon.”

Teen pop terrorist? 16-year-old boy arrested for plans to hijack a commercial airliner and commit suicide by crashing it into a Hannah Montana concert.

Domestic partnership bill approved by House in New Mexico.

Black/gay rivalry in DNC revealed by email evidence in the discrimination/unlawful termination suit filed by former DNC gay outreach director Donald Hitchcock.

Founder of Minnesota's largest gay rights group stepping down after 21 years: "Ann DeGroot started what became OutFront Minnesota in 1987, and her tenure as executive director saw Minnesota amend its Human Rights Act in 1993 to cover gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. From 2004 to 2006 she also fought a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. That effort, along with caring for her partner during a battle with ovarian cancer, made the 52-year-old DeGroot realize she needed to slow down."

1,000 people turn out to meet Hillary Clinton at gay NYC Hiro ballroom event.

New York Times endorses Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

McCain memory shaky about statements on his proficiency in economics.

Gay UK couple claims Stagecoach bus company discriminated against them...twice: "Mark Craig, 20, and Steven Black, 16, from Old Meldrum in Aberdeenshire, claim that when they attempted to catch the last Stagecoach bus from Aberdeen back to Old Meldrum on January 11th, the driver opened the doors, looked at them, and then closed the doors and drove off...Last October Mark and Steven were on the last Stagecoach bus of the night from Aberdeen to Old Meldrum, when the driver suddenly stopped the bus and demanded they get off, supposedly at the request of a fellow passenger, for sitting with their arm around each other." Stagecoach denies homophobia...

I recently mentioned that the New Yorker magazine was having a cover illustration contest for its annual issue featuring its mascot, Eustace Tilley. You can view all the entries here.

David Beckham's carbon footprint: it's huge like the rest of him, however, it's not so pretty.

Kiefer Sutherland was apparently jonesing to shop during his 48 days in jail.

AP highlights frustration of gay activists over Democratic campaign: ''They've merely settled on what the Democrats have staked out as a safe, consensus position, just far enough ahead of where the party was in 2004 to give a sense of progress but not so far as to threaten Middle America. That's not leadership, it's poll-tested and party-approved pandering, pure and simple.''

Extremely high levels of mercury found in sushi in NYC.

Russian gay activist Nikolai Alexeyev honored with "Hero" award at at International Mr. Gay competition: "This is not just my award, it is an award of all those who courageously fight for LGBT rights in Russia, risking to loose their jobs, to be dismissed from studies, to be harassed, beaten and even killed. Despite all that, they continue to go on the streets of Moscow to fight for equality. They are the heroes who move this world forward. For me to be in Los Angeles, in Hollywood, is dream come true. But to receive an award here is beyond explanations."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #217

NYE 2008: Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin ring in the new year from Times Square and a visit to Key West.

MEREDITH VIEIRA TAKES ON HILLARY: On a 01/02 Today show appearance, Meredith Vieira grills Clinton on her foreign policy experience.

KEITH OLBERMANN: Takes Rudy Giuliani to task for 9/11 fear-mongering.

CELINE DION: She and her legs opened France's Stars de l'Annee 2007 show.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here

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News: Black Hole, Amy Winehouse, Artificial Life, Jennifer Saunders

Vermont to hold last of six same-sex marriage public hearings tonight.

Survivor winner Todd Herzog talks to AfterElton about his win and certain homophobic contestants: "Jean-Robert was really, really, really homophobic. But I knew that by letting the girls know [I’m gay] they could feel comfortable around me and that I could make a tighter alliance with them. With Amanda, Courtney, Peih-Gee, and Denise being in the finals with me, I knew I needed to take the girls because the girls feel more comfortable around the gay guy. He had a lot of opinions on it, saying, 'It's wrong. It's a choice,' things like that. But I think getting to know me really changed his mind quite a bit, because he told me that out of a lot of gay guys he's met, I surprised him. He'd always thought that the gay culture was to sleep around and drink and party and do drugs, and he was shocked that that's just not me."

Amy Winehouse ARRESTED on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Scientists on the brink of creating entirely new life forms based on entirely artificial DNA: "Some experts are worried that a few maverick companies are already gaining monopoly control over the core 'operating system' for artificial life and are poised to become the Microsofts of synthetic biology. That could stifle competition, they say, and place enormous power in a few people's hands. 'We're heading into an era where people will be writing DNA programs like the early days of computer programming, but who will own these programs?' asked Drew Endy, a scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."

L.A. Times: The mustache is back.

LIAR: Lieberman endorses John McCain. But what did he say back during his 2006 reelection campaign? “I want Democrats to be back in the majority in Washington and elect a Democratic president in 2008.”

Be seated: Mysterious out-of-reach bench appears in downtown Manhattan.

Massive black hole seen blasting a nearby galaxy: "'We've seen many jets produced by black holes, but this is the first time we've seen one punch into another galaxy like we're seeing here,' said Dan Evans, a scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and leader of the study. 'This jet could be causing all sorts of problems for the smaller galaxy it is pummeling.' Jets from super massive black holes produce high amounts of radiation, especially high-energy X-rays and gamma-rays, which can be lethal in large quantities. The combined effects of this radiation and particles traveling at almost the speed of light could severely damage the atmospheres of planets lying in the path of the jet. For example, protective layers of ozone in the upper atmosphere of planets could be destroyed."

Behind the scenes of the David Beckham undies shoot.

Evan Biddell wins Canadian Project Runway: "The end is here, and so am I. Nobody left on this runway but myself. I just had to say goodbye to my last two competitors, and now the judges are telling me they want to see what else I can do. They believe I have a strong point of view, and an innate sense of style. When they found out I had never built a collection before, that was the moment I felt I might take the prize. I could feel the judges simultaneously think “How the f**K did he do that?” It felt awesome to know you are exactly where you are supposed to be. To be honest with you, fashion is what I know. I love playing with the shapes of a female body, wrapping her up in rich detail, following the curves a woman, using her body as the blueprint and working around it. It just gets me off!"

The Greatest Day of My Life: Michelle Collins takes a subway ride with Anderson Cooper.

Princeton student in anti-gay hoax after pretending to be targeted by others who don't share his conservative views.

Jennifer Saunders tipped as the next Dr. Who.

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News: Ivri Lider, Provincetown, Anderson Cooper, Aurora Borealis

Provincetown police to receive civil rights training following negligence over several hate crimes that have occurred at the tip of Cape Cod. Police Chief Warren Tobias reportedly remains unwilling or unable to communicate with victims and LGBT anti-violence advocates: "At a committee meeting last week, Provincetown acting Police Chief Warren Tobias said he would not seek input from those who complained this summer, such as the Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project in Boston and off-Cape resident Richard Hall." Here's a refresher...

Hunk du Jour offers up a lengthy interview with out Israeli singer Ivri Lider. Lider: "I think famous people coming out is an extremely important thing that helps to change lots of peoples' views. It also helps a lot of young people who are dealing with their sexuality and the feelings of being isolated and alone in the world. With regard to Israel, or at least Tel Aviv, you could probably call it one of the gayest cities in the world. For most people here, it's just not an issue."

John Kerry urges military working on investigation into slain Arghanistan lesbian soldier Ciara Durkin's death to work faster: "The Durkin family has waited patiently for more than two months for a final report on Ciara’s death. This incredible family deserves answers, without delay, so that they can begin to find some closure."

Minneapolis church and others take stand: No heterosexual marriages until same-sex marriage is legal. Reverend: "If you feel that gay and lesbian people are loved and credited by God, then how can we continue to discriminate against our brothers and sisters?"

Scientists discover energy source of Aurora Borealis: " New data from NASA's Themis mission, a quintet of satellites launched this winter, found the energy comes from a stream of charged particles from the sun flowing like a current through twisted bundles of magnetic fields connecting Earth's upper atmosphere to the sun. The energy is then abruptly released in the form of a shimmering display of lights, said principal investigator Vassilis Angelopoulos of the University of California at Los Angeles."

Suck it Jesus, Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List just got renewed: "Official word from Team Kathy, EMMY award winning My Life on the D-List has been renewed for a forth season. But this just isn't any renewal. Instead of six episodes, try ten on for size."

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams refuses to allow Bishop Gene Robinson or "turn-coat" Martyn Minns to attend next year's Anglican Lambeth Conference.

The harrowing career of Anderson Cooper: the newsman must evade both chest-beating gorillas and Kelly Ripa.

Christian video site GodTube bans the word gay, yet allows 'fag' and 'dyke'.

Madonna to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Leonard Cohen, the Ventures and the Dave Clark Five.

Gay British Stonewall volunteer receives prestigious Diana award: "I'm so proud to receive the Diana Award. When I was bullied for being gay there was no one I could talk to and when other young people told me about their experiences of homophobic bullying, I knew I wasn't alone. I was determined to set up a youth group where people like me in my local community could share their experiences and offer each other support in dealing with the bullying we faced."

Bring Jack back: Project Runway fan starts campaign to bring back Jack Mackenroth, who left the show this week after developing a staph infection. If you missed his Flashdance parody, don't.

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Anderson Cooper Takes Us "Noodlin" in the Deep South

This is my favorite Anderson Cooper report in recent memory. Last night on AC360 on "The Shot" he featured Noodlin, the practice of catching catfish by hand in Arkansas.

Says Anderson: "As you can see, they grow them real big in the waters...they literally, like, find the fish and shove their arm down the fishes throat through the gills...That's noodlin...I wanna go noodlin."

And I bet the new biceps could catch Anderson a big one.

You may have missed...
Anderson Cooper's First Gig for the Grouch News Network [tr]
Anderson Cooper is Trash [tr]
Anderson Cooper and Jeff Corwin on Double Date with Nature [tr]
Anderson Cooper: Love Notes from the West Village [tr]

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GOP YouTube Debate: Log Cabin Republicans

And for the second gay question of the evening, David Cercone of Pompano Beach, Florida, asked, "Hi. My name is David Cercone. I would like to ask all the candidates if they accept the support of the Log Cabin Republicans. And why should the Log Cabin Republicans support their candidacy? Thank you."

Out of all the questions that could have been asked - same-sex marriage, hate crimes, discrimination — they choose this one? Huckabee's answer (and the audience's reaction to it) revealed just how insipid the question was.

(transcript via NYT)

MR. COOPER: Governor Huckabee, would you support -- would you get -- would you allow support from the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of gay Republicans?

MR. HUCKABEE: You know, in my position in this entire election, I need the support of anybody and everybody I can get. (Laughter, applause.) So I'm happy --

MR. COOPER: Should they support you?

MR. HUCKABEE: Sure they should. I disagree with them -- strongly disagree with them -- on the idea of same-sex marriage. But in a democracy, we can have disagreements over some policies and still agree on the greater things that make us Republicans.

So would I accept their support? Of course. Would I change my position on same-sex marriage? No, I wouldn't. But if they're willing to support me -- (applause) -- I'll be their president. I'll be anybody's president, but I'll be true to my convictions. And I think that's what Americans look for -- not someone they're going to agree with on everything, but somebody who at least has some convictions -- (applause) -- sticks with them, can explain them, and can at least have respect for people who have different ones. (Applause.)

On a related note, Red State Update posted a video about the Huckabee campaign and its recent surge (audio NSFW):

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GOP YouTube Debate: Retired General Kerr on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

It took nearly two hours for the GOP YouTube debate to get to the gay material.

The first was from retired Brigadier General Keith Kerr (transcript via NYT, after the jump).

While none of the answers were all that surprising, perhaps the most detestable answer came from Romney, whose excuse for changing his tune (Anderson Cooper asked, "Governor Romney, you said in 1994 that you looked forward to the day when gays and lesbians could serve, and I quote, 'openly and honestly' in our nation's military.") defies logic.

Said Romney: "This isn't that time. This is not that time. We're in a middle of a war."

So, of course, what better time to throw out soldiers than in the middle of a war??? Romney was booed, and rightly so.

CNN's failure to disclose that Kerr was named a co-chair of Hillary Clinton's National Military Veterans group this month was a big error on CNN's part, and was immediately seized on by conservatives as evidence of a "plant" by Clinton.

The video on the left below is Anderson Cooper's statement that CNN did not know Kerr had an association with Clinton. On the right is a post-debate interview with Kerr in which he denies being a "plant" and discusses his association with Servicemen's Legal Defense Network.

Full transcript of this question, via the NYT, after the jump...

Q My name is Keith Kerr, from Santa Rosa, California. I'm retired brigadier general with 43 years of service, and I'm a graduate of the Special Forces Officer Course, the Command and General Staff Course, and the Army War College. And I'm an openly gay man.

I want to know why you think that American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians.

Duncan Hunter's response:

MR. COOPER: I want to point out that Brigadier General Keith Kerr is here with us tonight. Glad you're here. (Applause.)

I'll give the question to Congressman Hunter.

REP. HUNTER: Yeah. General, General, thanks for your service, but I believe in what Colin Powell said when he said that having openly homosexual people serving in the ranks would be bad for unit cohesion. And the reason for that -- even though people point to the Israelis and point to the Brits and point to other people as having homosexuals serve, is that most Americans, most kids who leave that -- that breakfast table and go and serve in the military and make that corporate decision with their family -- most of them are conservatives. And they have conservative values, and they have Judeo-Christian values. And to force those people to work in a small, tight unit with somebody who is homoment (sic) -- openly homosexual goes against what they believe to be their principles -- and it is their principles -- is, I think, a disservice to them. And I -- I agree with Colin Powell that it would be bad for unit cohesion. (Applause.)

MR. COOPER: I want to direct that to Governor Huckabee. Thirty seconds.

MR. HUCKABEE: The Uniform Code of Military Justice is probably the best rule, and it has to do with conduct. People have a right to have whatever feelings, whatever attitudes they wish.

But when their conduct could put at risk the morale or put at risk even the cohesion that Duncan Hunter spoke of, I think that's what is at issue, and that's why our policy is what it is.

MR. COOPER: Governor Romney, you said in 1994 that you looked forward to the day when gays and lesbians could serve, and I quote, "openly and honestly" in our nation's military. Do you stand by that?

MR. ROMNEY: This isn't that time. This is not that time. We're in a middle of a war. The people who have watched --

MR. COOPER: Do you look forward to that time, though, one day?

MR. ROMNEY: I'm going to listen to the people who run the military to see what the circumstances are like. And my view is that at this stage this is not the time for us to make that kind of a change.

MR. COOPER: Is there a change in your position from 1994?

MR. ROMNEY: Yeah, I didn't think it would work. I didn't think "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" would work. That was my -- I didn't think that would work. I thought that was a policy -- when I heard about it, I laughed. I said that doesn't make any sense to me. And you know what? It's been there now for what, 15 years? Seems to have worked.

MR. COOPER: So just on clear -- at this point, do you still look forward to a day when gays can serve openly in the military, or no longer?

MR. ROMNEY: I look forward to hearing from the military exactly what they believe is the right way to have the right kind of cohesion and support in our -- in our troops, and I'll listen to what they have to say. (Boos.)

MR. COOPER: All right.

General Kerr is, as I said, is here. Please stand up, General. Thank you very much for being with us. Do you feel you got an answer to your question?

GEN. KERR: With all due respect, I did not get an answer from the candidates. (Applause.)

MR. COOPER: What do you -- what do you feel you got?

GEN. KERR: American -- American men and women in the military are professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians. For 42 years, I wore the Army uniform on active duty, in the Reserve, and also for the state of California. I revealed I was a gay man after I retired. Today, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is destructive to our military policy. Every -- every day, the Department of Defense discharges two people not for misconduct, not for the unit cohesion -- (mike cuts off).

MR. COOPER: The mike is -- you've lost the -- is the microphone not working? All right. Please, just finish your -- finish your -- what is your --

GEN. KERR: Not for the unit cohesion that Congressman Hunter is talking about, but simply because they happen to be gay.

MR. COOPER: Okay. Senator McCain --

GEN. KERR: And we're talking about doctors, nurses, pilots, and the surgeon who sews -- (boos) -- sews somebody up when they're taken from the battlefield.

MR. COOPER: I appreciate your comment.

Senator McCain, I want to give you 30 seconds. You served in the military. (Applause.)

SEN. MCCAIN: General, I thank you for your service to our nation. I respect it.

All the time I talk to our military leaders, beginning with our Joint Chiefs of Staff and leaders in the field such as General Petraeus and General Odierno and others who are designated leaders with the responsibility of the safety of the men and women under their command and their security and protect them as best they can. Almost unanimously, they tell me that this present policy is working, that we have the best military in history, we have the bravest, most professional --
MR. COOPER: Time.

SEN. MCCAIN: -- best-prepared, and that this policy ought to be continued because it's working.

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Abercrombie Nixes Shirtless Men. (Plus: Eco Stag Party?)

In an effort to keep y'all entertained, we'll check in with some blog friends and get some links up through the day. Rest assured Andy will be back next week. (And yes, he misses you too.) Our regular tech column by Jon Barrett will be up later today of course. So you do have reason to go on.

Our friend Kenneth (in the 212) is featuring photos from from the Anderson Cooper, Jeff Corwin, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta launch party for CNN's new enviro-series. He found Lance Armstrong, Matthew McConaughey, and strangely...no women.

HunkduJour directed us to the latest from performance art group Improv Everywhere. Where else would you go shopping with a few hundred shirtless buddies after playing football in Central Park? (Plus Ugly Betty shirtless geek hotness.)

 

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Improv Everywhere: Best Buy Ambush [tr]

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Anderson Cooper's First Gig for the Grouch News Network

This clip from yesterday's Sesame Street is pretty g-g-g-g-great.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #186

ANDERSON COOPER: Appeared on Conan last night to discuss his fatty deposit and a visit to a Park Avenue plastic surgeon.

CELINE DION: The power balladeer is back. Look into her eyes, and feel her, baby.

ROMNEY REMIXED: A remix of Mitt Romney's latest campaign spot. Original here.

MORE JAKE: Had your fill yet? Here's his appearance on this morning's Regis & Kelly

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here!

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Anderson Cooper is Trash

Back in August, I posted about Anderson Cooper's new gig at the Grouch News Network (GNN). Today, he is said to emerge and make his appearance for the network on Sesame Street.

Cooper broadcasts from a garbage can and is seen below, interviewing Dan Rather-Not and Walter Cranky about the letter "G".

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Anderson Cooper and Jeff Corwin on Double Date with Nature