Politics and Culture

Melania offended that at the suggestion that Donald married her because of her looks.

Obama called Geraldine Ferraro's assertion that part of Obama's appeal is his race, "absurd." This is like Melania complaining when somebody says that Donald married her because of her looks. Isn't it clear that a third year senator with the gift of gab wouldn't be anywhere without 90% of the black vote or the enthusiastic support of well-intentioned, Caucasian Starbucks dwellers?

Such denials of the obvious hurt Obama because people are smart enough to know what's going on. Just like pretty girls resent not being taken seriously after years of classy deserts at fine restaurants, Obama wants to both have and eat his cake. Obama and Clinton can't say how "historic" their election would be- how it would "heal" America- and then turn around and say that their race or sex doesn't matter when somebody finds a down side.

Rep. King said that terrorists would rejoice over an Obama presidency because of his middle name and capitulatory stance on terrorism and Obama complained. But, when Bob Kerry said the same thing, substituting good Muslims for terrorists, everything was OK. Well, are your roots an issue or not?

After getting over their sensitivity brainwashing, many will resent the fact that Obama asks people to war against reality, "Well, duh. Of course being a minority can have some advantages." Some may conclude that they don't need the aggravation of a "PC-presidency" where they must hesitate before complaining.

Asymmetric view:

Obama is looking at things all wrong. Presidents aren't chosen through some Olympic-style trial where they're tested on world leaders' names and run an obstacle course. Everybody has some extra-talent qualification that helps or hurts them. Would Bush have been president were his name "Guirado?" Would McCain have been in the position he's in without his father? Would any of the Kennedys have been anywhere without patriarch Joseph? Would Schwarzenegger be popular with Bill Richardson's physique or would anybody have cried over a non-hunky JFK junior? Clinton if she weren't married to Bill?

Ferraro also said is that just because somebody's helped by a non-earned genetic factor doesn't mean that he's not qualified. She admits that Mondale wouldn't have chosen her as a running mate were she to have had different "junk?"

Obama should just admit that his race is both an advantage and a disadvantage, hope it's more of the former, and insist that it shouldn't be too much of a big deal which he's been doing mostly, to his credit.