01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, November 9, 2005

I have been a Democrat all my life. After listening to the smear against Governor Carcieri by former party Chairman Guy Dufault, I have heard just about all I can stand to hear.

We have finally found a person who is upstanding and honest, and the Democrats have to resort to this kind of mudslinging to unseat him. I am so sick of listening to garbage in our politics.

Who in his or her right mind would ever consent to run for any political office anywhere in this country, but most especially in Rhode Island? If dirt cannot be found on a candidate, then make it up. If you throw enough mud, it will stick. Well, I think it is beginning to stick to the party.

Why do top-notch people resist running for political office? With the kind of mudslinging going on, any past infraction can be blown into monumental proportions to embarrass an individual out of the running. Why can we not live with the knowledge that there is not a perfect human being alive, and that we have to allow people to grow and change?

After having watched and listened to the offending video, I come away feeling I have listened to two men talking, two men who have unethical and amoral principles. It felt dirty to me personally.

With that, I will be changing my party affiliation in Rhode Island to Republican. I never thought the day would come that I would do this.

Sister DOROTHY MALONEY, R.S.M.

Middletown