Questions: Obama/McClurkin = Edwards/AUMF ?

I understand I may be setting myself up for who-knows-what by asking this this question "out loud" here, but I am really curious to read your thoughtful opinions. I infrequently diary, and this is is not the type of diary I usually do (she says with her knees shaking) but I would really like to see this discussion.

List of caveats:

• I really am undecided. Any perceived bias toward/against one or the other is the product of my bad writing, honest.
• Yes... obviously Edwards' vote and advocacy on the AUMF still bothers me, as does Obama's seeming cluelessness about the McClurkin mess. ("bothers me" is an understatement, but I am trying to stay cool here ;-)
• I realize the difference in the amount of time since each "incident" is wildly unequal. Edwards has had a long time to publicly repent of his screw-up (regardless of how you feel individually on if his apology truly makes up for the vote and advocacy of giving Bush a sign-off on going to war), and Obama is still in preliminary damage control mode... we have yet to see how he stacks up in the concrete action department. I am waiting to see what happens there, although his campaign is not doing so well with it so far.
• I know feelings are running high right now, and I have been one of those who support the occasional call for civility that pop up on the diary list now and then, so I hope I am not simply adding to the heat in the interest of seeing some light.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

So the questions I have for the community are:

1. Do you perceive Edwards' vote and active advocacy in favor of the AUMF and Obama's inviting McClurkin, a known and very outspoken homophobe to perform at a fundraiser as having an equal bearing on your opinion of those respective candidates?
    

2. Do you think it's possible for Obama to make a mea culpa that will convince a good number of people who are repulsed by his campaign giving McClurkin an opportunity to reaffirm (as they should have known he would) his bigoted views about gay people, as Edwards' "I'm sorry" statement seems to have done with many here who are otherwise disgusted and outraged with anyone who helped BushCo create the Iraq quagmire?

As usual, I have to apologize for not being the clearest writer in the world, so thanks for reading.