THE OBAMA PROBLEM

Famed editorial cartoonist Pat Oliphant is facing a problem, said Matt Schofield at the Kansas City Star: “What to do about a president he actually likes?” Liking such presidents as Richard Nixon and George W. (“Warlord”) Bush “is not a problem he’s had much experience with,” Schofield continued. Said the Australian-born Oliphant: “I came here in 1964, in the midst of the Johnson - (Barry) Goldwater mess that was defining the world,” he said, in a gentle Australian lilt that has faded over 44 years in the U.S., where he is now a citizen. “I thought at the time I liked Johnson. It’s not a problem I’ve had since. Until now.” Now, he, like all political cartooners, is expected to make fun of Barack Obama. But Oliphant likes Obama. “Cartoonists need villains,” he said. “The Bush years were better than the Nixon years, professionally.” Professionally, Oliphant went on, he is mourning John McCain’s loss: “I suffered a grievous injury, losing Sarah Palin so soon.” But he realizes his Obama dilemma won’t last forever. “With every politician, there’s a honeymoon period. I just have to wait for that to end. It always ends.” Until then? asked Schofield. “Well, thank God for those big ears.”