The Edward Klein book The Amateur looks to discredit President Barack Obama by cutting into a number of "myths" about the current President of the United States. The book claims that the Obamas' marriage has been rocky and even come close to divorce in the past, particularly after Obama lost an election for a House seat against Bobby Rush in 2000.

The book makes other ridiculous claims, too -- it claims former President Bill Clinton is the one who called Obama an "amateur"; Mrs. Obama is a jealous control freak; and Obama may have really been a Muslim -- but this one is the most striking. Because if Klein is trying to make us not like Obama, he is going about it wrong.

In fact, the idea that the Obamas once had a troubled marriage is actually endearing and more "presidential."

Today those of us who were against Amendment One -- the proposed amendment to North Carolina’s constitution which would make marriage between a man and woman -- have heavy hearts. Somehow, inexplicably, the incredibly short sighted North Carolina voters have passed this awful, hate-filled, vile thing. Yes, we activists for equality have lost this battle. But we will not lose this war.

The fact is, same-sex marriage was ALREADY illegal in the state. What these people passed is this: "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State." This means civil unions or domestic partnerships won't be legally recognized.

It's disgusting and vile and evil. But don't let me tell you. Watch this video below:

Voters head to the polls today to decide on North Carolina Amendment One, which would determine whether gay marriage is banned in that state. If the amendment passes it would mean that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”

Ha, oh, that's fabulous! So gay people can't have a legal union that would allow them to share health benefits, have the right to make medical decisions for each other, or benefit from tax laws involving income and estate. Yes, just what the country needs. More gay men and women marrying straight men and women for the purposes of fitting into society!

Monday is the first day of the John Edwards trial. The former presidential candidate is in a heap of hot water for allegedly using campaign funds to house (and hide) his mistress and their illegitimate baby from voters. Once a "family man" and model of good citizenship, Edwards has become a punch line and really a classic example of why one should never trust a politician.

As a Democrat who once believed in him and everything he stood for, I am especially angry at him. The issues he believed in -- helping the poor, supporting women, helping families -- are all still real, but because he couldn't stay faithful (or get divorced), all that is gone.

It's a complete sham (and shame) when politicians do things like this. Of course, he is not the first.

Tuesday was the second annual “One Day Without Shoes,” an event designed by Toms Shoes to raise awareness of the importance of shoes. Thousands participated by going barefoot, something that children in third-world countries do every day. 

Toms Shoes' claim to fame is the buy-one-give-one model. When you buy a pair of the earth-friendly loafers, the company donates a pair of shoes to a child in a developing nation. Wearing shoes can prevent diseases transmitted through soil, helps prevent cuts and sores on the feet, and may even be a ticket to an education, since many schools require shoes as part of their dress code. No shoes means no school.

This Mommy War story stinks like yesterday's basketball socks stuffed with Limburger, and the worst thing about it is how it's probably putting a smug smile on Mitt Romney's face. He must have loved Hilary Rosen's apology. "As a pundit, I know my words were poorly chosen."

Yes they were -- but at least she didn't back down completely. Rosen went on to point out how Mittens was the one who brought Ann into this in the first place: "When he goes on the campaign trail and says she is his economic surrogate... come on, I'm not bringing them into this." But get women to fight with each other and guess who wins? The GOP. Was Romney actually dangling Ann as liberal bait?

Democratic strategist and DNC adviser Hilary Rosen got herself into a bit of hot water yesterday when she took a heavy "swipe" at Mitt Romney's wife on CNN Wednesday night, claiming that stay-at-home mother Ann Romney had "never worked a day in her life." Ouch.

Though the comment was clearly horribly worded and no one could possibly say otherwise -- raising five boys is no small task -- taken in the larger context, Rosen was correct, indeed. It is a real shame that because she did not choose her words more carefully, her message is lost.

Rosen's point is a good one. Ann Romney has never had to work outside the home, so to make her the outreach manager for Romney's campaign to get women's votes seems totally out to lunch.

So, who was surprised to hear Marion Barry has screwed up again? Anyone? Really? The Washington, D.C. councilman is making his apologies today for racially insensitive remarks about Asian shop owners in the nation's capital.

Barry's official comment was: "We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops." Way to keep it classy there Marion! And now for the real news: people are actually wiggling their eyebrows and wondering whether this could hurt his chances at re-election. Ah, I really needed a Friday morning giggle. Thanks for that folks!