McCain’s recent batch of television ads are trying to reach out to the disgruntled Clinton camp. Using sound bytes of the New York Senator calling Obama inexperienced, in one McCain concedes, “She was right.”

Oh please.

Like McCain has ever thought Hillary was right about anything.

What we have here is a classic case of Washington manipulation at the hands of a 72-year-old seasoned veteran. McCain could no more agree with Clinton than he could stay up past 10 p.m.

It’s an act, and a poor one at that.

In perhaps the most transparent campaign charade yet, McCain is shamelessly pining for votes with the most unlikely of supporters—fiercely dedicated democrats. The problem may be, however, that Clinton’s supporters are more devoted to her than the principles of the Democratic Party.

Like a spoiled child, Clinton supporters who defect to McCain are clearly acting out of spite. How else can you justify not voting for Obama—whose policies are 95 percent the same as Clinton’s—and thus denying a democrat the white house for another four years? It must have been the pants suits—and not the policies—that Clinton supporters were so ardently in favor of. Otherwise, the transition to Obama would have been seamless.

What I’ve found more disappointing than McCain’s manipulation (not a real surprise), is Clinton’s less-than-passionate disapproval of the ads. Only when prompted did Clinton respond to the ads by saying, “I am Hillary Clinton, and I did not approve this message.” A clever play on words, but far from the serious, impassioned defense of Obama and attack on McCain’s cheap tactics one would expect of a die-hard democrat in an election season. 

McCain may butter up to Clinton and her supporters now, but rest assured that if he takes office there will be no place for Clinton at the table. Obama represents the same ideals as Clinton, and more importantly, the same party. Clinton’s political career may not reach the office of “Madame President,” but there is still room for a high position in the Obama administration. If Clinton supporters really want the best for their candidate—and their country—they will vote for Obama.

UPDATE: Clinton’s speech Tuesday night was exactly what it needed to be. In her own words: “No way, no how, no McCain.” Check out this article in The New York Times for in-depth analysis.

The study, released in April, said 37 percent of young people listed religion as “a very important part of their lives” and 45 percent expected it to “become more important as they grew older.” But traditional “religious” issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and stem-cell research aren’t as popular with the younger demographic. The idea of voting for morals or family values doesn’t mean what it used to. Hallelujah. 

As a religiously affiliated youth voter myself, I am overall more concerned with poverty, social justice, and the environment as moral causes than any others. This is also a reflection of the Democratic Party affiliation of the majority of the 18-29-year-old age group, reported by the Pew Research Center. It’s not that abortion and homosexuality aren’t worthy of attention or thoughtful discussion/legislation, but for too long these two issues have defined the religious movement. I’m proud to be part of a generation that is broadening our moral focus and redefining what it means to be a politically-active religious citizen.

We can talk all day about when life begins and what rights women have, but as long as people are poor and scared and uneducated, we won’t stop abortions. We can obsess over homosexuality and the theories of sexual orientation, but how can we love like Jesus when we don’t even treat people who are different than us like people?

My hope for my generation and the emerging religiousity in America is that our votes will speak about a great love for all people and a concerted effort to make life better in this country. I hope issues like the environment won’t fade into merely a trendy interest, but will manifest into a dedication for alternative, clean energy and a renewed zeal for conservation.

I think criminal justice is another neglected Christian issue that has seen an increase in popularity with the restorative justice movement. The religious right may not be famous for hugging trees or fighting for prisoner’s rights, but I believe the religious left could be. And maybe, we can even stop using terms like left and right to describe and divide ourselves. I’ll try to work on that.