Being  a Democrat doesn't necessarily mean you agree with President Barack  Obama on every subject or issue. That is especially true if you are a  Blue Dog Democrat in Indiana trying to replace the defeated senior  Senator Dick Lugar this fall.

Congressman  Joe Donnelly is facing off against the Republican nominee State  Treasure Richard Mourdock to fill Lugar's seat after Tuesday's upset  that forced Lugar into retirement. Donnelly, who enjoys support from  such conservative organizations as the NRA and is fiscally conservative  and moderate on social issues, made it clear today that even though the  President supports same-gender marriage, he does not.

Indiana,  a conservative state with a strong Evangelical and Tea Party presence,  is known for it's conservative Blue Dog Democrats and moderate  Democratic governors in the past. That includes the former Senator and  Governor Evan Bayh, once considered a future Democratic presidential  candidate.

Donnelly told the Indianapolis Star today when noting he was not in favor of same-gender marriage, he is "singularly focused on job creation". Donnelly said he was not allowing the issue to distract him from his work in Congress or his Senate campaign.

“Every day I wake up in the morning and say how can we put another family to work in Anderson. That's what I think is important,” Donnelly said, referring to one of the cities in Indiana.

From  the Cornfield, this is what is great about our nation. We can each have  our own beliefs and opinions. We don't have to be tied to one party or  the other's ideology. We are free to think and believe for ourselves.