Knight Ridder Election 2004: Free-Fire Zone

Here's some candy; now go away, kid

Read a report that some people are so caught up in the election that they're going to turn their kids into campaign billboards for Halloween, plaster them with Bush or Kerry buttons and stickers. I'm not sure this is a great idea. They'll probably run into a lot of mean old men like me.

To a Kerry-supporter trick-or-treater: Hey, kid. Looks like you got a lot more candy than any of the other children with you. Give it to me. Here now, we'll give some to Johnnny and some to Melissa and some some to Inez. Sure, I know you have more candy because you knocked on more doors and worked harder. But we have to be fair. Welcome to my world, kid.

To a Bush-supporter kid: Hey, do you really live near here? You don't look like anyone I know. Are you sure you're not too old for this? The age limit is 12, you know. Where's your mother? Does she know you're out this late? Sorry, kid, you're not authorized.

I really shouldn't be beating the Bush side up over the widespread perception that they're going to try to get a lot of Kerry voters disqualified or at least indimidate them so they give up without casting ballots. It's about the only tactic to use when the other side is outright telling people to go ahead and vote twice; you'll never get caught.

Oh, well, at least the kids have lots of other options for costumes, unless, of course, they live in Canada.

posted by Leo Morris at # 1:50 PM