Barack Obama might have the finest, most elite education in the world, but that doesn’t mean he knows a flip about vintage African-American television shows.  Obama went off script at a campaign stop earlier today and tried to quote Fred Sanford from ‘Sanford and Son’ famous line, “I’m coming Elizabeth!”  Obama botched the punchline wrongly mixing Elizabeth with Weezie from ‘The Jeffersons.’

This is what happens when a candidates goes off script.

Barack Obama, in Raleigh, N.C., was doing a riff attacking John McCain for supporting the idea of putting some mandatory retirement money into the stock market.

“If Senator McCain is elected, we’ll have another president who wants to privatize part of your Social Security. Could you imagine if you had your Social Security invested in the stock market these last two weeks, these last two months? You wouldn’t need Social Security. You’d be having a — like, what was it, Sanford and Son. `I’m coming Weezie!”

Fred also was fond of saying, “This is the big one Elizabeth!  I am coming to meet you!”

‘Sanford and Son’ as a Metaphor for ‘McCain and Obama’

If this election was an episode of the show then this is how the cast of characters would play out.

John McCain would be Fred Sanford.  Think about it, they even walk the exact same way.  And if you remember Fred served in the Army as well. Fred is always grumpy and his face looks like it has been through more than enough Watts alley fights.

Barack Obama would be Lamont’s slick, smooth moving friend Rollo Lawson. Fred is always accusing Rollo of being a criminal or palling around with the type. Rollo always denies the connections, but the circumstantial evidence usually says other wise.

Sarah Palin would be Esther Anderson.  The bible thumbing sister of Fred’s late wife Elizabeth that is always on Fred’s case calling him a heathen and telling him he is going to hell. Granted Esther was not a looker. Quite the opposite actually.  Another possibility for Palin would be Fred’s often hot-n-heavy girlfriend Donna Harris.  She is the fruit of Fred’s eye and seems to bring about a youthful resurgence in Fred every time she is in the room.  Much like Palin did to McCain’s campaign back in August.

Joe Biden would be Fred’s best friend Grady Wilson.  Grady is similar to Biden in the fact you never have a clue what dumb and insane thing he will say next.  You can never tell if Grady is drunk or spaced out on the good ole’ days. His favorite phrase on the show is “Good Goobly Goo!” Can’t you see Biden saying just that in reference to McCain’s tax or health plan?

Fred Sanford = John McCain

Rollo Lawson = Barack Obama

Esther Anderson = Sarah Palin

Grady Wilson = Joe Biden

Now Barack come on!  I know you grew up on NPR and PBS but you shouldn’t botch something so simple and rudimentary in our boob-tube history as ‘Sanford.’  I grew up on the great black TV sitcoms of the 70’s and 80’s.  My all-time favorite show is ‘Sanford and Son.’  I have every season on DVD and even a Sanford light switch cover (Ebay rocks!).  My other favorites from the era include ‘The Jeffersons’ and ‘Good Times.’

The more I think about it the more I believe the Palin comparison to Donna Harris fits better than the one to Esther. In reality she is a combination of both characters.

And of course Fred’s good and jovial friend Bubba Bexley would be played by:

‘Bubba’