Towleroad Guide to the Tube #348

CINDY MCCAIN: Her interview with Katie Couric yesterday.

ROMNEY'S GAFFE: Al Gore doesn't own a private jet.

GAY REPUBLICANS: Street interviews by Mike Diamond.

PALIN: The RNC video that didn't run the night of her nomination because they ran out of time. Just as an FYI. WARNING: Not for those with strong gag reflexes.

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Frightened Republicans Use Best Weapon for Their Base:Mockery, Mean-Spiritedness, Fear, Sarcasm, and Lies

What else to do in the absence of any respectable record for the last eight years?

Here's Rudy Giuliani (if you can stomach him) and pit-bull-in-lipstick VP pick Sarah Palin who can deliver a speech, despite its pandering excesses.

Did Giuliani actually say, "Sarah Palin has more experience than the entire Democratic ticket combined?"

The mockery of "community organizing" is despicable, as if somehow serving one's country instead of one's self-interest is something to be looked down upon.

Here's an article from the AP on the ways in which the truth was stretched last night.

And here's a bit on Giuliani's "Islamic terrorism" throwdown from Think Progress.

And a flashback on Palin for you, recorded just weeks ago:

"As for that VP talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day?"

Huckabee and Romney, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #336

JOHN MCCAIN: Offers his wife up to compete in topless beauty pageant for Miss Buffalo Chip. Well, at least he didn't call her a cunt.

MITT ROMNEY: Can't name one piece of energy legislation John McCain has worked on in 26 years.

LICKER: Extended Stay Hotels' bizarre viral ad. Yes, she even licks the toilet.

HEY WEATHER FANS: Tornado sirens, twister stop game at Wrigley Field.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #327

MITT ROMNEY: McCain "authored the philosophy" of surge in Iraq nonsense.

OLD SPICE: First Neil Patrick Harris, now a beefcake Centaur.

CRISTIANO RONALDO: Talks to HollyScoop at last night's ESPY awards about a possible move to L.A.

THE VIEW: The women discuss Jesse Jackson's use of the N-word.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #317

TERRY MCAULIFFE: Loves Barack Obama.

MITT ROMNEY: Nuclear non-proliferation is a "liberal" position.

CHRISTIAN THE LION: Tearjerker video of the day.

MOVING SKYSCRAPER: First moving skyscraper to be built in Dubai.

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News: Mitt Romney, Tivo, Judy Garland, Clay Aiken, Pete Doherty

As California gears up for a gay wedding boom, nine gay rights groups issue statement urging those who get married in California not to rush back to their states and sue: "In an unusual six-page memorandum, written for same-sex couples, groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to Lambda Legal warned that lawsuits would invite 'bad' court rulings that could take years to overturn." Two California countries have announced they'll halt all weddings, saying they lack resources.

Crucified by the media: rocker Pete Doherty undergoes plaster cast for marble statue of himself as Jesus Christ.

Obama meets with Christian leaders...

Jonathan Capehart warns of an Obama-Nunn ticket: "When Bill Clinton sought to keep his 1992 campaign promise to end the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, he met strong resistance in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. Nunn, one of the most adamant opponents, led a series of hearings that were stacked against ending the prohibition. Critics noted that Nunn held more hearings about and spent more time on gays in the military than he had on the defense budget or even the Navy's Tailhook sexual harassment scandal ... an Obama-Nunn ticket does not sit well with some prominent gay Democratic fundraisers."

Clay Aiken is not just having a son, but he has another baby in the freezer.

John Aravosis at AmericaBlog got some intense shots of the storm that passed through the east coast yesterday.

Judy Garland to sing on stage again: "Cutting-edge technology unavailable just a few years ago has enabled NY-based production company Running Subway to present Judy's larger-than-life passion and personal story to 21st century audiences in what can only be described as the greatest Judy Garland concert ever."

Fishnets: Experts conclude that the Oscar de la Hoya drag photos were indeed doctored.

Dolores Neuman, photographer whose camerawork was central to Rob Epstein's 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, dies in Washington D.C. of kidney cancer.

Justin Timberlake on Love Guru wardrobe: "This may be TMI but I was constantly digging out those wedgies!"

Canadian gay couple Theo Wouters and Roger Thibault settles $400,000 defamation lawsuit brought by neighbors out of court.

Chace Crawford reads a few juicy scripts in London.

Mitt Romney purchases $12 million home in La Jolla, California.

Democrats don't touch 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell': "Since taking control of Congress in January 2007, Democrats have not convened hearings on the matter or taken up legislation that would let gays serve openly, although most party members favor repealing the prohibition. Instead, Democrats have focused their efforts on bringing troops home from Iraq and other issues that have broad appeal among voters, such as lowering gas prices."

Tivo pulls web page which acknowledged their relationship with Focus on the Family.

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Mitt Romney Suspends Campaign, Takes Parting Shot at Gays

Mitt Romney has dropped out of the presidential race. In a speech announcing he's suspending his campaign, he also took the time to ponder the "attacks on our culture," among them gays and lesbians who want to marry and the "liberal judges" who would give us equal rights.

Said Romney: "The development of a child is enhanced by having a mother and father. Such a family is the ideal for the future of the child and for the strength of a nation. I wonder how it is that unelected judges, like some in my state of Massachusetts, are so unaware of this reality, so oblivious to the millennia of recorded history. It is time for the people of America to fortify marriage through constitutional amendment, so that liberal judges cannot continue to attack it!"

Well, John McCain is the nominee.

Text of Romney speech [time]

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Super Tuesday Paints Unclear Picture for Dems, Big Win for McCain

Super Tuesday returns are still coming in, but what is becoming abundantly clear is that, as predicted by many, the Democratic race will go on. On the Republican side, results show John McCain as the clear frontrunner.

UPDATE: Obama claims delegate lead though Dem candidates are virtually tied.

Here are the state-by-state results of voting, which don't necessarily provide the most accurate picture of what happened, as Obama won more states, but Clinton took states with a larger delegate count.

CLINTON: AR, AZ, CA, MA, NY, NJ, OK, TN
OBAMA: AK, AL, CT, CO, DE, GA, ID, IL, KS, MN, MO, ND, UT

HUCKABEE: AL, AR, GA, TN, WV
MCCAIN: AZ, CA, CT, DE, IL, MO, NJ, NY, OK
ROMNEY: CO, MA, MN, MT, ND, UT

As of 7:30 EST, according to CNN, the delegate count for the Democrats stood at Clinton 825, Obama 732, with 2,025 needed to win the nomination.

For the Republicans, John McCain further increased the lead over his rivals, with 615 delegates to Romney's 268, and Huckabee's 169. 1,191 are need to win that nomination.

Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo writes: "If you look at this from the vantage point of two weeks ago, it's a huge win for Obama, since he was trailing in states across the country by a very big margin. From the vantage point of the last couple days, however, it's much less clear. The hype of his momentum just got a bit out ahead of what he was able to pull off. And in that sense there's very mild echo of New Hampshire, though the Clinton campaign is silly to claim some sort of comeback. There were a handful of states which, had he won two or more of them, would have taken him from a delegate tie to a decisive win that would have been Clinton seriously on the defensive. But it didn't happen. Not in New Jersey or Massachusetts and most importantly not in California, which Clinton won decisively. But I think all these competing scenarios make one point clear. The only arguments for one side or the other being a winner here come down to airy and finally meaningless arguments about expectations. And the result tells a different tale. It's about delegates. It's dead even. You've got two well-funded candidates who've demonstrated an ability to power back from defeats. And neither is going anywhere."

Above, Obama and Clinton speak to their supporters. Below, McCain's speech.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #237

TOM BRADY: Gets a marriage proposal on Super Bowl media day.

SARAH SILVERMAN: Silverman and Damon get revenge on Jimmy Kimmel.

ROMNEY'S LAYOFF CACKLE: Some people, like Mitt Romney, laugh when it's inappropriate.

STATE OF THE UNIONS: Jeanne Moos looks into Washington relationships.

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John McCain Wins Florida Primary, Giuliani to Exit Race

John McCain won the winner-take-all Florida primary, hauling in a load of 57 delegates with 36% of the vote to Mitt Romney's 33%. McCain's victory speech is above, on the left. Rudy Giuliani came in a distant third, with 15% of the vote. His concession speech is above, on the right. Mike Huckabee received 14% of the vote. Giuliani is expected to pull out of the race and endorse John McCain today.

Politico writes: "Rudy Giuliani's distant third-place finish in Florida may put an end to his bid for president, and it seems also to mark the beginning of the end of a period in Republican politics that began on Sept. 11, 2001."

McCain pulled out all the stops in Florida, including a last-minute robo-call that attempted to influence voters through gay-bashing, suggesting that a vote for Romney would be one step closer to giving "special rights" to gays. This will not be forgotten.

The NYT writes: "The meaning of Mr. McCain’s victory starts with the trove of 57 delegates it brings him, the bounty of a winner-take-all contest and the biggest prize of the campaign to date. But it also gives him a chance to start persuading his party to put aside the deep internal divisions that have been exposed by the campaign and begin coalescing around him. Mr. Romney was having none of it. He continued to call for change in Washington and got in what sounded like another swipe at Mr. McCain when he said America needed a president who had 'actually had a job in the real economy.'"

Hillary Clinton, with 48% of the vote in Florida, soundly defeated Barack Obama (30%) and John Edwards (14%) in the Florida primary, but receives no delegates. Here's why:

"Florida violated party rules when it moved its voting contest ahead of Feb. 5, the date sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee. The DNC allowed four early contests: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. While Obama, Edwards and Clinton agreed last September that they wouldn't compete for Florida because of the party- imposed penalty, Clinton, a New York senator, last week announced she would press to have Florida's delegates seated at the Democratic convention in August. Florida is a crucial swing state in the general election. None of the candidates campaigned in the state, though Obama aired television commercials that ran on cable channels."

Clinton, looking ahead to Super Tuesday on February 5, appeared on CNN last night and, clearly, wanting to put South Carolina behind her, apologized for her husband's behavior over the past weeks.

Thanks to Talking Points Memo for the video clips.

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McCain Gay-Baiting in New Romney-Bashing Robo-Call

Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic reports on a new robo-call from the McCain campaign in Florida, where he and Romney are doing their best to destroy one another.

This robo-call, Ambinder notes, raises "the specter of scary homosexuals and their 'special rights.'"

The call: "Mitt Romney thinks he can fool us. He supported abortion on demand, even allowed a law mandating taxpayer-funding for abortion. He says he changed his mind, but he still hasn’t changed the law. He told gay organizers in Massachusetts he would be a stronger advocate for special rights than even Ted Kennedy. Now, it’s something different."

Ambinder notes that it's not clear whether McCain (pictured above with Florida governor Charlie Crist) personally approved the call.

(via americablog)

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John McCain: Never Heard the Acronym 'LGBT' Before [tr]
High School Student Slams McCain After Gay Rights Question [tr]
Report: McCain Feels "Gay Sweaters" Helped Undo Campaign [tr]
McCain Restates Support of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" [tr]
John McCain Not Sure if Condoms Stop Spread of HIV [tr]
John McCain: Gays are Welcome to Marry, Just Not Legally [tr]

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'Pro-Family' President of Mormon Church, Gordon Hinckley, Dies

President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died over the weekend. Pam Spaulding dug up an appearance by Hinckley on Larry King Live on which King asked him about same-sex marriage.

KING: "I know that the church is opposed to gay marriage. Do you have an alternative; do you like the idea of civil unions?"

HINCKLEY: "Well, we're not anti-gay, we're pro-family. Let me put it that way...and we love these people [gays] and try to work with them and help them. We know that they have a problem. We want to help them solve that problem."

KING: "The problem they caused, or that they were born that way?"

HINCKLEY: "I don't know, I'm not an expert on these things. I don't pretend to be an expert on these things. The fact is that they have a problem."

KING: "Do you favor some sort of state union?"

HINCKLEY: "Well, we want to be very careful about that, because that...whatever, may lead to gay marriage, and that we're not in favor of."

Hinckley was 97 years old.

Mormon GOP candidate Mitt Romney commented on Hinckley today at a Florida campaign stop and said he would attend the funeral:

"'We will miss him as a family, respect him as a man of great character and courage, but particularly his humility and ability to touch the lives of each individual is something for which he will long be noted,' Romney told reporters outside a Texaco station. He added that Hinckley’s 'effort to reach out across the world and to faraway lands and to build temples for our church is something which will also give him a legacy that will last many, many years, indeed. And we will miss his leadership.'

Gordon B. Hinckley, Mormon Leader, Is Dead at 97 [nyt]

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The Romney Whisper: Who Was It and Where Did it Come From?

Those are the questions being asked about a mysterious whisper heard during the Republican debate on Thursday.

Raw Story reports:

"'We had some audio issues and Gov. Romney's mike wasn't working momentarily. Simple as that,' MSNBC VP for Communications Jeremy Gaines said in a one-line e-mail response to questions about overheard whisper. The response leaves some questions unanswered, such as, Whose voice did viewers hear, and why did MSNBC apparently scrub a reference to the Whisper from its Web site? RAW STORY has sent a follow up request for this information. Moderator Tim Russert asked Romney if he would 'do what Ronald Reagan did in 1983' to fix Social Security. Immediately after Russert's question, someone can be heard whispering, 'He raised taxes.' It's unclear whether Romney heard the voice, but he quickly answered, 'I'm not going to raise taxes.' Romney's campaign has not respond to requests for comment."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #233

FREEHELD: Trailer for the documentary about Laurel Hester (who I wrote about quite a bit in 2006). Hester fought and won a tough battle with the Ocean County freeholders in order to leave her pension benefits to her partner. Hester died in February 2006. The documentary, Freeheld, is up for an Academy Award.

BILL CLINTON: Has strong words with CNN reporter Jessica Yellin, accusing the Obama campaign of stirring the race issue. According to the NYT, "The reporter told him that Dick Harpootlian, a former Democratic Party chairman in South Carolina and an Obama supporter, had called the Clinton campaign in South Carolina 'reprehensible.' CNN also told him that Mr. Harpootlian had compared their tactics to those of Lee Atwater, the Republican operative who used racial politics and wedge issues."

ROBERT TRACHTENBERG: World of Wonder catches up with the creator of the book When I Knew at Sundance.

MITT ROMNEY: His son Matt sends him a crank call from Arnold Schwarzenegger just before the Michigan primary.

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #232

MITT ROMNEY: At a MLK event in Jacksonville, Florida, Romney asks, "Who let the dogs out?" Then barks.

TOM CRUISE ROASTED: Craig Ferguson sends up the Scientologist.

TYRA BANKS: Asks John Edwards what it's like to be a minority candidate? (source: nymag)

BILL HAS A DREAM: Clinton nods off during MLK service at the Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem.

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Romney Unstapled: I Do Not Have Lobbyists Running My Campaign

And the script goes out the window...

At a Columbia, South Carolina 'Staples' store, Mitt Romney lost his cool when AP writer Glen Johnson challenged the Republican candidate, claiming that Ron Kaufman is a lobbyist, and helps run Romney's campaign.

According to MSNBC: "Kaufman is a senior strategist with the campaign who often travels with the governor and provides counsel before debates and other major events; in fact, Kaufman traveled with the motorcade in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses and was also in Michigan for the primary. He has been involved in Republican politics for decades and is now a lobbyist with the firm, Dutko Worldwide."

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Romney Takes Michigan GOP Primary, Hillary Trounces Uncommitted

Apparently the campaign in America's Mitten worked, as Mitt Romney won the Michigan primary yesterday with 39% of the vote.

Above, if you're interested, is giddy Romney's victory speech.

On the Democratic side, the state was stripped of all of its delegates for violating party rules. Because Michigan scheduled their contest before February 5 (only Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina are allowed to do so), the state was punished.

Hillary Clinton was the only candidate who did not pull her name from the ballot, which resulted in a decisive win against that other party juggernaut, Uncommitted.

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Attention America's Mitten: Vote Romney!

Brilliant spoof ad put together by Andy Cobb regarding today's Michigan primary.

DailyKos writes: "With a history of meddling in our primaries, why don't we try and return the favor. Next Tuesday, January 15th, Michigan will hold its primary. Michigan Democrats should vote for Mitt Romney, because if Mitt wins, Democrats win. How so? For Michigan Democrats, the Democratic primary is meaningless since the DNC stripped the state of all its delegates (at least temporarily) for violating party rules. Hillary Clinton is alone on the ballot. But on the GOP side, this primary will be fiercely contested. John McCain is currently enjoying the afterglow of media love since his New Hamsphire victory, while Iowa winner Mike Huckabee is poised to do well in South Carolina. Meanwhile, poor Mitt Romney, who’s suffered back-to-back losses in the last week, desperately needs to win Michigan in order to keep his campaign afloat. Bottom line, if Romney loses Michigan, he's out. If he wins, he stays in. And we want Romney in, because the more Republican candidates we have fighting it out, trashing each other with negative ads and spending tons of money, the better it is for us. We want Mitt to stay in the race, and to do that, we need him to win in Michigan."

(via americablog)

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #221

ROMNEY SIGN THUGS: Dirty tricks in the dirty snow of New Hampshire.

PIMPSTAR: The next generation in annoying hubcaps.

HILLARY HECKLED: Sexist demonstrators yell "iron my shirt!"

JOHN EDWARDS: MSNBC's Morning Joe asks John Edwards about Hillary and shedding tears on the campaign trail.

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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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Advisor: Romney Will Stop the "Militant Gays" from Soiling Marriage

Mitt Romney adviser Jim Talent appeared on Hardball and Chris Matthew asked him about his flip-flopping on various issues, including gay rights.

Matthews: What do you make of his claim...he claimed he was more pro-gay than Ted Kennedy. He wouldn't be saying that in Iowa because it's not a popular position, but hasn't he changed on a number of issues?

Talent: He’s always had the same position as to regards to the gay agenda. Look, he wants to know people to know he values gay people as people, okay? But he doesn’t want the militant gays to be able to change the cultural institutions of the country.

You may have missed...
Mitt Romney's JFK Photo Op: Fmr Governor, You're No Jack Kennedy [tr]
Mitt Romney to Deliver Speech on Religion and the Presidency [tr]
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News: John Mayer, Gossip Girl, Banksy, Global Orgasm, Barack Obama

Tonight is the Global Orgasm for Peace: Join it.

Eating at The Waverly Inn in NYC is so much fun it has John Mayer dancing a jig.

Scottsdale police seek leads in gay bashings that occurred in December 2006 and July 2007: "Detectives have investigated all leads to date but have not been able to establish probable cause for any arrests. We are encouraging help from the community to advance the cases."

Mitt Romney's claim that his father marched with Martin Luther King is apparently a complete sham. What a surprise: "He has repeated the claim several times recently, most prominently to Tim Russert on Meet the Press . But, while the late George W. Romney, a four-term governor of Michigan, can lay claim to a strong record on civil rights, the Phoenix can find no evidence that the senior Romney actually marched with King, nor anything in the public record suggesting that he ever claimed to do so. Nor did Mitt Romney ever previously claim that this took place, until long after his father passed away in 1995 -- not even when defending accusations of the Mormon church's discriminatory past during his 1994 Senate campaign." Romney says he meant it in a 'figurative' sense. Right.

Gay Iranian teen waits on Dutch court decision to deport him back to his home country, where we know what he may face.

Hillary Clinton launches two websites intended to expose Barack Obama's "present" votes: "Clinton has attacked Obama for having occasionally voted 'present' (rather than yes or no) as an Illinois state legislator when it came to contentious legislation. It was a legislative maneuver that was sometimes part of a plan by Democrats to give cover to vulnerable colleagues, though in some instances it appears that Obama voted present to avoid taking a position with some political risk -- such as with a bill that would have allowed children as young as 15 who committed crimes with firearms on or near school property to be prosecuted as adults." More on Obama's "present" votes here.

Bethlehem residents paint over Banksy graffiti on West Bank wall: "...the irony behind the depiction of an Israeli soldier checking a donkey's identity papers was lost on some residents, who found it offensive. 'We're humans here, not donkeys,' said Nasri Canavati, a restaurateur. 'This is insulting. I'm glad it was painted over.' To be called a donkey in Palestinian society is similar to being called an idiot."

Former adult film star-turned fashion designer Raymond Dragon returns to the swimwear fold with new line.

An update on the most publicly trashy famous family in America. And a special figurine just in time for Christmas.

Court hears confession of man who dealt fatal blow to researcher of homophobic crime for Metropolitan Police in Britain: "The blow to his face on the evening of September 11 tore an artery at the base of Mr Hoare's brain which caused a fatal swelling. Today (Dec 20) Kingshott, of Maskells Court, Victoria Road, Charlton, admitted manslaughter during a brief hearing at the Old Bailey. On the night of the fatal attack Mr Hoare, a market researcher, had been drinking in the White Swan pub in Charlton village where he had suffered homophobic abuse. He was later found unconscious in the park and died shortly after being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich."

Wardrobe malfunction as Gossip Guys make TRL appearance.

Female British teen punished for brutal 'chair leg' attacks on two lesbians: "The catalogue of abuse took place last year, starting with a vicious attack in July when a 20-year-old man and two teenage girls armed themselves with wooden chair legs and rained blows on the two women until they were barely conscious. Lake, of John Street, Southampton, has already been given a community punishment order for her role in that attack. She has now been sentenced to a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for further harassment and abuse against the couple. Lake, along with a 15-year-old girl who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denied charges of harassment relating to eight incidents but magistrates found them guilty following a trial."

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Towleroad Guide to the Tube #214

MITT TO THE RESCUE: When all else fails, rescue the missing children. Andrew Sullivan says it isn't genuine.

BILL RICHARDSON: New spot drawing distinctions on Iraq policy.

HILLARY CLINTON: Two new ads touting her Des Moines Register endorsement. Seriousness in black and white versus Excitement in color.

LATE UPDATE: Yet another Hillary ad. Presents.

Wait! The ribbons on those presents. I see subliminal CROSSES!!!

Check out our previous guides to the Tube here

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Romney Opens Fire on Huckabee with First GOP Attack Ad

The GOP race is beginnning to get more contentious. Mitt Romney's campaign began running the first GOP attack ad (above, right) in Iowa today, challenging Mike Huckabee's record on illegal immigration. Huckabee began running the ad on the left on Monday.

Talking Points Memo notes: "Such elevated rhetoric — including the Romney campaign's mass e-mailing Monday of an anti-Huckabee Web column — reflects a growing sense of urgency at Romney headquarters, where the game plan all year has been predicated on bowling over rivals with victories in lead-voting Iowa and New Hampshire. With Huckabee taking the lead in polls in Iowa, which votes Jan. 3, and Sen. John McCain of Arizona coming on in New Hampshire, which votes Jan. 8, campaign officials have been debating whether to hit harder or simply take shots only as they present themselves...Romney officials are divided over how serious the threat is, noting that Huckabee is just beginning to face the same media scrutiny Romney has already encountered but also operating under the assumption that 'Huckabee is for real.'"

Wait till the gloves come off on who's more "pro-family."

Recently
Mike Huckabee Stands By 1992 AIDS Quarantine Remarks [tr]
Mike Huckabee: God and Prayer Responsible for His Recent "Surge" [tr]
Mitt Romney to Deliver Speech on Religion and the Presidency [tr]

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Mitt Romney's JFK Photo Op: Fmr Governor, You're No Jack Kennedy

With all the Kennedy-Romney comparisons going on yesterday about Mitt Romney's "religion and the presidency" speech" Andrew Sullivan took a visual trip back into presidential imagery, and asks, was it staged?

What do you think?

Not a doubt in my mind, although I was inspired to dig up the clip AFTER THE JUMP...

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Mitt Romney to Deliver Speech on Religion and the Presidency

At 10:30 am EST, GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney will deliver a speech at the George Bush Presidential Library in Texas on faith in America and how religion should affect the presidency. The speech is being seen as a high-profile gamble by the Mormon candidate to shore up evangelical and right-wing religious votes when some polls show Mike Huckabee pulling ahead. The Mitt-flopper will also be webcasting it on his site.

Here are a few 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."

"When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States."

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes president he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths."

More over at Politico...

UPDATE: Full TEXT of Romney's speech here.

Related
Mitt Romney: I'm the Leading Marriage Protector [tr]
Larry Craig: Romney Threw Me Under Campaign Bus, Ran Over Me [tr]
Log Cabin Republicans Avoid Gay Rights in New Mitt Romney Ad [tr]
Romney Slams Democrats' Support of Gay-Themed Children's Books [tr]
Mitt Romney Attacks Same-Sex Marriage in Iowa Radio Ad [tr]

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News: China Moon, Kevin Rudd, Spice Girls, Kentucky, Truman Capote

Philadelphia Boy Scouts facing eviction for their anti-gay bigotry: "The Cradle of Liberty Council—Philadelphia's Boy Scout chapter—has been housed in an historic building in downtown Philly for almost 80 years, paying almost nothing for the prime piece of proprety under the terms of a 100-year sweetheart lease it inked with the city in 1928. But that lease is set to expire, and city officials say the taxpayer's shouldn't be footing the Scouts rent bill because of it's national policy banning openly gay members and leaders. The Scouts must either pony up the fair market rent for the space—about $200,000 a year—or find a new home."

Back to 1996: Spice Girls kick off world tour in Vancouver, with real live vocals! "There is a click track for the band to keep them in time, which is standard, but all of the girls' vocals were live."

British Panto theatre comes out of the closet: "Panto has cross-dressing, innuendo and glitter, so maybe we've reached the point where we've stopped pretending that it's just camp and really it's as gay as you like. It's built into the form."

The NYT takes a lo