Matt Yglesias finds Barack Obama charming voters in Nevada:
“Because I’m like, an ordinary person, I thought that they meant what’s your biggest weakness?” Mr. Obama said. “So I said, ‘Well, I don’t handle paper that well. You know, my desk is a mess. I need somebody to help me file and stuff all the time.’ So the other two they say uh, they say well my biggest weakness is ‘I’m just too passionate about helping poor people. I am just too impatient to bring about change in America.”
As the room erupts in laughter, he continues: “If I had gone last I would have known what the game was. I could have said, ‘Well you know, I like to help old ladies across the street. Sometimes they don’t want to be helped. It’s terrible.’”
It brings to mind the old favourite about a hapless British Ambassador to Washington many years ago:
The British Ambassador was in Washington some years back. About a fortnight before Christmas he was rung up by the local T.V. Station. “Ambassador,” said the caller, “What would you like for Christmas?” “I shouldn’t dream of accepting anything.” “Seriously, we would like to know and don’t be stuffy. You have after all been very kind to us during the year.” “Oh well, if you absolutely must, I would like a small box of crystallised fruits.”
He thought no more about it until Christmas Eve when he switched on the T.V. “We have had a little Christmas survey all of our own,” said the announcer. “We asked three visiting Ambassadors what they would like for Christmas. The French Ambassador said: ‘Peace on earth, a great interest in human literature and understanding, and an end to war and strife.’ Then we asked the German Ambassador and he said: ‘A great upsurge in international trade, ensuring growth and prosperity, particularly in the underdeveloped countries. That is what I wish for Christmas.’ And then we asked the British Ambassador and he said he would like a small box of crystallised fruits.”
