Why has there never been an Italian-American President?

[Indy Texas]

Given the motley lineage of most Americans whose families have been here at least a couple of generations, I don't think pigeonholing people by their last names is helpful. You can be a Smith or a McDonald and still be entitled to call yourself Italian-American because of maternal descent.

There are plenty of Americans who can claim Italian ancestry who wouldn't be considered "Italian American" by the public because they don't fit the stereotype of what that requires (being from a Northeastern state, having a last name that ends in a vowel, having olive skin and dark hair).

[Indy Texas]

(being from a Northeastern state, having a last name that ends in a vowel, having olive skin and dark hair).

So you're saying, the only reasons some people are aware that Christie's mother is Italian is because he fits that description? If his father's English surname were Jones rather than Christie we wouldn't be aware of it?

I'm saying that if his last name were Jones and if he had a more, shall we say, Anglo-Saxon rather than Lombard, appearance, and if he were the governor of a state like Indiana or Oregon, people wouldn't think of him as Italian-American. People outside of forums like this don't heavily research politicians' backgrounds. They make inferences based on what they see.

[Indy Texas]

The surprise -- in view of their outstanding achievements in politics -- is Jews.

Not when you consider that they tend to be too liberal to be palatable in a general election. Paul Wellstone, Barbara Boxer, Jacob Javits, all would be DOA in a general election.

And the ones who aren't lefties are usually neocon HPs who'd be better running for Prime Minister of Israel.