The Next Obama?

The Atlantic has a feature on former Phoenix Suns star point guard Kevin Johnson, currently a credible candidate for election as mayor of Sacramento, the capital of California. He joins the ranks of former NBA stars such as Bill Bradley and Tom McMillen seeking election to public office as liberal Democrats. Like Bradley, KJ appears to be a real policy nerd. A former pol sci major at Berkeley, he spend long plane rides during his playing career downing books and policy papers. No word if these included the classic of that genre Swedish Land-Use Planning. (And what's the deal with Phoenix Suns point guards and their political paperback reading?)

KJ has apparent bi-partisan appeal -- both the Republicans and the Democrats have tried recruiting him to run for governor of Arizona. He has likewise demonstrated that one trait of Obama's that has steadily increased in value -- unflappability. Josh Green's The Atlantic article recounts a reception for KJ hosted by Hmongs, an ethnic group from Laos that has a sizeable presence in the United States and which has certain shamanistic cultural practices. The candidate was asked: 

...What was his position on animal sacrifice?

Johnson froze. The room was silent. He seemed to be wondering whether this was a joke, before deciding that, no, it probably was not a joke, and he had better not laugh. Then Johnson, still quick on his feet, spotted the play and flashed a high-wattage smile. “I’m here tonight to learn what I can do for you,” he said, “and this is exactly the type of issue that I’ll address as mayor, which is why I would like, right now, for volunteers to raise their hands if they’ll agree to be my liaison to the Hmong community.” Soon, five candidates had declared themselves to uproarious applause. Johnson brought them all, giggling and snapping pictures, to the front of the room. Game over.

KJ will face a runoff election this month against the incumbent Sacramento mayor. If he wins and governs with some success, he may be soon tagged as a potential statewide candidate, maybe even as governor of America's largest state. A bright political future seems in line for KJ, except maybe for this.