Democrats give Manabat a pass

It will be interesting to see what happens in the case of Chris Manabat, the state House candidate whose party membership wasn’t officially nailed down in advance of his primary victory.

Manabat, son of state Rep. Rida Cabanilla Arakawa, ended up on top of a relatively crowded Democratic field of six vying for the nomination in District 40; the most vigorous protest is coming from runner-up Rose Martinez.

Months ago, the party leadership had complained loudly — but never sued — about state Senate candidate Laura Thielen, who lacked the minimum six-month tenure as a party member before the candidacy filing deadline.

The issue with Manabat’s eligibility seems more egregious, but challenge deadlines have already passed.

Of course, Republican Bob McDermott hopes the voters will settle all this by electing him.

McDonald’s puts good foot forward

It may seem paradoxical now, but "healthy fast food" may become the order of the day in the near future.

McDonald’s is taking the lead into that future as it starts posting calorie counts on all its menus next week — a move aimed at promoting nutrition and healthier eating. It’s a move that will likely pressure other fast-food eateries to do the same sooner rather than later, ahead of requirements outlined in the Affordable Care Act for restaurants with 20-plus locations to post calorie counts.

But remember: The benefits of 400-calorie items are blown if you think that simply means you can have more of them.