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VIDEO: Pawlenty Claims "Science is in Dispute" on Homosexuality

PHOTO: AP

Earlier this week, former Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty expressed his admiration for Lady Gaga "even though she’s a little unusual." The anti-gay Republican presidential candidate admitted that he enjoys her LGBT anthem "Born This Way" but claims that scientists are "in dispute" over a genetic cause of homosexuality.

From the transcript:

GREGORY: Is being gay a choice?

PAWLENTY: The science in that regard is in dispute. I mean, the scientists work on that and try to figure out if it's behavioral...

GREGORY: What do you think?

PAWLENTY: Well, I defer to the scientists in that regard.

GREGORY: So you, you think it's not a choice. That you are, as Lady Gaga says, you're born that way.

PAWLENTY: There's no scientific conclusion that it's genetic. We don't know that.

There is actually very little "dispute" among health and medical professionals. "All major medical professional organizations agree that sexual orientation is not a choice and cannot be changed, from gay to straight or otherwise," reports Think Progress.

Pawlenty has promised to reinstate 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'  if elected president. Pawlenty also vetoed a bill that would have allowed same sex partners the right to make burial decisions

Perhaps Pawlenty believes that promoting his anti-gay credentials will help him in the socially conservative Iowa Republican  Straw Poll. Pawlenty has been polling poorly in Iowa and experts believe a poor showing on August 13 could "doom" his presidential campaign.

Via Think Progress, watch the clip WHEN YOU JUMP ...

VIDEO: GOP Presidential Candidates Call for Fed Marriage Amendment

PHOTO: GETTY

During the first New Hampshire Republican presidential debate last night on CNN, the candidates were asked if they would try to overturn state laws.

Igor Volsky at Think Progress:

Hermain Cain and Ron Paul said that marriage should be left to the states, while Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum all called for a federal amendment outlawing same-sex marriages. Michele Bachmann — who recently pressed other states to follow Minnesota’s example and put the question on the ballot — managed to argue that she does support a constitutional amendment but "would not be going into the states to overturn their state law."

Thrice-married serial adulterer Newt Gingrich added: "I was one of the authors of the Defense of Marriage Act. The Obama Administration needs to defend that law, there is no other choice but an amendment."

Of course, Newt. Just like you had "no other choice" but to carry on that affair with an intern at the same time you were "defending marriage". Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

 

POLL: Herman Cain Leads Gingrich Among Georgia GOP Voters

PHOTO: AP/FOX

Black conservative and right-wing Tea Party favorite Herman Cain is preferred by more Georgia Republican voters than any other GOP presidential candidate, according to a new InsiderAdvantage/WSB-TV poll.

Cain holds a substantial lead with 26 percent, double the second place Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN). Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is third with 13 percent, reports WSB.

Following Cain and Bachman in the poll is former Speaker Of the House Newt Gingrich, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The poll of 407 people has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent. "Newt Gingrich has not had a big presence in Georgia since the 1990s, so it's understandable he's not going to be leading the pack," [Matt Towery, CEO of InsiderAdvantage] said.

It's been a very good week for the anti-gay Black Republican. Cain and Sarah Palin are tied for second place at 15 percent in the new Iowa PPP. Romney is first. 

Cain's off-color jokes about the "Democratic plantation" will probably attract a few more GOP voters. But do you see a Black Republican winning the Georgia primary? Haha.

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WATCH: Anti-Gay Tim Pawlenty Announces Presidential Run

Former Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who once vetoed a bill that would have allowed same sex partners the right to make burial decisions, officially announced his 2012 presidential run. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Anti-Gay Former MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty Launches Presidential Bid

Anti-gay former Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced his 2012 presidential run on Facebook with a new video.

Watch the video WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Mitt Romney Wins New Hampshire Presidential Straw Poll

"Multiple Choice" Mitt Romney returns to the news. The gazillionaire former Massachusetts governor and airbrushed anti-gay 2008 presidential candidate has emerged as the favorite in the much-hyped New Hampshire straw poll.

Romney took the top spot in a presidential straw poll of the 493 members of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee. Thirty-five percent of the 273 members voting in the straw poll backed Romney, who came in second in the state's 2008 Republican primary and earlier this month held a wide lead in a poll of New Hampshire Republicans and GOP-leaning independents.

Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul came in second in the straw poll with 11 percent, followed by former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty (R) with eight percent, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin (R) with seven percent and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) with five percent.

The straw poll, which was conducted by ABC News and Manchester-based WMUR-TV at the state party's annual gathering in Derry, asked state committee members to choose from 20 potential White House contenders, including those such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) who have ruled out of the running. Write-in candidates were also permitted.

The presidential primary and caucus season is a year away and experts caution against reading too much into the results. "It’s an initial taking of the temperature of the activists in New Hampshire," University of New Hampshire political science professor  Dante Scala tells the Boston Herald. "But I would caution reading too much into it. I’m sure the situation is very fluid right now even among activists. There are going to be a lot of twists and turns between this January and next."

Fewer than 300 state committee members voted in the poll, but 421 members "cast ballots in the race for state party chairman" and selected a Tea Party activist as state party chairman, adds the Wasington Post.

Minnesota GOP Gov Tim Pawlenty Vetoes Gay Burial Rights Bill

Minnesota's Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill over the weekend  that would have allowed gay and lesbians the right to make after-life decisions with the body of their deceased partner, reports The Pioneer Press. 

"Pawlenty said he would veto the bill, calling it unnecessary because partners can draw up a living will. But advocates argue married couples do not have to do that and legal documents often cost money to draft. The "Final Wishes" bill would have been the second one supported by Project 515 to be passed into law. The group is named after the 515 Minnesota laws it says discriminate against same-sex couples, though the group is not seeking marriage rights for gays and lesbians."

Pawlenty declined to seek a third term in 2010 and is often mentioned as a 2012 presidential candidate, btw.  

In January, you may recall that Rhode Island legislators easily overrode anti-gay GOP Governor Donald Carcieri's mean-spirited veto of a similar bill that granted funeral decision-making rights to same-sex couples.

Michael K. Williams on "The Wire": Omar's Sexuality is "Fearless"

Michael K. Williams is the man of the moment. Last week, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama heralded Williams' character "Omar"—the black gay homothug and stickup artist with the heart of gold on HBO's gritty drama The Wire—as his favorite character on television. This week. Williams is interviewed on NPR and says Omar's shotgun is not the most fearless aspect of his character. It's being openly gay.

"The most fearless thing I had to play as Omar was his openness about his sexuality," Williams tells Terry Gross in the interview on Fresh Air. (Audio) "I wanted that to be serious, I wanted him to be believable, and, I didn't wan to disrespect anyone in the gay community."

The actor also says he had no hesitation about playing the character and embraced the role. "I looked at this as an opportunity to stand out," Williams says. "I saw there were some stellar kick ass actors on the series, I wanted to fit in."

Williams says that prove his mettle, he surprised his co-star and improvised that first kiss with "Brandon" on Season One. "I told him we should put the kiss in there and he said, 'Don't tell me when you're going to do it, just surprise me.' So we did it. Then, after we finished and loaded the bullets in the shogun, 'click-click', it was like the ultimate contrast to me."

Michael K. Williams interview with Terry Gross is beautiful. It's rare to hear actors—especially from the black community, and, the inner cities—present so much honesty and respect to their LGBT characters and the community. It's also rare to hear an actor discuss the psychology and sexuality of a character and never once cite their own heterosexuality as a buffer. Bravo.

Thanks MARK.

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Obama: Omar on "The Wire" is A "Black, Gay, Fascinating" Character [R20]
Michael K. Williams and Being Gay on "The Wire" [R20]
Why Obama is Losing Black Voters [HuffPo]
Welcome to the Campaign, Barack [HuffPo]
Deb Price on Blacks LGBTs and Obama [R20]
All Up in Omar's Game [Popnography]
The Parts You Can't Make Up [Popnography]
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Obama: Omar on "The Wire" is A "Black, Gay, Fascinating" Character

Now that's hot. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama joins the ranks of the many television critics to describe HBO's The Wire as the best show on television. Obama also channels many basketball players and our blog buddy Shana Naomi at Popnography to say his favorite character is "Omar Little", the black gay homothug and stickup artist with the heart of gold. The character is played by Michael K. Williams, seen on the left with his on-screen love interest Renaldo, played by Ramon Rodriguez.

"Omar is a great guy," the senator tells the Las Vegas Sun. "That’s not an endorsement. He’s not my favorite person, but he’s a fascinating character."

Much more context if you listen to the accompanying audio interview. "He's this black, gay gangster who only robs drug dealers, and then gives back," Obama exlains in the audio interview. "He's the toughest, baddest guy on this show, but he's gay, you know. And it's really interesting."

Sure, we all knew that last part, but, it's a great feeling to read and hear those words coming from a presidential candidate—especially the same one who took some fire from the black gay community after the Donnie McClurkin fiasco last November.

More BARCK OBAMA

You May Have Missed ...
Michael K. Williams and Being Gay on "The Wire" [R20]
Why Obama is Losing Black Voters [HuffPo]
Welcome to the Campaign, Barack [HuffPo]
Deb Price on Blacks LGBTs and Obama [R20]
All Up in Omar's Game [Popnography]
The Parts You Can't Make Up [Popnography]
Best Gay Sex Scenes on TV [After Elton]