Muslims barred from picture at Obama event  —  Two Muslim women at Barack Obama's rally in Detroit Monday were barred from sitting behind the podium by campaign volunteers seeking to prevent the women's headscarves from appearing in photographs or on television with the candidate.

More Fun in Obamaconspiracyville: In Which Larry Sinclair Gets Arrested  —  I blogged a few weeks back about a convicted criminal, Larry Sinclair, who'd been begging the media to cover his wild allegations about Barack Obama.  Today Sinclair trotted into the National Press Club to air …

Obama: NAFTA not so bad after all  —  The Democratic nominee, in an interview with Fortune, says he wants free trade “to work for all people.”  —  WASHINGTON (Fortune) — The general campaign is on, independent voters are up for grabs, and Barack Obama is toning down his populist rhetoric - at least when it comes to free trade.

Working Group  —  Obama announces his “National Security Working Group”  — Secretary of State Madeleine Albright  — Senator David Boren, former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence  — Secretary of State Warren Christopher  — Greg Craig, former director …

Cindy McCain Presses Obama Patriotism Case  —  ABC News' Ed O'Keefe Reports: Laura Bush may be ready to give Michelle Obama the benefit of the doubt when it comes to her patriotism but Cindy McCain may not.  —  “I don't know why she said what she said,” Mrs. McCain explains in an interview …

“The View” ladies dive in to rescue Michelle Obama after she calls Barack “pathetic.”  UPDATE Obama spokesman Vietor said Michelle said “empathetic.”  —  UPDATE after this was posted, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor called to say Michelle Obama said “empathetic,” not pathetic.

G.A.O. Backs Boeing on Aerial Tanker Deal  —  The Government Accountability Office on Wednesday backed Boeing's protest of the awarding of a multibillion-dollar contract for refueling tankers to Northrop Grumman and a European partner, saying the Air Force made errors during the process.

BELLY OF THE EARMARK BEAST!  —  We've just gotten a hold of “Intern's Survival Guide” which is part of the initiation material handed out to new interns in the office of Congressman Don Young (R) when they start at the office.  —  Lots of fun color, as you'd expect.

GIULIANI'S PRE-9/11 MENTALITY  —  From NBC's Domenico Montanaro  —  The Obama campaign and the DNC struck back at Giuliani for criticizing Obama for pointing out the handling of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing trial as an example of how to deal with terrorists in American courts.

The Truth About Barack Obama  —  RUMORS THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN SHOULDN'T TRY TO CORRECT.  —  The Barack Obama presidential campaign introduced a new site last week, FightTheSmears.com, that it hopes will debunk persistent myths about the senator: that he's a Muslim, that he won't say the Pledge of Allegiance, etc.

Blackwater wants lawsuit decided under Islamic law  —  The private military company Blackwater has cultivated a patriotic reputation, with its staff of retired military and former police officers, and the requirement that most of its workers swear an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution.

From the Fact Check Desk: What Did Obama's Half-Brother Say About Obama's Background?  —  It was a sloppy paraphrase that emerged as false evidence.  —  Malik Obama, the older half brother of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, gave a brief interview to Israeli Army Radio.