Obama Maddens the Gays, And Rightfully So.

Who is Obama's choice of a spiritual leader for his highly-anticipated and potentially record-breaking inauguration?  

Jeremiah Wright.  

Ha!  GOT YOU!  No, but seriously, it's totally not Jeremiah Wright.  Though, he really should be.  Jeremiah Wright is his pastor for shit's sake.  And, he is as American and as passionate and as worthy a character to send Mr. Obama--the first African-American President, did we forget that?--into the Presidency. 

But alas, it's some Evangelical, of course.

How could he do this to us progressives?!  Rick Warren--the Evangelical southern California minister--claims he champions tolerance and acceptance at his parish, Saddleback Church; but this is a 'tolerance' champion who, in the same INTERVIEW, discussed his church's help in the AIDS crisis and "compared the 'redefinition of marriage' to include gay marriage [and] legitimizing incest, child abuse, and polygamy."  

WTF!?!

I mean, I love Obama as much as you do (maybe not you, but DEFINITELY you), but this is a clear F in Ass to the GLBTA community...pun intended? 

In all seriousness, many have described this as Obama's first mistake and indeed it is. Alienating this community--especially in the wake of Prop 8's passage and especially since this minister actively supported Prop 8--is a terrible idea politically and further, damages his credibility as a progressive.  

Can Bill's Foundation Screw Obama's Promise?

Bill Clinton today released a ridiculously long document detailing the list of donors to his private and somewhat controversial foundation.  

It's a shame that he didn't just hold a press conference and air all the massive donations he's received from foreign nationals.  It might've helped to clear the air.

The Obama vetting process for the Clintons a month or so back cleared the way for a Secretary of State nomination for Hillary, but I really wonder how much of the vetting was for show, and how much was a true examination of the the financial dealings of former President Clinton.  

Politico.com reports that Clinton has received upwards of 25 million dollars from Saudi sources.  Also, according to Politico, the former president's foundation--The William J. Clinton Foundation--has raised significant resources "from Norway, Kuwait, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Italy and Jamaica."  

If Obama thought he was caught in the Clinton web of entanglements, favors, political currents, and international history during the primary season, he is about to come face to face with that reality in his Presidency.  While Ms. Clinton will serve at Mr. Obama's pleasure, he can nearly guarantee that the Clinton machine will affect the way in which he hopes to conduct diplomacy.  

Look for Obama to break out the short leash on Ms. Clinton (and, presumably, Mr. Clinton), in order to steer away from becoming the administration of political favors.