Recently, while unloading groceries my son spotted an Obama poster in a storefront window. He said Obama looked like the president then informed me that Obama was a liar. Needless to say I was horrified. I must say that I have attempted to shield him from the rhetoric of this campaign so I was surprised he really even recognized Obama or was cognizant of his quest for the presidency. I've always felt he was too young to bring into political or religious conversations other than general "do the right thing" type statements.
My first thought was perhaps my former father-in-law or my son's mother was secretly proselytizing my child without my knowledge. After a little questioning though, it appears he gleaned this information from one of McCain's campaign ads that he saw while at his grandparents.
My son's only real interaction with television is with Sesame Street or Leap Frog programs. To him it is a positive medium. Why would TV lie? It is rather difficult to explain the "grays" of political language to a child who really sees things in black and white terms. Nothing has amazed me more after having a child than their ability to pick up on the hypocrisy of adults. I never thought I would have to explain a political advertisement to a 5 year old.
It has only strengthened my resolve; I attended the Obama rally here in Jacksonville, Florida this morning. There was a lot of excitement in the crowd of 7,000 to 9,000. I didn't meet many people who hadn't already voted and people were signing up to canvass immediately following the rally. Let's hope this thing finally ends tomorrow in victory. And let's hope it ends convincingly and quickly. I couldn't stand another 2000 fiasco.
P.S. As an interesting sidebar to the influence of Daily Kos, kentuckyscott's diary "I did not vote for Obama" made it into my inbox from a chain letter circulating around. It made no mention of Daily Kos or kentuckyscott and the person who sent it to me had never heard of Daily Kos until I mentioned it to her recently.