memeorandum: Axelrod continues Democrats' offensive on Chamber donations (Bridget Johnson/The Hill)

7:10 PM ET, October 17, 2010

Top Items:

BUCK COMPARES HOMOSEXUALITY TO ALCOHOLISM.... Ken Buck has already made quite a name for himself as Colorado's right-wing Senate candidate. From extremist positions on the issues to inexplicable professional misjudgments, the Republican nominee stands out — but not in a good way.

Discussion: Balloon Juice

Shane D'Aprile / The Hill:

Ken Buck calls homosexuality ‘a choice’ — Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Republican Ken Buck sparred over government spending, deficits and the policies of President Obama Sunday, but the meeting between the two candidates on NBC's “Meet the Press” was untimely dominated by Buck's answer to a question on homosexuality.

Discussion: Don Surber, The Politico and Towleroad News #gay

Igor Volsky / Wonk Room:

Colorado Senate Candidate Says Being Gay Is A Choice, Compares It To Alcoholism — This morning, during a Colorado Senate debate hosted by Meet The Press, Republican candidate Ken Buck said that being gay is a choice and compared it to alcoholism: … Watch it:

Discussion: Zandar Versus The Stupid, Denver Post, AMERICAblog Gay and Outside the Beltway

Hotline On Call:

Buck Stumbles in Debate, Opens Door For Bennet — Republican Ken Buck was on the defensive against Sen. Michael Bennet (D) during Sunday's “Meet the Press” Colorado Senate debate, stumbling at several points on both economic and social issues. — At one point, Buck opened the door …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars and Raw Story

The Huffington Post:
Colorado Senate Debate: Ken Buck Compares Being Gay To Alcoholism (VIDEO)

Discussion: msnbc.com

Joshua Miller / ABCNEWS:

Meghan McCain: Christine O'Donnell ‘Seen as Nutjob’ — O'Donnell ‘Making Mockery of Running for Public Office,’ John McCain's Daughter Says — This morning on a fiery “This Week” roundtable, four powerhouse guests tackled the influence of the Tea Party on the GOP.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Michelle Malkin, American Power and Gateway Pundit

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
TRENDING: Meghan McCain sounds off on O'Donnell

Discussion: Raw Story, Riehl World View and Gawker

Sean J. Miller / Ballot Box:
Coons on O'Donnell: 'I'm not sure why she's running' for Senate

Discussion: CNN

flemingandhayes.com:

Barney Frank's Boyfriend Heckles Sean Bielat — Upon exiting the most recent debate with Barney Frank, located at WGBH studios in Boston, MA, Republican Congressional candidate, Sean Bielat, gets heckled by a Barney Frank “supporter” while talking to the media.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, Scared Monkeys, Mediaite, Left Coast Rebel, iOwnTheWorld.com, Gateway Pundit, RedState and GayPatriot

Larry O'Connor / Breitbart.tv:
Barney Frank's Significant Other Heckles GOP Opponent

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Riehl World View

Blue Texan / Firedoglake:

All Together, Now: The Tea Party Isn't About Economic Insecurity — In his op-ed today, the normally razor sharp Frank Rich makes the same mistake I keep seeing over and over from the chattering classes. … Meh. — Anyone who thinks the Teabaggers' unhinged “anger and bitterness” …

Discussion: Liberal Values and Economist's View

Frank Rich / New York Times:
The Rage Won't End on Election Day

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Daily Kos and Prairie Weather

The Hill:

Some Democrats are beginning to question the party's shifting strategies in the closing weeks of the campaign, particular its recent focus on groups who are spending millions on behalf of Republicans. — These veteran party strategists are raising doubts as to whether the attacks on the U.S. Chamber …

Discussion: The Politico, CNN and Taylor Marsh

Shane D'Aprile / The Hill:
Gibbs: 'Don't ask, don't tell' will end under Obama administration

Discussion: The Politico and CNN

Kevin Sack / New York Times:
Black Turnout Will Be Crucial for Democrats

Discussion: JustOneMinute and Pat Dollard

The Hill:

Democrats have raised $1 million from foreign-affiliated PACs — Democratic leaders in the House and Senate criticizing GOP groups for allegedly funneling foreign money into campaign ads have seen their party raise more than $1 million from political action committees affiliated with foreign companies.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Pajamas Media and JammieWearingFool

Prohb / CBS News:

Nancy Pelosi Fires Back — The Woman Speaker Targeted by the GOP Does Not Believe Democrats Will Lose Control of the House … Speaker Nancy Pelosi is all business. Whether it's on her morning walk along the Potomac . . . “This is where you think about stuff?” Braver asked.

Discussion: Pajamas Media

Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:

Be Afraid, Be Very... Never Mind, You Already Are — Bitterly clinging to his pop psychology, First Sociologist Barack Obama regales a Democratic fundraising event with his latest insight into the minds of the Great Unwashed: — WEST NEWTON, Mass. - President Barack Obama said Americans' …

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, Flopping Aces, Pajamas Media, QC Examiner, RedState, iOwnTheWorld.com, Stop The ACLU and Pundit & Pundette

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Playing All the Angles — As I sat above the Hoover Dam under the broiling sun, I was getting jittery. — There was Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona, speaking at the dedication of a bridge linking Arizona and Nevada 890 feet above the Colorado River. — As the politicians droned …

Discussion: Commentary, National Review, American Thinker, About.com US Liberal Politics, Left Coast Rebel, NewsBusters.org blogs, The Anchoress, Althouse, JustOneMinute, Mediaite, Libertarian Republican, Riehl World View and Prairie Weather

Teresa Dixon Murray / Plain Dealer:

Mortgage foreclosure uproar sweeps up Northeast Ohioans — CLEVELAND, Ohio — Michael and Pamella Negrea have never been late on a mortgage payment in the 15 years they've owned their home in Eastlake. But they've been foreclosed on three times. — Martin and Kirsten Davis, meanwhile …

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

How propaganda is disseminated: WikiLeaks Edition — This is how the U.S. government and American media jointly disseminate propaganda: in the immediate wake of some newsworthy War on Terror event, U.S. Government officials (usually anonymous) make wild and reckless — though unverifiable — claims.

Discussion: CNN, Outside the Beltway, Comments from Left Field, Unqualified Offerings, CBS News and The Daily Beast

Bridget Johnson / The Hill:

Axelrod continues Democrats' offensive on Chamber donations — White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod continued the administration's offensive against the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and conservative groups Sunday, saying there had to be a shady reason behind non-disclosure of donors who were helping fund the groups' campaign ads.

Discussion: Pat Dollard

New York Times:

Big Donors Help Republican Governors' Group — The Republican Governors Association benefited from a number of sizable contributions from deep-pocketed individual and corporate donors over the last few months, driving a record $31 million fund-raising haul in the third quarter.

Discussion: The Politico, Newshoggers.com and No More Mister Nice Blog