The Obama camp is crying "racism!" (Not without reason, I might add). The Clinton camp is crying "Sexism!" (Also not without reason). Each camp seems intent on fire-bombing the opposing candidate with as much flaming excrement as possible. It's not about the issues. It's NEVER about the issues. It's always about the candidates--are they manly men, or are they a reasonable facsimile thereof?

Who's the "top of the pops" this week? Two states down and there's a tremendous amount of chest-beating going on. The media is quick to trumpet "it's a TWO person race!" Well, we always knew they wanted a horse-race. They're damn well going to make sure they get one.

While both major candidates and their people are doing their level best to convince us "it's about ME!"

I beg to differ. It's about US, not you. Either of you. It's about the citizens of the U.S. you have been sworn to serve. I know it's inconvenient, and annoying, because that guy dragging up the rear keeps on mentioning folks who shouldn't rightfully be included in ANY Presidential race. Folks nobody with any class would keep bringing to the dance.

In my eyes, and obviously in John Edwards's eyes, these are the people who matter most. The people that most politicians and (apparently) most voters wish would just go away. But they're not going away. And Johnny has no intention of letting them fade from view just because their presense is inconvenient.

See, John captured 2nd place in Iowa, and came in a distant third in New Hampshire. All that suggests is that there is a sizeable minority of Americans, in those states, at least, who give a damn about something other than celebrity. That are actually listening to the message. And think it's important.

As long as we allow the media to make this about personality rather than issues, we're feeding the monster. As long as we refuse to talk about the invisibles and have-nots, nothing is going to ever get better.

We're being led merrily down the primrose path to find the canker in the heart of it all. The elitists who STILL want to make this about them.

Well, I not-so-respectfully disagree. It's not about them. It's about the rest of us, as much as the media would like us to forget that. It's about the forgotten and silent, and those of us who stand where we can still see them, and can reach down to help them out of the gloom.

It's about the poor, the disadvantaged, and a strong middle class that can, finally, pull them up into the light.

edited to fix a mistake in punctuation.