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".

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #236

CHANGE: The David Bowie election.

RUDY GIULIANI: FOX loves America's Mayor.

MIKE GRAVEL: On the oppressive nature of religion.

BRITNEY HOUSTON: Performs her version of Janet's "Feedback".

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Obama and Huckabee Take Nation's First Caucus in Iowa

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee won their respective races in the Iowa caucuses Thursday night, leaving leftover candidates from both parties either scrambling for their next move or on their way out. Senator Hillary Clinton and John Edwards came within a percentage point of one another in the race for second place on the Democratic side, with Edwards edging out Clinton by a hair.

On the Republican side, second-place winner Mitt Romney was not even close, leaving a wide-open opportunity for John McCain in New Hampshire next week, where his support has risen in recent weeks.

The numbers came in like this: " Mr. Huckabee won with 34.4 percent of the delegate support, after 86 percent of precincts had reported. Mr. Romney had 25.4 percent, former Senator Fred D. Thompson of Tennessee had 13.4 percent and Senator John McCain of Arizona had 13.2 percent. On the Democratic side, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, Mr. Obama had 37.6 percent of the delegate support, Mr. Edwards 29.8 percent and Mrs. Clinton had 29.5 percent. Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico was fourth, at 2.11 percent."

Other details:

Massive turnout bad omen for the GOP.
Chris Dodd, Joe Biden drop out of Democratic race...
Keith Olbermann declares that Mike Gravel has dropped out of the race, and Gravel demands a retraction!
Thompson finishes in near-tie for third with John McCain...
McCain reacted from New Hampshire: "I think that the lesson of this election is that, one, you can't buy an election in Iowa; and, two, that negative campaigns don't work. They don't work there, and they don't work here in New Hampshire."
Giuliani vows to fight on after poor showing.
Independents go for Obama and Ron Paul.

Check out what the candidates had to say (Clips of ALL THE SPEECHES) about their respective wins and losses, AFTER THE JUMP...

OBAMA: "You know, they said this day would never come. They said our sights were set too high. They said this country was too divided, too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose. But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do. . . . You have done what America can do in this new year, 2008."

HUCKABEE: "What is happening tonight in Iowa is going to start really a prairie fire of new hope and zeal. And it's already happening across this nation because it is about we; we the people. We saw it tonight. . . . And we're going to continue to see it because this country yearns and is hungry for leadership that recognizes that when one is elected to public office, one is not elected to be a part of the ruling class; he's elected to be a part of the serving class."

CLINTON: "We're going to take this enthusiasm and go straight to New Hampshire...We have always planned on running a national campaign all the way through the early contests...What is most important now is that, as we go on with this contest, that we keep focused on the two big issues, that we answer correctly the questions that each of us has posed. How will we win in November 2008, by nominating a candidate who will be able to go the distance? And who will be the best president on day one? I am ready for that contest."

EDWARDS: "The one thing that's clear from the results in Iowa tonight is the status quo lost and change won. And now we move on. We move on from Iowa to New Hampshire and to the other states to determine who's best suited to bring about the change that this country so desperately needed."

ROMNEY: "Well, well, we won the silver. But just as Dan Jansen pointed out - you win the silver in one event, it doesn't mean you're not going to come back and win the gold in the final event."

THOMPSON: “It looks like someone’s gonna have to carry a strong conservative message, and it looks like it’s gonna be me.”

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #204

TRANSAMERICAN LOVE STORY: Calpernia Adams and Andrea James talk about their upcoming reality show, and react to comments written on Perez Hilton's site.

MIKE GRAVEL: A must-see music video and the story behind it. (via slog)

KELLIE PICKLER: Is she smarter than a kindergartner?

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO TOUCH ME? Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) asks Rove to "take this opportunity to retract his (Rove's) outrageous statements" on FOX News Sunday.

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Mike Gravel Wants You To Get Mad!

You may have heard that Mike Gravel held his own debate last night since he was excluded from the one that took place at Drexel University.

The New York Times reported yesterday: "Though he has been included in most of the previous Democratic debates, MSNBC contends that Mr. Gravel failed to meet any of the network’s criteria for participation in tonight’s event (candidates had to meet certain standards in at least one of three categories: polling, fund-raising and travel). Mr. Gravel’s camp is crying 'corporate censorship,' and the former Alaska senator argues that his opposition to the military industrial complex is prompting backlash from G.E."

Actually, he did make an appearance, and it was incendiary. That video is above.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #165

MIKE ROGERS: Appearance on Hannity & Colmes regarding the Larry Craig story.

MIKE GRAVEL: Discusses the Larry Craig scandal on Real Time with Bill Maher.

AMY WINEHOUSE: Her recent appearance on the Mercury Awards.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO BETTER: Hillary and Barack sing it off.

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News: Al Gore, Facebook, Mike Gravel, Backstreet Boys, Scottsdale

Al Gore wanted by voters, according to new Michigan poll: "The crowded field of presidential hopefuls isn't crowded enough to suit Michigan voters, who prefer two unannounced candidates for the Republican and Democratic nominations, a new Detroit News/WXYZ-TV poll shows. Former Tennessee Senator and TV star Fred Thompson would lead the GOP pack and former Vice President Al Gore would top the Democratic slate should they decide to run, according to a statewide survey of 400 likely Republican and 400 likely Democratic primary voters in Michigan conducted last Wednesday through Monday by EPIC/MRA of Lansing."

Janice Dickinson and manslave step out on the town.

Outsports' Jim Buzinski and Cyd Zeigler talk to Salon about their new book, The Outsports Revolution: "We don't try to undermine gay stereotypes. We simply try to be who we are."

Me-Me-Me talks to the Backstreet Boys. Brian: "We could get a gay [member]! We are missing a member. Some of my good friends are gay; it’s not a big deal but unfortunately, we don’t have a gay member. Not to my knowledge anyway. But if someone wanted to come out, I’d love them just the same."

White House upset over Hillary Clinton campaign ad claiming Americans are "invisible" to President Bush: "As to the merits of it, I think it's outrageous. This is a president who, first and foremost, has helped millions of seniors across the country have access to prescription drugs at a much lower cost," Perino said. "As to whether or not our troops are invisible to this president, I think that is absurd and that it is unconscionable that a member of Congress would say such a thing." (watch spot)

Facebook launches "stunning" custom interface for the iPhone.

Hillary Clinton to open for Ellen DeGeneres.

Mike Gravel slams Hillary Clinton over gay rights stance: "By drawing upon the language of states rights, Hillary embraces the tradition of John Calhoun and the defenders of slavery along with Strom Thurmond and the segregationists. Throughout our nation's history, every time national public opinion turns against oppression, opponents of progress use states rights to present themselves as defenders of liberty in the face of federal power. States rights has always been the last refuge of the bigots. Now Hillary has given rhetorical cover to the homophobes. If she wins the Democratic nomination, opponents of gay marriage will cite her statement to justify their opposition to national marriage equality over the next decade."

Following recent gay bashings, Scottsdale, Arizona's mayor Mary Manross is trying to make sure gays know they're welcome there.

The way to Jake Gyllenhaal's heart is clearly through his stomach.

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Candidates Hold Court at Presidential Forum on LGBT Issues

Here are a few clips and some short personal thoughts on last night's gay debate. Overall, I thought the format was pretty good, and reminded me how tired I am of the quick sound bytes that are offered up again and again during the conventional debates. It was refreshing to have the candidates in this bite-size 'talk-show' format.

I was impressed by Obama's appearance right after he finished. Looking back on the performances of the frontrunners, Obama seemed less canned than Clinton or Edwards, but also a bit less experienced and presidential. In the first clip, Obama discusses whether or not he believes the battle for gay rights can be equated to the black struggle for civil rights.

Edwards seemed uncomfortable at first and thrown off by a few questions, particularly the question about transgender people which I don't feel he answered. But I think Edwards won people over in the end, in the third portion of the interview, after he admitted that he shouldn't have used religion as a justification for his position on gay marriage. In the second clip above, John Edwards is asked why he uses his religion to justify his stance on gay marriage. Says Edward: "I shouldn't have said that. I believe to my core in equality. My campaign for president is about equality — across the board."

After hearing Obama and Edwards, Kucinich's appearance was as if someone had opened a door and let a waft of fresh air in the room. Compelling from start to finish. I'm glad Kucinich is in the mix even though he hasn't a chance in hell of winning, because he brings up what candidates would be saying in an ideal world. He's a bit of a cross between a sideshow act at the carnival and a new age preacher. And that strange awkward pause before the last answer...

Gravel was equally as entertaining: "Marriage is a commitment between two human beings in love. And understand me. I'm saying two human beings. They can be heterosexual. They can be two lesbians, they can be transgender. They can be two gays. What it is is a commitment of two human beings in love and if there's anything we need in this world it's more love."

There may not have been a clear "winner" in last night's Presidential Forum on LGBT issues, but there was a clear loser. In the only real "oh no he didn't" moment of the night, Bill Richardson said "It's a choice" when asked by Melissa Etheridge whether homosexuality was a choice or biologicial.

A shocked Etheridge backtracked with, "I don't think you understood the question. Do you think I -- a homosexual is born that way, or do you think that around seventh grade we go, 'Oh, I want to be gay?'"

Richardson's follow-up answer didn't do much to save him: I'm not a scientist. I don't see this as an issue of science or definition. I see gays and lesbians as people, as a matter of human decency."

Richardson issued a statement following the debate: "Let me be clear -- I do not believe that sexual orientation or gender identity happen by choice. But I'm not a scientist, and the point I was trying to make is that no matter how it happens, we are all equal and should be treated that way under the law. That is what I believe, that is what I have spent my career fighting for. I ask that people look at my record and my actions and they will see I have been a true supporter of the LGBT community."

Richardson talked to Pam Spaulding at Americablog after the forum. Said Richardson: "I knew when I was walking out of the parking lot that I had said something in error. My staff alerted me that I needed to set the record straight. This is something you are born with, and regardless of whether there is conflict about the science of it (homosexuality), I support full and equal rights. I fully support domestic partnerships."

Hillary Clinton seemed a bit wooden and angry at first to me, but it was clear that she's a seasoned politician who has learned a few things from her husband about how to work a room. Here's the clip where Jonathan Capehart asks her about the Peter Pace "homosexuality is immoral" comments and her initial response to them, which was "I'll leave that for others to conclude."

Clinton: "You know you say these things, and somebody sticks a microphone in front of you, and I thought, 'well that was pretty good' and my friends started calling me and saying, 'well, that wasn't very good, so...'I said, 'oh, you know, you're probably right.' So I immediately got the first opportunity I could to say the whole thing. I was focused on one aspect I thought was really over the line...joe blow, joe schmo walks down the street and says, 'here's what I believe.' You say, 'who cares?' Chariman of the Joint Chiefs says it, — that has a direct impact on policy. That's what I went after but I should have put it in a broader context."

For my thoughts on Bill Richardson, see the previous post. Below are some links to both liveblogging and MSM reports on the event.

The Advocate Insider has a report on the post-debate fundraisers.

Visible Vote 08 [logo online]
Democratic candidates talk gay issues in historic presidential forum [the advocate]
Democrats Voice Support of Gay Rights in TV Forum [nyt]
Dems Take To The Airwaves To Woo Gay Voters [huffington post]
Dems walk fine line at gay issues forum [chicago tribune]
U.S. gay voters scrutinize Democrats in TV forum [reuters]
The August 9 Democratic Debate [time]

HRC/LOGO Visible Vote '08
Live-Blogging The Dems [joemygod]
LiveBlog of Gay Issues Debate [lane hudson and katherine zaleski - huffington post]
Open thread - liveblogging the HRC/LOGO Visible Vote 08 Forum [americablog]

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News: Barbara Boxer, Ivri Lider, Mike Gravel, Keanu Reeves

Senator Mike Gravel: Why I Wasn't Invited to the HRC Gay Debate. Gravel: "Yesterday the Human Rights Campaign announced that it will not invite me to the first-ever presidential debate on gay issues because I didn't raise enough money. To say that I'm shocked is an understatement. I can confidently say, of all presidential candidates, I've been the most outspoken advocate for gay rights."

NewNowNext talks with out Israeli singer Ivri Lider about a few things, among them musicians' refusal to discuss their sexuality: "It’s an interesting discussion because, on one hand, an artist - he’s a person and he has his world and all kinds of things that could be hard for him, like maybe his family. But on the other hand, I feel that it’s a shame that more people do not do that. I think it’s good for them and good for our community and we need that. We need people…especially artists that people look up to. We need that."

Rob Cole, journalist who helped create national readership for The Advocate, has died at 76: "His work was encouraging to other gay journalists, such as Mark Thompson, a former Advocate senior editor and author of books on gay spirituality, history and culture. 'In those days, for someone to leave a mainstream career and work for a struggling gay newspaper was an extraordinary act of courage and bravery,' Thompson said."

It never ends: more Becks, more!

Spike in NYC syphilis cases among gay men "disconcerting," say officials: "The 260 cases reported during the first three months of 2007 compares with 128 during the same period last year, the city's Health Department reported. Men accounted for 96% of new cases, and most occurred among the homosexual population. The 10 cases reported by women, meanwhile, signal the potential for further increases among that group, health officials said."

Weeping mother takes the stand in the 2001 gay bashing murder trial of John McGhee: I did not recognize my son. His face had no shape. He was all purple and blue. What I saw was monstrous. I couldn't believe it. I was afraid to kiss him."

Keanu Reeves cops out.

Michael Cunningham to give reading in Provincetown this Sunday.

Barbara Boxer: "Impeachment should be on the table.": "I’ve always said that you need to keep it on the table, and you need to look at these things, because now people are dying because of this administration. That’s the truth. And they won’t change course. They are ignoring the Congress. They keep signing these signing statements which mean that he’s decided not to enforce the law. This is as close as we’ve ever come to a dictatorship. When you have a situation where Congress is stepped on, that means the American people are stepped on. So I don’t think you can take anything off the table. Because in fact the Constitution doesn’t permit us to take these things off the table…"

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