I was really going to try to take a break from posting about politics, until I learned that I live in Fake America. It's hard not to have a reaction to a Presidential hopeful's campaign when it dismisses large portions of the country and reaches out to those they deem to be "real Americans".
"Real America" on The Daily Show:
Sure, I disagree with McCain and Palin's politics. Yes, as a woman, I often find Palin's comments and behavior personally offensive. But that does not make me any less of an American. Neither does living in Northern Virginia.
This "Pro-America/Real America" campaign strategy exemplifies one of the main reasons why I do not agree with McCain, Palin, or most of the GOP. By their own admission, they only want to stand up for people who fit their narrow definition of what makes a person "American".
To be a citizen of America, you need to have been born here, been born to US citizens abroad, or acheived citizenship through the process of naturalization. You do not have to be a Christian. You do not have to be heterosexual. You do not have to belong to the PTA, bake apple pie, hunt, or watch NASCAR.
Americans have the right to do any of those things, but they also have the right to not do them.
Americans can be Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, Wiccan, Christian, or a part of any other religion. Americans can be heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. Americans can be married or be single, have children or have none, belong to PETA or drape themselves in fur while eating a triple cheeseburger with bacon and a side of ribs.
Americans live in cities, small towns, suburbs, and trailer parks. Americans live on ranches and in apartments, in mansions and in slums. Americans live in shelters and sleep on the streets.
If a person isn't ready and willing to lead all of America, then perhaps he or she shouldn't be running for office.
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