THE FIRST CASUALTIES OF POLITICS
Casting an educated vote is difficult when candidates don't offer any educated information
BY HEIDI HARRIS

Heidi Harris frequently appears on Fox News Live and Fox News Live Weekend. Look for her soon-to-debut radio show in Las Vegas soon. Visit her website www.heidiharris.com. Other stories by Heidi Harris

It's been said that the first casualty of war is the truth. Unfortunately, the same can be said for politics. If this election year has taught us anything, it's that the truth is nearly impossible to discern. At this writing, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is in hiding, told by the Democrats to stay home after insinuating that our troops were serving in the military because they had no education. 

Why doesn't he have the courage to say that he truly disdains members of the military? Is anyone buying his "failed joke" line? Did I miss the last time John Kerry told a joke that succeeded? 

In the weeks before Nov. 7, we didn't see much of Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi, either. Makes you wonder why the biggest mouthpieces in a party have to be silenced in order to secure a win. Why not showcase the loudest examples your party has to offer and see what happens? The Dems are obviously terrified that if we see what their leadership really represents, they'll never regain power. 

The Republicans aren't exempt, either. 

Just once, I'd like to have a politician tell it like it is, then let the chips fall where they may. Wouldn't it be refreshing, for example, to hear a politician at a Latin Chamber of Commerce event claim to be for "tougher immigration policies" or support "English as the official language"? How about a politician, who claims to be against embryonic stem cell research, develop the guts to debate a disabled-rights group on the difference between embryonic and adult stem cell research, and how the scientific world has never achieved one breakthrough with embryonic stem cells? 

While we're in fantasy land, how about this one? How about a politician who has the courage to tell a group of minimum-wage earners that the way to increase their earning power is to increase their skills? The politician could explain government is not the answer to their problems; self-reliance is. Of course, you'd never expect any Democrat to stress self-reliance. Sadly, these days, I can't think of many Republicans who would, either. 

This year, there was a lot of talk about voters vowing to teach the bums a lesson and just stay home on election day. Let's face it - trying to pin candidates down on anything is like trying to eat Jell-O with a fork. Voters realize politicians' views are based on the audience, not core beliefs. How can you cast an educated vote if your main source of information, the candidate, doesn't give you any? 

We all know most people who run for office have two attributes - the belief in their own superiority and a desire for power. What's more disheartening are the few who start out with core beliefs and then quickly lose them after in office. 

All of us have friends and associates with whom we don't always agree, but offer respect nonetheless. I've always had more respect for a person whose beliefs are well-thought out and rock-solid, even if I differ with their conclusions. Most voters share my sentiments. 

This is why it is more important than ever for candidates to boldly state their views and the reasons for them, without equivocating. Agree or disagree, with a straight-shooter, at least you know what you're getting. LW