Why I Will Not Cast My Electoral Vote for Donald Trump

[brooklynite]

Source: The New York Times

Dallas — I am a Republican presidential elector, one of the 538 people asked to choose officially the president of the United States. Since the election people have asked me to change my vote based on policy disagreements with Donald J. Trump. In some cases, they cite the popular vote difference. I do not think president-elects should be disqualified for policy disagreements. I do not think they should be disqualified because they won the Electoral College instead of the popular vote. However, now I am asked to cast a vote on Dec. 19 for someone who shows daily he is not qualified for the office.

...snip...

The United States was set up as a republic. Alexander Hamilton provided a blueprint for states’ votes. Federalist 68 argued that an Electoral College should determine if candidates are qualified, not engaged in demagogy, and independent from foreign influence. Mr. Trump shows us again and again that he does not meet these standards. Given his own public statements, it isn’t clear how the Electoral College can ignore these issues, and so it should reject him.

I have poured countless hours into serving the party of Lincoln and electing its candidates. I will pour many more into being more faithful to my party than some in its leadership. But I owe no debt to a party. I owe a debt to my children to leave them a nation they can trust.

...snip...

The election of the next president is not yet a done deal. Electors of conscience can still do the right thing for the good of the country. Presidential electors have the legal right and a constitutional duty to vote their conscience. I believe electors should unify behind a Republican alternative, an honorable and qualified man or woman such as Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. I pray my fellow electors will do their job and join with me in discovering who that person should be.

Fifteen years ago, I swore an oath to defend my country and Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. On Dec. 19, I will do it again.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/opinion/why-i-will-not-cast-my-electoral-vote-for-donald-trump.html?_r=0

---

Christopher Suprun lives in Texas and works as a paramedic.

[msongs]

1. a person of real integrity would choose the highly qualified alternative and top vote getter. nt

[Nancyswidower]

4. Can't do that though....

[Skittles]

14. a person of real integrity would not wax nostalgic about Dubya and Reagan

[paleotn]

16. At this point, we'll take what we can get....

...as awful as Raygun and Dubya were, they pale in comparison to chettorino.

[trueblue2007]

23. vote for hillary !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[duffyduff]

34. It is the only correct vote.

These Republicans are so blinded by partisanship they can't even do the right thing.

They are chickenshits.

Fuck them.

[bdamomma]

27. dubya started a war illegally with Iraq.

Anything can happen in two weeks December 19th is the date for the electoral college.

[mpcamb]

2. So, is that an 'abstain' vote?

or a vote for Kasich?
We need a little more NYT story.

[Nancyswidower]

6. It'll be no vote from him....won't change anything though

His comment..."Presidential electors have the legal right and a constitutional duty to vote their conscience."..isn't accurate....though he does go on to say he's a Kasich guy Kasich isn't going to be POTUS.

[mpcamb]

12. Well, at least he got a NY Times article out of it.

" George W. Bush is an imperfect man, but he led us through the tragic days following the attacks. His leadership showed that America was a great nation. That was also the ."

If that's the best he can do for the "last time I remember the nation united", I can't find a lot of sympathy for his vision of America.

[lagomorph777]

28. I don't care if he's a Republidiot 99% of the time, if he can help

avert the Trumpocalypse, I'll take help from any direction.

[.99center]

15. What's inaccurate about that statement?

"The United States was set up as a republic. Alexander Hamilton provided a blueprint for states’ votes. Federalist 68 argued that an Electoral College should determine if candidates are qualified, not engaged in demagogy, and independent from foreign influence. Mr. Trump shows us again and again that he does not meet these standards. Given his own public statements, it isn’t clear how the Electoral College can ignore these issues, and so it should reject him."

Trump clearly doesn't meet those three standards and Christopher's conscience wont allow him to ignore his duties to elect an unqualified demagogue who has foreign ties.

[RAFisher]

21. Electors can vote for whoever they want.

Nothing in the constitution says the vote must reflect the state's election.

[bdamomma]

26. hmmm....

that's interesting I thought the electors had to vote how their state voted if they disagree they would pay $1000 fee.

[lagomorph777]

29. How many Republican electors would give a crap about a $1000 fine?

They're all millionaires.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

35. I think that depends on the state. If I was an elector I would totally pay $1000

to vote against Trump. That would be money well spent.

[Mike Nelson]

3. Good for him...

..."I swore an oath to defend my country and Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

[babylonsister]

5. I don't understand the Kasich reference.

Can electors vote for whomever they want?

[Nancyswidower]

7. No...they are bound by the laws in the state they reside.

[bigmonkey]

19. A fine is the only penalty

The constitution gives them the right to vote their conscience.

The fine is trivial as well.

[RAFisher]

22. Laws that have never been enforced and could easily be ruled unconstitutional.

[Nancyswidower]

30. Ruled unConstitutional by whom?

Won't be by SCOTUS....

[texasmomof3]

17. 29 states have electors bound by law...

meaning they have to vote the way the state went. 21 states electors have the ability to change their vote. Texas is one of these.

[red dog 1]

8. K&R

So what happens if 37 more electors pledged to ASSHOLE refuse to vote for him?

[Raster]

9. If neither Clinton nor Trump receive the 270 Electoral votes...

...it goes to the House of Reps to choose the POTUS. It goes to the Senate to choose the VPOTUS.

[ooky]

11. 37 more patriots.

[roamer65]

20. Dump is down to 305 EV's now.

36 more Republican elector defections puts it into the House.

[ooky]

24. Could be a lot more defectors than we know ready to dump the supreme liar

If I was an elector I wouldn't be advertising it - since I also want to go on living. I'd just do the job Hamilton would want me to do.

Wonder how many have had this thought cross their mind? Could we be in for a big surprise?

[Nancyswidower]

31. Let's pretend that happens, it won't, but pretend...what do you think the House does?

Serious question...what do you think the House does?

[roamer65]

32. It depends on who is the alternate candidate.

If it's Mitt Romney, I think his old running mate buddy Paul Ryan ditches Dump and whips the Reps into line to back him.

[lonestarnot]

10. And I hope he says every word here before he is asked to cast his vote. Real American!

[Cha]

13. Stay safe Christopher Suprun and Thank you!

[roamer65]

18. I will give money to any fundraiser that helps pay elector's fines!

I'll pony up good for this one.

I'll help give back to this country that has given me so much in my life.

[bdamomma]

25. that is it right there

this should be plastered everywhere the Congress should take heed of this instead of their lust of greed.

Fifteen years ago, I swore an oath to defend my country and Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. On Dec. 19, I will do it again.

[duffyduff]

33. If they don't pick the popular vote winner,

I frankly don't give a shit about the Electoral College.

These Republicans are partisan chickenshits.

[AgadorSparticus]

36. I hope the electors think about their conscience. When shit rolls b/c they voted for this maniac

It will be on them. FOREVER. They will have to live with it. When lives are ruined, it will be on them. I hope they think about that and vote for the preservation of humanity.