OBAMA, THE DUTCH PRESIDENT
By Greg Shapiro   Jan. 21, 2009

Since Inauguration Day last month, President Obama has had quite a Honeymoon with the press. He probably has another week left to save the world before the US press tears him to shreds. And they may have a point. While some people say: ‘You can’t make fun of Barack Obama,’ I say: ‘YES WE CAN!’

But in Holland, the Honeymoon continues. Why? Because Barack Obama is Dutch.

- It’s true. Some of Obama’s ancestors trace back to the Pilgrims from the 1600s, and they came from Leiden. Yes, when your brand of religion is too extreme even for the Dutch, you move to America. Of course – judging by ancestors – half of Obama’s are Muslim. Just like Holland!

- When Obama was 4 years old, his nanny was a Dutch woman named Ans Michels, who now lives in Nijmegen. Also, Obama has admitted that – in his youth he smoked marijuana (and unlike Clinton, he did inhale). Now there’s no proof that Obama got his weed from Ans, but do you think a Dutch girl went to Hawaii in the 60’s NOT to get high? While Obama shows no signs of following Dutch drug policy, he does a personal addiction to sending emails by ‘Crackberry.’

- Obama likes meetings. When reporters ask for specifics on topics from Afghanistan to Carbon Limits, the answer is ‘We’re having meetings.’ This is Obama at his most-Dutch. Why? Dutch people love meetings! Ask any Dutch person how he feels about meetings, and he’ll tell you: ‘I don’t know. First, I have to have a meeting.’ Then they have to schedule a meeting about the meeting, to see how everyone felt about the meeting.

And – as with the Democrats – the Dutch may have a majority of tolerant, progressive voters – BUT they insist on running from the Right-Wingers with their tails between their legs.

Is Obama really Dutch? You’d have to ask Dutch people. You just have to wait for them to have their meeting.