Why are Democrats so pure on the issues?

[Lindacooks]

This is one area where Repukes have it all over us. They will support the nominee, no matter what. I have Repuke relatives who don't like anything about Bush* except his stance on abortion. But they'll vote for him anyway.

Now, I understand single-issue voters (even though I think they're stupid), but why must Democrats feel 'ambivalent' about Kerry because he differs from them on one or two issues? And yes, I know they are important issues. But we've got to stop being so damn pure.

Face it, there are very few politicians who agree with you on every single issue. What we have to do is realize that unless we all stand behind the Democratic nominee, Bush* is going to get four more years.

Make a tally of all the issues, write down where you stand on them, and then compare that list to Kerry and to Bush*. And vote for the person who matches you MOST CLOSELY - not who matches you perfectly.

[Kool Kitty]

1. I think that is what everyone is going to do this election.

Vote for the Democratic nominee, John Kerry. We realize how important this is.
On edit-That's the way it seems to me, at least.

[Wapsie B]

2. There are some on the Left

that refuse to sacrifice their principles for the sake of political expediency. Their counterparts on the right wing see that grab for power and just latch on. Which could be one reason why we've had 12 years of Reagan/Bush I and now 4 years of II and abortion is still legal and yet these right-wingers will still vote repug.

[On the Road]

5. Seems Like If You Follow Your Conscience

your conscience should take into account the actual effect of your actions, not just your hopes and ideals.

[QC]

10. Excellent point!

A lot of purists don't seem to understand that the price for their clean consciences is always going to be paid by others whose positions are less secure than their own: the poor, women, children, minorities, gays, etc.

It's always nice to have a clean conscience, but to ask others to pay the price of it seems a bit selfish to me.

[Selwynn]

15. That's exactly right - that's why... (more)

.. I'm voting for Kerry. Because conscience should and must take into account the long term picture, not just what is immediately gratifying.

It may feel good to "stick to principle" and vote a third party this year, but there are those of us who feel four more years of Bush might be so horrible we just can't take that chance. Because I believe in "strategic idealism" - meaning that idealism must be counter-balanced with a healthy understanding of reality, short term gains vs. long term games, cost vs. benefits, and risk - I believe I must vote for Kerry this year, in order to vote my conscience.

I also believe that while real change in this country does involve a breaking up of the two-party monopoly, I don't believe that will ever be effectively achieved in a top down manner - starting with the Presidency and working your way down. Even if such a person did by some miracle manage to get elected, he or she would have no constituency in Washington, and therefore no mandate - no one would take his or her calls, nothing would get done and the country would spend four years spinning its wheels, because revolutionary change just doesn't work that way.

I believe if we really want to radically chance the country, we start be electing independent grass roots progressive to school boards, and city councils, then to mayorship, then to state legislatures then to congress then to the white house - you build up a strong grass roots popular movement that transforms communities first and expands ever outward, until enough momentum is gained to change the landscape of the nation.

That's why I believe local elections are as important if not even more important (many times) than national ones. Change begins at home.

[lastknowngood]

3. People on both sides are hardening there positions there is

very little middle ground anymore. The shrub summed it up with the
phrase your either with us or against us. When people are dying and the constitution is being raped by Asscrack every day it's hard to see the other point of view. I include myself in this category I'm seeing a lot of evil and not much else in my opponents, it is a fault but I'm at least aware of it.

[tom_paine]

4. you and me both, lastknowngood

These are troubling times. We must remain as centered as possible while in the storm.

[wasichu]

6. We are all voting for fucking Kerry

that doesn't mean all we ever do is circle jerk each other and pretend nothing is wrong with him.
Shit, he NEEDS to improve or he will lose.
How many times in history has a politician improved AFTER they get power? none.

[Bjornsdotter]

8. Agreed

Hi,

I will vote for Kerry, but only because he's not Bush. I don't really care for him, he was my 5th choice.

I agree...he really needs to improve.

Cheers,
Kim

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

7. I'm not ambivalent

I want chucklenuts the HELL OUT. I am all for Kerry. I was a Deaniac. But I knew I would support 100% whomever got the nom. And I am.

Kerry. Kerry all the way. If he's THE man, he's MY man. Dean wouldn't have it any differently.

We can't afford any other attitude in this election. We. Really. Can't.

[Lindacooks]

9. Well, I'm very glad to see this

And I think Kerry is doing very well, considering that he hasn't even announced his veep. And after chimp spent $50 mil (or was it $60 mil?) he's basically tied in the polls.

[starfiend15]

11. The Real Question Is....

Why aren't Republicans more pure?

[raysr]

14. They're pure

pure shit. They stick together because of the narrow mindedness of their views-pro-life,pro-gun and cut taxes, that's it, you're a repuke!!

[FDRrocks]

12. I'm going to vote Kerry, but

but, and I realize this is a useless question, considering the Dem. leadership doesn't listen to voter, b/c they have no idea where thier base is anymore: What the hell will the Democrats do when and after Kerry is elected? What did they do before? If you could remind me. I'm pretty damned sick of this two party plutocracy but I'm willing to go with kerry, but if this crap continues and in 4-8 more years I'm in virtual reality world or w/e the hell they have then and listening to people say "Yea he not liberal but he isn't X" then I'm just gonna give up on this party.

[Selwynn]

13. Because we're good people.

I completely agree with this:

Make a tally of all the issues, write down where you stand on them, and then compare that list to Kerry and to Bush*. And vote for the person who matches you MOST CLOSELY - not who matches you perfectly.

The more complicated subject is to make a tally of all the issues, and compare them to all the potential candidates, and vote for the person who matches you most closely - not you matches you perfectly.

I think if people did that, many folks would be voting for a third party candidate, so now suddenly we're back to the age old argument of which is better: voting anybody (who can win, meaning the Democratic nominee) but Bush, or voting your conscience, i.e. the person who matches you most closely....

...and that debate will rage on and on and on and on.

At the same time, the reason I said "because we're good people is" - I think its a positive trait and something to be celebrated when people are not willing to vote a party line just to say they did, who care about more than a single issue, who share great concern over a wide range of issues and who therefore honestly look for the representative who will best represent them, republican, democrat or independent. Can we afford the luxury of voting our conscience this year, when Bush is so horribly bad if that means voting for a third party candidate (who may be the person for many who matches them "MOST CLOSELY?" That is an open question that has been debated at nauseum in 8 billion different threads this election cycle...

[Lindacooks]

16. Those are all very good questions and thoughts

and I appreciate your answer. You are right, of course, that Democrats have more of a wide range of opinions and embrace more viewpoints. And that is a good thing.

It's only when we're up against something as evil as the Bush* cabal that we all do need to band together and stand behind one candidate.

[Selwynn]

18. Make no mistake, I personally agree.

In fact, see my post above for an argument about why voting for Kerry *IS* in fact voting my conscience this year, even though he is not the candidate out there that MOST CLEARLY represents my views.

[charlie]

17. Pshaw, it's not a matter of purity

It's the way Democrats constrain themselves to a Republican-defined framework. A Democrat with any hopes of attaining national office is expected not to just demur accepting, but repudiate support from factions Republicans characterize as crazy. If the Repubs deem the ACLU an unAmerican outfit, and they have, we'd better steer clear of them. We're all waiting for Kerry's Sister Soulja Moment, aren't we?

Meanwhile, Bush can campaign at Bob Jones (and "apologize" for it later, *wink-wink*), openly court the likes of the looney and dangerous Rev Moon, appoint a recalcitrant member of the Council of Conservative Citizens as his Atty General, and on and on, with impunity.