When Barack Obama appeared via satellite at the Democratic Convention last night, he noted that he had watched Michelle Obama’s speech with the Girardeaus, a middle-class family in Kansas City. The camera pulled back to reveal the Girardeaus, who look like nice people. They are a family of few words – none, actually. They didn’t say anything at all. In fact it was hard to tell if they were even breathing. Mannequins? Maybe, maybe not. But if Obama wants to demonstrate he shares “common values” with families across the country, it may be a good idea not to use those families as inanimate props.