Obama's gay community problem

One of the issues I missed during my hardware-induced semi-vacation from blogging was Gen. Peter Pace's use of the word "immoral" to describe gays. Last week, Barack Obama was asked about Pace's statement, and Obama fumbled his response.

From the Chicago "free registration required" Tribune:

Obama's first answer was: "I think traditionally the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman has restricted his public comments to military matters. That's probably a good tradition to follow."

Asked a second time, he said: "I think the question here is whether somebody is willing to sacrifice for their country."

When asked a third time, the senator ignored the question, signed an autograph, posed for a photo and then jumped into a Lincoln Town Car, according to a report by Newsday.

The exchange left some gays and lesbians cold, shocked that someone they trusted would not immediately defend them.

Hillary Clinton's initial response on this issue wasn't one that pleased the gay community either, but her campaign quickly sprang back to defend gays.

It's amazing how awkward these candidates are when they are away from their handlers.

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