Gavin Newsom for President?

The big question seems to be, is Gavin Newsom too young and pretty to be President, or too gay-friendly? Or both?

Interesting article over at Huffington Post about the San Francisco mayor's chances at "derailing the Hilary express" in 2008.

All this makes for good gossip column fodder in the tabloids. But is the Coiffed One qualified to become the nation's Chief Executive? Will middle America ever forgive him, or at least, overlook his very blatant support of gay marriage? Won't Red Staters turn even more scarlet in moral outrage and apoplexy? The memory of seeing all those same-sex couples lining up for their marriage licenses at SF City Hall will seem more of a terrorist threat than Osama issuing his infrequent video jihadist tirades from some cave on the other side of the world. And just imagine the GOP attack ads; they will make the Swift Boat commercials look like syndicated "Love Boat" promos by comparison.

Here in the Bay Area, Newsom is riding high in local polls; his approval ratings hover in the upper stratosphere. He's a pro-business fiscal conservative with progressive bona fides. It's a high wire act in a hyper-liberal town. He must constantly deal with a politically contentious Board of Supervisors (where he served three terms) that's as fractious and divided as Iraq's fledgling government.

I will always love Gavin Newsom, although finding out he's a fifth generation native San Franciscan when I'm only a fourth kind of pissed me off. And I sure hope SOMEONE derails the Hilary express sometime soon, because however much I want to see a woman president, I don't want it to be her.

The issue that hangs me up is whether the American people's tendency to admire guts and straight-shooting can overcome the American people's squick factor with gay marriage. I don't know if Russ Feingold, who simply stated that he didn't oppose same sex marriage being legal, can overcome that, let alone Newsom, who actually issued marriage licenses with his own hand and even presided over some same-sex marriages.

Then again, really, Newsom is awfully pretty and America is extremely shallow. But no. Ain't gonna happen. I wish I lived in that country, but I don't.

Comments

[ooogyfan2]

He has my vote. Not that I'm as shallow as you.

Oh wait, I'm even shallower.

[KathyF]

Maybe he should run for governor first. Y'all sure need a good one.