memeorandum: With Weiner gone, Democrats waste no time trying to move on (Mike Lillis/The Hill)

11:00 AM ET, June 19, 2011

Top Items:

Obama impersonator pulled offstage after making racial, gay jokes at GOP gathering — NEW ORLEANS — A President Obama impersonator was pulled off the stage Saturday at the Republican Leadership Conference, after telling a string of racially themed jokes about the president.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, ThinkProgress, Hotline On Call, NewsBusters.org, Outside the Beltway, iOwnTheWorld.com, americanthinker.com, The Reaction, Booman Tribune, Balloon Juice, Oliver Willis and American Power

Jeff Zeleny / The Caucus:

‘Obama’ Stuns Crowd at Republican Event — NEW ORLEANS - The Republican Leadership Conference was interrupted on Saturday by a visit from an actor impersonating President Obama, who offered a mocking assessment of the Republican presidential candidates and joked about the real president's biracial heritage.

Discussion: Washington Monthly and National Review

Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:

Texas Leader Calls for Rightward Tilt — NEW ORLEANS — Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, the latest Republican to muse openly about exploring a Republican presidential candidacy, drew booming applause here on Saturday for not only assailing President Obama but also lecturing some members of his own party …

Discussion: Washington Post and Prairie Weather

Erik Wasson / The Hill:
‘Obama’ pushes the limit at GOP leadership conference

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, The Politico and Don Surber

Jsimoncnn / CNN:
Perry wows at Republican conference amid 2012 buzz

Discussion: The Texas Tribune, msnbc.com, Hotline On Call, Washington Post, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog and The Note

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Ron Paul wins RLC straw poll

Discussion: CNN and GOP 12

Brian Montopoli / CBS News:
Ron Paul wins Republican Leadership Conf. straw poll; Jon Huntsman second

Discussion: Top of the Ticket, Hot Air, Outside the Beltway and Gawker

Jamie Klatell / Ballot Box: Ron Paul wins Republican Leadership Conference straw poll by wide margin

Jonathan Wynne-Jones / Telegraph:

Christians are more militant than Muslims, says Government's equalities boss — Muslims are integrating into British society better than many Christians, according to the head of the Government's equality watchdog. — Trevor Phillips, Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission

Discussion: Outside the Beltway and Big Peace

Ben Sisario / New York Times:

Clarence Clemons, Springsteen's Soulful Sideman, Dies at 69 — Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, whose jovial onstage manner, soul-rooted style and brotherly relationship with Mr. Springsteen made him one of rock's most beloved sidemen, died Saturday at a hospital in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 69.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Rolling Stone, Power Line, Gothamist, Washington Post, TalkLeft, PopEater, The Democratic Daily, Scared Monkeys and Pajamas Media

Kimberly Dozier / Associated Press:

AP sources: Pakistanis tip off militants again — WASHINGTON - U.S. officials say Pakistan has apparently tipped off militants at two more bomb-building factories in its tribal areas, giving the terror suspects time to flee, after U.S. intelligence shared the locations with the Pakistani government.

Discussion: FrumForum

John T. Bennett / The Hill:

House panel proposes slapping restrictions on aid to Pakistan — House appropriators have proposed slapping new restrictions on the aid that Washington will send to Pakistan next year amid a chill in relations following the killing of Osama bin Laden. — A provision in the 2012 Pentagon …

Discussion: americanthinker.com and FrumForum

Signorile / The Gist:

Breaking: GLAAD President Resigns — Jarrett Barrios, the president of GLAAD, has just sent the board of GLAAD his resignation letter. A statement will be going out from GLAAD tonight, but GLAAD confirmed in an email that Barrios did resign. This comes following the report earlier today …

Discussion: Lez Get Real and Washington Blade

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Gay group chief under pressure over AT&T issues

Discussion: Poliglot and Towleroad News #gay

New York Times:

Looking Back, Gates Says He's Grown Wary of ‘Wars of Choice’ — WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, as he prepared to depart the government for the second time, said in an interview on Friday that the human costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had made him far more wary …

Discussion: CNN, Los Angeles Times, Taegan Goddard's … and FrumForum

New York Times:
Qaeda Woes Fuel Talk of Speeding Afghan Pullback

Discussion: CNN and FrumForum

Mike Lillis / The Hill:

With Weiner gone, Democrats waste no time trying to move on — With Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) all but out the door, Democrats have wasted no time trying to shift the conversation back to the economy, healthcare and other issues of greater national consequence.

Discussion: FrumForum

Weasel Meister / Weasel Zippers:

Hold Your Nose: Islamic Holy Warriors at Gitmo Embody the Essence of Their Religion — Disgusting and fitting. … HT: Ace

Lori Ziganto / Human Events:

Lefty Feminists Expose Themselves by Putting Out for Weiner — Termus Interruptus for creepy Rep. Antony Weiner (D.-N.Y.), who finally resigned at a press conference on Thursday, to heckles of “Good-bye, Pervert.” This caused leftist feminists to once again defend him …