IOWANS: Conscience

[gateley]

During one of the Des Moines Register Debates between Presidential candidates a number of years ago, a question was posed to one of the participants.

Why should people caucus for you, he was asked. You are trailing badly and you are underfunded.

He said in essence, you know it doesn’t matter whether I am ahead in the polls or behind. It doesn’t even matter whether you think I can win or not, if you feel that I am the most qualified, then you have an obligation to vote for me. You should vote your conscience.

That really as Iowans is our responsibility on January 3rd. If your candidate is ahead, has money and looks like they could win a general election then that alone is not sufficient reason to caucus for him or her. There is an additional condition and the most important requirement. If in your judgment, the White House contender would make a good or even great President, then they should be supported.

But the converse is also true. In watching this process through this cycle, I sometimes have had the feeling that the media; by their coverage, by their handicapping, predictions and their polling data that eliminates some candidates by exclusion, have almost been telling us who we should support.

This is Iowa. We are supposed to stand back from who the pundits of Washington want us to consider and look at our guests with a different evaluation: who would make the best Commander in Chief.

In 1774, Edmund Burke confronted his constituents, the electors of Bristol. He defined the obligation of a representative. Owing not you his industry only, but his judgment, he said, and if he fails to give both to you, he violates his oath.

We speak not only for Iowa, but also for the nation. Our decision will pass some on for further consideration by other states in their time. But we will also dismiss from future ballots some individuals. Our decision will be watched by the world.

We should use our judgment. We should vote our conscience.

Oh, by the way, the speaker who set this standard was George McGovern in the 1988 cycle. Ultimately, he wasn’t nominated, but his continued presence in the process contributed greatly to the national debate and decision ultimately made by his party.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=30dcc6332d5048a18d6736e75d2a3bb0&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a30dcc6332d5048a18d6736e75d2a3bb0Post%3a747538cc-055a-41aa-b3dc-af44521df985&sid=sitelife.desmoinesregister.com

[jillan]

1. Excellent post!!

As I sit here helpless in Arizona, I hope and pray that Iowans see thru the hype and the msm spin and vote their
CONSCIENCE!

[lisainmilo]

2. Very Nice Post

Thank You!

[1corona4u]

3. Nice!!

Kick!

[Eurobabe]

4. Alls well and good, but this year ABC and WMUR are trying

to limit who gets to participate on BOTH sides of the aisle in the next debate on January 5th.

So those contributing voices might be squelched a bit early. Unless we all call and complain, this is completely UNDemocractic!!

http://www.wmur.com/contact/index.html

[Debi]

5. Great advice - don't listen to the hype, listen to your heart!

:loveya:

[annie1]

6. i'm glad i'm not an iowan, i like them all so much for different reasons...

i would not be able to choose. i'd be so anxiety ridden over it i think i would just stay home.

[Debi]

7. What's important about that blog post is it should make us all realize

that we need to put the signs and t-shirts and photos of handshakes away (and noise makers and bullhorns and pins and stickers) and think about our decision based on what the candidate represents and has done with their personal and political lives.

[gateley]

8. It reinforces what people have been saying here on DU:

In the primaries, vote your conscience; in the general, vote for the nominee.

This makes me realize that if we caucus for our "conscience" choice - if everybody were to do it, regardless of media hype and "conventional wisdom", then we could have the nominee who WE want -- we'll have made the choice, not have the powers that be make it for us.

Follow your hearts, my Iowan friends - we're counting on you. And thank you!! :hi:

[Frustratedlady]

11. I believe Iowans traditionally stay on top of the news.

It is evident in the questions they ask during the caucus process.

I attended a speech by Biden this morning, and he was absolutely incredible in his immediate and impressive responses to our questions. Those questions ranged from joining the rest of the world in solving our environmental problems, which Bush has resisted, to Russia's return to a power to be reckoned with, to the veto by Bush of the Biden-Gelb Iraq plan, among others. There was no hesitation. Joe took us into a deep and detailed explanation of the cause, consequences of the actions by the present administration and solutions to the problem he would propose as POTUS.

The explanations were logical and easy to follow, and you came away knowing much more than when you entered the meeting hall. He was incredible.

I will be a precinct captain Thursday night in Biden's corner and I'm even more proud to be so after listening to Joe, this morning. I believe the world is watching very carefully and I envision a huge sigh of relief when they see Joe emerge as the nominee for the Democratic Party to run for POTUS.

He has what it takes to step up to the plate on Day 1 to begin the repair to our country and the world that the present occupant of the White House is responsible for causing over the past 7 years.

A Band-aid approach ain't gonna do it, folks, but Joe will!

[Flabbergasted]

9. kick

[nyc 4 Biden]

10. k&r

:kick: