Since most of my friends would qualify today for the label of liberal, I was somewhat surprised to hear at least one of them (and so far only one of them) who I otherwise considered intelligent had intentions to vote for McCain. When I asked why I was told it was because of Obama's radical and criminal associations from the 1960's that have been getting some air time from the McCain / Palin camp.

I admit I could hardly believe my ears. Back in the 60's wasn't everyone someone associated with a radical??? Heck, I am quite sure I had that label back then owing to some of the political events I supported (like protesting the Viet Nam war, marching for equal pay for equal work,belonging to both A.C.L.U. and N.O.W. and being more politically active than I currently am.

Since I also have a habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, my own Mother forbade me visit the North of Ireland as she was sure I would somehow stumble onto and into some I.R.A. plot unawares, and end up being arrested for some crime I was not even aware was happening. (I complied so that Mom would not worry. This would have been shortly after the 1969 riots there.)

Back then I am relatively sure I knew at least one person who had a history of membership in the I.R.A. and was in fear of returning to the British Isles.. we never got into what they had done for the I.R.A., and even the "association" was not truly confirmed, but it was not denied either. We did not always agree on politics or religion, but then one can always agree to disagree. I also am sure I knew members of the Black Panthers, the Communist Party, people who wanted and may still want to deny Darwin and quit teaching evolution in the schools. Most of these people I met through the work I was doing to support the issues I thought important to work for. Some of them might even have gone on to commit crimes for all I know. For all I know some of them might have been committing crimes during the time I knew them, they just did not announce them to me.

Usually when I hear about someone I used to rub elbows with over political issues, it is things like them having made the news for opening up their home to kids with AIDS when no one else was doing so.

This means I have "associations" to radical and most probably criminal elements of society. Now, Acorn got some money from a panel that Obama and others were on, no one has denied that to my knowledge. Acorn is accused of having some folks who did not do what the organization was supposed to do, which was to get voters registered. This is one of the "radical" associations Obama is being attacked over. Go have a look at the Acorn site and you decide.

To blame Obama for that is like blaming me for the malfeasance of any or all the organizations I have ever made a donation to. This is of course absurd. I have donated money and time to many organizations from Ducks Unlimited and the Sierra Club to various American Indian charities and Amnesty International. To hold me accountable for all their actions would be just plain stupid.

On the other hand, if I am a radical, then maybe I should start working for McCain and Palin, which would give them "associations" with radicals if you follow the logic of that camp's attack on Obama.

While I used to be considered a radical, I think now most would label me a liberal, perhaps even a bleeding heart liberal. Age and experience has probably toned down my philosophies and eased my enthusiasm.

During Bush's first term of office, I got an Impeach Bush bumper sticker. At that time it was not a popular opinion, and I frequently had folks pull up beside me and give me the middle finger or yell something unrepeatable at me. Time changes political opinions and during the second term, I had folks pulling up on motorcycles asking me where I had gotten that sticker, they wanted one. I had folks saying "I'm a Republican but I have to say it is time to get him out" and some on the freeway even who would pace me in the next lane and give me a thumbs up.

So what was "radical" five or six years ago, became at "worst" liberal in recent years.

Now if Christine Smith had made the Libertarian ticket, I would be on the fence as to my vote. She didn't.

The danger of having four more years of an Bush in McCain clothing with the ominous book banning, anti-gay, mandatory motherhood, Palin who seems to be trying to appear as a grass roots, down home style candidate has made my choice an easy one.

Obama's past is probably far less colorful than my own if one must be held accountable for every person they ever knew or every organization they donated money to. During the debate last night Obama wanted to focus on the issues faced by our government today while McCain kept trying to shift the conversation to how Obama failed to address things others were saying about McCain as if Obama was responsible for everything that anyone in the Democratic party had to say.

What I saw was a desparate McCain who says he is "proud" of Palin, who has been doing a smear campaign against Obama and then saying "I have nothing to lose" by smearing Obama. She is probably right, she has nothing to lose with her slander, unless someone brings a law suit against her for her defamation. Mud slinging has unfortunately become a normal part of politics on all sides. It is hoped that folks will see through the mud and realize Obama is an intellegent leader who will take our country in the right direction when elected.