Barack Envy

I have to confess to a newfound envy of the Democratic nominee for President.

Sen. Barack Obama’s go-to Hollywood hottie is Scarlett Johansson, a starlet who trades frequent e-mails with the presumptive Democratic nominee, campaigns tirelessly on his behalf, hosts lucrative fundraisers and even appeared in that “Yes We Can” viral video that got 10 million views in its first week online.

How can she do this to me - after so many years of hopeless devotion! She's been my number one ever since Lost in Translation! Can you believe that she

has been an Obama supporter for years, even before the first Democratic caucus in Iowa, and she’s made no secret of her deep devotion to the candidate. “I am engaged to Barack Obama,” she said back in January, joking with reporters after returning from a USO tour to the Persian Gulf. “My heart belongs to Barack.”

I wish she would reconsider. Scarlett apparently didn't see the recent study comparing who is better to marry - Democrats or Republicans. While it is true that the study indicates "Democrats are two-thirds likelier than Republicans to have had two or more sex partners in the past year," something we know is important to folks in Hollywood, Scarlett should consider more important factors. Consider values, young lady, like attitudes toward extra-marital sex!

93 percent of conservatives say it is always wrong, versus only 65 percent of liberals. In other words, for a third of liberals, the whole monogamous marriage thing does not always seem the best option. Very modern, perhaps — but not an attitude many shop for in an ideal mate.

Marrying a Republican is, in a sense, jumping into bed with a good, old fashioned, leading man.

Sixty-eight percent of Republicans of all marital statuses in 2004 strongly agreed that they would prefer to suffer rather than let the one they loved suffer — versus 56 percent of Democrats. And 48 percent of Republicans strongly agreed when presented with the statement, “I would endure all things for the one I love.” In comparison, 38 percent of Democrats gave this response.

At the end of the day, Republicans are happier in their marriages than are folks of differing registrations. Again, happy marriages aren't the priority in Hollywood, but I suspect that when the 23 year old Johansson marries, she'll be wanting it to last at least for 3 or 4 years.

...Republicans have somewhat happier marriages than Democrats, on average. According to the 2006 General Social Survey, 67 percent of Republicans say their marriages are very happy, versus 61 percent of Democrats. (Disconcertingly for independents like my wife and me, only 55 percent say they have very happy marriages.)

A great deal for young Scarlet to consider. But hope and inspiration lead many young women astray, and is there any reason to think a girl who's been a star since her teens is going to make good decisions? I'm not optimistic.