Palmer for President

First, Republican presidential wannabe Tom Tancredo told America that when the terrorists strike, "I'm looking for Jack Bauer," a reference to the federal agent and torture enthusiast portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland on TV's 24. Now, Dennis Haysbert, the actor who portrayed President David Palmer on several seasons of the hit show, is taking partial credit for the phenomenon known as Barack Obama. From CNN's account:

"If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people," said the actor, who has contributed $2,300 to the Illinois Democrat's presidential campaign.

"And I mean the American people from across the board—from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base—to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first," he said Tuesday.

Culture matters, no doubt about it. So what about President Tom Beck, expertly portrayed by the great Morgan Freeman in the asteroid epic Deep Impact? (I retain no memory of the president's color or creed in the related Bruce Willis classic Armageddon.) And I suppose this means that Geena Davis's turn on Commander in Chief wasn't enough to save Hillary Clinton's floundering campaign.

As usual, The Onion was there first.