A demeaning cloud

In the midst of all the wonderful sunshine of the Obama-Biden victory, a depressing little cloud showed up. Benjamin Emanuel, the father of Rahm Emanuel (Barack Obama's choice for chief of staff) had this to say about his son:

"Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."

Good grief, here we go yet again.

But the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee responded quickly and pointedly: "There should be no place for such demeaning rhetoric, and these comments are contrary to the very type of change the president-elect promised he would bring to America."

Let's hope that by now there has been some very strong filial correction delivered to dad.