The Democrats seem intent upon electing John McCain this year. In what was supposed to be an election that marked historic opportunities, people around the candidates on both sides are now getting ugly.

First, Geraldine Ferraro- who 302 million Americans couldn't name and who all 303 million don't know what she ever did, except play 2nd fiddle to Walter Mondale in winning 1 state in 1984- she apparently has issues with black Presidential candidates. In 1988 she said "Of course, if Jesse Jackson weren't black, he wouldn't be in the race." Then she told a California paper last week "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman of any color, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept." We'll set aside the irony that she apparently resents affirmative action, and just say this: Let no one think she is headed to the back of a random Trivial Pursuit card in peace.

Second, Michelle Obama. This election is famously the first time in her life she is proud to be an American. So apparently she saw nothing to be proud of when she worked for Mayor Daley in Chicago, not surprising. She and Barack went to "a Spike Lee joint" (Spike's phrase, not mine) on their first date. She was his mentor/boss at the law firm where they were the only 2 blacks. She is his top advisor, or not, depending upon the day. I get the impression that there are more quotes and firebrand rhetoric from her out there.

Third, Obama's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. His comments over the years, and especially about Hillary lately, have been a little cuckoo. He has been something of a pastor/close friend/crazy uncle to Obama for 20 years now. He has said that 9/11 was self-inflicted by America because of state terrorism against Japanese, Palestinians, etc. He has said that Hillary was not a poor black boy raised in a single parent home and that she has never been called a n*****. He has said (quite incorrectly actually) that her people were never defined as non-people.

Fourth, on a topic that is a little taboo. Has anyone noticed that Hillary is still around because, well, because she hopes to go back to the spirit of Florida 2000 and try to change the rules of the game in the 4th quarter so that she can win. But where I was going was, Hillary is still around because Hispanics apparently refuse to vote for a black person! Some daring reporter somewhere ought to go and dig into that whole phenomenon, but I guess itlacks a white male bogeyman so maybe no one will. Kind of like the whole UC system being 60% Asian and starting to affirmative action against Asians now, that story is untouchable too.

With this weird 43 day lage between Clinton's win in Ohio and Obama's 98-94 win in Texas sitting here, until 4/22 in Pennsylvania, Democrats would be wise to just go to Hawaii and stop making their juvenile squabble over the victim altar the topic of endless discussion.