Woman denies candy to Obama-supporting children

Shirley Nagel passed out candy Friday — but only to those who shared her support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin.

Fox 2 News says a sign posted outside Nagel's house... read: "No handouts for Obama supporters, liars, tricksters or kids of supporters."

Nagel tells WJBK-TV that "Obama's scary." When asked about children who'd been turned away empty-handed and crying, she said: "Oh well. Everybody has a choice."

It's her candy, so she can do as she likes with it. Personally, I think it's the wrong strategy; it just teaches little kids that politics is nasty and tells the supporters that she's an ornery bitch.

A much more effective strategy, in my view, would be to ask the children at the door if they like Obama or McCain - and then to reward the supporters of your candidate with extra candy. That teaches the children that politics is based on self-interest and is a more accurate reflection of the vote-buying that actual politicians do when they promise tax cuts or promise to support programs for specific demographic groups or special interests.

I'm getting increasingly cynical in my old age...