BARACK OBAMA

The NSA leaker's asylum application could take months, but the Russians may let him out of the airport while he waits.

I am well aware this is an extremely sensitive and controversial subject and may upset and offend some readers, but here goes anyway.East Indian people are very race- and skin-color conscious. It's a trait that is permanently embedded in our ancient DNA. When Barack Obama ran for president in 2008 (and after he won the election), my Indian friends, acquaintances and relatives made some of the following comments about him: “He has light skin and fine features, he's not really black”; “He talks very well, not like most black people”; “The Democrats chose him because he's articulate, went to Harvard and seems nice and civilized”; “He probably wouldn't suffer any racial problems, nor rejection, in India”; “Why on earth did he marry her [Michelle]?”; “I wouldn't be afraid of him if I saw him walking down the street”; “If he had straight hair, he'd almost look Indian.” The list of far more inflammatory remarks goes on, but I'd be too embarrassed to repeat them here.

The president's approval rating peaked at 63 percent after his inauguration; it's currently at 47.9 percent.

The Arizona Republican made the call during an interview with CNN Sunday.