For many years, there have been controversies concerning the utterance of the "N" word -- often used ironically by African-Americans but considered racist when spoken by whites.

More recently, thanks to Sarah Palin, arguments have erupted over using the "R" word, which many see as a pejorative way to refer to the mentally challenged.

But who is countering the prejudicial use of the "P" word in recent political history?

When Republicans wish to criticize President Barack Obama's health plan, rather than address the details of the legislation, they often attack him for being "professorial" or for "lecturing" the public. These epithets are meant to deem Mr. Obama "elitist" and out of touch with the masses. In truth, they are attacks on his being smart and knowledgeable -- populist attempts to demean individuals who (like all residents of Lake Woebegone) are "above average."

I am here to speak up for this newly oppressed minority in America -- "professors" -- and to ask that we ban the offensive "P" word as a demeaning insult.

Here are some examples of how it's used.

The headline of a Washington Post article by Dana Milbank (following the "bipartisan" health care summit) read: "Professorial Obama Schools GOP on Health," and the article notes "his tendency to act like the smartest guy in the room." Mr. Milbank continues, "Professor Obama ventured deep into the weeds of health care policy to contest Republican claims, and, for one day, he regained control of the fractious student body that is the Congress."

A Web blog deemed the president "professor-in-chief" and quoted Sarah Palin (that powerhouse of intellect) as saying that Americans "know we're at war, and to win that war we need a commander-in-chief, not a professor of law standing at the lectern."

More recently, in a Washington Post article about Mr. Obama's controversial chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, Jason Horowitz noted that Mr. Emanuel was selected for his "reputation as a political enforcer, all of which neatly counterbalanced Obama's detached, professorial manner."

On many levels the notion that being "professorial" is, by definition, worthy of mockery or loathing is both surprising and illogical. What people really mean by the term is "pedantic" -- which is not a trait that characterizes most lecturers or one that they would wish to appropriate. Neither is a "detached" manner at all associated with good teaching.

What's surprising is that, in the past four decades, the desire of every American family is for their children to go to college -- yet that is precisely where they will be exposed to (perish-the-thought) -- professors. If the latter have no useful information to impart, why subject your children to them? If your children need a professor's knowledge to simply get a job, shouldn't the leader of our country (who has a far more complex assignment) be as knowledgeable as your children's instructors?

Americans seem selectively to resent being "above average" only when it comes to intelligence and knowledge. In the world of sports, they worship the extraordinary athlete and in the world of Hollywood the exceptional beauty or talent. Yet when it comes to intellectual capability -- an area in which, happily, no drugs or plastic surgery usually play a part -- being outstanding is a drawback, makes you resented, leads to charges of being "professorial."

As a girl growing up in 1950s America I learned that I had to downplay being smart if I wanted to attract boys, since intelligence was not an appealing feature for a female. The feminist movement helped me get over that in the 1970s and now women are represented in the most challenging professions.

Today we seem to be applying those same standards to our leaders -- who must play dumb not to get the boys but to get votes and put their threatened citizens at ease.

A recent movie is titled "It's Complicated," referring to the conundrums of adult romantic relationships. Surely if they are complex, national finance, legislative reform, international politics and health care are even more daunting.

Do we want a president who is equal to the task? If so, we are lucky if he turns out to be "the smartest guy in the room."

Cartoonist Rob Rogers does "Rob's Rough," an early look at his work and his creative process, exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.