The common belief among political students and citizens is Democrats represent the average middle-class American.

Sen. John Kerry has tried to make this a cornerstone of his campaign, picking Sen. John Edwards, the “commoner” millionaire trial lawyer, as his running mate – even though both are among the richest in the Senate.

Kerry has professed to be the “champion” of the middle-class, average American, at times, preaching messages many consider socialistic.

But a recent Time magazine poll, taken after the Republican National Convention, shows President Bush 11 points ahead of Kerry after months of being at similar rates.

That’s because many Americans perceive Kerry as a radical left-wing liberal elitist – not as a “champion” at all.

Therefore, the Democrats are being flushed down the toilet like dead French fish for two main reasons: Kerry’s eerie record and his constant flip-flopping.

In 1994, Kerry supported a half-dollar increase in the gas tax.

According to an article by Stephen Moore in www.humaneventsonline.com, under Kerry, the income tax rate for the middle class would be 28 percent, compared to 25 percent under Bush.

Dividend taxes would be at 40 percent. Under Bush, 15 percent.

Death taxes in 2010 would be 55 percent. Under Bush, 0 percent.

Kerry even voted against eliminating the marriage penalty tax in 1998.

Favorable to the middle class?

In terms of defense, which is important to every American regardless of “class,” in 1996, Kerry opposed a death penalty for terrorists. Between 1985 and 2000, Kerry also voted against funding for Missile Defense Systems more than 50 times.

And in 2002, Kerry voted to authorize Bush to use military force in Iraq – only to vote against the $87 billion funding request by the president in 2003 so that our troops could carry out their mission effectively.

He later said, according to the Boston Globe, that he “actually did vote for the $87 billion before [he] voted against it.”

Does the average middle-class – or any class – American want a flip-flopper as their leader?

Kerry has been both for and against gay marriage, NAFTA, the No Child Left Behind Act, the Patriot Act, the death penalty for terrorists and even the military action against Iraq, which he voted for.

As former Howard Dean campaign spokesman Jay Carson once stated, “When it was popular to be a Massachusetts liberal, his voting record was that. When it was popular to be for the Iraq war, he was for it. Now it’s popular to be against it, and he’s against it.”

Many Americans see what Carson sees. Others see a left-winger with no clear agenda, who is guided by the winds of popular opinion. Thus, the new poll numbers make sense.

When honorable Democrats like Sen. Zell Miller unveiled Kerry’s record while singing praises to Bush’s at the convention last week, we can be sure Kerry’s record is a bullet in the donkey’s heart and soul.

By November, the donkey’s main source of food, the “middle class,” may indeed be in short supply.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.