The Gist

Obama on Christians Who Bash Gays

A lot of discussion on the show today, and throughout the blogosphere, about Obama's statements in Beaumont, Texas late Friday after he was asked by a questioner about LGBT rights. I think it was a major deal, and pretty groundbreaking, that Obama addressed this the way he did, talking about the Sermon on the Mount, and challenging what seems have been a largely African-American and most likely Christian audience. But I must say, what I was most impressed by was his comparing gays to immigrants and Muslims in terms of being scapegoated. I think it was refreshing, and politically brave, for a guy who is being smeared as a Muslim to actually come out and defend Muslims.