Disappointment

If there is one thing that I have never liked about politics, it's the negative attacks that candidates and/or their supporters take on one another. I've never understood the need for this practice, and I never will. Talk about each others stances on the issues, talk about each others voting records or accomplishments, talk about issues that are important to the race, but why talk about family and personal issues.

And now...it's taken a personal turn...and I'm, not angry, I'm disappointed.

Since I was born and raised near Rochester, I have a number of close family and friends that live in town here. These people do what they do best, they support me and my family. This week, that support came out in a form I wish I never had to experience. I found out from them that the attacks from my husbands opponent and/or her supporters has turned toward me and my children.

It's hard to have a relative tell you that people are being told your marriage is a sham. It's hard to hear that the only reason you have children is to make your husband appear to be a better candidate. These are things no one should have to hear, especially from friends and family.

I'm not going to substantiate these accusations with come backs. Now I could get angry. I am a mother after all. Anyone that insults or messes with my children has another thing coming. But that isn't productive. I personally feel bad for the people that feel it's necessary to say these things. For these people, it's apparently easier to dehumanize us and attack us than it is to realize that we're human. It's easier to call names than it is to use facts to go after my husbands stances.

I have one bit of advice. Leave my children out of it. Take the higher road. Read my husbands literature and get angry about the fact that he wants to put your child first when we think about funding education. Go on my husbands website and attack the fact that he wants to use his small business experience to help create more jobs in Minnesota. You can even call him on the phone and argue with him about the idea of our government only spending the money that they bring in. But if you find it easier to make untrue accusations, pause, take a look at your own life, and think about how you would feel.