Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

Why do people vote strictly Republican or Democrat? Shouldn't you vote based on the candidate's abilities, not the party they are running on?

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

That's how I vote.

If McCain is running, I'll vote for him over anyone.

If he is not, Obama is my second choice.

I think at this point it's going to become (at least in the Dem primaries) Woman v. Black v. Hispanic. That's worse IMO - at least with Dem v. Rep, you're somewhat allying yourself with a set of thoughts, ideas and values.

It irks me to no end to think that people will vote for, or against, Hillary Clinton because she's a woman. If anyone's looking for reasons to vote against her, I've got plenty that don't involve her gender

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

Some people are strict to their party because they feel like they share the same values & priorities. I think at one point that may have been true, but there are many politicians that will not necessarily follow the opinion of their party lately.

I just vote for a person, not their party.
I do think it is important for the democrats to have a strong candidate however, since the republicans won the last 2 presidential elections by way of the electoral vote & not necessarily the popular vote.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

My opinion?

Most people don't want to do any research or spend any time on politics and therefore they just vote the party lines all the way down.

I hate that.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

Personally I'm tired of the whole Demopublican party.

I vote for the person who represents my beliefs. However I find them under a 3rd party affiliation and vote that way. I'd like to see more than the one party, ehr, two parties going at it.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

it's comes down to a lesser of 2 evils

even if there is a great 3rd party candidate they are never going to get elected- so I normally just vote a straight party ticket- with an exception or 2

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

i usually vote for someone who shares my beliefs and values the same things that I do...usually is Dem

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

In the history of the US, there has never been a third party politician who has won the presidency.

Third party candidates tend to split the vote, for instance - H Ross Perot did this during the first election for Clinton against Bush, and the Republican vote was split in half to give Clinton the majority vote. Happened during one of the GW elections as well with the democratic vote. It happened at the turn of the century when Teddy Roosevelt ran on a third party ticket (reformers) and split the ticket in favor of the lesser candidate.

This is the reasoning why so many people vote along party lines, b/c they know one of the two will be in office.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

I'm not talking about 3rd party lines. I'm talking about people, who say I'm voting Democrat because they can't stand Bush or people who will vote Republican simply because they are registered this way. This really irks me.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

I am Republican..but don't always vote that way. But 90% of the time or more, I do. I do, do my research, and know my candidates platforms...and vote for those closest to my beliefs and wishes for the world I live in. But those usually are Candidates who are closer to the right side.

There are, unfortunately, people that just vote straight party lines. I think its because they just know no better.

Its unfortunate..but it just is the way it is.

Message edited 1/22/2007 5:25:53 PM.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

Message edited 1/22/2007 6:32:55 PM.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

Right now the parties are so polarized, it's obvious why people choose to vote along party lines. You are going to vote for the person who is most closely aligned with your beliefs. Right now in this country, the parties ahve both moved away from the center as have a lot of people based on the debates we've been having as a society over the past decade. My beliefs are so far left of center that voting for a republican candidate is just not a possibility it at this point at least on the national level (I did vote for Bloomberg twice for Mayor). So much of what gets passed on Congress goes along party lines that party becomes very important when electing legislators. If that weren't the case, the term "democratic majority" wouldn't mean anything and we wouldn't have breathlessly watched the blue column reach 51 last november.
It's nice to say "oh I vote the candidate, not the party", but even if you are a moderate and could go either way, our political system doesn't work that way. No politician works alone and what party is in power makes a huge difference, perhaps and even bigger difference than which individual is in power.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

doesnt always have to be in my case

but Im a leftist Democrat and there have not been any Republican candidate's platform that i favor.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

I vote for the person who I believe will do the best job. I don't care what party they are affiliated with.

Re: Why does it have to be Rep or Dem?

Posted by babyhopeful

That's how I vote.

If McCain is running, I'll vote for him over anyone.

If he is not, Obama is my second choice.

I think at this point it's going to become (at least in the Dem primaries) Woman v. Black v. Hispanic. That's worse IMO - at least with Dem v. Rep, you're somewhat allying yourself with a set of thoughts, ideas and values.

It irks me to no end to think that people will vote for, or against, Hillary Clinton because she's a woman. If anyone's looking for reasons to vote against her, I've got plenty that don't involve her gender