Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Change You Can Conceive In

The theory is almost too perfect to be true. Barack Obama, the son of politically progressive parents, was born Aug. 4, 1961—almost nine months to the day after John F. Kennedy was elected to the White House. Is it possible Obama was conceived on that historic night?

And if so, could history repeat itself? In the hours and days since Obama's victory, many of his exhilarated supporters have been, shall we say, in the mood for love.


And though it's too soon to know for sure, experts aren't ruling out the possibility of an Obama baby boom—the kind of blip in the national birth rate that often follows a seismic event, whether it's scary (a terrorist attack) or celebratory (the end of World War II). "The mood of the country and the optimism about leadership is always somewhat related to birth rates," says Dr. Manny Alvarez, chief of reproductive science at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. "I'm gearing up for a healthy increase."

Hope and euphoria, says University of Washington sociologist Pepper Schwartz, are a serious aphrodisiac. And voters under 30 went for Obama by a margin of 2 to 1. When you combine those two elements—randy people of child-bearing age—the likely result is what the online Urban Dictionary has already dubbed "Obama Babies" : children "conceived after Obama was proclaimed President, by way of celebratory sex." "If the amount of alcohol, happy people and major functions on election night is any indication, I suspect we'll indeed see a boom," says 25-year-old Brandon Mendelson, a graduate student in Albany, N.Y., who says he changed his vote at the last minute because "I wanted to be able to tell our future children that we voted for Obama."

5 comments:

Brian Mongold said...

I'm so proud to have taken part in this election. It does have a Kennedy type feel to it. I really believe Obama will do everything he can to turn this country around. His message of change and hope is something that can inspire and has inspired us all.

I'd like to thank Bush for helping to get so many Americans out to vote. He's part of the change equation. Without him, McCain may be the President Elect.

Unknown said...

This is a win-win. The wrinkly, old grouches don't have Sarah Palin to look at anymore. Possibly, the male enhancement sales will go down along with their, well, let's just say eagerness. Our bright, young Obama supporters will inevitably conceive and raise staunch Democrats. They'll replace the old, tired fatigue that sits in the board rooms of our nation's failing companies.

Obama is very similar to Kennedy. His oratory skills are second to none. This was a trait Kennedy had. Also, there's a profound, resonating theme Obama addresses: We need to be self-reliant and tell government what our needs are. Very similar to Kennedy and his approach to the Peace Corps.

Timothy Smith said...

Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.

Sorry but Obama won with the opposite pitch:

Ask not what you can do for your country but what your country can do for you (checks in the mail).

I am already disappointed in Obama.

He is handing over Health and Human Services to the health companies, to a lobbyist.

Thats not change. So far no change at all.

Obama is no JFK, so far no new blood for cabinet picks. Lobbyists are also being invited in to start new boondoggles.

As I predicted, same as Bush except a new group of special interests will benefit.

Good time to buy stocks that Dashcel represents. Those health companies will do very well just as Halliburton did with Cheney.

Its been a sad few days for me, Obama is not going to be any different. Its payback time and Obama is cutting checks.

His message might be change and hope but I for one hope Obama changes his actions to more reflect his message.

His message wont help everyday Americans.

Putting a health care lobbyist in charge of health care? Someone please explain the change, I am not seeing it.

Thomas said...

Brian, count me proud as well. It's times like this that make me wish I had kids. I also think he'll do all he can to bring change. If I didn't believe that, there's no way I'd post so many pics of him on my home page.

You're right. Rove helped Bush get out the vote big-time in 04, but that was nothing compared to what he inspired earlier this month.

PJ, you're really thinking down the road on this. I like it. I read yesterday that 4 million people are expected for January's inauguration. Wonder how many woulda showed if it'd been McCain.

Tim, I understand your concern about Daschle, but I wouldn't look at him as a pure lobbyist. He's spent much more of his life as a Senator. I don't think 'Bama's gonna take any lobbying crap from Daschle. He's been hired to get the ball rolling on universal care. We'll see what transpires.

We've definitely not seen Obama make any "interesting" choices yet. I can only hope they're to come. If they don't, I'll be more ornery than a Puerto Rican who just tried to cross the border into 'Zona, but was spotted by the border patrol.

Rocketstar said...

It's a great step for this country for sure.