You get an email. It supports some political rhetoric with which you agree. So, you forward it to your list of friends that you know will gobble up the 'red meat.'

Please read what you send. Please verify the content. Please be responsible.

Today I received a note telling me that the oil crisis is because of liberal democrats and that we cannot elect a liberal democrat to be President because gas prices will get even worse. One of the facts was that the liberals and the environmentalists have stopped the drilling in ANWR and that has caused the problem. Therefore, don't vote for a liberal or a democrat for President.

I was suspicious. I went to John McCain's site. Guess what? John McCain doesn't believe in drilling in ANWR. Barack Obama doesn't believe in drilling in ANWR. Yes, they have their differences, but drilling in ANWR is not one of them.

For instance, John McCain does not support a woman's right to choose. Barack Obama does support a woman's right to choose. That's a real issue. You can forward that note all day, every day, especially to all of your women voter friends, especially the ones who supported Hillary. Hopefully, even the most resistant will come to realize that voting for McCain over Obama will be voting completely against their best interests.

Let's be vigiliant this political season. There are REAL differences between the candidates - there's no need to forward made up issues.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive