Even though Obama aides were distributing fliers to the crowd stating, "OBAMA DOES NOT AGREE WITH McCLUKIN'S VIEWS ON GAYS," the GospelPanderFest planned by the Obama campaign seems to have come off without a hitch - for Pastor Donnie McClurkin at least.

He was without question the star of the show getting the largest reaction from the 3000 people in attendance.

The Gay-Whitey pastor that was scheduled "prayed" some nebulous words to open the night (Obama's attempted appeasement to the radical gay lobby), and then McClurkin came on to the cheers, and shouts of support.

McClurkin reportedly was surprised that his inclusion into the event brought on such an outrage.

But McClurkin, who won a Grammy in 2004 for his gospel music and is also the pastor of an evangelical church in New York, quickly became the star of the night, which was the conclusion of three gospel concerts the campaign held around the state. McClurkin essentially acted as the emcee of the event, introducing the other gospel artists who performed, and then took the stage for the last hour. In between sermonizing, singing, and raving about Obama, McClurkin repeatedly defended himself.

"I just said yes," he said of his invitation by the Obama campaign. "I didn't know so much was going to happen. I didn't know my yes was going to mean I was misunderstood and vilified. .. . Sometimes people can take your words and do this with them," he said, making a twisting motion with his hands as the crowd shouted Amens and cheered for him.

After another song, he specially addressed the issue of homosexuality, saying he had been "touched by the same feelings."

"Don't call me a bigot or anti-gay,' he said. "Don't call me a homophobe, because I love everybody. . . Let me tell you something, the grace of God is given to all men," he said to loud applause.

For all the controversy during the week, which included a ten-minute call between Obama and Joe Solmonese, the head of the Washington-based gay rights group the Human Rights Campaign, who urged McClurkin not be allowed to appear at the event, there was little tension there. A vigil that was planned to protest outside of the concert included only about 20 people, almost all white, who held signs like "We are Here, We are Queer, we are voting next year," while across the street long lines of African-Americans, who seemed still dressed for church, waited to go into the event that started at 6 p.m.

There is still plenty of curiousity as to why McClurkin would even work the Obama event from the beginning - knowing Obama's radical support for Born Alive abortions, Partial Birth abortions, the continued growth of the radical gay-rights lobby, and his massive funding from the openly hostile gay activists groups.

It is also interesting that Senator Obama did not appear and the applause to his video-taped presentation was dwarfed by the live appearance by the far more conservative Donnie McClurkin.

Very curious night indeed...