Barack is Dan Quayle(ing) his campaign even before Hillary picks him as her VP

And,

Whether to use or not use nuclear weapons “under any circumstances”?

These were the questions – both established no-brainers – that had the purportedly articulate Barack Obama fumbling over his words this week – as if he had a hot potato in his mouth; and then naively begging reporters to “scratch that”?!

‘I think it would be a profound mistake for us to use nuclear weapons in any circumstance’ Obama said, with a pause, ‘involving civilians.’ Then he quickly added, ‘Let me scratch that. There’s been no discussion of nuclear weapons. That’s not on the table.’ [Obama – as reported by the Associated Press]

Unfortunately, no matter their nuanced merit, these equivocal and apparently simplistic statements have subjected him to the same kind of nightmarish ridicule and political lampooning that befell Dan Quayle in the 1988 presidential campaign. And who can forget the pathetic image of Quayle – in a staged photo-op no less – fumbling over the spelling of the word “potato(e)” in front of a classroom filled with kindergartners…?

More importantly, however, these political gaffes beg the terminal question: Is Obama really ready for prime time?

The objective answer, of course, is yes. After all, Obama is easily one of the most educated and, heretofore, the most charismatic of the Democratic candidates.

Alas, Americans invariably elect the candidate who “acts” more presidential; i.e. like a news anchor reading a teleprompter or an actor channeling John Wayne, which makes Fred Thompson from Law and Order so appealing. Indeed, this is why Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter, and why George W defeated John Kerry – after Kerry’s fumbling over answers to questions about his military service and Senate voting record Quayled his 2004 campaign.

Therefore, I fear Obama may never recover from these self-inflicted political wounds….

I wonder where Dennis Kucinich stands on the Caribbean Basin Initiative…?

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