Stan – I think the analogy doesn’t go as far as you do. Race and sexuality are very different things in American life (despite the best efforts of some feminists and gay activists to say otherwise). Clinton behavior with Lewinsky ran against ethics rules, political correctness and — in his cover-up — the law. The issues involved we legitimate and serious but very different.

The better comparison, I think, is still between Obama and Romney. Romney’s “Mormonism” speech largely change the subject in the same way Obama’s did. Romney in effect said that he had nothing to apologize for — despite concerns about his faith — because freedom of religion (and his own convictions) are more relevant and important issues and considerations. He really did change the subject.

And so did Obama. The difference is nobody was asking Obama to apologize for his race or his religion. They were asking him to apologize and account for his relationship with an individual — Jeremiah Wright. Obama didn’t do that. Instead he made it a “race thing.” And whatever people think of his argument on that score, it certainly wasn’t responsive, never mind “post-racial.”