I usually love Jacob's American Idol recaps at Television Without Pity, but I take offense to this comment in his latest recap.

I'm really curious about how they're going to position this. Last year was easy, because they were both Davids and they actually were very different, but this week they just seem like a couple of affable, talented dudes. In the opening Adam's all lit with devilish red light and Kris with heavenly blue, but I don't think it's going to go that way. I think the election and the last horrible eight years are still too much with us, so it's natural to think it's going to be about normal vs. not normal anymore. That whole Red State/Blue State thing seems really obsolete at this point. The only people still yelling about it are the stupider conservatives who think you can actually describe a person in those terms, but I don't mind them, because they've been buying that one for so long it would be impossible to explain at this point.

Stupider conservatives and stupider liberals have been trying to frame this season of American Idol as some kind of second election. If Adam wins it's some kind of vindication for coastal liberals and gay rights. If he loses it's because middle American hates gay people. Really. Even Iowa.

The New York Times went so far as to frame the finals as a battle between an Elvis (hip, cool, Adam) vs. a Pat Boone (lame ass middle American Kris).

I feel sorry for Kris in that such a perception implies that there is no reason to have voted or not voted for him other than your feelings about Adam's lifestyle and image. Apparently, Kris' own musical talent or lack thereof has nothing to do with it.

What's lacking here is a sense of history. Adam Lambert isn't a pioneer. He's a throwback to 70s-era rock gods. Likewise, Kris isn't Pat Boone. He's a throwback to sensitive 70s singer/songwriters.

Choosing between a Robert Plant and a Jim Croce doesn't require a similar choice in political philosophy and sexuality. It's a choice of musical style. No more. No less. And, honestly, how many of us have music collections that include both? I reckon most of us do.