Who are you going to vote for in November? Bush? Kerry? In stumbling down the long, arduous path leading to the local polling place, it has become easy to be led astray by dirty politics.

Recently, I’m finding it very hard to see past the mud-slinging which seemingly occupies a majority of the focus of our current presidential race.

Upon visiting President Bush’s reelection Web site, I was surprised to find more pictures of Kerry on the site than of Bush.

This occurrence is not by chance; as long as Bush’s cronies can keep the nation focused on the “flip-flopping” John Kerry, current White House fallacies will go unnoticed. The trick is old, but it’s working like a charm.

Bush’s campaign motto, “Steady Leadership in Times of Change,” appears in large letters at the top of his Web site.

This, of course, implies that Bush is a man who stands unwavering in his beliefs, despite what happens in the world around him. This false picture is painted with Kerry far off in the distance putting him at the opposite end of the “flip-flop” spectrum. The portrayal is not accurate.

In all reality, both are guilty of changing their stances on issues. Along with the detailed list of every Kerry “flip-flop,” including the seventh grade incident where he decided against asparagus for lunch, but then went back for a helping of the notoriously hated vegetable, Bush should have posted a list of his own.

But maybe he forgot. Maybe he forgot about the time he said nation-building was bad.

Maybe he forgot the time when he was against a homeland security department, negotiating with North Korea and a Sept. 11 investigation committee.

Perhaps he forgot Osama bin Laden was the “most important thing for us to find” when he said, “I don’t know where he is. I have no idea and I really don’t care.”

How about the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage he proposed? Did he forget he thought it was a states’ rights issue?

The list goes on.

Maybe this is a case of amnesia or bad intelligence. Maybe the pretzel lodged in his throat did more harm than anticipated.

More likely, this is a case of dirty politics.

Elsewhere on Bush’s Web site is the “Kerry Gas Tax Calculator.” The page asks the question “How much will John Kerry cost you?” and begs the question, “How much more will Bush cost you with his war in Iraq and deficit spending?”

Not only does this reek of hypocrisy, the page only calculates increases in gas spending if you own a vehicle manufactured in 1990 or later. I don’t; good one Dubya.

Rounding up the dirty politics list are the commercials posted online and aired by Bush’s reelection campaign.

The one I most enjoy entails a distorted view of Kerry’s commitment to the military.

In the ad, Kerry is portrayed as a person who doesn’t want the military to have tanks, anti-aircraft missiles, stealth bombers and fighter jets.

To top it off, Bush wants you to think Kerry would refuse body armor to soldiers if given the chance.

This campaign ad stoops to a new low. It takes Kerry’s voting record and draws preposterous conclusions.

Is America going to believe Kerry wants to equip our country’s soldiers with sticks and stones? I certainly hope not.

Other commercials attack Kerry for his tax policies.

I have a real problem with a president who has demonstrated no fiscal responsibility through his tax cuts and deficit spending attacking a challenger for wanting to raise taxes.

Again, are people in America too daft to look past this dubious argument?

By playing the tax card, Bush is hoping to further pull the wool over the eyes of America. I have to give his team credit— Bush’s reelection campaign is genius.

For those in our country who tend to not look past the surface, these tactics are very convincing. However, it only takes a couple Internet searches to find the facts behind these flimsy arguments.

Bush is banking on ignorant America reelecting him. However, I believe people will see through these dirty politics.

I implore you, get past your partisan ways and take an honest look at what is being said about Kerry. Don’t settle for Rush Limbaugh’s take on the situation.

Think for yourself; you deserve it, as does the rest of the country.