Crossover votes

[TwilightZone]

For months, we've been told that Clinton needs more than just Democrats to win in November. This is an accurate assertion, because Dems are only 36%-40%* of the electorate.

A few Republicans have started indicating that they're probably going to vote for Hillary Clinton over nutjob-psycho Donald Trump, and one would think that the world was ending. There's suddenly a bunch of "concern" that she might get crossover votes.

So, which is it? She needs crossover votes or she doesn't?

The big reveal: crossover votes are necessary if we're going to accomplish our goals. If crossover votes result in a Democratic landslide in November, a Democratic Senate, and big gains in the House, I find it difficult to understand what the problem is supposed to be.


*Source for numbers: http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/party-identification

[Glorfindel]

1. God bless crossover voters! A vote for a Democrat is a vote against a Republican

and what could be better than that?

[Hortensis]

23. +1000 unfortunately; but the right didn't have

to go batshit crazy and even support subversion of democracy itself. To me, any and all who are finally waking up to what they've been doing are extremely welcome to come start repairing the damage. And I really question the motives of those who object to that.

[George II]

2. That's a good thing.

[Thinkingabout]

3. Yes, every crossover vote is one which does not votev for Trump. I am

Hopeful many republicans are more interested in having a qualified president than having one with R behind his name. Trump doesn't want to be president, he can't control himself long enough to stay out of trouble.

[BootinUp]

4. Its such a shame we have so qualified a candidate that

she will get these crossover votes. Its such a shame that the pukes put up such a terrible candidate this year. Its such a shame that their candidate is going to be a drag on their down ticket races.

[TwilightZone]

8. Trump should just "surrender"

lol

But not before the election.

[BootinUp]

11. He's still singing to the puke party that he needs their love

[creon]

36. You cannot

You cannot do anything about it. If a dissatisfied GOP votes for a Democrat, you cannot prevent them from doing so.

[Hiraeth]

5. I love those cross-over votes.

[grossproffit]

6. Our Republican friends are all on board w/ Hillary. Most have grown to really like her

No, they don't agree with everything she stands for, but they agree w/ enough to both support and also phone bank for her. Some of our friends, that live in Arizona will be canvassing for her.

[fun n serious]

9. Yes.

My highschool girlfriends who have always voted republican get together and hold phone bank parties. They said it gives them a chance to also commune and sell Mary Kay. Good times.

[Hortensis]

24. Lol. ALL our Republican Southern Baptist friends

are holding bake sales and pray-ins for Hillary. Jesus for Hillary bumper stickers are everywhere here in Georgia.

[fun n serious]

25. Thats so beautiful to hear!

I'm excited! People are uniting for Hillary! It's great fun and a chance to commune.

[Hortensis]

29. Yes, particularly a very special Hillary will Save Us awakening.

I could be wrong, but I believe that is the rapture of finally seeing the light of progressive ideals in their faces.

[LiberalFighter]

44. What?? Are you kidding me?

[Hortensis]

45. Not at all, LiberalFighter. The ladies of the big Baptist

church in town are holding a table-decorations show to fund-raise for Hillary's campaign. $30/ticket. The theme is "Blue is the New Red."

[LiberalFighter]

46. Looking forward to this in a lot more states.

[fun n serious]

7. We're very fortunate to have such a qualified candidate

So qualified she attracts all demographics including republicans.

[Iliyah]

10. K & R

[TDale313]

12. Sadly, an honest response to this would break DU Rules.

[TwilightZone]

14. If we're going to pick and choose which votes we want in November, we will lose.

In the real world, it takes a diverse group of voters to win elections, whether we would like to believe so or not.

Freaking out because a few Republicans would rather have Hillary Clinton as president than a volatile, narcissistic jackass isn't high on my list of priorities.

[Surya Gayatri]

28. Realpolitik 101:

In the real world, it takes a diverse group of voters to win elections, whether we would like to believe so or not.

[SharonClark]

41. Agree 100

[stevenleser]

20. How bad would the GOP nominee have to be?

I'm curious how bad the GOP nominee would have to be before some folks would acknowledge the point?

If it was Stalin reincarnated that somehow got the GOP nomination, would that seal the deal for you? Any other historic despot or genocidal maniac?

How bad would the GOP nominee have to be for you to say, OK, I get why many Republicans are so disgusted by their nominee that they feel they have to support the Democratic nominee.

[Her Sister]

31. Yes this election is a Referendum on Decency!

Trump is an indecent candidate!

[frazzled]

15. As long as we realize that

this is a protest against Trump, not really support for Clinton. And yet ... and yet ... this is how the Republican Party picked off Dixiecrat bigots that their own party had rejected. And those states became Republican strongholds for decades. So maybe some longer term effects will accrue to this "protest" voting. This could be an exodus in the other direction: Republicans who refuse to accede to the bigotry and xenophobia of their party.

[TwilightZone]

16. Nope, we don't have to assume that at all.

Moderate Republicans and right-leaning Independents (and some establishment GOP, for that matter) could decide that Clinton is the better candidate than Trump simply based on the issues or based on suitability to be president and vote for her.

Assuming that every vote for Hillary from right of center is a protest vote is pretty silly.

[frazzled]

17. Thanks for calling me silly

Look, if the candidate had been a Romney or Jeb Bush or any more establishment Republican, even if it were Paul Ryan, then Richard Armitage and George Will and Brent Scocroft and the rest would be opposing Clinton wholeheartedly. This is about TRUMP. Yes, she is objectively the most qualified, experienced candidate we've had in decades. But they wouldn't be endorsing her if Trump weren't the candidate.

[Hortensis]

27. I'm sure some who've always assumed they were

solid conservatives (because the alternative was unthinkable in their town) may be having an epiphany, or at least the beginnings of one, this election. How many will stay is the question. I'm guessing not a large number, but who knows?

It's helpful to remember that most people's supposed ideological position on the spectrum is actually an averaging out of a wide variety of different positions. A neighbor of ours whose eyes heat up at the very mention of Democrats and "big government" is also a passionate believer in government programs to assist people with MS (yes, of course, he is one). And many women are more liberal socially than the men and other women around them. (But how many actually know and have been voting that?)

[TwilightZone]

39. Scowcroft was an advisor to Obama

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122747548224451435

"Mr. Scowcroft said his biggest piece of advice for the new administration was that it should make a renewed push to help broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. He also endorsed Mr. Obama's call for diplomatic engagement with Iran."

Colin Powell endorsed Obama in 2008 (and 2012), as did many other members of the GOP, some of them quite prominent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_and_conservative_support_for_Barack_Obama_in_2008#Republican_elected_officials_who_endorsed_Obama

When we assume that all Republicans are the same, we miss the big picture.

[frazzled]

40. But they're still Republicans

Those to the center right have been supportive of some Democratic positions and candidates, more often with respect to foreign policy. George W. Bush helped us with that. Trump is even better! But they're still Republicans ... so far. Their party is leaving them. It was bit by bit for a while. It may be more massive, thanks to Tea Partyism (or its vestiges) and Trumpism.

[fleabiscuit]

18. Down ticket! Down ticket! Down ticket! ~

[Hortensis]

30. Hope, hope, hope!

[TwilightZone]

43. Agreed.

Turnout is going to be key there, especially if the main ticket looks like a blowout.

[cosmicone]

19. If moderate republicans are voting for Hillary

all people who consider themselves progressive should. What is there to think about?

[DesertRat]

21. It's not a problem. It's great news!!

Trump is causing Republicans to publicly jump ship. I hope many more follow suit.

[Alfresco]

22. K&R

[Surya Gayatri]

26. Massive K & R for the dose of reality...

[sheshe2]

32. Huge Kick and Recommend!

[BlueMTexpat]

33. Crossover votes for

HRC are NO problem whatsoever for me. They show that there is still some sanity remaining in America. That gives me hope.

[DemonGoddess]

34. K&R!

In 2000 and 2004, my father in law voted D for President. This is a man who voted straight ticket until the 2000 election. I have no idea how he would have voted in 2008, as he'd passed away in 2005. Thing is, when he decided to this, he also decided to actually take a good look at the local Democratic candidates as well, instead of voting D at the top and straight R for the rest, and switched how he voted accordingly. After the 2000 Presidential election, he started voting SPLIT ticket in any other election.

[Blue_Adept]

35. Only rank and file Republican votes matter. "Influential" Republican's are bad.

I mean, I get it, and I get the reasoning why some are attacking the likes of Scowcroft, Boots and others.

But at the same time, if you were a Republican with an ounce of sanity and understanding of how the world works and are part of the higher echelon of the party - and not beholden by being in office - you really can't endorse or vote for Trump. So you either sit down and shut up and just let it happen or you actually state that ~anyone~ will be better than Trump.

And frankly, considering how long so many have said NOTHING, I welcome more voices across the spectrum in saying Trump is a disastrous choice. They're not pussyfooting around with it. That's WELCOME.

[fleabiscuit]

42. +1

[creon]

37. If a

If a segment of dissatisfied GOP voters ( those who normally vote GOP) votes for Clinton - so be it.

Voting for Clinton is one of their options.
The others are: abstain from voting
Vote for Johnson
Vote for Clinton
Do not vote for president ( but vote for the rest.)

[workinclasszero]

38. Every republican that crosses over to vote for Hillary is

one less vote for the TrumpenFührer!

[JoePhilly]

47. The GOP is fracturing. If we gain some votes as a result ... AWESOME!!!!!