How much has your opinion of the candidates been influenced by the behavior of their DU supporters?

[Bicoastal]

Poll question: How much has your opinion of the candidates been influenced by the behavior of their DU supporters?

After seeing at least one "I'm not voting for candidate X, 'cuz their DU boosters were mean to me" thread, I want to see if that's the norm or an anomaly 'round here...

[pampango]

1. I would hate all of the candidates, if I let their supporters here

influence me. ;)

"Never say a positive word about a fellow Democrat." That seems to be the operative motto around here.

[FiveGoodMen]

2. Personality Cults turn me off to the Cult Leaders

You know who you are

[Bicoastal]

6. You're mistaken if you believe that most of the people on DU...

...are NORMAL supporters.

[FiveGoodMen]

14. I'd be happy if they were just NORML supporters

[cobalt1999]

I agree.

I plan on voting for Hillary, but she's not some idol, nor are Obama and Edwards evil. It's just a vote and if Hillary doesn't win, it's no reflection on me, I'll just happily vote for the nominee.

[HughMoran]

20. I agree n/t

[frogmarch]

3. A while back

I let obnoxious supporters of certain candidates negatively affect my opinion of the candidates themselves, but I've risen above that.

[redqueen]

4. Not at all... that's just as silly as judging them

based on any other ridiculous non-issue.

POLICY. That's it for me.

[MADem]

5. What influences me is the "piling on" by some earnest supporters who think

they are being "helpful" to their candidate by being absolutely SHITTY to another.

That makes me think, well, if this candidate attracts THAT KIND of supporters, maybe this candidate ain't such a good bet.

It's also caused me to research assertions, and when they turn out to be total bullshit or 'twisted' in terms of their context, it does have some influence.

But really, I could give a shit who people vote for--that's their choice, stupid or otherwise. The people who are being total jerks, though, are helping me hone my selection with their shenanigans!

[Bicoastal]

7. Again, this isn't a very good sample of typical supporters of any candidate...

...since most of the people on here are atypically gung-ho about politics in general.

[MADem]

9. That's entirely true. NT

[robbedvoter]

22. yeah. Worked that way in 2004 as well. I since noticed that some of the same

people who turned me off Dean, are turning me off Obama.
But I don't base my choice (yet to be made) solely on this.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. I guess what gets me

is when I sincerely ask for information about a candidate and I don't get any information back and am called names. I figure that supporters of a candidate should at least have links they can give me and that they can respond in a civil manner. I would hope to heavens they don't behave this way elsewhere.

BTW, kudos to those DUers who are POLITE and speak positively of other people's candidates, and who apologize for misunderstandings. They raise the level of discourse here a great deal.

[Ytzak]

10. If the rabid supports of all candidates had affected me...

I would be trying to immigrate.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. I have a low opinion of politicians in general.

So, when others attack them, I'm more amused than offended.

[donheld]

12. As much as some of these fools have acted like real Jack-Asses

I hope I have the good judgment to make my mind up aside from that behavior.

[Mojambo]

13. Not at all. It wouldn't be fair to the candidates. n/t

[rox63]

15. Not at all

It's not the candidate's fault if there are jerks amoung his or her supporters.

[Jed Dilligan]

16. A lot

I'm on the fence as to whether the worst of them are trolls, or an actual honest-to-goodness peek into the soul of a campaign.

The viciousness of one camp in particular has steered me away from them, and I haven't decided (now that Kucinich is out) which of the others will have my vote. But I know who won't, and much of it has to do with the chatter on here.

[BlackVelvet04]

17. I said a little....

there are certain candidates that I just got sick of seeing their name on D.U. No matter what the thread someone posted "well candidate X would fix that". It's really a put off.

Now, having said that, for the first time today I understood just a bit of why people did that. I've never felt anything emotionally about a candidate until today. I always vote my head and not my heart, but I now find my heart has followed my head and I feel a certain emotional attachment to the candidate of my choice.

[johnnydrama]

18. it makes me ill

it makes me ill when i see something that says I'm not voting for Obama because of Obama supporters on DU, or the same with Hillary.

If what people say on any internet board affects who you vote for, i'm not sure you have the mental faculties to warrant giving you the right to vote.

[Alexander]

19. That's the wrong reason to vote for/against someone.

Not in the slightest.

[robbedvoter]

21. Somewhat. The piling on made me want to restore fairness. I found myself

posting much more for one candidate than the other. Still undecided - but getting there.

[awaysidetraveler]

23. I'm offended by some Hillary advocates, who have chosen divisive tactics in support of Hillary.

[Raine]

24. Not all all

that would be a ridiculous way of picking a candidate. :silly: I have more important concerns and issues than that. :think: