I hear too many hallway conversations that all have the same origins. When either campaign states a "fact" during a commercial or during a debate, they are often only half-truths.

So what filters out to the hallway conversation is "I don't like Obama because he voted to do this" or "McCain is terrible because he said that." Unfortunately, when you put the other half of the "fact" with the first half, the whole story is very often completely different from the original claim.

I won't give specific examples here. That would only turn some readers off if they happen to disagree with my own opinions. I only ask that, no matter what your political preference, please don't take anything you hear or see candidates saying in commercials, rally speeches, debates, magazines, newspapers, etc., as an absolute fact.

Do a little research, at an unbiased source, to find out the other half of the story. We have too much at stake as a country in this election to let fast-talking political campaigns sway our intelligent decisions with smoke and mirrors. The important thing is to vote with intelligence and with "full-truths," not half.

Gregory King

Zionsville