The Broadside, George Mason University's student newspaper, apparently confused their Libertarian and Constitution party Michaels.

In the Broadside's election guide, there is a table including five presidential candidates: Badnarik, Bush, Kerry, Nader, and Peroutka. But, it says Michael Peroutka "supports gay marriage" and Michael Badnarik "opposes gay marriage and civil unions."

One can understand that the Broadside staff's confusion. On Braddock Road, outside the university, a fierce sign battle is being fought on the median strip. Both Peroutka and Badnarik are holding their own against the older two parties. Two Michaels, both of which have been ignored by the major media. Both believe in small government. Who could tell the difference? Who really cares?

Perhaps this is what got me. Maybe it was a simple mistake. But the third party candidates each got about five column inches of space. There is a page and a half discussing the differences of Bush vs. Kerry.

When I first read it, it made me think that it was either a case of lazy reporting, or just plain ignorance. Maybe that's why the media seems to think that the American public just can't handle more than two choices -- because the media can't handle more than two choices. Oh my god... more than two choices? I wish we only had one choice, that way we could totally disengage our brains!

Think Survivor. Think Bachelorette. People are able to keep track of and comprehend multiple choies. It even makes things more interesting.

Before I give you too bad an impression of the journalists at GMU, the editor of the paper did write a solid editorial last week, saying that the paper would not give an endorsement, because no candidate could represent all of the interests of the people. I would agree with this sentiment.

-- KDR.