The Life And Times Of Matt

Google says it’s 10.1 miles, and it has gorgeous views.  And some hills, I felt those.

Romney’s Vision Of Stronger Families Vs. Out-Of-The-Mainstream Democrats

Gov. Romney Believes A Stronger American Family Leads To A Stronger America. GOV. MITT ROMNEY: “How is the American family made stronger? With marriage before children. With a mother and a father in the life of every child. With healthcare that is affordable and portable. With schools that succeed. With taxes that are lower. And with leaders who strive to demonstrate enduring values and morality.” (Gov. Mitt Romney, Presidential Announcement, Dearborn, MI, 2/13/07)

But Sen. Barack Obama Supports Sex Education For Kindergarteners, And Wrongly Claimed That Gov. Mitt Romney Does, Too. CNN’s ANDERSON COOPER: “Senator Obama, Mitt Romney has accused you this week of saying that 5-year-old children should be getting sex education. Was he right?” SEN. BARACK OBAMA: “Ironically, this was actually a proposal that he himself said he supported when he was running for governor of Massachusetts. … I’ve got a 9-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old daughter. And I want them to know if somebody is doing something wrong to them, encroaching on their privacy, that they should come talk to me or my wife. And we’ve had that conversation, but not every parent is going to have that conversation with their child, and I think it’s important that every child does, to make sure that they’re not subject to the sexual predators.” (CNN/YouTube, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

- In Fact, Sen. Obama Specifically Called For Sex-Ed In Kindergarten, Which Gov. Romney Did Not Support. “The Romney campaign is saying there is a difference here. Kevin Madden, Romney’s national spokesman says, ‘Obama specifically advocated sex-ed for small children in kindergarten.’ Undaunted today, Romney said the following in South Carolina about Obama: ‘Senator Obama is wrong if he thinks science-based sex education has any place in kindergarten.’” (David Brody, “Kindergarten Cop: Romney Versus Obama,” CBN’s The Brody File, www.cbn.com/CBNnews/198676.aspx, Posted 7/19/07)

- The Legislation Sen. Obama Voted For In Illinois Went Even Further – Calling For STD Prevention To Be Taught In Kindergarten. Illinois Senate Bill 99, which Obama supported in the 93rd Assembly (2003-2004), reads, in part: “…whenever such courses of instruction are provided in any of grades K through 12, then such courses also shall include age appropriate instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV.” (IL General Assembly Website, www.ilga.gov/legislation/, Accessed 7/24/07)

Note how the bill in question actually called for std prevention when sex ed was being taught in “any of grades K through 12″. Translation, Obama wants your children to know what goes where at the age of 5.  I don’t think that follows.  I think if Obama had in fact called for mandatory sex ed for kindergardners the Romney campaign could have made a stronger case by actually quoting it. Instead they cite the bill and an Obama quote which do not add up to the conclusion they trumpet. Also, and here’s the really important part, how is this about Mitt Romney? The only part of this page about Mitt Romney is the bold, ringing, truly stunning and totally meaningless… Gov. Romney Believes A Stronger American Family Leads To A Stronger America.

Kudos to Governor Romney for citing his sources in his willful misrepresentations, though.  And I got way more information out of his website than Senator Clinton’s site was willing to give.  It may not have been about their candidate, though.

Fuck these politics.  Call me when there’s something worth knowing.  I hope the field thins out by the time I get around to voting for anybody. According to vote-smart.org, I can register for a party affiliation up to 15 days before an election, and my primaries here in California come around on February 5th, 2008.  So by January 21st I should figure out which primary it is most advantageous for me to vote in, and get on that.  I might just vote for Ron Paul because he had the cleanest, most direct positions I’ve seen so far.  Granted I didn’t really agree with all of them, but at least I knew what they were.

I wonder if I’ll ever have a job where my stated party affiliation will matter?