President Obama attended the national prayer breakfast this morning in Washington DC, and made a direct reference to the controversial anti-homosexual legislation in Uganda, describing it as "odious":
We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are – whether it's here in the United States or, as Hillary [Clinton] mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed – most recently in Uganda.
The president's comments came after protests at his attending the prayer breakfast, because of its sponsorship by the Fellowship Foundation. The protesters say the foundation has promoted the legislation – which criminalises homosexuality with jail terms or death sentences – although the organisation denies any link.
The president also addressed another rather more minor controversy: the lunatic fringe of "Birthers" who continue to insist he is not an American citizen:
Civility also requires relearning how to disagree without being disagreeable; understanding, as President [Kennedy] said, that "civility is not a sign of weakness." Now, I am the first to confess I am not always right. Michelle will testify to that. But surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith, or, for that matter, my citizenship.
According to the White House transcript of Obama's remarks, the citizenship gag was followed by "(Laughter and applause)".
