Three years ago I walked into the living room where my son was watching T.V. and watching a program called, "American Idol." I sat down to watch it with him. I had never seen the program before, but quickly became interested. I was watching during the groups and remember being very impressed with Kim Lock and another female contestant. I kept watching week after week, and it was during the wild card show that I really noticed Clay Aiken. Before that, I had "seen" him, but not "noticed" him. I learned that he was from N. C. and attended college in Charlotte, which is where I live. I was very impressed with his voice, but I was impressed with Kim Lock, too. For a couple of weeks, I voted for them both. Then, as the weeks went by, it seemed that Clay just got better and better, and pretty soon, I was only voting for him. By the end of the show, I was really pulling for him.

I began to learn about Clay, the person. Everything I heard impressed me. He was a Christian. He wanted to be a good role model. He cared about children and had worked with them at the YMCA. He was going to be a special-ed teacher. He loved and admired his mom. He was down-to-earth and had a great sense of humor. He cared about other people. He cared about his fellow contestants and was always polite to everyone.

I became a fan. I went online and searched for his name. When I did that, I discovered a big world of others that had also become fans. We talked about the week to week shows and how we hoped Clay could win........how he just had to win.....how he would win!

But, he didn't. We were happy that he had a recording contract, but we felt he really should have won. Almost immediately his career took wings with an article and cover picture in Rolling Stone Magazine. The top ten from the show toured, and all the internet fans went to see Clay. It was, indeed, Clay we went to see. When he released his first CD, we planned "CD release parties" around the nation. We met, most of us, first, at these parties and formed friendships in our areas. As he toured, we met other friends we had been talking to online at the concerts. We became like a big happy family.

Other things were happening. Clay announced that he was forming the Bubel/Aiken Foundation. We started working to raise funds for this foundation, which benefits special ablilities children. As time went on, Clay became involved in other projects and with other causes, and we supported them all. We were fans of a young man who cared about his fellow man and he inspired his fans to believe that they could "make a difference" in the world as well. Not only could they make a difference, they could make new friends and have the pleasure of hearing his beautiful voice at the same time, and they could have fun, and so they became fans of the man.

The man, Clay Aiken earned their respect daily as he revealed his talents, intellect and personality. He stated, early on, that he is a hetro-sexual individual who has not found the person he hopes to marry someday, but that he does want to get married and have children. He should not have to clarify his sexual preference every day of his life. Once is more than enough, as it is truly nobody else's business anyway, but he did reveal this personal information in several interviews.

He has been the butt of several very rude comedian's jokes. I believe the reason is that he is double-jointed and does not move gracefully; In short, he runs funny and he is long and lanky. This is not unusual; Check out a couple of basketball stars sometime. He also has some effeminate mannerisms. This is also not unusual; It is a common trait in male teachers and other detail-oriented individuals. But, for whatever cruel reason, Clay has been "picked-on."

Now, it seems that someone who has not aspired to the lofty levels to which Clay has aspired is trying to ruin his reputation.

My question is, how is it possible to take the word of an individual with very questionable motives, an individual who has has his naked picture on internet-gay-hook-up sites for some time, an individual who is an admitted "wanna-be-porn star," who has very obviously tried to jump-start this career riding on the coat tails of Clay Aiken against a young man with all the traits mentioned above?

It just not make any sense.

As a fan who has followed Clay's career from the beginning, and one who has been on the internet fan boards from the beginning, and one who has worked for his foundation and other causes, and one who has been to numerous concerts and followed all the little "good deeds" this young man has done that have not had any publicity, and who knows that Clay will not even sing a lyric that might offend a child, please do not expect me to believe someone who would contact a tabloid publication to make a name for himself over Clay Aiken. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN! It will not happen because it simply does not make any sense. Period.

I would never ask the rude question of Clay, "is this true," because to me it would definitely be rude. Put yourself in his place and think what if this were happening to you? How much sense does this make? Really think about it. What would you do? How would you feel?

The tabloids can print whatever they like. The main-stream media can pick it up, and claim, without any proof, mind you, that the tabloid stories are true. How many other things in the tabloids do you believe? It is totally senseless and it will not make me believe this tabloid-trash over Clay. All it WILL do is make me totally loose faith in the media and mutter to myself, "the things people do for money and fame," but, that's another blog......in fact, check out Flippin Birds, which is linked here.