I decided to do an interview about the upcoming election with my just-turned ten-year-old genius child, in terms anyone could understand. I DID NOT coach her in any way. No inflection in the voice, no winks, nothin'. These are her answers.

Q: Do you know what the economy is?

A: It's about how much money please spend and invest, and about how many people are out of work.

Q: Which is called ...

A: Unemployment.

Q: We're having a presidential election tomorrow.

A: I know, Mom. [Well, pardon me!]

Q: Right now, the economy isn't doing well. The government needs more money. Capital gains are when people invest and make a profit. Do you understand? (Yes.) People pay taxes on that profit. History shows that when the capital gains tax is lower, the government gets more money. Would you vote for the candidate who wants to raise the capital gains tax, or the candidate who doesn't?

A: The candidate who doesn't. The other candidate doesn't make sense.

Q: If the economy is doing poorly, people usually have less money to spend, and prices on food and gas, etc., are higher. Knowing this, would it be smart to raise taxes on anyone?

A: No.

Q: One of the candidates wants to give people who don't pay taxes, tax refunds or credits.

A: That doesn't make sense either.

Q: Michaela, you don't get an allowance, but you have money in your savings account, and a few hundred dollars in your room. How do you make your money?

A: I earn it working for you in your business. [No, she isn't editing your manuscripts. She works for my handbag business.]

Q: What if the government said they thought someone else needed the money you earned more than you did, and took some of your money away, and gave it to another person who hadn't earned it.

A: Mom, that would be stealing.

Q: So, you don't think that'd be fair?

A: No. Duh.

Q: If one candidate wanted to do this, and one didn't, which candidate would you vote for?

A: The one who let me keep the money I earned.

Q: Are you a Christian?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you know what abortion is?

A: Yes.

Q: As a Christian, do you believe abortions are okay?

A: No.

Q: Do you know what a "partial birth&#xu201D; abortion is?

A: No.

Q: The definition is (loosely): The baby is partially delivered, and then the doctor depresses the baby's head, or punctures the skull to make sure the baby isn't born alive. Do you understand?

A: Yes.

Q: What word comes to mind for that process?

A: Putrid. [Out of the mouths of babes.]

Q: I was looking for a different kind of word.

A: (pause) Murder.

Q: Would you vote for the candidate for supports abortion, or the one who doesn't?

A: The one who doesn't.

Q: Some babies survive abortion. One candidate wants to let those babies live. The other voted 3 times for those babies not to live. Which candidate would you vote for?

A: The one who doesn't want to kill the babies.

Q: We pay taxes so when we retire, we'll have money. It's called Social Security. Right now, the government controls Social Security. They've told us we might be paying that tax, but when we retire, the money might not be there for us. One candidate wants to let the government keep control of all the money from the taxes. One candidate wants to give each person a choice on how to invest a part of that money on their own. Which candidate would you vote for?

A: Okay, so we can either let the government keep all the money for us, or they keep some, and I have a choice on how I invest the rest of it? (Yes.)  I'd vote for the person who gave me the choice.

Q: Right now, we have health insurance that helps us pay when we need to go to the doctor. Some people can't afford it. One candidate wants the government to take over healthcare so everyone can go to the doctor, but the government is in charge. One candidate wants to give people a credit to help you pay for insurance, and you'd choose what kind of insurance you buy. Do you understand? (Yes.) Which candidate would you vote for?

A: The one who gave me the money to buy my own.

Q: When you go to school, you say the pledge of allegiance to the flag, don't you?

A: Yes.

Q: Why?

A: To show respect for the flag, and the country.

Q: One candidate wants to stop people from burning the flag, spitting on the flag, etc. One candidate voted against protecting the flag. Which candidate would you vote for?

A: The one that wants to protect the flag.

Q: Most people in America know how to speak English. Some don't. One candidate wants to make English the official language of our country. Do you understand? (Yes.) One voted against having English be the official language of the United States. Which candidate would you vote for?

A: The one who wants English to be our language.

Kelly: Well, that's it. Thanks for doing the interview.

Michaela: So, Mom, which candidate did I vote for?

Kelly: John McCain

Michaela: (Smile.)(She knows that's who we're voting for.)

The choice is obvious, even to a ten-year-old....