Would you vote for someone who had a DUI in the past?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

Reason I'm asking is that I'm working on the campaign of a candidate who made this (admittedly) stupid mistake in the past. This person is intelligent, articulate, and progressive. They also no longer drink. The longtime incumbent opponent is a rabid fundie. It happened less than a decade ago and is likely to come up in the race. I know none of you would choose the fundie over my candidate because of that. Hopefully, anyway. But I want to know if a past DUI is something that would completely turn voters off, no matter how good the candidate or how contrite the person was about it.

[mark414]

1. absolutely

everyone makes mistakes

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Yes- but this person shouldn't run from it, instead acknowledge it as

a mistake that they learned from.

Lots of people get DUIs- the important thing is to understand the real harm caused by drinking and driving, accept responsibility and change the behavior.

"Yes this is a serious issue-- yes, I made a mistake, and most importantly, yes, I learned from it"

[Broken_Hero]

3. Good advice

If I was in a similiar situation, that would be my course of action.

[Skittles]

4. to believe someone should never be forgiven for a mistake is crazy

I would take into account how they handled the mistake and their conduct since.

[sandnsea]

5. Depends

I'd need to hear that it was either an incredibly stupid mistake and a definite one time thing, OR very sincere recovery program in place. The fact that he no longer drinks, by itself, might make me more leery. Then again, I'm not naive enough to believe we don't have drunks in office anyway, look at that idiot mayor in Las Vegas, well and the Pretzel and his gun-totin' VP. Still, some sort of cathartic moment would probably help him/her along.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

8. Candidate has developed diabetes

So they no longer drink mostly due to that. I don't think there was ever a drinking problem or anything, like I said, just a dumb mistake after a night of partying.

[sandnsea]

10. Well it happens

As long as nothing else came out, I'd probably give the person a pass.

[tuvor]

6. Have to say Yes, since I did.

BC's current premier was arrested in Hawaii about four years ago for DUI.

There was a lot of hue 'n' cry, but come the next election, I don't think it was a factor for many BC voters. He got elected for a second term.

[TomInTib]

7. Definitely. I am almost too drunk to type this, but I could be..

the Decider.

I just know it...

Chinaco Anejo, forever.

[Extend a Hand]

9. it seems like

many very talented people have 'messy' lives. I would vote for a person with a past DUI if they acknowledged that it was a dumb mistake and I thought they were the best person for the job.

[Richard Steele]

11. Was it a one-time event, or a lifelong habit?

Either way: get AHEAD of the criticism; go PROACTIVE on the issue.

We all know that Rove has made an ART of "attacking opponents
upon their STRENGTH", and we've seen it work again and again.

But there is a flipside to that coin, that can work equally
as well FOR you: Scream your weaknesses from the highest rooftops!

Mention that DUI every damn chance you get!
That's YOUR DUI, nobody elses! It works for YOU,
not them!

Just an example: If accused of being a "cut and run liberal"
in re: the Iraq occupation, you respond: "OH, was it 'cutting and running'
when I quit drinking alcohol after my DUI?
Should I have 'stayed the course' and kept drinking?
No, that wasn't 'cutting and running', it was waking
up and smelling the coffee!
It was pulling my head out of my butt and admitting
that I was being stupid.
I faced up to my stupid mistakes, and then I stopped
making them.
That's not called "cutting and running", it's called
"accepting personal responsibility"; it's called "learning
from your mistakes".

So on and so forth; you can fit this basic notion
to a wide variety of situations/memes/talking points.

[TwentyFive]

12. I'd vote for the town drunk over any right wing fundie.

I'd say much has to do with the candidate's overall character, whether they are likeable or not...and how good of a job they do in explaining it.

Another point: People set a lower standard for local offices. It not that anybody can win, but few people expect a Bill Clinton caliber person running for City Council.

Good luck on your candidate winning...

[politicat]

13. Talk about it openly and defuse the subject.

Yes, you will lose a few of the most rabid. Fuck 'em they were looking for an excuse to run anyway. You're more likely to gain a lot of voters who will admire that someone had the guts to change and to admit it.

Hiding it is the worst thing to do - it's not the mistake, it's the coverup that fucks things up.

[DRoseDARs]

14. Didn't vote; didn't seem to fit my opinion, but here are my thoughts...

It really depends on how they carried themselves afterward. If they gave up drinking altogether, that's one thing: They learned their lesson and swore off the stuff. If they continued to drink afterwards, but in moderation and followed a strict no drink-n-drive policy, that's forgivable too.

[Alacrat]

15. There is something strange about a person with no skeletons in

their closet. I'm not talking murder, or corp corruption, but a dui, admitting to smoking pot, etc.. A person so straight laced, who has never made any mistakes, is just to square for me. I believe every politicians has past issues, if they say don't, they just haven't been caught. It's like masturbation, some will admit to it, the ones that don't, are lying.

[Kickoutthejams23]

16. Now was it one of those .08 DUIs

Or did she get drunk and run over a crowd of orphans. I mean there is a difference. That said as another poster pointed out there is something creepy about someone who has never ever done anything bad in their life.