So, at dinner today, we had our usual pre-election discussions. And my son, who today proudly chose Barack Obama on the front of the Scholastic magazine, was clearly embarrassed. He had heard news about Barack Obama. And he worried it might change our mind, and we'd already voted.
Turns out Barack Obama is a baby killer.
This was from a neighbor kid who is a very nice girl. And a lovely friend to our son. And the child of neighbors who while not good friends are neighborly and have done wonderful things for us when we were in a crisis.
So, what to do? I don't much like confrontation. Do I call and let the neighbors know this is how their daughter is expressing political disagreement? I honestly don't think this comes from them as opposed to another set of neighbors where I know she spends some time. But, either way, it's just unaccpetable.
Most of all, though, I am just appalled and angered that this is where the Rovian part of the GOP has brought us. Where children will talk about a presidential candidate as a baby killer. It's sick and horrible. And I resent having to deal with the issue of abortion with a 7-year-old just barely able to comprehend the idea of sex. We've only done the very basics there, although we've done those.
We did talk things through with my son. And he agrees that me and Daddy and Grandma and his uncle wouldn't support someone we thought killed babies. But we shouldn't have to do this. It's wrong.
We should be able to disagree without being accused of murder. And I hope to God tomorrow I find a candidate who believes in real change and real unity and that we see the end of this divisive nonsense.
It makes me want to cry that in America, someone would try to scare a 7-year-old into supporting the right candidate.