Is "Do You Know Who Snooki Is?" the Defining Political Question of Our Time?

     New York based blog Gawker called "Do you know who Snooki is?" the defining political question of our time yesterday.  For someone who is famous for being famous, the Jersey Shore star sure has caused quiet a commotion on America's political scene.  It all began this June Snookie revealed her preference for Republican presidential candidate John McCain over President Obama.

     "I don't go tanning anymore because Obama put a 10% tax on tanning," Snooki said. "And I feel like he did that intentionally for us.  McCain would never put a 10% tax on tanning because he's pale and he'd probably want to be tan."

      "@Sn00ki u r right, I would never tax your tanning bed!" McCain posted on Twitter.  "Pres Obama's tax/spend policy is quite The Situation. but I do rec wearing sunscreen!"

     President Obama apparently took Snooki's public remarks seriously because he vowed to give her and the entire Jersey Shore cast an exemption to the tax provision of the health bill.

     "The following individuals shall be excluded from the indoor tanning tax within this bill: Snooki, JWOWW, The Situation and House minority leader John Boehner," Obama joked at White House Press Correspondents Dinner.

     Only two months later however, the president claimed he didn't know who Snooki was during his appearance on The View.  This is flip-flopping at its worst.

See the video after the jump.



     The question was brought up again during a debate between two New York Republican Senate candidates.  Both denied knowing who Snooki was.  They then moved on to questions about water boarding.

     "These politicians all know who "Snooki" is, but they're required to say that they don't, to look sophisticated. (John McCain being the notable exception.)" writes Jim Newell.  "It's just bizarre how this question, "Are you aware of this specific celebrity from television, Snooki?", keeps appearing as a political topic."

     Although Obama clearly has to explain to America why he has flip-flopped, McCain has to answer for his own actions.  Sure, he might have been a maverick who mocked Obama's "celebrity status" during the 2008 presidential election, but how can he still do that when one of the stars from one of America's most popular shows is clearly on his side?