Sen. Chauncey Gardner (D-IL)

'Puter's recently noted the astonishing similarities between Sen. Obama and Chance the Gardener, from Peter Seller's great film Being There.

Aside from the sameness in sartorial style, the two men's political philosophies seem to be equally devoid of content. Both are political neophytes. Both are media darlings. And both are men into whose utterances others read depth that does not exist.

Sen. Obama has given us such helpful guideposts as "We are the ones we've been waiting for." and "We are the change that we seek." This one's a beaut, too: "If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress."

Chance gave us such gems as "[a]s long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden." And the memorable "I like to watch." Also, "There will be growth in the spring."

And, similarly, both have fooled many people. But not all. Chance's co-worker Louise, knowing Chance's origins, saw through the media love affair and delivered the following Rev. Jeremiah Wright like, Bush-bashing rant.

It's for sure a white man's world in America. Look here: I raised that boy since he was the size of a piss-ant. And I'll say right now, he never learned to read and write. No, sir. Had no brains at all. Was stuffed with rice pudding between th' ears. Shortchanged by the Lord, and dumb as a jackass. Look at him now! Yes, sir, all you've gotta be is white in America, to get whatever you want. Gobbledy-gook!

The only difference appears to be that Chance may have been the Messiah, walking on water at the end of the film, but Sen. Obama's clearly not.