The XX Factor: Slate women blog about politics, etc...

Melinda H. posts for me, except I'd take her argument a step further. It is actually a politician's job to have nutty acquaintances, because a politician needs to foster alliances with a wide range of different groups. That's how he or she acquires enough backing to get elected and, if elected, to get legislation passed. Any group passionate enough to have political significance is bound to have many nut jobs, or at least immoderate and fiery advocates, in its midst. That's why Bill Kristol's scornful observation in the New York Times this morning—"Obama seems to have seen, early in his career, the utility of joining a prominent church that would help him establish political roots in the community in which he lives"—warmed the cockles of my little Hillary-loving heart. Obama is a politician! He sees the necessity of seducing, pandering, backpedaling, compromising! He has done the work of establishing political roots in a community that he needs to win his campaign! Hurray! Now let's hope he does the same in many, many other communities as well. That way if I wind up voting for him, I won't worry I'm voting for a politics-transcending naif.