Monday, January 19, 2009

Politics As Usual

Is Obama Just More Of The Same?
Barack Obama's historic campaign centered around a single word, CHANGE. As it turns out, Barack Obama isn't quite different from past Presidents. In a recent New York Daily News article, author Ian Strock highlights the similarities between Obama and previous Presidents. Strock concludes that Obama is more typical than John McCain. Let's take a look at some of these similarities based on characteristics:


Age of Presidents on Inauguration Day
Barack Obama: 47 years, 169 days old
Average Age of Previous Presidents: 55 years, 117 days old
John McCain, if elected: 72 years, 114 days old
Children
Barack Obama: 2 daughters
Previous Presidents: 3.7 children
John McCain: 7 children
President/First Lady Age Difference
The Obamas: 2 years, 166 days
Previous Presidents: 5 years, 16 days
The McCains: 17 years
College/Career
The most popular college for future Presidents is Harvard. Obama becomes the eighth Harvard alumnus in the White House. Half of Obama's predeccessors were lawyers, as he is.
Family Tree
23 of the 42 Presidents have been related to each other.
Obama is related to at least 6 former Presidents, James Madison, Harry Truman, Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, George H.W Bush and George W. Bush.
McCain is not related to any former Presidents.[NYDN]

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