Reply #34: I'm not equating, but, yes, I am comparing.

[BurtWorm]

Americans tend to be shy of presidential candidates who are alien to the "ideal" or who have alien ideas, and vegetarianism, non-Christian spirituality (or open lack of religion) and pacificism are, sad to say, still relatively alien ideas among the candidates. Of course lifestyle choices like vegetarianism are not the same as race or gender. But do you think Karl Rove would be able to resist making some mischief out of a hypothetical Democratic nominee's choice not to eat meat? Like, maybe, out in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa, where people's livelihoods depend on a culture of meat-eating? It's much safer to make an idea seem un-American than a skin color or religious background. I tend to give the American people a lot of credit for their tolerance. But only 40% of them actually get fired up enough to vote in presidential elections, and at least half of them, it seems, aren't being rational when they mark their ballots.