Yesterday, news reports revealed that Barack Obama has begun the process of creating a presidential transition team to ensure that he hits the ground running after his inauguration. As expected, the McCain campaign and its conservative allies are using this as further evidence that Obama is arrogant and disturbingly presumptuous regarding his current presidential bid. While there’s plenty of reason to criticize Barack Obama, this isn’t one of them.

To be sure, there have been moments when the Obama campaign has gone just a bit too far. For example, Obama’s decision to give speeches in front of a podium bearing a mock presidential seal was both campy and cocky. His campaign’s request to deliver a speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate –in an apparent attempt to follow the historic addresses of Reagan and Kennedy– represented one of the few moments where his rock star swagger didn’t seem effortless.

That said, the recent transition team controversy is much ado about nothing.

First, the significance of Obama’s move has been wildly overstated. Contrary to what networks like Fox News have reported, the campaign has not moved into “full transition mode.” Such language implies that he has already written his acceptance speech and begun ordering drapes. In truth, Obama has merely begun to construct a small team of people to begin thinking through the transition process. Given the constant attacks on his experience, some of which are merited, why would this not be viewed as a positive?

The other unfair critique is that Obama’s move is historically unprecedented. Immediately after news of the transition team was released, commentators ignored all available facts and suggested that Obama was the first presidential candidate to build a transition team before winning the election. While this makes for a sexy news story, it is flatly contradicted by the fact that George W. Bush did the same thing in 2000. In fact, when asked about the move, Bush and executive transition director Clay Johnson argued that it “would be irresponsible not to do so.” In addition to Bush, every president since Jimmy Carter has done the same thing. In all likelihood, the McCain campaign is surreptitiously replicating the very same process.

Is this an example of a restless media avoiding the facts and turning ordinary events into a spectacle? Given, the insatiable nature of the 24-hour cable news monster, this is a strong possibility. Another factor, however, is the bubbling media narrative of Barack Obama as both arrogant and aloof. While some of his aforementioned campaign slipups have contributed to this idea, there seems to be an ever-present double standard with regard to Obama’s political maneuvers.

To quote Mos Def, “If white boys doing it well, it’s success / when I start doing it well it’s suspect.”

Billionaires Donate To Anti-Smoking Drive

Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg are pledging $500 million to a worldwide anti-smoking campaign. What do you think?

Bob Linck,
Systems Analyst
“Gates and Bloomberg should know they’re attacking the only source of comfort for Microsoft users and Knicks fans.”

Lindsay Esposito,
Cashier
“Unfortunately, that is exactly how much I planned to spend on cigarettes this year.”

Dan Connors,
Construction Worker
“That’s certainly not going to help Bill Gates’ nerdy reputation.”

Today’s video of the day shows Obama’s speech in Germany. Enjoy!

Novak Hits Pedestrian With Corvette

Columnist Robert Novak struck a pedestrian while driving a black Corvette on Washington D.C.’s K Street, and had to be chased down by a bicyclist before he stopped. What do you think?

Nelly Petrachonis,
Systems Analyst
“Why is this news? I assume he does this every week.”

Eric Steuff,
Pilot
“That pedestrian had better pray he didn’t dent Novak’s Corvette or else expect retaliation in an upcoming article.”

Evan Campo,
Camp Counselor
“Who was the pedestrian? Or will we have to wait for Robert Novak to publicly reveal his identity?”