Fall from Heaven

The always insightful David Brooks calls for a reevaluation of Barack Obama just before the Pennsylvania primary.

Back in Iowa, Barack Obama promised to be something new — an unconventional leader who would confront unpleasant truths, embrace novel policies and unify the country. If he had knocked Hillary Clinton out in New Hampshire and entered general-election mode early, this enormously thoughtful man would have become that.

But he did not knock her out, and the aura around Obama has changed. Furiously courting Democratic primary voters and apparently exhausted, Obama has emerged as a more conventional politician and a more orthodox liberal.

So true! Obama is still the near-certain nominee of the Democratic Party, but he will go into the general election with more tarnish on his "hope/change/yes we can" message than many Demos expected. Give another point to the Clintons. I think Bill and Hill are well aware of the numbers and know the nomination is nearly impossible, but why not remain in the race and pull Mr. Clean into the mud? Hillary 2012 anybody?

Tony Rezko, Jeremiah Wright, the Weather Underground and "bitter-gate" have forced Obama's followers to confront the stubborn fact of his humanity. The messiah has fallen from heaven. And in just a few more months, the sullied savior will face a rested and ready John McCain.

But first, Pennsylvania...

Mason Slidell