In an effort to “help fund struggling hospitals”, New Jersey lawmakers are reportedly considering the implementation of a “sin” tax on fast food. No matter how many times you read this story, it never sounds less ridiculous than the first.

Yes, the idea of marking up your favorite fast food burger or pack of fries is actually being tossed around, and it’s not settling well with many residents.

“They’re taxing everything. Now you’re gonna tax fast food? That’s crazy,” said Newark resident Miriam Robertson…

The thought of taxing a Big Mac or a Wendy’s burger came up at a New Jersey Hospital Association meeting where Gov. Jon S. Corzine was asked if it could be an option to help fund struggling hospitals. At the meeting, he reportedly called it a “constructive suggestion.”

A spokesman for Governor Corzine, probably best known for problems with seat belts, says many options are being considered. However, says the spokesman, there’s currently no plan to tax fast food. The very fact is was considered, however, is pathetic.

Just ignore the fact that he associated with an America-hating, conspiracy theorist for 20 years. Don’t let it become a long-term “distraction”.

“What we want to do now, though, is to make sure that this doesn’t continue to be a perpetual distraction,” he said.

“It is true that part of the job when you’re running for president is that anybody who is tangentially, you know, even remotely, associated with you is somehow fair game. And that’s unfortunate because most of us in our lives, you know, we meet people, we know people, some people we work with or we sit on a board with. We don’t really go vet them and find out all the terrible things they might have done because, you know, we don’t know, or what they said to see if it’s politically correct. Look, the truth is when you are running for president, that’s part of the deal. And I accept that because I think it’s important for the American people to know who I am and what my values are and what I stand for.”

Obama was more than “remotely” associated with Wright, as has been documented in the blogosphere for weeks. This is a man he chose to listen to for 20 years, baptize his children, marry him and his wife, and advise his presidential campaign. Wright was even responsible for the title of one of Obama’s best-selling books, The Audacity of Hope.

Obama suggested the Wright controversy and others are getting in the way of solving problems.

“Unfortunately, I think, over the last couple of months, instead of focusing on how do we can make everybody’s lives better, and how do we make sure that everybody can make their kids achieve the American dream, there’s been a lot of distractions and negative attacks,” he said. “We want to get back to talking about you. This campaign is not about me. It’s not about John McCain. It’s not about Hillary Clinton. It’s about you.”

The campaign is very much about you, Barry. We’re choosing our next president, and we need to examine his positions, judgment, and honesty. You have no experience, instead running your campaign solely on your “judgment”, which is apparently bad considering your long-term, willful association with Wright, Ayers, etc.. Simply calling any questioning of your past judgment a “distraction” isn’t acceptable.

Appearing at his side, Michelle Obama also stressed that her husband should not be judged by the words or actions of others.

“Don’t judge Barack by anything other than what he does and says. Just measure it by the choices he’s made in his life,” she said. “If anybody looks over the course of this year, you won’t have a question about who Barack is. He has been very consistent, not just this year, but throughout his entire life.”

He is being judged by the “choices he’s made”. He’s chosen to associate with an  America-hating, conspiracy theorizing, hate monger. He’s chosen to associate with an unrepentant domestic terrorist.

The Obamas seem to demand you judge Barack by the “choices he’s made”, but once you bring up the litany of bad choices, you’re only bringing up “distractions”.

The question is: Will this man actually succeed in pulling the wool over the eyes of the American electorate?

The lady who brought you “This is the first time I’ve been proud of my country” will sit down with Anderson Cooper tonight. The two will discuss Obama’s pastor of 20 years, Jeremiah “God Damn America” Wright.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Commerce Department announced Wednesday that the U.S. economy grew by just .6% in the first quarter of ‘08. While that number is dismal in ways of growth, it does not meet the accepted definition of a “recession”, which is classified as a retraction of the economy.

Many analysts were predicting that the gross domestic product (GDP) would weaken a bit more—to a pace of just 0.5 percent—in the first quarter. Earlier this year, some economists thought the economy would actually lurch into reverse during the opening quarter. Now, they say they believe that will likely happen during the current April-to-June period.

“The economy is weak but not collapsing,” said Lynn Reaser, chief economist at Bank of America’s Investment Strategies Group. “A recession can’t be ruled out, although the stars are not lined up at this point to definitively say one way or the other.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is expected to lower a key interest rate by an additional 1/4 percent Wednesday, lowering it to just 2%.

You have got to be kidding me. Michael Pfleger? Michael Pfleger? Did Obama fall out of a stupid tree, hitting every stupid branch on the way down, only to fall on a pile of stupid sticks?

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports Obama felt betrayed and Wright felt sand-bagged. Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church said he has been speaking to both men as the events of the past 24 hours unfolded.

He counseled Obama Tuesday morning, and while CBS 2 talked to him Tuesday evening, Rev. Wright called his cell phone.

Who else comes to Obama’s defense?

Mayor Richard M. Daley called the current flap a dangerous distraction.

Because you know what Obama needed right about now? His name associated with “Mayor Daley”.

Via Michelle Malkin.