One more for Hillary

So my oldest son declared his endorsement of Hillary Clinton the other day.

It wouldn’t be noteworthy but for two facts: His mother and I are fairly staunchly conservative and … he’s 6.

He just up and excitedly said something like, “There’s Hillary! She needs to be the new president!” as we were all enjoying breakfast one morning.

I was speechless. It took a moment to get my thoughts together.

“So, why should Hillary be the new president?” I ask.

"Because the other guy is bad.”

"What other guy?”

“That Ber-baka guy.”

“Barack Obama?”

“Yeah. I don’t like him. He’s mean.”

Where was this was coming from? Had pesky liberal educationalists already gotten to him? Was it his principal? His teacher? Or even worse … a young friend?!

So I ask, “Who told you that?”

“No one.” he replied, “I just thought it myself.”

Wow. I was taken aback. Was it already time to start discussing politics with my children? I wasn’t ready! I hadn’t even thought it through. Should I preach my views or adopt the Fox News channel slogan and strive for fair and balanced?

I let the subject drop with, "Well, he's not all that bad. He's a good person, I'm sure."

I figured he’d likely forget all about it, but over the next few days his vigor only grew. Every time he’d see her, he’d yell, "There's Hillary!" and explain to his brother and sister that she's going to be the new president.

I chocked it up to an overexposure to CNN and determined to view more FOX despite my distaste for their silly, unprofessional style. More exposure to the republican candidates, I reasoned, would either turn him or even better, confuse him back into his own age-worthy concerns.

No go. Days later, he was a staunch Hillary advocate and had joined the campaign. Now he had his younger brother and sister in tow. His brother was echoing his chants and his sister was touching Hillary’s face on the TV while uttering little, “ughh” and “noow” sounds when Obama came on.

I discussed it with some buddies at work. They decided it was time for a serious discussion of the issues.

“I could tell him that she thinks she has the right to take enough of his money from him to pay for all the woes of other people in the society.” I reply.

“But that's not all.” Says a buddy. “She's also an advocate of allowing anyone who wants to kill babies before they're born...and eventually have US pay for it. She doesn't want us to be able to protect ourselves from bad guys...and bad government. Etc., etc.”

I reply, “And she thinks that she and future she's are smart enough to run an economy by force instead of leaving it free. As if history hasn't proved that that never works.”

Buddy: "If he has a moral bone in his body (and I'm sure he does)...I think just explaining the broader aspects of her platform will be enough to sway his opinion.”

Me: “Yeah! She's for the ‘little guy’, but very against the ‘very little guy".

Buddy: “The whole platform is just plain...questionable...from a free and moral perspective.”

Me: “It's maddening really. People with hearts bigger than their minds and people with their hands out propping it up.”

Buddy: “I have a hella-big heart. But I'm also extremely independent-minded. If I am ‘down on my luck’, I'd appreciate help...but only long enough get me back on my feet. ...and that help can be gotten from anywhere. I'm not about to force it to come from people who not only don't know me, but wouldn't want to help me in the first place!”

Me: “Your mind is clearly big enough to explain to your heart that government is not the answer to all its questions.”


Okay, let’s get serious here. Can you really have such a discussion with a 6 year old?

I haven’t decided. So for now, I’ve contented myself with being impressed that he has such strong convictions and waiting it out.

So congratulations Hillary! You’ve got one (if not 3) more! He doesn’t have a vote, but then again neither do Michigan and Florida and they still manage to be important. :)