Election Year Dinner Conversation

A fly on our wall a few nights ago would have witnessed the following scene:

Tom, Elizabeth, Molly, and Violet are sitting at the table together, enjoying a leisurely dinner.

MOLLY. Mom, what's Obama, again?

ELIZABETH. He's a presidential candidate.

MOLLY. No, what is he?

TOM. He's one of the people running for president in the election this November.

MOLLY. No, no - Obama, what's Obama?

ELIZABETH. (Puzzled.) Well, Obama is his last name. Barack Obama is his full name. He's going to be our first African-American president, after George Bush's term is up in January. (Tom raises his eyebrows at Elizabeth; she smiles.)

MOLLY. (Increasingly frustrated.) NO. I mean, what IS he? What do you call him? Remember Mom, you were telling me about it, about the people who believe in sharing? The people who care about other people? What do you call them again?

ELIZABETH. (Chagrined.) Um, do you mean . . . Democrats?

MOLLY. Yes! Democrats! He's a Democrat! Right, Mom? (Tom chokes on his water and snorts with laughter.)

ELIZABETH. Yeah, he's a Democrat. (Turns to Tom.) We, uh, had a little talk about politics the other day.

MOLLY. I can't wait until George Bush isn't president anymore! He made us be in a war! He's bad! I HATE him! We hate him, right Violet? (Laughs hysterically.)

VIOLET. Yeah, we hate George Bush! Ha ha ha ha ha!

What can I say? Emotions are running high these days. Everyone's in their corners and the gloves are off. Less than a month to go! Bring. It. On.