Presidential nominees, and who we're supposed to support

I have a dear friend who happens to be black. I've referred to him within my posts as "John." Lately his heart disease has been far more top of mind for me than his color or his homosexuality. (I've known him for a quarter century and he's been gay and black for the whole time; the heart disease is new.)

But recently his color was germane to our conversation. Since he's black and lives here in Chicago, I just assumed he was supporting Barack Obama for President. I was wrong. John simply doesn't know enough about our junior Senator yet. He would automatically be for Clinton if it was Bill and not Hill. It seems the deep affection many in the black community hold for Bill Clinton does not necessarily translate to his wife. He believes he would be "settling" for John Edwards. (Our conversation took place before my vacation, and before Elizabeth Edwards' heartbreaking news.) After all, he asked, who else? I surprised myself by my enthusiastic description of Bill Richardson. (I didn't realize how much I knew about him.)

It amused us both that likewise John just assumed I'd be for Hillary. I'm a long-time Clintonista, I was born and raised in the Chicago burbs as she was, and … drum roll, please … I'm a woman. Like John, I'd automatically be for Clinton if it was Bill and not Hill. She's a bit too hawkish on the war. She gets things done, she's efficient, but I do not feel an ideological passion from her.

Before her cancer announcement, I was leaning toward Elizabeth Edwards' husband. And not because he's hot. (I don't know what it says about me, but I put a lot more consideration into who I vote for than who I'd sleep with.) Instead of focusing on Iraq, he has been keeping Katrina and poverty and the inequity in health care front and center. But the fact that both of the Boys from Boston (Senators Kennedy and Kerry) are reluctant to endorse him disturbs me. Kennedy was his mentor. Senator Kerry was his running mate. What do they know that I don't know?

So I can be persuaded. I would love it if Hillary began to inspire me. I would love it if I suddenly believed in Barack Obama. I've contributed money to Edwards. It would make me very happy if I was doing it because that's where my heart leads me, and not because it seems to be the way to keep domestic issues on the radar.

So candidates, hear me, please. If you think you can count on voters like John and me, you can't. You have a long campaign ahead of you, and you can't take a single vote for granted.

When the newscaster is part of the story

I didn't see the entire Katie Couric interview with John and Elizabeth Edwards, but the clips I saw weren't as brutal as I'd expected from the buzz. Still, she asked hard questions about what cancer means to their family and the campaign. Katie did sound judgmental when asking about young Emma Claire and Jack, wondering if each parents' place isn't with their children at a time like this.

Woe, Nelly! Ms. Couric, weren't you still showing up for work on The Today Show every morning at 4:00, leaving your tiny daughters all day while your husband was battling colon cancer?

The Edwards' need to be available to answer tough questions. That's what a run for the Presidency is about. If Katie asked him if he would be able to govern if his wife's health took a turn for the worse while he inhabited the Oval Office, I wouldn't have batted an eyelash. (BTW, did she ask that? I would love to know his answer.) I'm not even sure the question did ask was out of line. The problem was, it was asked by Katie Couric.

When Larry King was out ill, Maria Shriver pinch hit for him, interviewing addicts and family members of addicts about treatment. Jamie Lee Curtis, Robert Shapiro and Susan Ford were on the panel. With her cousins Patrick and David Kennedy and Christopher Lawford all admitted addicts, shouldn't Maria have been participating as well as moderating? How could this thought not cross my mind? Don't we all know as much about the Kennedys as we do about our own families?

I'm a news junkie. I watch and read as much as I can. And I just hate it when the reporter distracts me from the story. Maybe this just comes with the territory when we live in a celebrity culture.