To all of the Obama supporters that want me to vote for him if Hillary doesn't make it.

Dear Obama Supporters:

Thank you very much for being concerned about how I vote if my candidate, Hillary Clinton, does not get the nomination. I think its nice that you are showing concern for other voters in the divided democratic party. However, you are being a tad bit simplistic if you think that we should vote for Obama just because he is a Democrat. Many of us that are facing this decision are not taking it lightly - we want the best CANDIDATE even if that pushes us outside of the Democratic party.

I have seen many views of Clinton supporters that are having a problem getting behind Obama. So far - they are all quite nasty to tell you the truth. We have been called "spiteful", "racist" and "selfish". All of these names and accusations just seem like attempts to shame people into supporting Obama rather than giving solid reasons why we should vote for him. The really sad part of this issue is most of these names come from the radical far left of the Democratic Party and it infuriates moderates like myself.

Take the accusation that we are spiteful, vindictive women trying to punish Obama for beating Senator Clinton. That couldn't be farther from the truth. If I thought that Obama was a quality candidate - I could easily support him if Clinton failed to garner the nomination. I have done it multiple times in the past and I even managed to support a questionable John Kerry. I simply have found nothing of substance in Obama - that does not make me spiteful folks.

The "racist" claim is beyond annoying. I could care less what color the man is - black, yellow, white, red, purple - IT DOESN'T MATTER FOLKS. I want a quality candidate. I currently have three choices and my ranking of their qualifications has NOTHING to do with the hue of the man's skin. Why is it ok to call a person that cannot support Obama a racist but not a person that is only voting for him because he has a darker skin tone a racist? Sadder yet, it amazes me that being called a racist is such a travesty but people could care less about blatant chauvenism - even from Barack Obama. Can you imagine the reaction if Clinton had called a young african american journalist "boy" as Obama called a female journalist "sweetie".

Just today, Ariana Huffington noted that women who supported Clinton were somewhat selfish because they don't care about Roe V Wade and reproductive rights. Excuse me??? I will fight for the reproductive rights of women until the day that I die. Huffington likes to point out that McCain is pro-life. She goes through his history (this is the part of McCain that I disagree with). She pimps out Obama as if he had been marching along side women for reproductive rights. However she fails to mention the fact that the man did NOT vote "no" on FOURTEEN new abortion restrictions when he had the chance to in the state of Illinois. According to Senator Obama, his "present" votes were only used when he SUPPORTED a bill but had some questions about the way the bill was written. Sorry folks - that does NOT scream "pro-choice" to me.

I think its wonderful that Obama is charismatic enough to draw new voters and people that were just too lazy to vote in past elections (those of you Obama supporters that simply didn't vote in 2004 are hypocrites if you dare question voters that have done their duty for years). However, fact of the matter is this - the man has been a Senator for 2 1/2 years. However, he has been running for President for four years. We simply do not know enough about the man to make him our President.

Guess what - when it comes down to it, this elections is a case of voting for the lesser of two evils. Personally - Obama is too big of a risk to take. So I will be voting McCain (unless something incredible changes my mind.)

Thanks for listening.

Congratulations California! Its nice to see your courts telling you that all people have equal rights!!!

This week the California court system informed the people there that the ban on gay marriage (Prop 22) was unconstitutional. Good For Them!!! Two consenting adults that wish to join in the union of marriage SHOULD be allowed to marry!

Today I opened my email and the American Family Association (AFA) had sent me an email with the following:

Dear Kathleen,

As you know, the California Supreme Court has legalized homosexual marriage. This happened despite the fact that voters in California passed Proposition 22 with 61.4 percent of the vote. Proposition 22 defined marriage as only between one man and one woman.
The recent 4-3 ruling, if allowed to stand, would destroy marriage as it has been known for thousands of years. It would lead to the logical conclusion of the following:• Legalization of polygamous and other aberrant unions as "marriages"• Legalization of marriage between an adult parent and adult child• Legalization of group marriage• Overturn all the marriage laws in the other 49 state

Apparently - the AFA equates homosexuality with incest and other "aberrant" types of marriages. Why can't these people live and let live? Why do they have to try to legislate other people's lives?

Bravo California! Now if only we could get ruling like these here in Michigan - then my aunt could marry her partner of two decades.

My heart breaks for our forgotten soldiers.

A man wandered the streets. His face cracked and blistered from the blustering bitter arctic wind. His beard and hair were unkempt and wild. The tattered stocking cap on his head looked as though it would keep nothing warm.

I approached the man as he gathered trash from the streets. He examined each piece that he picked up and put it in one of three bags that he had tied to an ancient belt. Fishing through my pockets, I attempted to find something that would help the man out. There was only spare change floating in a pile of paper receipts. It was still more than the man had.

I handed the man the money, all that I had. A flash of silver and copper caught my eye as the coins fell into his hands. The blackened skin was hard, thick and cracked. It looked as though he was wearing gloves made of armadillo. A half a second of hesitation seemed to pass through the man's eyes but the quickness of his hands defied his pride.

"I can't take this," the stranger said."I want to work for my money."

How sad I felt. I did not want to offend this proud man, I simply wanted to help. He was one of the many men that our country had sacrificed to the lords of war and then turned our backs on. He was a soldier that had defended our freedom and protected our very lives. This man was a hero – even now.

"You already did the work," I responded. "You sacrificed your life to save mine. I can never pay you enough."

He looked at me. I looked at him. I said a silent thank you and moved on. I knew that this proud man did not want charity. He didn't want me to see him humbled. He just wanted to feel like a man again. I only wish there was more I could do for him.

As I walked away my son asked me an innocent question. "Who was that man Mom?" I told him that the man was an American soldier.

My boy replied to me, "Aren't our soldiers American heroes? Is he homeless? Did we forget him?"

Yes sweetie. We forgot him.