First up, sex ed in Kindergarten:

Sex Ed for Kindergarteners 'Right Thing to Do,' Says Obama

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Lindsey Ellerson Report: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told Planned Parenthood Tuesday that sex education for kindergarteners, as long as it is "age-appropriate," is "the right thing to do."

"I remember Alan Keyes . . . I remember him using this in his campaign against me," Obama said in reference to the conservative firebrand who ran against him for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Sex education for kindergarteners had become an issue in his race against Keyes because of Obama’s work on the issue as chairman of the health committee in the Illinois state Senate.

"'Barack Obama supports teaching sex education to kindergarteners,'" said Obama mimicking Keyes' distinctive style of speech. "Which -- I didn’t know what to tell him (laughter)."

"But it’s the right thing to do," Obama continued, "to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools."

I don't have the foggiest notion what age appropriate sex ed for a 5 year old is.  Obama is an idiot.

But that aside, he knows who his biggest threat is (barring the Goracle's last minute entry):

Obama Tries to Peel Away Clinton Backers

Barack Obama says people are sure to love him once they get to know him.

For now, though, Democrats seem to love Hillary Rodham Clinton more, so Obama is trying to turn heads with select jabs at his chief rival.

Among his criticisms in recent weeks, Obama has:

_Rejected the notion that she's more prepared for the job. "The only person who would probably be prepared to be our president on Day One would be Bill Clinton—not Hillary Clinton," he said.

_Repeatedly reminded voters that she supported the Iraq war resolution, trying to cut off any credit she might get for trying to repeal the authorization now. "There are no do-overs on an issue as important as war," he said, and called her approach "convoluted."

_Pushed back at Clinton's efforts to portray herself as a candidate for change. "Change can't just be a slogan," Obama said. "Change has to mean that we're not doing the same old thing that we've been doing."

He has also engaged a heavy hitter:

 Oprah Winfrey to Raise Money for Obama

Forget the girl of YouTube videos. The real Obama girl is doing her part for the candidate. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey plans to hold a Sept. 8 fundraiser for Democratic hopeful Barack Obama at her palatial estate near Santa Barbara, Calif., according to campaign spokesman Dan Pfeiffer.

Winfrey is a well-known fan of Obama, calling him "my favorite guy" and "my choice" on CNN's "Larry King Live" last year before he announced he would run for president.

Say what you want, but she wields a huge amount of influence.

Obama and Edwards at least agree on one issue:

Democrats pledge support for wide access to abortion

Elizabeth Edwards said Tuesday that her husband's health-care plan would provide insurance coverage of abortion.

Speaking on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards before the family planning and abortion-rights group Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Edwards lauded her husband's health-care proposal as "a true universal health-care plan" that would cover "all reproductive health services, including pregnancy termination," referring to abortion.

Obama, who earlier gained the endorsement of Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty, offered the group a vision of equal opportunity for women, tying a call for improved access to contraceptives for low-income women with a call for an "updated social contract" that includes paid maternity leave and expanded school hours.

Asked about his proposal for expanded access to health insurance, Obama said it would cover "reproductive-health services." Contacted afterward, an Obama spokesman said that included abortions.

I'm checking my list of things that the low income desperately need in our country, but government subsidized abortion seems to be missing.

Edwards of course is still the only appealing candidate...according to Edwards:

John Edwards Says: Empirically, You Know I'm Strong!  Other Dems ‘not even close’ in terms of general election appeal

"All the empirical evidence shows that I am the strongest general election candidate,” said Mr. Edwards from a small stage as the Chicago traffic flowed mutedly behind a glass-paneled wall.

The reason, he said, was simple:

“What will happen with almost complete certainty, is in December and January, our caucus-goers, the New Hampshire primary voters, will be evaluating who they think is the strongest general election candidate. They like all of us. I mean, that’s the truth. They like me. They like Hillary. And they like Obama. They are trying to decide who they think will be the strongest general election candidate. And that will get more intense, the closer we get to the caucus and primaries.”

“Well, this is not even close—who’s the strongest general election candidate. Every piece of empirical evidence shows you exactly the same thing that your gut will tell you anyway.”

It's the hair.

This final one I am not sure what to make of. I saw this headline on Drudge:

Hillary event changed from gay B&B to traditional inn.

OK that would be interesting if she was doing something homophobic or something, but the article takes a completely different tack:

Hillary cancels Hardy visit

One source says not enough money pledged; but use of state emails likely raised red flags.

Hillary Clinton has apparently canceled a planned stop in Hardy County on July 27 after the location of a fundraiser was switched several times and invitations to the event were being circulated via state government emails.

So now this is not about the Inn, it is about misuse of Government equipment for her campaign, a fairly serious violation of campaign laws.

Now it gets fun:

Democrats were adamantly denying Wednesday that Hillary was ever scheduled to appear in Hardy County.

But...

But her campaign and other organizers confirmed that the visit and fundraiser had indeed been a scheduled part of her visit.

Oops...

The Clinton campaign is insisting the event is being scrapped due to logistical problems. Both Hoppy Kercheval of Metro News and The  Charleston Gazette are also covering the issue today. Kercheval is reporting that one organizer said the campaign told her Wednesday the event was canceled because not enough money was being raised.

But as late as yesterday morning, an official invitation (shown here) was being circulated, and the fundraiser seemed to be green lighted

Then, after reports surfaced here pointing out that the original location of the fundraiser was a gay-friendly bed and breakfast, and that invitations for the event were being forwarded on state government emails, the visit to Hardy County fell apart completely.

Kercheval is reporting today that Sally Michael, one of the organizers of the Hardy County event, said the fundraiser was expected to bring in at least $50,000. But she said the Clinton campaign told her "they needed a minimum of $150,000 to guarantee the event." The Clinton campaign, in turn, denied that was the case.

I wouldn't be surprised to see her campaign wanting to make sure there is enough bang for the buck, but doesn't that make it also seem like they aren't worth her time if they aren't rich?

The original site of the fundraiser was set to be thee Guest House at Lost River, which turned out to be a bed and breakfast best known for being "gay friendly." Then it was moved to a golf course, and then to the South Branch Inn in Moorefield.

Shrug.  Well that's all for now, enjoy your week.

 Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, The Virtuous Republic, The Random Yak, Allie Is Wired, guerrilla radio, Right Truth, The Pink Flamingo, Stuck On Stupid, Cao's Blog, The Amboy Times, CommonSenseAmerica, CORSARI D'ITALIA, Conservative Cat, and Adeline and Hazel, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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