A Cautionary Note.

[drm604]

I had an experience last night that really set off my alarm bells.

My mother does not like George Bush AT ALL. She voted for Gore and she voted for Kerry. She's fed up with what the Republicans are doing to this country. If I had to classify her, I would say that she is moderate with some liberal leanings. She's a faithful attendee of a UCC affiliated Protestant church that emphasizes the New Testament and Jesus's teachings of tolerance and foregiveness. The pastor is a supporter of gay rights (even though this has driven away some members) and he and she are very good friends. In other words, she's someone most everyone here would like and get along with. Someone we would all assume will do the right thing next month.

But last night, my brother and I were at her place for dinner and she said to us "I hope you guys are right about this Lois Murphy, I'm hearing a lot of bad things about her. For example, she voted against flak vests for the soldiers."

:banghead:

I explained to her that, while I didn't hear that particular ad, it was most likely a gross distortion of the truth. I explained how they leave out information and take things out of context. I explained that, many times, there is more than one version of a bill and that a candidate may simply have voted for a different version. I explained that in any case, at this point in history we need to look beyond the individuals running and look at taking away the Republican's power, even if we might not totally agree with a given Democratic candidate on all issues. I'm pretty certain I got through to her and eased her doubts.

But how many people like her aren't having the conversation we had? How many don't have friends or relatives like my brother and I to explain these things to them? How many simply never speak up about their doubts?

Talk politics with your family and friends if at all possible. See what they are thinking and set them straight if you can. Don't take anything for granted.

[ButterflyBlood]

1. Um, Murphy CAN'T vote against flak vests for soldiers

or vote for it, because she's not even in Congress yet! Did you tell her that.

[drm604]

3. Yes, that's true.

I think I was so floored by her statement that I didn't even think of that. They probably said that she spoke out against some bill or other. But, if anything, this makes my point even stronger. Good intelligent people can sometimes be easily confused by rhetoric.

[Pharaoh]

2. I know!

having worked with the Dean campaign in 2004, I could not believe the people repeating the MSM talking points like, He's too angry.........or .............he can't win.......

It's sad but many people fall for those sound bites as truth.......