THE ONE

Posted at 8:41 a.m. ET

There is a kind of hypocritical vulgarity to the anointing of Barack Obama in Europe.  The sudden love for Obama does seem to contradict quite a bit of European history, which includes heavy doses of racism, xenophobia, holocausts, and other unpleasantries.

A story in McClatchy Newspapers says: 

PARIS — His visage appears between the svelte curves of fashion models on Europe's most prestigious runways. His speeches are remixed into thumping music tracks in underground dance clubs. His campaign slogans are the foundation for modern art hanging on trendy Parisian gallery walls.

In Europe, Barack Obama is much more than the Democratic presidential nominee. He's the hip new thing.

Abe Greenwald at "Contentions," comments:

At what point can we deem Europe’s cosmetic obsession with a black American presidential candidate offensive? I know we’re supposed to be overjoyed that the rest of the world loves Obama, but this is a pretty condescending brand of love, and it’s shocking that no one has objected to it. You don’t have to agree with Barack Obama to think he deserves more respect from the rest of the world than to be turned into an exotic fashion ornament. A “hip new thing” is still a thing. He may be Europe’s new PC fashion accessory, but he’s still our Democratic nominee.

And...

So, if you’re French and you want to advertise your love of black people, you wear an Obama scarf. Meanwhile, unassimilated North African immigrants light up the skies of Parisian suburbs with nightly arson riots. Way to make with the diversity, Europe!

Well said.  And at NRO's Campaign Spot, Jim Geraghty wonders about the American reaction to The One:

But if he wins, how long until the American people get really tired of hearing just how [insert exasperated modifier here, including the expletive of your choice] cool he is? He uses gestures from Jay-Z videos! He's mentioned in the lyrics of Three 6 Mafia's "Lolli Lolli"! He trades e-mails with Scarlett Johansson! Paris fashion designers love him!

Project ahead one year.  The recession deepens.  Americans get tired of New York Times editorials blaming BUSH(!).  They begin to look more critically at the man in the White House, the pressure increases, Michelle makes one of her now-famous outbursts.  And the word "cool" suddenly drops from the journalistic vocabulary, at least in sane places.  That's when the trouble begins. 

Now, all this business can be avoided if the American people do the right thing on election day.  But if they should err, they will expect quick results.  If The One can't deliver, he may be rushing to Europe to get a prestige boost from adoring crowds a lot sooner than his handlers had planned. 

October 19, 2008.