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In reply to the discussion: An open letter to folks like myself who cannot in good conscience vote for Obama [View all]MineralMan
(146,308 posts)I'm agreeing with other parts of the post. In every Presidential election I've voted in, and that's been quite a few now, I have voted for the best choice of the two candidates who have any chance of winning. In every one, that has been the Democrat. The best choice is not always, or even often, the perfect choice. But, it is the choice presented, so my vote goes to the one who is the better of the two.
That's the system we find ourselves in. I wish for a better one, and do what I can to help create a better one. But, every four years, there's an election, and it comes down to a choice between two candidates. I vote for the one who comes closest to what I hope for. I don't vote for a third party candidate who comes even closer, because there is no chance that candidate can become the President. I vote for the best choice who can become the President. Sometimes the candidate I vote for wins, and sometimes that candidate loses, but I give it my best shot.
There has NEVER in my life been a candidate with whom I agreed 100%. Not once. And I don't expect ever to see one in the rest of my life. At age 67, I have no idea how many more presidential elections I will vote in.
I do not vote for any reason but to try to elect the better choice of the two major party candidates I am presented with, and I work hard to help my choice get elected. I also work to get Democrats elected at every legislative level. I don't do it to provide a vote for anyone but myself. I vote for the candidate I believe will do the best job in moving toward my goals. That candidate has always been a Democrat.
You will vote however you vote, and for whatever reasons. I can't do anything about that. But, as I said earlier, your vote remains your vote, and cannot substitute for anyone else's vote. Telling us that you'll be holding your nose and voting for Obama to cast your ballot for someone who has been disenfranchised is meaningless. You will vote for Obama, and that's a good thing. Trashing the candidate you are voting for here is of little value, either. He doesn't meet my criteria as a perfect candidate, either. But he is the best choice in this election. So, he gets my vote. Not for anyone else, but for me. It is my vote, and I will cast it enthusiastically, and I will campaign to get others to do the same. That's what I do, in the hopes that we will move along the better path.
But, you will do what you wish. There's no reason to tell us why. Just vote for Obama and that'll be a good thing, as far as I'm concerned. You needn't run the candidate down and then tell us you'll vote for him anyway. You needn't even try to get others to do as you do. Just vote for the better choice for President. That's what we're all doing here.