I live in area of quite a large number of "independent" and undecided voters. Some of whom are middle class Hispanic with decent education and good jobs.

What I am hearing from some of these people especially women with children that they are not at all happy with the treatment of Sarah Palin by the media. Some are surprisingly furious. I have gotten more than one earful from them in my rounds.

I am hearing from women that the constant negative coverage and focus on her teenage daughter and the pregnancy is way out of bounds, demeaning.

Listening to this kind of woke me up. Maybe I was naive but I had no idea.

A couple of the women I talked to had daughters that had become pregnant out of wedlock, and they were in total empathy with her. Angry with the Tv coverage and the media in general. One lady told me flat out that she had made up her mind out of spite to vote for McCain even though she was on Obama's side before.

What I am trying to say is that these people believe that dragging out a personal family especially with an underage daughter has no place in the election decision process.

I am now concerned that there could be a dangerous backlash or negative reaction to the media coverage.

It worries me because this election is going to be close, and we don't need this stuff to work against us. Even Obama said the other day that family and children are "off limits" period. So why hasn't the media paid attention to him?

Look, I think that if we focused on the merits of Sen. Joe Biden and the demerits of Gov Palin, of which she has many, we can bring these voters back to our fold. In this case, I am learning that maybe taking the high ground is the better way to go.

I completely agree! If you watch the media coverage of the election, all they are doing is bashing Palin and her family. This is the saddest thing I have ever seen from the media and I hope the stick to the candidates and not the CHILDREN of the candidates. How disgraceful!

"In this case, I am learning that maybe taking the high ground is the better way to go.
Posted by Alejandro on September 2, 2008 at 07:48 PM

Alejandro, you are right. Less mud slinging and more high ground...that's what we need

Is this actually a legit posting site? My earlier comment was here....now it is gone!

Letter to the Editor from a Cuban . . .

A most interesting and foreboding letter.

From Richmond Times-Dispatch, Monday, July 7, 2008 ~

Dear Editor, Times-Dispatch:

'Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June 30 I
celebrate my independence day, and on July 4 I celebrate America's. This
year is special, because it marks the 40Th anniversary of my independence.

'On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba, and a few months later, I was

in the United States to stay. That I happened to arrive in Richmond on
Thanksgiving Day is just part of the story, but I digress.

'I've thought a lot about the anniversary this year. The election-year

rhetoric has made me think a lot about Cuba and what transpired there. In
the late 1950s, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, and they were
right. So when a young leader came along, every Cuban was at least
receptive.

'When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced the

old system, the press fell in love with him. They never questioned who his
friends were or what he really believed in. When he said he would help the
farmers and the poor and bring free medical care and education to all,
everyone followed. When he said he would bring justice and equality to all,
everyone said, 'Praise the Lord.' And when the young leader said, 'I will be
for change and I'll bring you change,' everyone yelled, 'Viva Fidel!'

'But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner's guns

went silent, the people's guns had been taken away. By the time everyone
was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed. By the time
everyone received their free education, it was worth nothing. By the time
the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now working for him.
By the time the change was finally implemented, Cuba had been knocked down a
couple of notches to Third-World status. By the time the change was over,
more than a million people had taken to boats, rafts, and inner tubes. You
can call those who made it ashore anywhere else in the world the most
fortunate Cubans. And now I'm back to the beginning of my story.

'Luckily, we would never fall in America for a young leader who promised

change without asking, what change? How will you carry it out? What will
it cost America?

'Would we?'