Attention Candidates: It’s the War, Stupid!
First, sorry to call you stupid. But, gay marriage? Flag burning? Avian flu? Immigration? These are what's important to people right now?
Here's an exchange between Tim Russert and Senator Joe Biden, a 2008 presidential hopeful on Meet the Press this past Sunday:
MR. RUSSERT: The president used his radio address yesterday, and tomorrow in the Rose Garden, to talk about a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
SEN. BIDEN: You know, think about this. The world’s going to Hades in a handbasket. We are desperately concerned about the circumstance relating to avian flu—we don’t have enough vaccines, we don’t have enough police officers—and we’re going to debate, the next three weeks, I’m told, gay marriage, a flag amendment, and God only knows what else.
I know what Senator Biden's talking about regarding the right wing red herring wedge issue of gay marriage, but avian flu? Are you sure you want to run for president on that, Mr. Biden? Granted, we need to plan for it, but what about the Iraq War?
Today, the polling and research consultants Angus Reid, published their report, "Iraq War Remains Top Priority for Americans." They came up with the following top five issues:
Iraq War: 42%
Gas Prices: 29%
Immigration: 23%
Economy: 14%
Healthcare: 12%
And regarding the recent surge of the wedge issue Immigration to the third highest priority of Americans, Americans are not yet in the camp of Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilley who support the most draconian of measures. CNN's recent poll states that while most Americans would like to tighten the borders, "more than three-quarters of Americans favor allowing illegal immigrants who have spent many years in the United States to apply for citizenship."
Come on politicians! Let's be more responsive to We the People, your bosses. A solid majority actually support "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants, and a solid majority has been calling on you to Bring the Troops Home for eight months now.
