Obama staffers censor art at fundraiser

RICHMOND, Va., May 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's staff sanitized the paintings at a Virginia art gallery before he arrived for a fundraising event.

The Web site "The Smoking Gun" said that staffers apparently thought two works by artist Jamie Boling at the Plant Zero Gallery in Richmond might embarrass the senator or his supporters. About 500 people showed up for the Tuesday event featuring the Illinois Democrat and presidential candidate.

One of the paintings was covered and the other taken off the wall.

One painting, "Snake Charmer," reproduces the photo of a panty-less Britney Spears getting out of Paris Hilton's car. The other, "Honest Abe," depicts a woman wearing a T-shirt that says "Kill Lincoln," a tribute to the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," where the slogan referred to a rival school.