That was on 6/15/1992, when the 12-year-old sixth grader had to teach the former vice president Dan Quayle how to spell the word potato, as the vice-pres did not know how. The embarrassment and regret will follow him all his life, much longer than Clinton’s affair. He is such a disgraceful mirror for all politicians. Funny to look at, as long as we are not in the mirror.

The event is also a reflection upon a nation which has so failed in education — a fact as well-known as Dan Quayle’s potato joke. On the other hand, we can see how a seemingly trivial thing can finish a person’s public service career.

A politician is on the public stage under everybody’s close scrutiny all the time and has to watch every word uttered and every step taken. Any tiny mishap, like Obama unwisely using the word “stupidly,” will be a lot more costly than he is willing to pay.