Topic Stew

It's the first day of Spring and a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love, harmony and college basketball. That may be true of a young man, but for me, (a not so young, but not too old man) my thoughts are dominated by racism and hookers. How's that for the season of rebirth?

Tuesday, senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama gave a speech that many are calling the most important speech of his life. You know the details, and if you don't, shame on you. I bet you know who was kicked off American Idol last night. (It was Amanda, the "rock and roll nurse" in a travesty of American taste) It's almost impossible for anyone to discuss race without it dissolving into an argument, but Obama may have come the closest. He is able to look at the race issue from both sides, thanks to his background and was able to calmly address the anger on both sides of the debate. Would it have been easier to just sweep the issue under the rug? Sure, but that's almost as bad as the problem itself. While the speech won't fix the problem of race, maybe it will get a few people taking and give both sides some insight.

I'm a little confused as to why people are making such a big deal about Obama sticking by his friends. Last week he was asked if he considered accused felon and long time pal "Tony" Rezko a friend and this week he had to defend his friendship with Rev. Wright. People seemed shocked that Obama would still consider these guys friends or in the case of Rev. Wright, "like family" even though he didn't agree with their actions or words. What does that say about people and their view on friendship. I don't know about you, but I admire a guy who sticks by his friends. Obama isn't doing it blindly. He's not saying that everything his friends say and do is right. He even has said that if the allegations are true, he would be disappointed and that Rezko wouldn't be the man he thought he was. Obama also said that Rev. Wright said things he was vehemently opposed to, but he hasn't cut either man loose. Maybe it's just me, but that's what I thought friends did. You stick by your friends even when they do things you don't agree with. Part of being a friend is telling them when they're out of line. That character trait seems lost on the braying masses who can't wait for Obama or any candidate to dump people from their past at the first sign of trouble. Isn't that why we hate politicians, because they don't seem genuine? To me, Obama showed what kind of man he is. To paraphrase Tammy Wynette, stand by your friends.

From politics, it's not too big a leap to talking about hookers. Is anyone else tired of hearing about Ashley Dupre, the "high priced escort" who went down..er, I mean brought down the governor of New York? Why do we care? It goes to show you how hypocritical we are. Society looks down their noses at these women and their "business" but can't get enough of the details. From her stint as an escort, to her old Girls Gone Wild video, to the big ABC Primetime two hour special on prostitution all the way to the "Cathouse" shows on HBO we are fascinated by hookers, sex and the taboo of it all. I can understand the curiosity. I suppose that's why Dupre stands to make a killing from her story. Isn't it odd that Ashley will make good money for her story, but some twenty dollar street walker is a pariah for doing the same job in a car instead of a suite? Maybe it's because she's closer to the Julia Robert's, Pretty Woman kind of hooker we all romanticize rather that the meth addicted, cellulite ridden, pimp payin' reality.

Enough soap boxing. Here's a programming note. I'll be filling in for Steve and Johnnie, Friday morning from 2-5 am on WGN. If you're up late/early tune in. I'll have the weekend report, some amusing tales and maybe a visit from "Teddy Vegas". That's a lot to jam into three hours, but I'll do my best. Later...Brian