No running near the melting pot

Check out this delightfully politically incorrect Gallup Poll, conducted Sept. 21 to 24:

Is the United States ready for a _____ president? (percent yes/no)
Woman: 61 / 38
African-American: 58 / 40
Jewish: 55 / 42
Hispanic: 41 / 58
Asian: 33 / 64
Mormon: 29 / 66
Atheist: 14 / 84
Gay/Lesbian: 7 / 91

While this is seemingly good news for Condoleezza Rice and Jon Stewart, it appears that the rest of our parents were still lying when they said any of us with the drive (/ego), determination (/naivete) and desire (/catastrophic brain injury) could theoretically grow up to be president. (At least Katie Couric knows her proper place.)

Indeed, Caucasian, Christian, straight (or securely closeted) males have served the office and the country so very well, who would ever want to change course?

Certainly not the Washington Post's Richard Cohen, responding to Bob Woodward's "State of Denial:"

... in Woodward's book, as with everything else I've read about the 43rd president, it's apparent that Bush had no reason to run for the office other than to satisfy some psychological compulsion -- and had no accomplishment to his name that did not stem from primogeniture. Especially in foreign policy, he was an ignoramus who smugly thought that his instincts trumped experience and knowledge. What's even more appalling is that over and over in Woodward's book, Bush sticks to his losing hand, refusing to challenge his own assumptions -- or, it seems, his steadfast belief that his is a divine mission. Now that's the stuff of great leadership right there. Way to translate those demographic cues into visionary national stewardship, American electorate.

But, I suppose, perhaps I'm being a bit too harsh, as little ol' heathen me can't help but be a tad peeved that the populace is apparently more wont to trust polygamous fundamentalists to act in their collective interest than someone who happens to have a particular heritage, sexual orientation or, you know, relatively rational, humanistic perspective on the world.

Naturally, an elected official can't be gay and non-religious – what would he possibly use as his magical, irrefutable get-out-of-scandal free card?