It's been a while since I've seen such a jumble of screw-ups, fumbles and self-inflicted wounds as this Obama-McClurkin pile up. So today I spent the day trying to work my Obama contacts to see what initiatives they're working on for this week to try to get control of or defuse the story. The top contenders seem to be ...

1. Convene townhall meeting of gay rights activists and emissaries from Family Research Council.

2. Launching 'listening tour' of Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. (Fringe Benefit: Can visit TPM World Headquarters.)

3. Appoint blue ribbon commission on sodomy.

(ed.note: Yes, this is parody. On the other hand, given how things have been going I cannot guarantee that these won't actually be tried.)