According to a publicity stunt conjured by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton can claim as cousins an odd assortment of famous people. For instance, Clinton is a cousin of permamommy actress Angelina Jolie. Interesting, but not implausible. That is, until you consider the NEHGS’s finding that Clinton’s rival, Senator Obama, is related to Jolie’s longtime partner, Brad Pitt.

Also said to have familial connections to Senator Clinton are Celine Dion, Madonna and Alanis Morissette. Perhaps fittingly, Barack can call six US presidents “cuz,” including James Madison and George W Bush. And maybe he gets his oratorical skills from another distant relative: Sir Winston Churchill.

Conclusions:

• Racists know very little about history.

• Politics has never mattered when the lights are off.

• The Obama camp needs to play up that Pitt connection.