A problem for Barack Obama–after living in the womb of the academic Left, running a virtually uncontested Senate race, being welcomed to the Senate as a trailblazer, and then being received by throngs of cheering pundits as the savior of American politics–is that he hasn’t learned to confront criticism. When reporters wanted to quiz him on Tony Rezko, he seemed shocked that they should demand answers to more than eight questions.

Today he got into a bit of a back and forth with a reporter over his Iraq position. What strikes you is that he’s not very good on his feet, hemming and hawing about what forces he would leave there and for how long. (He then resorts lamely to John McCain’s “100 years” comment, feigning ignorance about using the comment out of context.) When everyone you come in contact with agrees with you, and fawns over you to boot, it does not prepare you to defend yourself or answer tough questions. The media fan club so far has done their favorite candidate no favors in that regard.