Then the Democrat's position must be that if you don't go along with the Democrats, then you must be Republican.....

A true independent does not buy into "the Party runs my mind." A true independent at least tries to view the world with open eyes, and not just accept the Party hyperbole as the Third Testament.

If a position cannot be defended with logic, and the challenger villified as less-than-intelligent because the challenger dares to challenge, the the position is flawed.

From what I have seen of the Republicans is that they do see Sen. McCain as not a perfect person, and they challenge him consistently to determine his worth as a candidate. From what I have seen of the Democrats. the only thing that seems to matter is that the DNC has pre-anointed the candidate and all will follow regardless of the value of the candidate him/herself, because to challenge the candidate is considered political heresy. Apparently, the "I'd vote for a yellow dog if he ran on the Democratic ticket" still is the party line.

Open discussion on issues and candidates makes us all wiser. Blinders accomplish just what they are intended to do. I find it difficult to believe that Democrats all consider that Sen. Obama is the perfect person and cannot be wrong on anything.

Whether you consider me republican, democrat, whig, green or anarchist is immaterial. I know myself, and that I don't accept pre-ordainment by any Party as gospel. Whether others do is their choice, and possibly their loss. Giving up free thought is one's right....