Which Politician To Trust

This was a perfect week for showing the veracity of the two men running for President of the United States. It's scary to say the least, but we've always known that politicians aren't honest.

The week started with Vice President Joe Biden saying in an interview one Sunday with Meet the Press' David Gregory, that he supports gay marriage. For the rest of the day and on Monday the story was how Joe Biden had committed another gaffe by giving a belief without the White Houses permission. He'd gone off the rail.

However, the press actually asked spokesmen Jay Carney about President Obama's position on gay marriage and if he'd finally landed on a decision. The answer was that Obama was "evolving" on the issue. Evolving?

Do they really expect us to believe that he's not made up his mind before this? Apparently, his evolution completed within hours because it was announced that he does support gay marriage. So he's not evolving any longer. During those few hours after being questioned about it, it was speculated that he wasn't coming out with his view until after the election when it wouldn't matter what his belief was because people wouldn't be able to vote for or against him on that particular issue.

Within hours of Obama coming out, the question then was asked in the press if Mitt Romney's position on gay marriage would hurt him in the election. He hadn't been hemming and hawing on the topic. It's one thing that we do know about Romney. He is not in favor of gay marriage. For all of Romney's double positions on various issues over the years (was he evolving?), this is one issue he actually actually has a consistent position. But the press didn't ask if Obama's position would hurt him in the election, nor even help him, it was just whether or not Romney's position would hurt him.

I cannot remember the press asking what the American people thought other than to say that it's split 50/50. Well, before I get to Romney's veracity, let's look at what the people think.

We have 50 states in this country (I'm sorry for stating the obvious, but thought I should since Obama has confused the less informed that we have 57 states). There have been 6 states that have approved same sex marriage. However, not one of them was decided by the people. They were all decided in various legislatures or courts. There have been 30 states that voted to ban same sex marriage the most recent being North Carolina on Tuesday (which happened the same day Obama decided he was for it). The people chose to ban it. Even in California. There are more states with it on the ballot this fall.

According to the Williams Institute at UCLA 3.5% of the population is gay. We're having this discussion over 3.5% of the population!! Unemployment is officially at 8.1%. More than twice as many people affected than the gay marriage issue. The real unemployment rate (those that have dropped off the unemployment rolls because theirs ran out) is better than 16%. More than 5 times the people affected than the gay marriage issue.

The reason for this discussion is there are 1,100 federal benefits to marriage. In other words, the gay marriage crowd wants benefits from the federal government that they can't get because they aren't married in the traditional way of marriage.

But what of Romney's ability to be honest? A story came out that in 1965 Romney and four others had pinned down a kid at school and cut his hair possibly because he was gay. This was at Cranbrook Institute where Romney attended school in Michigan. When Romney was asked about this incident, he admitted he pulled pranks in high school, but couldn't remember this particular incident. Some of the others involved have claimed that this burdened their minds since it happened. But Romney doesn't remember.

I was listening to someone recently who talked about this and she said "if you did something like this, it would be memorable." I have to agree. If Romney did this once, I would think he would remember. If he did it more than once, I'd have to think that repetitive actions would be memorable as well. In other words, I don't believe Romney doesn't remember this. He may not remember the kids name or the day that it happened, but I don't believe that he can't remember doing this.

What I find interesting about this story, other than I believe Romney is lying about his memory, is that the story was held by the Washington Post. What were they waiting for? It's been stated that they held on to the story for a week. They chose this day to release it. One day after Obama decided to let the world know he's in favor of same sex marriage. In addition, this coming out put on the back burner another thing that Obama said when talking about the gay marriage issue. He also talked about the military personnel that are gay and serving. He didn't say they were serving their country. He said the military were serving him. 

Here's the quote: "When I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” said Obama.


But this was put aside quickly because Romney acted a bully....47 years ago....as a high school student.

Let's see, how mature are high school students? In 1965, 18 year old kids couldn't vote. They couldn't buy alcohol or drink. Now that did change a few years later. 18  year olds were given the ability to vote and they did lower the drinking age to 18, but that was changed back to age 21.

18 year olds are still teenagers. Still immature. Still...well, evolving (although I prefer the term "maturing"). Emotions are still running wild at times. Even the body hasn't fully developed at age 18. Many will go off to college and have their wild drinking parties, chase men or women (and 3.5% of will chase the same gender as they are). Their only real responsibility is to attend school but now without parental supervision, but still having supervision.

So we have two men that seem incapable of being honest. Surprise, surprise.

You're welcome to comment. Encouraged even.

Brett