Why I think how people vote should be private

[quinnox]

I think its none of peoples business how people vote and who they vote for, for example when Obama supporters were posting thread after thread saying they wouldn't vote for Hillary if she won there was nothing wrong with that IMHO. If people feel a certain candidate is not good enough or another candidate from a third party would be better than the Democrat who am I to say they shouldn't vote their conscience.

So now that Obama is going to most likely win, there are threads trying to force people to say they have to vote for Obama. Well, in my opinion that is not Democratic, Obama has issues with some groups, for instance gays were mad at him, and why should they have to vote for him? Or maybe people are worried about Obama's inexperience and national security bonafides, and don't want to vote for him for that reason.

Anyway, I reject anyone telling me how I have to vote, I will vote for who I think is the best candidate for the United States and the world. There is nothing wrong with persuading, but it is rude to try and force people to vote for Obama.

[Nederland]

1. Would you also say union votes should be private? (nt)

[SteppingRazor]

2. Well, I don't think anyone's being forced to do anything, of course.

Once you get into that voting booth, you do what you have to do.

That said, I do think that a vote for anyone but the Democratic candidate is a tacit vote for McCain.

Moreover, from the beginning, I have said I would support the Democratic candidate regardless of who it might be, and I stand firmly behind that statement. So, whether it's Hillary backers now who are saying they won't vote for Obama, or Obama supporters back then saying they would never vote for Hillary, I condemn them both equally.

Yes, each person's vote is their own. But one would hope that each person recognizes the awesome responsibility instilled in each and every citizen of a representative democracy, and therefore would vote with the maturity and pragmatism required of them to prevent the worst of all outcomes. More than this, we cannot ask.

[liberal N proud]

3. Your vote is yours and you have the right to vote any way you choose

No one tells me how to vote, I make that determination on my own.
Usually when someone asks, I refuse to tell them unless it is an anonymous poll or obvious (I will never vote Republicon).
You may see who I support and that gives it away, but trust that I made that decision on my own. Why I still have Edwards avatar is simply because I have not determined who I am voting for next week.
Just when I think I have made a determination, one of them does something or says something that makes me go, is that what I want?

It is a democracy, you are supposed to be able to make up your mind.