Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

Teddy Endorsed Obama to Preserve JFK's Civil Rights "Legacy"?

What "civil rights legacy"?

We're on the front page at the Huffington Post.

The comparisons to John F. Kennedy are obvious, but, if you want to compare Obama to a popular, anti-war Kennedy who captured the country's youthful spirit of the 60s, you might want to look to a different Kennedy: Robert F. Kennedy.

John F. Kennedy was a cold warrior, a hawk and an interventionist who escalated Vietnam. Sure he inspired the youth and optimism, but if he ran today, as a Democrat, JFK would be hanging out with Sam Nunn or (shudder) Joe Lieberman.

More BARACK OBAMA
More POLITICS
More HUFFINGTON POST

Some Background:
Ted Kennedy to Endorse Obama [R20]
Obama Addresses Homophobia and Anti-Semitism [R20]
Welcome to the Campaign, Barack [HuffPo]
Paging John Edwards and Barack Obama [HuffPo]
This Barack Obama Should Tell Bob Novak [HuffPo]
Why Obama is Losing Black Voters [HuffPo]
Welcome to the Campaign, Barack [HuffPo]
Kerry to Endorse Obama [R20]
Deval Patrick Endorses Obama [R20]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
Democratic Candidates Debate Gay Issues [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Hillary: The Advocate Interview [R20]
Obama on McClurkin to "The Advocate" [R20]
Barack Obama Wins Iowa [R20]
The Advocate: Clinton vs Obama [R20]
Rove on Obama: "Lazy" and "Basketball Playing" [R20]

Today 3P ET Michelangelo Signorile Show: LGBT Presidential Caucus

Later this afternoon, we are one of several panelists on The Michelangelo Signorile Show on Sirius OutQ Satellite Radio. Sign up for your free trial HERE. The show airs 2:00PM-6:00PM ET. Official representatives for the Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama campaigns will answer questions, take your calls and argue their candidates positions on LGBT issues.

The campaign representatives include:

Hilary Rosen will represent Hillary Clinton. Former Chairman and chief executive officer of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). She is currently the President of OurChart.com.

Stampp Corbin will represent Senator Obama. Corbin is the National LGBT Liaison for the Obama campaign, and Co-Chair of the National LGBT Leadership Team, Obama for America '08. He served on The Board of Directors of the Human Rights Campaign from 1996-2003.

A number of prominent LGBT journalists, bloggers and pundits will be on hand to press the campaigns on their positions. The other invited panelists include our blog buddies Pam Spaulding and Andy Towle, Washington Blade EIC Kevin Naff, transsexual activist Donna Rose, and, Log Cabin Republican President Patrick Sammon.

Many of you probably have questions for the candidates, so, feel free to share them in comments. The obvious are questions on ENDA, "Don't Ask Don't Tell", and, hate crimes. Some of you may have reservations on Barack Obama after the Donnie McClurkin episode, or, question Clinton's commitment to ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy while we are fighting two wars. The Q&A begins at 3:30 ET.

News: Rockmond Dunbar, Economy, Maxine Waters, Indiana Marriage

· On the same day new economic data proves "the economy had slowed significantly in the final three months of 2007," the Federal Reserve Bank lowers the fed funds rate by half a point to 3 percent. This is the second discount in eight days after last week's emergency rate cut. Wall Street closes down as investors anticipate higher unemployment.

· Senate Finance Committee approves $157 billion economic stimulus package "that offers smaller tax rebates" to more people than last week's plan passed by the House. The Senate plan provides "a flat $500 tax rebate to individuals and $1,000 for couples, plus $300 per child. The rebates also would go to about 20 million low-income retirees on Social Security."

· AOL's Jawn Murray reports Prison Break and Dirty Laundry star Rockmond Dunbar is "cast in Tyler Perry's sixth film, The Family that Preys Together ... with Sanaa Lathan, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard. Variety reports Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is also in talks to star."

· House passes 15-day extension of surveillance law.

· On a 39-9 vote, Indiana's Republican-controlled Senate approves "a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would limit marriage to opposite-sex couples." The bill moves to the Democrat-controlled House, where the leadership says "the amendment is not needed."

· California Rep. Maxine Waters, one of the veterans of the Congressional Black Caucus, endorses Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as "a no-nonsense, articulate and experienced public-policy maker" to address what she calls a "permanent recession" in the inner cities.

· The FBI investigates 14 companies related to the subprime mortgage crisis for "accounting fraud, securitization of loans and insider trading, among other areas."

Rod 2.0 Exclusive: "Jill Scott Live in Paris" DVD Review and Giveaway

Live in Paris is the first concert DVD from the phenomenally talented Jill Scott. The concert DVD comes on the heels of her critically-acclaimed third studio album, The Real Thing, and is scheduled to drop on February 5. That date is only three days before the broadcast of the Grammy Awards, where "Jilly from Philly" is nominated in three categories. In other words, this is Jill Scott's moment.

The Live in Paris DVD is a fabulous journey of sight and sound and will please most fans because the essence of the Jill Scott concert experience—the intimacy —is not lost in translation. The set was recorded over Thanksgiving weekend in 2007 at the historic Elysee Montmartre, a cavernous belle arts that hosted a standing room only, sold-out crowd and the video production crew was "fairly well hidden in head to toe black and clearly instructed by Jill not to be seen nor heard from," executive producer Steve McKeever tells Rod 2.0. McKeever says the cameras were tucked away so "not to intrude on the intimate exchange between audience and artist."

It shows. Live in Paris is an eclectic collection of vintage and new Scott and the sound is brilliant. The first set is "The Way", one of our favorites from Who is Jill Scott, but with a killer bass hook. The driving tempo and stomping feet—plus Jill's sky-high Afro and "Proud Lady" t-shirt—is vintage 1970s. For extra measure, the artist introduces her bass player for an extended solo. Class. The segue to the second track, "Whatever", is effortless and also quite retro. It's beautiful to hear the hook of this R&B song played with a xylophone. By the time Jill reaches "Golden", you're captivated and imaging yourself in the Parisian concert hall—her voice is rare, haunting, beautiful, and, the ambiance of the French-accented voices in the crowd is wonderful. As a treat, Jill invites her fans to sing along in the final set, "He Loves Me" and it is a wonderful harmony.

There are some nice bonus features. In addition to the behind-the-scenes documentary shot on the streets of Paris, Jill Scott fans will be happy to see the live "mini-concert" at the Los Angeles House of Blues. This includes four new tracks from The Real Thing, "Crown Royal", Hate on Me", "My Love" and "All I." Of those, the first two are our faves, possibly because they are up-tempo.

Jill Scott:Live in Paris is the first concert DVD in a new series from Jill's label, Hidden Beach Recordings, the niche label that also boasts Brenda Russell, Keite Young and Rod 2.0 fave Cornel West. The DVD will also be packaged will an accompanying audio CD.

Thanks to Jill Scott, her management and Hidden Beach, a limited number of DVDs will be given away to Rod 2.0 readers. In the comments below, tell us the name of your favorite Jill Scott song and in a short paragraph (or two) explain why. Include your name and correct email and we'll choose five or more responses. The DVDs will be mailed directly from Hidden Beach next week. The giveaway closes Thursday afternoon at 6pm ET.

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Jill Scott: Gimme [R20]
News: Washington DPs, Colorado, Jill Scott [R20]

Edwards to Quit Presidential Race

This is not very surprising. Former Sen. John Edwards indicates he will drop out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Edwards has campaigned on a progressive, populist platform, and, his strong positions on poverty, health, labor and LGBT made him the early favorite of the e-telligentsia.

According to the AP, the announcement will happen in the city where the campaign began in December 2006: "The two-time White House candidate notified a close circle of senior advisers that he planned to make the announcement at a 1 p.m. EST event in New Orleans that had been billed as a speech on poverty, according to two aides."

Edwards' issue-based campaign lost the early four nominating states and failed to gain traction with voters—not surprising because of the massive early momentum behind Hillary Clinton and the post-Iowa juggernaut of Barack Obama.

Edwards has amassed 26 delegates in the race for the Democratic nomination. (Some reports say 56, these may include DNC super delegates.) The former North Carolina senator "will not immediately endorse either candidate in what is now a two-person race for the Democratic nomination, said one adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity in advance of the announcement."

Although this means the Democratic primary is finally a two-person, battle of the giants, it is not necessarily a cause for celebration. John Edwards is an honorable, principled man, and, his and Elizabeth Edwards' dramatic personal story captivated the hearts and minds of the voters. In more ways than one, his campaign was the conscience of the party: Edwards was first to present a detailed plan on universal health care, and, moved the other candidates toward more progressive LGBT positions and tougher stands on HIV/AIDS. On a personal note, the Edwards campaign was a good friend to the blogosphere and staffers were quick to return calls and emails.

We're looking forward to seeing him as the (hopeful) attorney general in the Clinton or Obama administration.

Edwards Quitting Presidential Race [CNN]
John Edwards to Quit [AP/Raw]

More JOHN EDWARDS
More POLITICS

Some Background ...
Edwards Unveils $50 Billion Plan to Fight HIV/AIDS [R20]
Edwards: Universal Coverage [R20]
Paging John Edwards and Barack Obama: Your Republican Talking Points Are Calling! [Huff Po]
Clinton, Edwards Oppose Surgeon General Nominee [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Elizabeth Edwards on Gays and Ann Coulter [R20]
News: Hillary Clinton Leads, Ann Coulter [R20]
SCOTUS Rejects School Diversity [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Edwards Campaign Launches 12-City Poverty Tour [R20]
John Edwards "Unaware of Wife's Position [R20]
Elizabeth Edwards: "Comfortable with Gay Marriage" [R20]
News: New Mexico, Mary J Blige, Edwards [R20]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
SCOTUS Rejects School Diversity [R20]

McCain Targets Romney with Anti-Gay Robo-calls in Florida

Did John McCain learn his lesson on the power of push polls, robocalls and smear tactics in the South Carolina primary of 2000? No, not really. In the past 24 hours, the McCain campaign has aggressively bombarded Florida voters with a deceptive robo-call that attacks "Multiple Choice" Mitt Romney's formerly gay-friendly positions—and ignores his own flip-flopping on gay rights and marriage equality.

Text of automated call:

"We care deeply about traditional values and protecting families. And we need someone who will not waver in the White House: Ending abortion, preserving the sanctity of marriage, stopping the trash on the airwaves and attempts to ban God from every corner of society. These issues are core to our being.

"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.

"Unfortunately, on issue after issue Mitt Romney has treated social issues voters as fools, thinking we won’t catch on. Sorry, Mitt, we know you aren’t trustworthy on the most important issue and you aren’t a conservative. Paid for by John McCain 2008."

The timing of the automated calls and the references to "gays" and "special rights" make it obvious McCain hopes gay panic will turn out the social conservative vote. Perhaps he heard that Romney would be "tougher" on the "militant gay agenda"?

"It's ironic that Sen. John McCain is using the same tactics that George Bush used against him in 2000; surreptitiously trying to exploit anti-gay prejudice for votes," Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese tells Sam Stein at the Huffington Post. "So much for John McCain being above that."

That automated message refers to Romney's unsuccessful 1994 run for the Senate, when he boasted that he would be more pro-gay rights than Ted Kennedy. Since then, Romney has flipped back and forth on gay rights, and, at least for today, he is against it. The call—which apparently was pulled tonight, after the damage was done—totally glosses over McCain's records on the "sanctity of marriage." (=Second mariage and cheate don first wife.) The Arizona senator opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment but starred in several commercials for the proposed amendment that ultimately lost.

McCain ran a series of anti-Mormon push calls in New Hampshire. This must be his new strategy.

(H/T: Pam and Nico)

More MITT ROMNEY
More POLITICS
More JOHN McCAIN

You May Want to Read ...
NH Voters Targeted by Anti-Mormon "Push Polls" [R20]
Romney, McCain Offer More Anti-Gay Rhetoric [R20]
McCain Flip-Flops on Gay Rights [R20]
McCain Promotes Abstinence [R20]
McCain Hires Producer of Racist Ads [R20]
McCain Flip-Flops on Gay Rights [R20]
Yes But No—But Yes [R20]
McCain: Not "Catering" to Far Right [R20]
McCain Promotes Abstinence [R20]
McCain's MLK Day: "Pandering" to Racists [R20]
Multiple Choice Mitt [NY Blade and Wash Blade]
NYT Profiles Romney's "Shift" on Gay Rights [R20]
Lesbian Mom Confronts Romney [R20]
Romney Quotes Scripture on Gay Marriage [R20]
"Multiple Choice" Mitt [R20]
Romney Latest: "I Am Not Anti-Gay" [R20]
Romney Panders to Far Right [R20]
Let the Gay Bashing Begin [R20]
For Gay Rights Before He Was Against It [R20]
McCain Flip-Flops on Gay Rights [R20]
Matthews and Newsweek: Mitt Romney is "Buff" [R20]
Romney's Latest: Gays in the Military [R20]
One Question for Mitt Romney [R20]
Will the Real Mitt Romney Please Stand Up? [R20]
Romney Defends Flip-Flopping [R20].

Plaxico's Super Bowl Predictions

This is Super Bowl XLII week and the Giants are now in Arizona and preparing for the big game. Before leaving the Meadowlands, some confident predictions from Plaxico Burress, the handsome wide receiver and one of the team's phenoms.

As he pulled his car up to the Giants Stadium tunnel to unload his bags, Burress yesterday morning was asked by The Post a direct question: Are you ready to make history? "You better believe it," the towering Giants receiver said.

And then, as he entered the stadium and turned left toward the Giants locker room, Burress was asked for his prediction. Burress never hesitated, flatly stating "23-17."

We're assuming Plaxico was referring to the Giants, even though the odds are New England will walk away with another Super Bowl ring.

Since we're on Plaxico's jock today—umm, not literally—it's probably worth noting that he is (finally) recovering from that nasty right-ankle sprain aggravated in Game 2 and has sidelined him from much of the season's practice. Predictably, he doesn't have much sympathy for Patriots QB Tom Brady's much-reported ankle sprain. "Nah, man, it's Tom Brady," Burress said, as if being Brady meant nothing bad could ever happen to you."

Com-Plax Numbers [NYP]
Nothing Lame About Plaxico [Phil Inquirer]

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More FOOTBALL

Obama Snubs Clinton at SOTU

President George W. Bush delivers his last State of the Union address and maintains the state of our union "remains strong." There are serious questions about that claim, but, if you looked down the aisle, the state of the union between the two Democratic presidential front runners was very icy.

Pictures tell a thousand words, so you create your own headline with this photo of Sen. Barack Obama turning his back to Sen. Hillary Clinton when she stepped over to shake hands with him and Sen. Edward Kennedy, who endorsed his presidential bid earlier that day.

A first person description from "The Swamp", the politics blog of the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau:

When members of the Senate entered the chamber, Obama came in before Clinton. He went out of his way to greet as many House members as possible and walked halfway across the chamber to greet members of the Supreme Court, the president's cabinet, the military joint chiefs.

That made what happened next even more striking. Obama returned to stand by his seat next to Sen. Edward Kennedy who endorsed Obama today in a widely watched event that reverberated across the political world.

As Clinton approached, Kennedy made sure to make eye contact and indicated he wanted to shake her hand. Clinton leaned towards Kennedy over a row of seats and Kennedy leaned in towards her. They shook hands.

Obama stood icily staring at Clinton during this, then turned his back and stepped a few feet away. Kennedy may've wanted to make peace with Clinton but Obama clearly wanted no part of that.

Interesting. Obama has campaigned as willing to bridge partisan divides, work with Republicans, and, meet with dictators—without preconditions. Perhaps this is an example. No matter how you spin the narrative—Obama strategist David Axelrod has a very predictable defense—it's part and parcel of a larger pattern seen on the campaign trail: The actions sometimes do not match the inspirational rhetoric.

Here is the moment from another angle:

Barack Obama is a spectacular candidate and his election could represent an historic moment in American history. However, he is not without his faults, most of which are routinely ignored in the anti-Clinton hysteria. It's almost embarrassing to channel Andrew Sullivan with the daily and obligatory WWHD? comparison, but, it goes without saying that if Clinton went out of her way to walk "halfway across the chamber to greet members of the Supreme Court, the president's cabinet, the military joint chiefs" ... well, that would certainly feed the "Republican lite" and Bush collaborator narrative, no?

No Chitchat Between Obama and Clinton [AP]
Frosty Moment Between Obama, Clinton [NYT]
At SOTU, Obama's Snub [Tribune]

More BARACK OBAMA
More HILLARY CLINTON

Some Background:
Kerry to Endorse Obama [R20]
Deval Patrick Endorses Obama [R20]
Obama Addresses Homophobia and Anti-Semitism [R20]
Welcome to the Campaign, Barack [HuffPo]
Paging John Edwards and Barack Obama [HuffPo]
This Barack Obama Should Tell Bob Novak [HuffPo]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
Democratic Candidates Debate Gay Issues [R20]
Behind the Gay-Friendly Faces [Advocate]
Hillary: The Advocate Interview [R20]
Obama on McClurkin to "The Advocate" [R20]
Barack Obama Wins Iowa [R20]
The Advocate: Clinton vs Obama [R20]
Ted Kennedy to Endorse Obama [R20]
Rove on Obama: "Lazy" and "Basketball Playing" [R20]
Obama's Mistake Raises Questions [Det News]
Democratic Debate Addresses Homopohobia, Race [R20]
HRC/Logo Forum: Obama Conference Call [R20]
HRC/Logo Forum: Morning After [R20]
Obama Meets the Press to Discuss Gays and Mclurkin [R20]
"Would You Let a White Supremacist..." [R20]
Far Right Christians Opposed to Obama [R20]
Far-Right Not Interested in Disease [R20]

Ex-Romney Strategist, Sex Offender Questioned in Baby Homicide

The hits keep coming for "Multiple Choice" Mitt Romney, the airbrushed gazillionaire, former governor of Massachusetts and Republican presidential candidate. On the eve of the Florida Republican primary, news surfaces that a former aide is once again behind bars on sex offender charges after being questioned in connection with the homicide of a seven-month-old girl.

The Boston Herald: 26-year-old Matthew Joseph Elliott, former strategist with the Romney Iowa campaign, "was arrested Monday night at a Des Moines home where the baby died. An autopsy ruled the death a homicide, police said. West Des Moines Police Lt. Jeff Miller said no suspects have been named in the baby’s killing but Elliott has been questioned in connection with her death. Elliott has not been charged"

Several sources confirm Elliott's extensive arrest record—the registered sex offender was convicted in Iowa in October 2006 of exploiting a minor, and, "his rap sheet in Iowa also includes charges of escaping from authorities and violating the state’s sex offender registry, records show." Given this history, it is very curious that not only was he a key player in Romney's advance operation in Iowa, but, once played a leadership role in Iowa College Republicans and was director of the Iowa GOP's legislative campaign operation.

Elliott's arrest is just the latest chapter in a revolving door of Republican presidential strategists involved in violent crimes or sexual offenses. John McCain co-chairman Bob Allen arrested and convicted for offering an undercover (black!) male police officer $20 to perform oral sex. Rudy Giuliani event organizer was arrested for extorting a (male!) college student in a sex case. South Carolina Giuliani co-chairman indicted for running a cocaine ring? You have to love those Republican family values ...

Ex-Romney Iowa Worker Quizzed in Baby Slay [BH]
Ex-Romney Aide Busted on Sex Offender Charges [Raw]

More MITT ROMNEY
More CRIME

You May Want to Read ...
Giuliani Hires Producer of Race-Baiting, "Bimbo" Ad [R20]
Giuliani Aide Arrested for Extortion [R20]
MN Giuliani Official Repeatedly Uses N-Word [R20]
A Tale of Two Cities [Advocate]
REPUBLICAN Bob Allen CONVICTED of Oral Sex, Solicitation [R20]
GOP Rep. Bob Allen Apologizes to NAACP [R20]
FL Rep. Caught Soliciting: "Blacks Made Me Do It" [R20]
FL GOP Rep. Charged with Soliciting Oral [R20]
(Another) Conservative Caught in Sex Scandal [R20]
Yet ANOTHER Republican Caught Cruising [R20]
Senate Republicans Knew About "Closeted" Larry Craig's "Weird Problem" [R20]
Larry Craig Vows to Remain in Office [R20]
Larry Craig Pays a Surprise Visit to Senate [R20]
News: Larry Craig Latest, David Vitter [R20]
Larry Craig Latest: "Not Guilty!" [R20]
WI Republican Chairman Faces Charges in (Gay) Sex and Drugs Scandal with Teen [R20]

Darien Sills-Evans in "Rejected" Commercial for Chemistry.com

This isn't new but it's noteworthy. Dreamy actor Darien Sills-Evans stars in one of the Chemistry.com television spots that takes eHarmony to task for rejecting applicants. Some of the storylines in the "Rejected" campaign specifically refer to sexuality, but, this spot is ambiguous, which makes it very interesting.

In the spot, Darien says he "received a Dear John letter from eHarmony" rejecting his application. "Man, I started lifting, working out a little bit, you know, trying to get in shape," he explains. Not sure what the bias could be, but, take your choice—race, sexuality, not muscular enough, who knows. The comment thread at YouTube goes back and forth on dating services that discriminate against gays, so, maybe there was some (very subtle) gay subtext.

It's always great to Darien Sills-Evans working, with his nerdy-sexy self. It was hard not to love his work long ago on Cosby, but, we'll always remember his performance in The Reception, where he plays a closeted gay man involved in a complex love triangle. That film has never received the praise that its due and provides two outstanding roles for black gay film characters.

(Note: Chemistry.com occasionally advertises on Rod 2.0)

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Breakthrough Roles for Black and Latino Men [After Elton]
Beyond the Sassy Sidekicks?" [After Elton]
TV's Most Influential Gay Male Sex Scenes [After Elton]