Such a nice day on the campaign trail for Mary Mitchell, who was able to watch her favorite man in the whole wide world hit home runs.
LANCASTER, Pa. — Maybe people are just too polite to ask Sen. Barack Obama about the recent controversy involving his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
But after three town hall meetings in different parts of Pennsylvania, not one question about race or Wright has surfaced.
Obama drew some pretty sensitive questions at each town hall meeting.
Such as from “an extremely emotional older woman” who begged him to forsake choice.
“I appreciate your passion,” he said. “I don’t think anybody in this country is pro-abortion. I think everybody feels this is a painful, difficult decision. I trust that women are not making these decisions casually.”
Finely crafted, what?
Or the “particularly poignant question related to his criticism of the war in Iraq” from a soldier’s mother.
“The probem is not with the military. The problem is with the civilian leadership,” he said.
He had a “pat response” when asked about health care,
that he is going to have a big roundtable and invite everyone — the doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, employers and patient advocates, as well as representatives of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies, to the table.
“Insurance and drug companies just won’t be able to buy every chair,” Obama said.
He’ll do it “on C-Span so the American people will know what is going on.”
And if you think drug research costs lots of money, think again. Daddy-O knows better:
“Most of it is marketing costs for TV ads with people running through the fields looking happy, and nobody knows what the drug is for except for that one drug … you know what that drug is for,” Obama said, as the audience erupted into laughter.
Let’s hear it for Mister Glib!
Not only that, he’s a gentleman:
When a reporter asked about how he would challenge GOP rival John McCain, Obama stayed positive.
“The guy is a war hero. He was a POW for years and rendered tremendous service. I haven’t heard John McCain going around challenging other people’s patriotism,” he said.
Thanks, Mary. It’s positive, all right.
And you’ve heard how this primary race will split the Dems? Forget it:
Although both the Hillary Clinton and Obama campaigns have been accused of sniping that could rip apart the Democratic Party, Obama’s references to Clinton have been measured, if not outright mushy.
He consistently describes his opponent as “very intelligent, very capable,” while pointing out their different approach to politics.
That said, he still had to dodge a high, hard one:
One participant seemed just about to open the door to the recent low point of his campaign when she asked what Obama had learned from the campaign.
“A lot of the political news on a day-to-day basis is really not relevant to people’s lives,” he said. “It is sort of like chatter.”
After four days on the bus, I’d say he has a point.
I’ll bet you would, Mary. It’s because you’re so darned perceptive. And professional. And concerned primarily with your readers at 50 cents a shot. And hoping for a job at the Obama White House. And . . . happy as a clam after your day in Pennsylvania.
Blithe Spirit 