tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28957011.post-29035270012550880482008-05-04T02:26:00.000-04:002008-05-04T02:26:00.000-04:002008-05-04T02:26:00.000-04:00Chez-<BR/>I just felt weird calling you by your first name is all. But since you insist, I will from now on.<BR/>As for double standards, well, no one hates them more than I do. I believe that every candidate should be vetted equally. No, that is not happening now, and I think that is a shame. That doesn't change the fact that for me, the questions that have been raised about Senator Obama <I>are</I> legitimate. He is much more of a cipher in the eyes of the American electorate. Even the most politically astute among us was probably not familiar with Obama up until maybe 3 years ago. I believe that every candidate needs to be grilled, not just Sen. Obama. Some questions are stupid and pointless, e.g. flag lapel pins, and who loves America the most. Those issues can be summarily dismissed with a few sentences, one would hope. Other questions are not as slight.<BR/>See, I have noticed a pattern that has developed every time one of these stories comes out. Every time an associate of Obama is brought up, the supporters go "it doesn't matter, none of this matters, let's talk about real issues!" This would be fine with me if they felt that way, except that they invariably follow it up with "and SAY what about all those creepy religious types that McCain hangs out with, what about them huh?" They just said that <I>none</I> of this matters, right? I think what many of them really mean is "it doesn't matter if it happens to my guy, but if it happens to the opposition then it can be used as ammunition."<BR/>Now, you say that this type of stuff doesn't bother you, and I must take you at your word. I think you are fairly unique in this mindset, however. This is politics, and if this kind of stuff comes out about the "other guy", everyone gets a hell of a lot more worked up over it.<BR/>Personally, I believe that these kinds of issues/associates/closet skeletons are ALL fair game. That the media is focusing more on Obama right now can't be denied, but that doesn't mean that the questions themselves are irrelevant. I just think that McCain and Clinton <I>also</I> have a lot to answer for. These are concrete things. There is only so much policy discussion you can really get into before it all starts to turn into white noise, particularly when you take the nature of elections into account. All politicians say whatever they need to get elected. They are talking about a blue sky future, and we never hold them to it.<BR/>The past, on the other hand, is already written.<BR/><BR/>Have a good night.<BR/><BR/>JFJohn Foleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09339402431610031589noreply@blogger.com