One of Us

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article;jsessionid=9915E628E6B4C3D99B78300DD766562B.w5?a=221757&f=19

I think the Times is right to finally realize that this election is going to be decided on economic issues. But I would be curious to know where the whole 'you have to be middle class to understand america' meme came from.

The reality is Obama and McCain will never have to worry about money. The same was indisputably true of the Bushes, Kerry, Gore, Reagan, and Dole when they ran. I don't think that perception was true during Clinton's first campaign, but he was a governor, so I imagine had a pretty decent salary and dental plan.

And that is in no way surprising. As much as we like to pretend that anyone can be president running around the country non stop for 16 months requires a lot of friends with money, plus either your own money or a job that will pay you regardless of whether you show up (explains why so many members of congress run). The point isn't whether or not your house has a wine cellar, or you have ever travelled to Europe, it's whether you think that a lot of americans are having a real tough time making ends meat or it's just 'psychological' and the economy is doing fine.

And by the way the only real difference between Mitt and McCain is that at least Mitt started and ran his own business - one of those entrepeneurs America so dearly loves - while McCain slept his way into his wife's family fortune. And if the voters in Indiana were really just against best selling authors they would have voted for Kucinich, the only remaining candidate who hadn't written two books.