Sorry, do “I’ve got a crush on Harper” t-shirts give you a toothache?

I don’t have a problem with people expressing adoration for a political leader, nor do I think doing so is irrational. That is the point here. The more politically engaged people are the better I say.

It’s you that is physically pained by the thought of people being excited about politics…

And no, I’m not disgusted by a photo of four attractive girls wearing T-shirts reading “I’ve got a crush on Harper”. It is pretty clear that the message is meant to be taken lightly.

But Devin, if you feel there is a problem with people expressing irrational adoration for Harper you are welcome to start a thread on your own blog about it. I doubt it will be a very long thread, but have at it if that’s your thing.

What about this from Dawg’s Blog?

“I sat among the delegates, waiting for the opening ceremonies. I watched endless slides on the big screens at the font of the room: Harper hugging a child, Harper pushing a baby carriage, Harper at the piano, Harper plucking a cello, Harper with his family. Only one shot left him out–four attractive girls wearing T-shirts reading “I’ve got a crush on Harper.” Now, that’s really pushing it.”

Are you as disgusted by that?

I did not cry simply because Obama is Black. I cried because he is Black, and because of the way he inspires so many people. I did not experience these same feelings when Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton put their names forward for the Presidency.

Would I have felt the same way about a Black Republican nominee? I don’t know… On one hand, I would have had a difficult time not supporting Colin Powell and feeling excited about the prospect of him as President of the US. On the other, I could probably do without Condoleezza Rice.

You don’t have to Black to be inspired by a Black political leader. If seeing hundreds of thousands of people singing and dancing in the streets all over America — FOR AN ELECTION — doesn’t stir some emotion in you then you need to check your heartbeat.

This post, and the commentary that has followed it, is based solely and completely in partisan politics. For whatever reason, you and your readers don’t like Obama and what he stands for. You all would love to have a conservative leader who could capture people’s imaginations and promote your ideals the way he does.

But at some point the issue of race must be put aside, and we must look at individuals based on merit and ideals.

Let me try reversing this, and see how it would play: if the Republicans had nominated a black man and he had won the Presidency, would Kinsella have cried? Would you have cried? If the answer is “no”, then clearly this is about more than simply the colour of someone’s skin, and your ancestry should not be brought into the discussion.

By the way…you shouldn’t use words that you don’t understand…

Hundreds of thousands of people cried on election night. As the grandson of a Black man who shovelled coal for 14 hours a day in return for little money and even less recognition, I cried too. As the son of a man who was not allowed to enter his elementary school by the same doors as the White kids, I cried too. You can try to dimisnish the significance of last week’s election, but you only make yourself look like a fool when you inject your blind partisanship into the debate.

And maybe you should give Obama a week or two in the White House before you draw conclusions about his ability to govern…

“…’Love’ for a candidate can be expressed in many ways, including the unmitigated support the right has shown for a truly faulty McCain/Palin ticket.”

There’s support for a ticket — even reflexive support for a faulty one when it’s the best alternative — and then there’s crying and having tingles up the back of your leg and having umpteen gazillion t-shirts.

Obama won because he was able to convince millions of people — Lying Jackal and, apparently, yourself, included — that “charisma” is all you need to govern effectively.

You know nothing about him save that he makes you cry and shiver, and based on that, you are willing to give him almost unlimited power. Unbelievable.

Seriously though, charisma and about $1.50 will get you a coffee at Timmy’s. I’ll take the less charismatic Harper and his superior experience, and economic knowledge over an inexperienced semi marxist idealist any day.