If John McCain is your second choice, it doesn't say a lot about your first choice

[nichomachus]

I've been hearing a lot of babble about people who -- if their candidate doesn't get the nomination -- will go out and vote for McCain.

I've said, whenever possible, that I think this is just blowing smoke in pre-convention posturing, and shouldn't be taken seriously, but let's assume I'm wrong. If you're dead serious about that, then it really calls your judgment into question and counts as a black mark against the candidate you do support.

John McCain is a danger to what's left of the US, its Constitution, its economy, and to our reputation around the world -- not to mention world peace. He's not just the next guy on the list.

If you truly support Hillary, then you support Democratic ideals, reproductive choice, universal health care, the rights of women, the Constitution, and, we should hope, peace. John McCain opposes all of those.

If you truly support Barack, then you support Democratic ideals, reproductive choice, universal health care, the rights of women, the Constitution, and, we should hope, peace. John McCain opposes all of those.

I'm not saying there are no differences between Hillary and Barack, but, at the core, they do both stand for some very important things, all of which McCain is opposed to.

I can understand saying that if your candidate isn't nominated that you'll stay home. It's a dangerous gamble, but I can understand it. I can understand saying that you'll write in Dennis Kucinich or John Edwards -- just to make a statement.

But if you say that McCain is your second choice then we're left with two assumptions: One is that you are so self-centered that you're willing to hurt the country, yourself, and your children or grandchildren (assuming you have them) just to vent your spleen. If so, why should we count your opinion as counting for anything.

Or, we have to assume that you see something in your chosen candidate that makes them so close to McCain that he's a logical second choice -- and that isn't really helpful to your chosen candidate, because it makes the rest of us look at them as just a click or two away from McCain. If that's the case, then I may not want to vote for your first-choice candidate because he or she is too close to McCain.

[Alexander]

1. K & R

:thumbsup:

[jody]

2. Good point. On the other hand, an alternate vote may be a pure, hateful, spiteful vote. n/t

[Ian David]

3. John McCain is my fifth choice...

1) Obama
2) Clinton
3) Ron Paul
4) Jonathon Sharkey
5) John McCain

[nichomachus]

4. My third choice is "Leave the country" n/t

[mrJJ]

5. Yes or BLANK

I have a preference for 1 Pres Dem candidate. If that candidate is on the Nov ticket I'll vote that spot. If not I'll leave it BLANK. I will however vote for every Dem Senate & Congressional seat in my state. Not sure how many others will follow suit. I just cant pull the lever for my candidates opponent. If by any chance theres a joint ticket I will sadly leave the Presidential slot BLANK also. I'm not a card carrying Dem perhaps if I was I'd do otherwise. err NO insults intended for those of you who are Dems.

[murielm99]

6. That is the same as a vote for McCain. n/t

[walldude]

7. Yup...

But don't say that, someone might get offended if they aren't allowed to throw the election to the Neo-Cons.

[ileus]

8. LOL....funniest post today.