Sen. Barack Obama, already scrutinized for a gaffe in Richmond this week, is now being labeled an artistic censor.

The Illinois Democrat held a Tuesday fundraiser at the Plant Zero Art Center in Virginia's capital. He was criticized earlier this week for accidentally botching the number of deaths in tornado-stricken Kansas, but further made headlines in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The newspaper reported that at the request of the presidential candidate's campaign, the gallery covered up an oil reproduction of an infamous paparazzi photo showing pop star Britney Spears getting out of a car sans underwear. The painting has a $5,000 price tag.

Plant Zero also took down a painting of a woman with a "Kill Lincoln" t-shirt -- meant to pay homage to a 1980s movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," but potentially misconstrued as a message about the 16th president.

Longtime T-D writer Tyler Whitley (a Friend of Fishwrap) says the campaign is "engaged in a cover-up of sorts" after an Obama advance staffer asked the gallery to remove or conceal the two art pieces. The staffer threatened to hold the event elsewhere if the demand was not met.

The artist, Jamie Boling, told Mr. Whitley he at first was offended but relented when he realized the art could have been used against the campaign.

"I wished we could have had a good dialog about freedom of speech," Mr. Boling told the T-D, but added, "I understand that a politician would want to avoid being photographed in front of Britney Spears' crotch."

-- Christina Bellantoni, Capitol Hill correspondent, The Washington Times