“There are some who think it will be harder for America to accept a black first lady – the national hostess who serenely presides over the White House Christmas festivities and the Easter egg roll – than a black president,” columnist Maureen Dowd wrote. She noted that there already are creepy Web sites “dedicated to painting Michelle as a female version of Jeremiah Wright, an angry black woman, the disgruntled, lecturing ‘Mrs. Grievance’ depicted on the cover of National Review.”
But Dowd points out that Michelle Obama is “a devoted daughter, wife and mother who has lived the American dream, from the humble South Side of Chicago to Harvard Law School. . . . And as one Obama booster enthuses: ‘Michelle’s story is a lot more mainstream American than Cindy McCain inheriting a brewery.’”
Still, it will be up to Michelle Obama whether these tactics stick or backfire. She’ll have plenty of opportunities in coming months to either silence and shame the attack dogs with her poise and intelligence or give them new material.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ leadership continues to stand out, especially in the context of the Bush administration. The Wichita native’s latest praise has come for his unprecedented decision to fire the Air Force secretary and chief of staff over, among other matters, last year’s flight of a B-52 carrying armed nuclear weapons from North Dakota to Louisiana. Last year, Gates rightly sacked the Army secretary over the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Regarding the Air Force firings, the New York Times applauded “Gates’ quick and decisive action.” The Boston Globe said he’d earned his wings. The Dallas Morning News called him “Mr. Accountability,” declaring “this is the kind of leadership that the American people deserve.” Gates’ approach will be further tested as he prepares the Pentagon for the first change of presidents during wartime in 40 years.
John McCain has a tricky challenge: winning Christian conservatives without losing moderates and independents. “His election hopes rely on drawing in the political middle and Democrats who might be turned off should he woo the religious right too heavily by, for instance, highlighting his anti-abortion position more on the campaign trail,†the New York Times reported.
“If McCain tried Bush’s strategy of just mobilizing the base, he would almost certainly fall short,†John C. Green, a senior fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, told the Times. “Because the Republican brand name is less popular and the conservative base is restive, McCain has special needs to reach out to independent and moderate voters, but, of course, he can’t completely neglect the evangelical and conservative base.â€
So how is he doing with the conservative base? Not so well, particularly after he denounced pastors John Hagee and Rod Parsley.
“For John McCain to be competitive, he has to connect with the base to the point that they’re intense enough that they’re contagious,†said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. “Right now they’re not even coughing.â€
Hispanics are clearly moving toward Barack Obama, according to a new Gallup poll that shows he leads John McCain among Latinos nationwide by a lopsided 62 to 29 percent.
This is a troubling election fundamental for the GOP, which had hoped McCain could make inroads among Hispanics. As columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. observes, it also dispels the primary punditry theme that Obama has a deep-seated “problem†with Hispanic voters. Not true — they just liked the Clintons more.
The Kansas Aviation Museum has found a new director — Lon Smith, formerly sales and marketing director of the Museum of World Treasures. Smith’s promotions background is needed at the museum, which enjoys a loyal base of volunteer support but still struggles to attract broader public interest or corporate support.
Among other ideas, Smith hopes to pursue accreditation through the American Association of Museums, which could give the museum more credibility and access to resources.
It’s good to learn that the Mid-America All-Indian Center museum, which reopens June 27 after months of renovation, also may seek AAM accreditation.
In the city’s crowded museum field, both museums are wisely taking steps to stand out.
“There are some who think it will be harder for America to accept a black first lady – the national hostess who serenely presides over the White House Christmas festivities and the Easter egg roll – than a black president,” columnist Maureen Dowd wrote. She noted that there already are creepy Web sites “dedicated to painting Michelle as a female version of Jeremiah Wright, an angry black woman, the disgruntled, lecturing ‘Mrs. Grievance’ depicted on the cover of National Review.”
