On Today's Show

At 3:30 ET: A lot more is on the ballot than gay marriage in some states: In Arkansas voters will decide whether to ban adoptions and foster parenting by gay couples. I'll speak with Debbie Willhite, president of Arkansas Families First. She's a long-time Democratic strategist and was field director of Bill Clinton's campaign for governor.


At 4:30 ET: Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, joins me to talk about his open letter to Colin Powell, upon Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama. Powell had said it was time for a more "diverse and inclusive way across society." Is the former general, who staunchly opposed Bill Clinton for wanting to allow gays to serve openly in the military, changing his mind on "don't ask, don't tell," which Obama wants to overturn?

Powell had asked, when he criticized John McCain's tactics, Is there something wrong with a Muslim kid dreaming he could be president of the United States? Sarvis asked Powell in his letter if there is something wrong with a gay kid dreaming he could be a solider. We'll find out if there has been a response and what he thinks are the former general's views now.

Colin Powell Endorses Obama

As much as I have not -- unlike much of the media these days -- forgiven Colin Powell for his horrendous actions as a member of Team Bush in the run-up to the war in Iraq, I must say that this is a stirring endorsement of Obama and a repudiation of John McCain, the Republican Party, Sarah Palin and the right-wing. It will get conservatives all hot and bothered. And they will surely say it's just because he's black. Already, with all of the powerful things Powell said about Obama which could be focused on, Drudge is pushing it with the headline, "Powell For Obama: It's Not About Race."