Those Magical Obamas
Byron York, that master of the deadpan, tells this story in today's Examiner:
One of the things that my mom always said -- because people ask her all the time, 'What did you do to create Michelle Obama?'" Mrs. Obama told the audience. "And the one thing my mom has always said, and I agree, she said, 'You know, Michelle and Barack aren't new.' She says, 'Michelle and Barack are not unique.' She says, 'There are thousands of Michelle and Barack Obamas all over this nation, in neighborhoods and communities all over the place. And she is absolutely right. She is absolutely right. There is no magic to us."
Reminds me of a favorite joke of Norman Podhoretz's:
In a village in eastern Europe, a great rebbe is dying. His disciples surround his bed, wailing as their teacher slowly fades away.
"Who will inspire us if the rebbe should leave us?" one asks aloud. There is none like him for holiness!"
"Who will teach us?" laments another. "There is none like him for learning!"
"Who will guide us?" keens a third. "There is none like him for righteousness!"
The disciples succumb to protracted sobbing. The rabbi's eyes slowly open. He props himself up on an elbow to glare at the group. "And about my humility, you have nothing to say?"