When Is It Appropriate To Support An Independent Candidate When There Is A Democrat In The Race

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I need to know what the "rules" are. It's easy for me. I'm a yellow dog Democrat. I'd vote for a yellow dog if it was a Democrat.

So, when is it appropriate for a Democrat to support an independent candidate when there is a Democrat in the race?




on edit- I put rules in quotation marks to avoid semantic debates. This is America. You can vote for whomever you want.

[BeFree]

1. well

When it is a lying sack of shit like Crist, never.

Someone like a Bernie Sanders? Why not? Why not, indeed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. That Might Be The Only Exception To The Rule

Maybe Kendrick Meek should demand of himself the same loyalty he demands from Democrats who are voting for Crist, ergo:


Meek also has told national party leaders that he won't play a role in the races. He and his mother, former Rep. Carrie Meek, are close to Martinez, the former Hialeah mayor. But Meek said the ties between his family and the Diaz-Balarts are deeper.

''I wish Raul the best,'' Meek said. ``As a Democrat, I hope he succeeds. This is the only race I wouldn't get involved in. It's just something I can't do.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/03/09/29853/democrats-torn-between-party-gop.html

I guess Kendrick Meek would vote for option one.

[BeFree]

8. heh

So, now you attack Meek?

Maybe hypocrisy is your double edged sword?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. I Vote For And Always Support The Democrat .

Meek didn't.

I don't get your point.

I have a liberal buddy who made an exception because his Republican pal was running for Orange County Sheriff. I wouldn't vote for my own mom, may she rest in peace, if she was a Republican. However, she would never be part of that putrid party.

I don't like folks demanding of me what they wouldn't demand of themselves.

[flamingdem]

13. I'd say that none of us want to attack him, the facts are he supported those right wing repukes

and to me that matters. I want to see change in Cuba not more of the same hypocrisy.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. Were Both Balarts In Congress At The Same Time?

I know the whole rotten lot of them including Ileana Ros Lehiten voted for impeachment. It's a shame they couldn't be replaced with moderate Cuban Democrats. A shame...

[krawhitham]

15. Meek is not loyal to the party, Meek is only loyal to Meek

[hlthe2b]

2. Well, I would have to say that is an individual decision, but Skinner

has made it clear that he is giving some latitude to posted support for Crist. I have no "dog" directly in that fight, given I do not now, nor do I ever intend, to live in Florida. Nonetheless, Rubio is an abhorrent candidate and I can understand why some might take a more pragmatic view of Crist, even though most would freely admit he is not one to trust. "Going with the devil you know," I guess sums that up. Meek has not run a strong campaign though it would be in my nature to support him.

[polichick]

3. What rules? In the U.S. we can still vote for whomever we like...

...at least until the Teabaggers take over completely.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Of Course You Can

I can put an "Elect The Mama Bear" on my car but that wouldn't make me a Democrat.

[polichick]

6. I've been a Dem all my life, but wouldn't hesitate to vote for...

...indies and others (Greens, Dem-Socialists, etc.) who support progressive policies, will caucus with Dems, and can win.

[truebrit71]

7. When the 'Democrat' is Blanche Lincoln, or Mary Landrieu

...or Ben Nelson,

[gkhouston]

11. Yes. This option should have been included. n/t

[harun]

19. Or Max Baucus.

[FBaggins]

9. When the independent would be a better senator/rep.

That's it.

[LiberalFighter]

12. When the candidate is a crook or less than qualified.

[sally cat]

14. Depends. If throwing the black Democrat US Senate candidate under the bus because victory trumps

principles, then it's OK. If you actually stand for something and will not compromise your principles in spite of a likely election loss, then it's never OK. This situation is going to bite the party and DU in the butt in the future, and credibility can be almost impossible to get back once thrown away so easily and openly.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. Why Did Meek Throw His Fellow Democrats

Why did Meek throw his fellow Democrats "under the bus" when they were running against his Republican cronies?

Meek also has told national party leaders that he won't play a role in the races. He and his mother, former Rep. Carrie Meek, are close to Martinez, the former Hialeah mayor. But Meek said the ties between his family and the Diaz-Balarts are deeper.

''I wish Raul the best,'' Meek said. ``As a Democrat, I hope he succeeds. This is the only race I wouldn't get involved in. It's just something I can't do.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/03/09/29853/democrats-torn-between-party-gop.html

What's good for the goose should be good for the gander.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. Apparently whenever

And I am glad about the change, because being asked to 'support' anti-equality dogma spouting atavists has gotten old, and I do not wish to vote for them any longer.
The actual question is about DU as the rules were tailored to fit the needs of the Crist Twisters, and a rule that is selective is no rule at all, just a whim. And then a weapon. The brand that is DU is now a different thing, more like other websites.

[Ter]

20. Other: When the independent is better on the issues than out candidate

Cough*Chaffee*Cough

[craigmatic]

21. I like Meek but he should drop out so we can stop rubio. There's enough repubs in congress already.