My wife's sister came over last week and stayed a couple of days with us.  She is 52 years old, single and works at a call center for a company which makes home furnishings.  She has been there 13 years and makes about $15 an hour.  She likes her job, but she really has just squeaked by all her life.  She can afford to live in a small apartment, has a reliable car, and about $20K in a 401K to show for her lifetime of hard work.  She is one of those millions of people who are only one stumble, one health crisis or one layoff away from being close to destitute.  She should be the consummate Democratic supporter.  We started talking politics and she indicated that she planned to vote for McCain.  When I asked why, she gave the standard answers of an uninformed voter, (1) McCain's background meant he was "more experienced", (2) Obama will "raise my taxes, and McCain won't"  and (3)  She just didn't think the country was ready for a black President.

When I explained to her why these things were either not true or not really relevant, she was receptive.  And I think she really believed me when I told her that McCain's policy views were, part and parcel, not ones which would be in her best interests.  But, she said, even if those things are true, I am still probably going to vote for McCain.  "I just feel more comfortable with him", she said.

I suspect that conversations with me are probably the only time in her daily life between now and November where she will ever be confronted with views which might challenge her misconceptions and erroneous information.  She is, unfortunately, all too typical of so many people.  These are the "Facts don't matter, this is how I feel". crowd.  And they are in every corner of the country.

But at least she didn't say, "Because Obama is a Muslim."  Small solace that I didn't have to confront that one.

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity"