Through the years society has established many ways to judge a person…what he/she reads, what he/she says, how he/she acts. Today society needs to add another criteria, I call it the iPod factor…its the music a person stores on his/her iPod. Lets take a look at Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s iPod music (I got this information from a boston.com article titled What’s on Obama’s iPod). The Senator himself gives the best description of his music likes and dislikes…”I have pretty eclectic tastes” (don’t we all, senator?). Growing up Obama loved to listen to Elton John, Earth Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder and he still does today. He calls Steve Wonder his “musical hero” from the 70’s. Obama has 30 Bob Dylan songs on his iPod (hey, that’s more than me)…in fact the Senator says he especially likes to listen to Maggie’s Farm during campaign season (I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more). Like everyone else, Obama loves the Rolling Stones. He says “Gimme Shelter” is his favorite Mick Jagger song. And no iPod is complete without The Boss, Bruce Sprinsteen on it? (who, by the way is also supporting Obama for president) and then there is and Sherly Crow…In the Jazz area Obama puts Miles Davis first. When asked about rap, this is what the presumptive nominee sai…

I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics, but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music.

Wouldn’t it be great to ask John McCain “What’s on your iPod?”…or a better question might be “Have you ever heard of an iPod?”