Commenting on Paul McCartney's mean-spirited joke about George W. Bush made in front of Barack Obama at the White House, Jay Nordlinger writes:Just say that Obama had issued some mild rebuke, after McCartney’s insult of his predecessor. Had signaled somehow that he disapproved of the remark, made at the White House during a completely non-political event — at a concert, in fact. Forget what is right or wrong to do: Don’t you think such a move would have impressed a lot of people in the country? Won points for the president?
The Obama people should realize that the White House is not the campaign trail, is not a Democratic political rally. Standing at the presidential press secretary’s podium, Robert Gibbs makes partisan remarks all the time. Okay. He’s got a right. But would you do that, if you were in the White House? Wouldn’t you think you were kind of representing all America, not just one politician or one party? And, to be crass and cynical about it: Don’t you think it would be helpful to your administration? That it would be helpful to show yourself above the low kind of politics?
