Handful of GWU professors: Put Obama on Mount Rushmore — eventually

Move over former Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. A handful of professors at George Washington University said in a new survey that they’d like to add — eventually — President Obama’s face to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.

The survey is hardly scientific; The Daily Caller said The College Fix poll used a very small sample size. But the results, all the same, show that three of 10 history and political science professors — including a department chair — at the college say yes, add Mr. Obama’s sculpted face. They also advocate waiting until he’s out of office, The Daily Caller reported.

“History undoubtedly will accord President Obama a special place by virtue of being the first African-American president,” Paul Wahlbeck, chairman of the political science department at GWU, said, The Daily Caller reported.

Mr. Wahlbeck also said that while Mr. Obama could be added to the memorial due to his race, he personally felt “reluctant to venerate political leaders while or shortly after they served,” The Daily Caller reported.

History and public policy professor Edward Berkowitz agreed, The Daily Caller said.

“It could be that he will be one of the great presidents, worthy of having his likeness carved on a mountain, but certainly not yet,” Mr. Berkowitz was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, a Facebook page with the title of “Campaign to Put President Obama on Mount Rushmore,” has generated 634 likes — but it’s been up and running since March 2010 and can’t be seen as a resounding drive.

But the page states: “With the numerous accomplishments that President Obama has achieved in under 15 months in office, including The Health Care Bill, We The People feel The President should be honored and recognized by his bust being placed on Mt. Rushmore.”

The four presidents carved into the Black Hills represent one of the most iconic of American images, and represent the first 150 years of U.S. history and culture.