Politics | Barack Obama Yes We Can ... Calm Down Pundit has Obamaphilia and doesn't care knows it By Jonas Oransky Posted Feb 8, 2008 4:51 PM CST Copied Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets supporters during a 'Stand for Change' Rally in Omaha, Neb., Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (Associated Press) Joel Stein has Obamaphilia—“I want the man to hope all over me”—and he worries it’s not appropriate. The LA Times columnist knows Barack Obama isn’t a maverick "taking risky positions like Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich" and wonders whether it's out of proportion—and in bad taste—to get worked up about a mainstream politician. Stein phones his Hillary-loving feminist mother for perspective, to “de-Romeo-ize.” “Some part of me want to say, ‘People wake up,’” she says. She's swimming against the tide, though. Stein would like to see his fellow Obama-maniacs do less crying in public, but he finally concludes that he “can’t root against a person who believes he can change the world.” Read These Next Mark Zuckerberg's 'list' has Silicon Valley buzzing. Hall of Famer Dave Parker dies IAEA chief downplays damage to Iran nuclear sites. That 'buy now, pay later' loan may soon hit your credit score. Report an error