Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan

It is odd how the political times have brought together two entirely different people, a "Joe the Plumber" and Specialist Kareem R. Khan, of Manahawkin, New Jersey. Each of them has a life story that is now being retold in highly symbolic ways this political season. If you live in a political vacuum here the story.

“Joe the Plumber" is a man who John McCain brought up during the last Presidential debate. McCain apparently vetted "Joe" as much as he did Sarah Palin because his "everyman," it turns out, is not a licensed plumber, does make over a quarter million dollars or have the money to buy a business and would indeed save money under the Obama tax plan as apposed to the McCain plan.

Despite the inconsistencies the two Republican candidates drawn applause from their faithful at the mention of his name while back home Joe complains about the "work" his agent has him doing and how tiring life is now.

Now today we are introduced to Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, 20, a high school graduate who, after the 9/11 attachs enlisted in the army because he wanted to show that not all Muslims were fanatics and that many, like him, were willing to lay their lives down for their country. He enlisted immediately after graduation and was sent to Iraq in July 2006. Specialist Khan was killed a year later when a blast destroyed a house he and members of his division were clearing in Baqouba, Iraq. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Spf. Khan became front page news today when General Colin Powell remembered his sense of duty and sacrifice when Powell endorsed Senator Obama for President. In repudiating his own party he said, "I have heard senior members of my own (Republican) party drop the suggestion, "He (Obama) is a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists ... we have got to stop polarizing ourselves in this way ... I'm troubled about the fact that, within the party, we have these kinds of expressions."

It can not be denied that both “Joe,” whose real name is Sam, and Kareem are Americans Why do some celebrate Joe, while others see great goodness in Kareem; I know that I am drawn to Sfc Khan’s story … in so many ways his life represents the best of our country . We would do well to remember he lived up to the meaning of his name, "Most excellent!."

ENDORSEMENT, GENERAL POWELL

The rumors that General Colin Powell was going to endorse Mr. Obama have been around for some time. This morning I turned on the TV to hear it but, half asleep, I missed "it" ... until now ... the endorsement is so well reasoned and thoughtful ... and it represents a standpoint and a way of looking at this American way of life that demands to be heard.

A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND ... OR 100,000 IN THIS CASE

ST. LOUIS - Standing under the Gateway Arch, Sen. Barack Obama spoke this afternoon before a crowd his campaign said totaled 100,000, a new U.S. record for his presidential bid. "All I can say is wow," Obama said as he took the stage.

ENDORCEMENTS, WHEELING W. VIRGINA AND PALIN

As I noted below Editor and Publisher is tracking national newspaper endorsements for President; out of curiosity I decided to read some of the Editorial supporting Senator John McCain. With one exception two words were left out of those endorsements: Sarah Palin.

The other interesting tidbit was there blindness to the McCain of today and the McCain of yesteryear. Almost to a paper they point to the very qualities he has given up in order to gain his parties nomination such as his past stands on immigration and torture.

And while they comment on the need for a steady, experienced hand, they fail to mention his almost erratic campaign behavior.

The one editorial who actually used Palin as a reason for voting for McCain was the Wheeling News-Register whose one and only concern was the use of coal. Never once however did they question her ability to BE the Vice President let alone President.

ENDORSEMENTS, LA TIMES, OBAMA

I know I can write; I know how to give a speech but do I ever wish I could have written this. So take a few minutes and read the Los Angeles Times' endorsement for Senator Obama ... it matches Mr. Obama in elegance while not avoiding the "Palin choice" or the challenges that a "President" Obama must face.

It is just a wonderful thing to read, in and of itself ... it ends by saying: We may one day look back on this presidential campaign in wonder. We may marvel that Obama's critics called him an elitist, as if an Ivy League education were a source of embarrassment, and belittled his eloquence, as if a gift with words were suddenly a defect. In fact, Obama is educated and eloquent, sober and exciting, steady and mature. He represents the nation as it is, and as it aspires to be.

Or you can follow the endorsements here on Editor and Publisher which reported today: BARACK OBAMA,
64 newspapers total, well over 8 million circulation (we are still counting); JOHN McCAIN, 18 newspapers total, about 1.7 million daily circulation.