To those of you who say "If X is the nominee, I won't vote"...

[huskerlaw]

or, "I'll write-in the candidate of my choice" or anything along those lines: I hope to God that you're doing everything in your power right NOW to make sure that X (be it Hillary or Obama or Edwards) does NOT win the nomination.

I've been pondering a post like this for a while, but now I have to say this.

If you will not or can not support any of our Dem nominees should they win the primary, you had BETTER be out there working for someone you CAN support.

If the thought of voting for Hillary (for example) makes you ill, get off your ass and campaign for Edwards. Or Obama. Or Kucinich.

What I cannot tolerate is people who are willing to throw away their votes (yes, I said it...THROW AWAY THEIR VOTE) by voting for a 3rd party candidate or a write-in, but are not willing to set aside some time now to ensure that won't become necessary.

If you're sitting behind your computer playing keyboard commando, but you're not doing everything in your power to make sure that your guy (or woman) wins the nomination, then YOU HAVE NOBODY TO BLAME BUT YOURSELF. Put your time/money/whatever you can where your keystrokes are. Or shut the fuck up.

[againes654]

1. Oh I will thanks for the suggestion

I guess that you think that we have taken this decision lightly.

I have donated money to my candidate.
I will make phone calls on his behalf.
I will go door to door to inform those around me of his platform.
I have told everyone that I know about him.
I will organize meetings.

When the time comes, I plan to drive anyone that isn't registered, to register, and then to vote. Make no mistake, I will not throw away my vote, BUT I WON'T GIVE IT AWAY EITHER!!!!!

[huskerlaw]

3. I'm not calling out anyone specifically

And if you've done all of those things, then this post wasn't directed at you at all.

I'm not asking anyone to give away their vote. Not at all. I'm just saying that if people aren't working to ensure that the candidate of their choice gets the nomination, they need look no further than the mirror when they wonder why they're left with the choice they get.

[againes654]

6. Ok

sorry if I was snarky, but I am so frustrated at people telling me that "I am no Democrat if I don't vote for whoever gets the nomination". That scare tactic isn't working with me or many others that I can see. :hi:

[huskerlaw]

8. Ok, I get that

That's not the message that I intended. If you're out there working for Kucinich in whatever way you can and he still loses the nomination, you have EVERY right to vote as you see fit.

I just take issue with people who complain from behind a keyboard and then wonder why the process didn't work for them.

:hi:

[Reciprocity]

13. Remember Florida is all I'm saying.

[againes654]

16. Yeah,

people not voting was the problem there.:sarcasm:

[DaveJ]

17. Technically, that's not a scare tactic.

Threatening us with a Repuke President is.

[MethuenProgressive]

2. I'll vote against theRepublican, if not 'for' my candidate.

But stay home or throw away my vote? Never, because I'm a Democrat.

[huskerlaw]

4. I will too.

Though everyone has the right to do with their vote as they see fit. I just hope that people are working to ensure that they get the choice they want come the general election so they don't have to "vote against the Republican."

[Sparkly]

14. Yes!! That is so important!!!

:thumbsup: It's why I have always voted Democratic, and as far as I know, I always will!

[bluestateguy]

5. People often forget something

The presidential primaries are a democratic process. They have been since 1972. If Hillary, or Edwards, or Obama, or Richardson, or Gravel are nominated, then it will be because Democratic primary voters chose them to be the party's representative in November. Rank and file Democrats all over the country, not big city mayors, Tammany Hall, union bosses and career politicians. Would you have it any other way? Would you rather go back to the days of brokered conventions, and smoke-filled hotel rooms?

[huskerlaw]

7. You're right

and for the democratic process to work, we need to be involved in it. Which is my point.

People who don't care enough to get involved in whatever way they can shouldn't really be surprised when they don't get the outcome they desire.

[Tesha]

9. Well, at least the old process delivered a DEMOCRATIC winner once in a while.

The best we've managed lately was "the best Republican
President in 28 years".

Tesha

[Bitwit1234]

10. Look what has happened to this country because

of the Nader vote in Florida in 2000. If they hadn't "voted" for Nader the vote wouldn't have been close enough for bush to steal.

[Exultant Democracy]

11. K&R

[Generator]

12. Sure but then if Edwards or whomever isn't the nominee

I still have to vote for Evil Madam X because if I don't-here comes the blackmail. I don't need to be blackmailed by those that are supposed to be on my side. If you have to blackmail me to vote for the nominee I think we have a problem. (You know-your daughter will never get an abortion if she needs one if you don't vote for Evil Madam X) I have yet to feel convinced to go against my own conscience and the primacy of my vote-which is mine-mine-mine! by any of the loyalty test arguments on DU, in fact they are making me MORE inclined to definitely never vote for Evil Madam X.

[huskerlaw]

18. I'm not advocating blackmail.

I'm just saying that if you don't work for a candidate now, you can look in the mirror when you wonder why the candidate of your choice isn't on the ballot.

[DaveJ]

20. History does not care about withheld votes

I really do not understand why people think withholding their votes holds any significance.

Withholding a vote makes no statement. People may have to vote for the lesser of the two evils. This is just a fact of life.

I feel the moral obligation to vote for the lesser of two evils if necessary (although I think all our candidates are great).

[Raine]

15. I plan on that

as soon as Al Gore gets into the race. :-)

[huskerlaw]

19. And if he doesn't?

We're about 100 days from the Iowa primary. His window of opportunity is quickly closing, even for the most hopeful.

[Raine]

21. I don't know...

I'll have to really study the candidates. I kind of like Dodd but I'm going to have to really look at them.