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Hitler Loved Basketball

One of my least favorite slogans this political season has been to contrast Obama with Palin, in saying that "Jesus Christ was a community organizer, and Pontius Pilate was a Governor."

It started right around the time Palin made fun of Obama in her convention speech, and caught on like wild fire.

But it captures so little. I guess, it's technically true, that Jesus shares a trait with Obama, and Pontius Pilate shares a trait with Palin. But isn't it obvious that it's the *type* of role a person fills that makes the analogy worth while?

A terrible community organizer can't claim that they're Christ-like. And a great Governor shouldn't be compared to Pontius Pilate. (I'm not claiming these are true of Obama and Palin, just drawing the analogy out to its conclusion).

Otherwise, this becomes too easy. Winston Churchill loved to moose hunt. Beethoven's daughter got pregnant at 17. Genghis Khan lived in Chicago briefly. Hitler loved to play basketball.

These analogies obviously lack content, and yet they're no less absurd than the line that has caught on about Jesus and Pontius Pilate.

Full post as published by Expressio Unius on October 06, 2008 (boomark / email).