Oh, well, after seeing that picture, I guess he's not fit to be President!

Are you even trying, Jeff?

Knut, are you saying that it's wrong for people to get swayed to the right because of their beliefs, but it's OK for people to get swayed to the left for the same reason?

It's exactly those clean cut side issues that people are voting on.  Somemes a voter has to weigh the issues and vote for someone they don't agree with on some issues, but they don't agree with the other candidate on more issues.  For example, I am fairly consertive (not republican), but I'm very pro gay rights.  But there are more issues I agree with the republicans than I do with the democrats.  Every time I go to vote, I have to weigh these issues and decide on the candidate that fits the most of my criteria.

Ooooh!  Brad's a mind reader now!  That alone makes you qualified to be President, no matter what mistakes you made with your hair in the past.  How did that growing back the thinning part work out for you?

It's not my job or intention to tarnish anyone's character.  And if it was, I wouldn't do it on page 35 of a thread on a comic book creator's website.

Oh, another thought hits.  Maybe instead of trying to tarnish someone's character, I may be just stating my opinion on things that may go against the popular feelings here.  Or, maybe I'm beyond exhausted and am playing devil's advocate.  But hey, you can read minds, so you know the truth.

"Knut, are you saying that it's wrong for people to get swayed to the right because of their beliefs, but it's OK for people to get swayed to the left for the same reason?"

No.

I'm saying that people should distinguish between issues that are essential to changing people's lives for the better and issues that are just about fears and prejudices and personal preferences and that don't affect people's lives on the same scale.

The gay rights issue is a perfect example. You say that you're a conservative, presumably of the opinion that the economic policies et al of the republican party are generally more condusive to a better, more prosperous America. But you disagree with them on Gay Rights. To chuck all of what you believe in just because there's a gay marriage ban on the same ticket? Certainly that would be unwise on a larger scale?

Likewise, what was the issue in Obama's speech was that he worried that people that he felt would most benefit from voting Democrat would be swayed by less substantive issues to vote against their interests and beliefs on the core economic policies et al. Certainly you'd agree that if someone was otherwise in full agreement with the democratic candidate, then the fact that this candidate supports gay marriage or gay rights should not ideally weigh as heavily on the scales as whether or not someone is able to put food on the table.

Come on, even Toby Keith is on our side this time...

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