Towleroad Guide to the Tube #287

CINDY MCCAIN: Because she's "not the candidate" she refuses to release her income tax returns...ever.

TWISTER: Recent footage from a tornado that whipped through Leighton, Alabama.

DOGGIE HERO: Woof!

IF I WAS A TERRORIST: A new video from James Pence.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Keith Olbermann on McCain and John Hagee

Finally, the MSM is getting on McCain about John Hagee and McCain's pastors. Thank you, Keith Olbermann.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #286

JIMMY CARTER: A clip of last night's appearance on Tavis Smiley's PBS show.

MCCAIN'S OTHER PASTOR: John McCain has another pastor problem — Rod Parsley.

OBAMA GIRL: Mike Gravel tries to get in on the action.

MONICA CONYERS: Wife of congressman John Conyers and President Pro-Tem of the Detroit City Council gets owned by a 4th grader over calling the Council President "Shrek".

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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John Hagee Retracts Retraction of Katrina 'Gay Sin' Remarks

In late April, McCain supporter John Hagee appeared to retract his past remarks that gay sin brought Hurricane Katrina upon New Orleans, releasing a statement that said:

"As a believing Christian, I see the hand of God in everything that happens here on earth, both the blessings and the curses. But ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise. No matter what the cause of the storm, my heart goes out to all who suffered in this terrible tragedy. There but for the grace of God go any one of us."

Well, that didn't last long. IHagee held a conference call with religious supporters yesterday, the Dallas News reports:

"When a woman on the call asked why he seemed to have backed away from his Katrina comments in face of criticism, Hagee said he hadn't. As for the Katrina, he said, God controls hurricanes and 'God always punishes unconfessed sin.'"

Anyone surprised? Didn't think so.

McCain most recently called the controversy over Hagee's remarks "nonsense."

(via Think Progress)

AFTER THE JUMP, the Hagee video...

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News: Tom Hanks, Costume Gala, McCain Judges, Santacruzans

House owned by gay escort to socialites James Hunt Barker burns in Palm Beach, Florida.

Britney back as Neil Patrick Harris' trophy gal on How I Met Your Mother.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Costume Institute gala was themed Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, but I didn't see many capes or codpieces.

Matthew McConaughey to play Captain America?

In anticipation of Brothers and Sisters' big gay wedding this weekend, GLAAD has put together a handy reference guide to weddings of same-sex couples on broadcast networks.

Publishers Weekly on the state of gay book publishing: "In my view, it is clear that today there is less and less visible publishing of gay and lesbian books. Carroll & Graf, Alyson and Harrington Park Press—in recent years the most energetic publishers of gay/lesbian fiction and nonfiction—have all either failed, drastically reduced their list of GLBT titles, or have been undergoing serial management/ownership changes. As for what most folks would consider the mainstream publishing houses, they are publishing far less of what could credibly be labeled 'gay or lesbian books' than they were 10 years ago. But what I find more distressing is that even those books that they do publish are packaged and promoted in such a way as to downplay or ignore the gay or lesbian aspect of the book."

"Official celebrity" Tom Hanks releases video endorsement of Barack Obama.

Beloved Provincetown local "Dixie" dies in accident at home.

McCain wooing conservatives with promises on judges: "McCain promised to appoint judges who, in the mold of Roberts and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, are likely to limit the reach of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. 'They would serve as the model for my own nominees if that responsibility falls to me,' McCain said in his prepared speech."

McCain aides attribute Hagee endorsement to "poor vetting": "McCain’s aides attribute the Hagee controversy to poor vetting. But even some Republicans (not affiliated with the campaign) privately wonder how the pastor’s extreme views slipped through without notice. McCain personally wooed Hagee for more than a year." Frank Rich: "Any 12-year-old with a laptop could have vetted this preacher in 30 seconds, tops."

Is Banksy the Michelangelo of graffiti?

If Brad Pitt and U2's The Edge were a gay couple with a family, this is what it might look like.

Filipino Cardinal bans gay Santacruzans: "Parishes that allow cross-dressing homosexuals to play female saints in religious festivals are insulting the Virgin Mary, the nation’s top Catholic cleric said Monday. 'We should keep sacred what is sacred,' Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said as he admonished parishes for allowing male homosexuals to play Saint Helena and other female roles traditionally given to local beauty queens. But leaders of the gay community maintained that “Marian devotees” among them deserved a place in the Maytime tradition."

Ian Strachan to appeal conviction for gay blackmail of British Royal.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #284

HEAD OVER HILLS: Belinda Carlisle's gay son lets it be known who his mother is supporting for president.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BARACK: Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

CHRISTIAN SIRIANO: Behind-the-scenes of last week's Ugly Betty appearance.

OIL: John McCain reveals the real reason for the war in Iraq. More here.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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News: Polaroid, McGreevey Trial, Banksy, Van Hansis

Anti-gay evangelical preacher stabbed to death in Perth, Australia.

Photographers, artists bitter over Polaroid's demise: "'Now what the hell am I supposed to do?' asks John Waters, who’s shot a Polaroid of each person who’s come into his apartment since 1992—friends, interviewers, deliverymen, everyone. 'Digital isn’t instant gratification, and those cameras don’t make that sexy sound.'"

Self-described 'YouTube Superstar' Tricia Walsh-Smith may join The Real Housewives of New York City.

Is Jake Gyllenhaal getting Nailed?

Till death: McGreevey divorce trial begins Tuesday. "Legal analysts expect New Jersey's former first couple will approach new lows, even for divorce court. 'I'm not going to tell you this is going to be the worst case ever in the history of New Jersey divorces,' said Charles Abut, a matrimonial lawyer who operates the New Jersey Family Law blog. 'But I think if you asked longtime matrimonial lawyers, 'Give me the your top 10 worst,' this one is going to appear on everyone's list.' The proceedings, which are expected to last up to six weeks in Elizabeth's Union County Courthouse, have been divided into three sections. Superior Court Judge Karen Cassidy has said she will rule separately on each part: Custody of the couple's 6-year-old daughter, Jacqueline; the amount of child support and alimony McGreevey must pay Matos McGreevey; and, finally, Matos McGreevey's claim McGreevey defrauded her, tricking her into a marriage of political convenience even though he knew he was gay."

In March I posted about the appointment of Yale music professor and singer Richard Lalli to Yale residential college master, one of the school's highest recognitions. Now the Hartford Courant has profiled Lalli.

Frank Rich wonders why the media is ignoring John Hagee...

Indiewire talks to gay filmmaker Arthur Dong: "As a gay Asian American filmmaker I'd be naive to think that anti-gay bigotry and racism has not affected the opportunities or lack thereof in terms of my work. But the way I confront it is to first acknowledge whatever factors I think might be there, and then forge ahead anyway with that knowledge. We all have thrust upon us unwanted external forces that we have no control over, whoever we are, and if we allow them to be barriers (excuses?) to our goals, then we may as well give it up because perseverance, passion, and stamina is a must for independent filmmakers."

Inside Banksy's CANS Exhibit.

John Mayer asks for hair Haikus.

T.R. Knight and Mark Cornelsen already planning for children. Knight: “I wouldn’t rule [adoption] out at all. I think it would be adopting versus any other route. But yeah. I mean, there are a lot of kids who need homes.”

FOX News radio host John Gibson mocks MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, lesbians.

As the World Turns' Van Hansis reportedly dating fellow actor Tyler Hanes.

Australian Capitol Territory forced to back down on civil partnerships: "The ACT decision comes as the deeply religious Mr Rudd faces growing attack from Christian groups over his Government's decision to remove discrimination against gays from all other federal laws. Mr Corbell yesterday accused the Rudd Government of breaking a commitment to the states and territories to allow them to legislate as they saw fit. The legislation, which was quashed by the Howard government in 2006, would have allowed gay couples to have their relationships recognised in a legally binding ceremony."

Gay powerlifter Chris Morgan reaches World Championships.

Israeli court denies restraining order against gay man's former partner because nation's family and domestic violence laws do not apply to gay partnerships: "The complainant told the court that the former lover, a younger man who had lived in his Ramat Gan home with him for two years, was abusing him psychologically. He argued that as common-law partner he was entitled to the protection of the family court."

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McCain Gets Crudest Health Care Question of the Campaign

From an ordained Baptist minister. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Iowa Politics reports:

"Clive businessman Marty Parrish was escorted from Sen. John McCain's town hall meeting by Des Moines police and members of the Secret Service after asking McCain if he had called his wife Cindy an expletive in 1992...Parrish said his intentions were simple in posing the question to McCain. The former Joe Biden campaign worker stressed he is very concerned about the Republican presidential nominee's temperament. 'We have a man whose temper can get the best of him,' Parrish said. 'What I am worried about is his temper. Our country is in a serious crisis. This election is the most significant one since 1860. It appears America is asleep -- so I stood up and asked the question.' Parrish signed in as a Huffington Post contributor and was taking pictures at the town hall meeting. He handed out a leaflet prior to the event alleging McCain called his wife the name in 1992 while on the campaign trail running for re-election in the Senate. The leaflet asked members of media why they were focusing on the controversial statements made in the past by Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama's pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright and ignoring the alleged comment McCain made to his wife. 'Barack Obama spent three weeks defending that,' Parrish said afterwards. 'Why does the news media continue to ignore this outrageous statement by John McCain, but fixates on Barack Obama's truthful observation that some people are bitter?' the leaflet reads."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #283

100 YEARS: Republicans "apoplectic" over DNC's McCain ad that uses his own words.

CHIEF WHITE WOMAN: A GOP strategist calls Clinton "the chief white woman" in the country.

HILLARY CLINTON: YouTube's latest viral video. Clinton has a tangle with a coffee machine in North Carolina.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: On her new book, Right is Wrong, which apparently got her banned from NBC because of her remarks about Tim Russert.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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News: DC Madam, HRC, Naomi Campbell, Sally Kern, Singapore

D.C. Madam commits suicide in Florida...Whitney Houston's daughter attempts...

HRC's VP of Programs, David Smith, talked to Michelangelo Signorile about why the Human Rights Campaign is not endorsing anyone in the Oregon Senate race, why they support Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who backed various antigay judges and Supreme Court justices, and why they're not endorsing Jim Neal of North Carolina. Audio here.

Batter Up: Who is Naomi Campbell gonna lay into next?

Scientists report success in blocking HIV infection in lab by inactivating protein expressed in key immune cells.

Misconception that AIDS is a gay disease fueling infection rate in Singapore.

Read John McCain's 2003 speech he delivered on the Senate floor on the occasion of "Mission Accomplished": "Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom demonstrated to the world what we saw just 12 years ago. We went to war as the most combat-ready force in the world. The value of that readiness is clear. We won a massive victory in a few weeks, and we did so with very limited loss of American and allied lives. We were able to end aggression with minimum overall loss of life, and we were even able to greatly reduce the civilian casualties of Afghani and Iraqi citizens."

AfterElton is casting about for the world's 100 hottest men.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore slams Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell over attitude toward gays: “Christ was a radical. He despised the Establishment and the Pharisees. He threw the money-changers out of the temple. I liken certain church officials today to the Pharisees that Christ took exception to."

Focus on the Family's new logo interpreted.

Vanderbilt University makes strides in reaching out to LGBT students: "There will be 'five immediate key action steps,' Dean of Students Mark Bandas wrote in a press release: opening an Office for GLBT Life; hiring a director of GLBT life; working with various campus groups, especially admissions offices and The Commons, to 'ensure that members of the GLBT community understand that they are welcomed and valued members of our community'; moving to amend the non-discrimination policy to include gender identity and expression; and continuing to investigate additional recommendations made by the GLBTQI Student Issues Committee."

Reichen recants rant: "Sorry everyone for being childish. We all experience pain, but venting on MySpace isn't right. I'm sorry and I regret it. I was emotional and I don't feel any of the things I've said. And whoever I've dated that it could have been directed toward is and was never the way I may have described. I was venting on life and frustration and I apologize for offending anyone or for making myself look childish."

Carrie Underwood gets liquored up in Vegas for new video...

Jason Lewis doesn't understand the haters: "In the world we're living in, gay people are still horribly discriminated against. Why does anybody need to be so affected by someone else's happiness? Some of these people show up 20 years in a row at the county clerk's office [to get married] knowing they're going to be turned down. That's dedication and love...These are decent people."

Sally Kern's rival in the upcoming election amassing a major war chest.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #282

NANCY PELOSI: Has the House Speaker's personal love for Bush gotten in the way of her disagreement with his policies?

BILL O'REILLY: Responds to Karl Rove's suggestion of a question for Hillary Clinton (who is appearing on his show tonight): "That question is way too smart for me. I have stupid questions, but they’re fun."

THE ONES: New video for "When We Get Together" featuring Debbie Harry, Scissor Sisters, Jody Watley, Casey Spooner, Ultra Natè, Colton Ford, Ari Gold, Peppermint, and Nick Scotti.

JOHN MCCAIN: Screw 100 years in Iraq. How about a million?

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Pastor John Hagee Retracts Claim That Gay Sin Caused Katrina

Early last week, Pastor John Hagee told right wing radio show host Dennis Prager that he still believed that Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans because gays were planning to hold a sinful gathering there.

The reiteration inspired a flurry of renewed protest, forcing John McCain, who has "gladly" accepted Hagee's endorsement, to respond. By the end of the week, a short-tempered McCain was snapping at reporters that the whole controversy was "nonsense."

At about the same time, apparently, Hagee's office was issuing this statement:

"As a believing Christian, I see the hand of God in everything that happens here on earth, both the blessings and the curses. But ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise. No matter what the cause of the storm, my heart goes out to all who suffered in this terrible tragedy. There but for the grace of God go any one of us."

Quite a turnaround, eh?

AFTER THE JUMP, a round-up of Hagee's controversial views.

(via pageoneq)

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #281

GEORGE W BUSH: His speech at the annual White House Correspondent's Dinner over the weekend. Part two here

GQ COVER: A reporter asks Obama whether he's too good-looking to relate to working class people.

100 YEARS: The DNC's new McCain attack ad.

TRAVIS CHILDERS: Mississippi Republican congressional candidate Greg Davis using Jeremiah Wright - Obama ad to attack his Democratic rival Travis Childers.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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John McCain on the Hagee Controversy: 'It's Nonsense'

Yesterday in New Orleans, John McCain was asked repeatedly about the endorsement he accepted from anti-gay Pastor John Hagee, who has said that gay sin was responsible for Hurricane Katrina's destruction of that city.

At one point on his tour bus, he snapped at a reporter, repeatedly calling the Hagee controversy "nonsense." Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Just after the exchange in the video clip above, McCain attempted to deflect the criticism by bringing up Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Said McCain "I didn't attend Pastor Hagee's church for 20 years. There's a great deal of difference, in my view, between someone who endorses you, and other circumstances."

Watch that full clip here.

In related news, Newt Gingrich was asked about McCain and how he should respond to Hagee's anti-Catholic and anti-gay statements. Gingrich said he should reject the anti-Catholic statements but remained mum about the anti-gay ones.

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McCain to Face New Orleans Protest Over Anti-gay Pastor Hagee

John McCain is going for a photo-op in New Orleans' 9th ward today, but he will be met there by gay groups urging him to disassociate himself with pastor John Hagee, whose endorsement McCain gladly accepted and who this week told a radio host that he stands by his comments that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans because sinful gays were planning an event there.

According to The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder, the flier on the left, above, is one that McCain will be greeted by. MoveOn is behind the action, asking people to sign a petition which will be delivered to McCain at his photo-op in a number of hours. The petition reads: "John Hagee continues to blame the people of New Orleans for the catastrophe of Katrina. Senator McCain: If you reject intolerance and bigotry, reject Hagee's political support and stop courting hate-mongers like him."

You can find that petition here.

Watch John Hagee's remarks on gays, the Catholic church, and more, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via TPM)

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North Carolina GOP Defies McCain Request, Runs Wright Ad

Despite John McCain's request to state party chair Linda Daves that an ad running in North Carolina featuring Obama and Rev. Jeremiah Wright (and using Wright's rant "No! No! No! Not God bless America. God bleep America!") not be run, the North Carolina Republican Party has decided to defy McCain and run the ad anyway.

The ad criticizes both NC Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue's and state Treasurer Richard Moore's endorsements of a candidate they claim is "too extreme."

Said Obama of the ad: "My understanding is that the Republican National Committee and John McCain have both said that the ad's inappropriate. I take them at their word, and I assume that if John McCain thinks that it's an inappropriate ad, that he can get them to pull it down since he's their nominee and standard-bearer."

He assumed wrong.

UPDATE: NC Republicans pull ad...

Watch the spot, AFTER THE JUMP...

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John Hagee Stands by Remarks that Sinful Gays Caused Katrina

Pastor John Hagee, whose endorsement John McCain gladly gobbled up, stood by remarks he made in 2006 that Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for the sinful Southern Decadence party that gays were planning to hold in New Orleans.

At that time, Hagee said: "I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are -- were recipients of the judgment of God for that. The newspaper carried the story in our local area that was not carried nationally that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades. So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know that there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment. And I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans."

Right-wing radio talk show host Dennis Prager yesterday asked Hagee to confirm if he still stands by those comments, asking, of Katrina, "I’m only trying to understand that in the case of New Orleans, you do feel that God’s hand was in it because of a sinful city?"

Responded Hagee: "That it was a city that was planning a sinful conduct, yes."

Think Progress adds: "In February, after working hard to gain Hagee’s endorsement, McCain said he was “very honored” to receive it. Since then, he has both “repudiate[d]” and defended Hagee’s anti-Catholic and “anti-anything” remarks. But as Think Progress has noted, McCain has never specifically commented on Hagee’s offensive beliefs about Hurricane Katrina or his anti-gay comments. Given the fact that McCain will be in New Orleans tomorrow, will reporters ask whether he agrees with Hagee belief that the devastated city was cursed because of a gay pride parade? We’ll be watching."

Previously
Pastor John Hagee: Anti-Gay Katrina Remarks 'So Far Off-Base' [tr]
John McCain Embraces, Rather than Denounces, Wingnut John Hagee [tr]

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Deciding the Democratic Nomination in the WWE Ring

Screw Pennsylvania. The WWE's Raw let the candidates have a go at it last night. Even Bill showed up for a little action.

Watch pre-taped messages from the candidates themselves, which are just as amusing as the clip above, AFTER THE JUMP...

And for fairness' sake, they let John McCain get a word in too.

(via new york magazine daily intelligencer)

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The Fabulous Life of John McCain

One of the McCain campaign's credit cards recently charged up $2,546.56 on a one-day shopping trip to Barney's. Official word from the campaign is that the card was "stolen."

Progressive Media USA takes a look into the Fabulous Life of John McCain, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #278

JOSEPH HERSCHER: Gay New Zealander's Rube Goldberg-inspired marble race is a YouTube hit. Here is Herscher's original clip.

UGLY BETTY: The show's first official podcast!

BETTER OFF: DNC launches first national anti-McCain ad.

AVE MARIA: Kelly Clarkson lets it rip for the Pope.

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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Fighting the Real McCain

David Brock's Progressive Media USA begins running this ad on cable today, according to Talking Points Memo.

They report: "The ad, called 'Out of Touch,' will be running on cable beginning tomorrow and can be seen in D.C. on CNN and MSNBC -- which is to say, it's a small buy aimed at an insider audience of potential future donors, political operatives, and the like."

Brock's group is in the process of raising $40 million to fund its media campaign against the Republican candidate.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

You may have missed...
Bush Gives his Endorsement to John McCain [tr]

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Comedy Team McCains on Our Parade

The McCain Girls are the product of the 23/6 comedy site, it was revealed today:

"Drum roll, please: The creators of the McCain Girls turn out to be the comedy team behind 23/6, a five-month-old Web site owned by an affiliate of IAC/InterActiveCorp that parodies the news. The site, at 236.com, uses the motto 'Some of the news, most of the time.' Indeed, the videos’ makers say they were trying to tread the line between sincerity and irony. 'We wanted to parody the campaign-song phenomenon,' said Sarah Bernard, the president of 23/6. Because most of the so-called stars of YouTube are amateurs, the comedy site decided to take no credit for its creation. Jon Benjamin, a contributor to 23/6 who produced the 'Raining McCain' video, had watched some of the more earnest campaign songs online. Recalling one particular video, an elaborate choir production called 'Hillary4U&Me,' 'it just looked like somebody paid them money to do it,' he said. So that’s what 23/6 decided to do: hire three women with acting and singing backgrounds to create a video for Mr. McCain. 'We were pretty amazed that after the video came out, people were confused as to whether or not it was real,' Ms. Bernard said. 'That’s when I think we said ‘Hey, can we actually pull off a hoax here? How long can we keep it going?'"

I'm really disappointed. I was so looking forward to "McCainy Days and Mondays".

And if you missed them, I've posted their earlier hits AFTER THE JUMP...

Singing McCain’s Praises, or Joking? [nyt]
The McCain Girls: "It's Raining McCain!" [23/6]

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San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders Addresses Log Cabin Republicans

Rex Wockner spent some time yesterday at the Log Cabin Republicans National Convention and reports on San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders' appearance there. Sanders, you may remember, surprised voters by reversing his position on civil unions and endorsing gay marriage at a press conference last September (video AFTER THE JUMP).

The San Diego Union Tribune also reported on the gathering: "Sanders did not broach the gay marriage issue in his brief remarks at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in Mission Valley, choosing to use the occasion for a stump speech for his re-election. But immediately after he left, organization president Patrick Sammon told the delegates that Sanders had taken a stand for 'marriage equality.' Following his change of heart last year, Sanders signed a resolution from the City Council in support of same-sex marriage in a case being decided by the state Supreme Court. 'The mayor took a courageous stand and signed that resolution,' Sammon said to wild applause. 'He could have vetoed it.' Same-sex marriage is a polarizing issue within the Republican Party and in the San Diego mayor's race. Republican Steve Francis, Sanders' chief rival in the June 3 election, said he would have vetoed the resolution. He is opposed to same-sex marriage and instead favors civil unions."

Said Sanders, according to Wockner: "I'm proud of the political opportunity that this brings in terms the interaction and the issues and the people you're bringing here. I understand Gov. Schwarzenegger and [former U.N. Ambassador] Bolton are coming in tomorrow and I think that really tells you how important all of these issues are to all of us and how important the Republican Party -- how important Log Cabin Republicans are to the whole process."

Wockner talked to LCR President Patrick Sammon about Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McCain, and said that the group is likely to vote to endorse McCain during the convention.

Said Sammon: "We're pleased he was nominated. Our posture during this campaign was stopping Mitt Romney. We're proud of the role we played with our ad campaign and, you know, Sen. McCain, we endorsed him in his Senate re-election in 2004; in 2000 a lot of our members were very supportive of his campaign, and certainly this time as well. We know he's someone who's an inclusive Republican who understands the party needs to get back to its core principles and we are excited about the campaign ahead."

Photo above by Rex Wockner. More at his blog.

AFTER THE JUMP, Jerry Sanders' press conference from last September...

Journalistic objectivity in action [rex wockner]
Sanders lauded as friend of gay community [san diego union tribune]

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #272

MCCAIN SUPPORTER: You can have your Tiger Woods."

RUNWAY HAZARDS: Model swallowed up by the earth. (source: gawker)

THE KARDASHIANS: Mad TV's take on the show. (source: lady bunny)

BARNYARD BEATDOWN: Two chickens break up a fight between two rabbits. Really!

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here.

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It's 3am and There's a Republican Staring in the Window

The McCain Girls are back and what should strike terror into the hearts of most Americans is the amount of songs left that have "rain" in the title.

Watch them butcher the Eurythmics, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously
They're the GOP's Weather Girls and Have They Got News for You [tr]

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News: Water, Gay Porn Twins, Coffee, New Kids on the Block

Is China cracking down on gay establishments as the Olympics approach?

Mother of twin gay porn bandits arrested for serving as their getaway driver: "Towana Goffney, the mother of 25-year-old twins Taleon and Keyontyli Goffney, was arrested late Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Her sons, Taleon and Keyontyli were linked to nearly 40 break-ins. Cameras were rolling as the men were led away in handcuffs and it turned out, this was not the first time the pair was in the spotlight. According to internet gossip sites, the brothers are gay porn stars. Now the family has the arrest of the matriarch to add to their rap sheet and online profiles."

Kylie Minogue hits up the Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

McCain won't be fighting party platform on gays: "McCain associates told The Washington Times that his operatives are not going to work behind the scenes to eliminate the party's calls for constitutional bans on abortion and homosexual marriage before the GOP convention in September."

Search for most eligible gay bachelor begins in San Francisco.

The premiere international prize in electronic media: A list of the 2007 Peabody Award winners.

Woof: Madison, Wisconsin gets new gay sports bar.

Northern Ireland town of Strabane prepares for opening of first gay bar. Proprietor: "All the feedback I've had about the bar has been positive, I was so surprised by everyone's reaction, I've received no negativity whatsoever. Even elderly residents of the town have voiced their support and have been wishing me all the best."

Famous tranny Dana International prevents Wentworth Miller from escaping!

Obama says he would hire Al Gore: "Not only will I, but I will make a commitment that Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem. He's somebody I talk to on a regular basis. I'm already consulting with him in terms of these issues, but climate change is real. It is something we have to deal with now, not 10 years from now, not 20 years from now."

The New Kids on the Block are back together. Here's their first photo together in more than 15 years.

An update on gay Iranian teen Mehdi Kazemi: "Mehdi Kazemi is still in Rotterdam, awaiting deportation back to the UK under the Dublin Treaty, where Home Secretary Jacqui Smith still hasn’t granted him asylum. It appears that a Dutch MP has secured a parliamentary debate in the Netherlands to take place tomorrow, because he doesn’t believe Jacqui Smith can be trusted with his safety."

Iranian gays left out of Human Rights Watch annual reports.

Scientists: There is no benefit in drinking 8 glasses of water a day. And drinking coffee may protect you from dementia and other debilitating brain diseases.

British activist Tatchell to European Feminist Summit: "By challenging the cult of heterosexual masculinity, queer liberation is about much more than the limited agenda of equal rights. It offers a unique, revolutionary contribution to the emancipation of the whole of humanity from all forms of subjugation."

In case you were wondering, Chace Crawford is doing 'okay' after his break-up with Carrie Underwood.

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Uh Oh, More Scary Crap at 3am

This time, it's economic disaster! Clinton is broadcasting an ad in Pennsylvania saying that she's ready for the crisis. McCain has one waiting in the wings using the same footage warning that Clinton and Obama will raise your taxes.

According to Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic, the McCain campaign is waiting to see if they'll actually broadcast the ad, but it will be sent to his email list.

Watch the clips, AFTER THE JUMP...

I think I need a Lunesta.

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