Question on Voting...

[RedFireDiamonds]

As members of the democratic party - presumably active members who vote, and/or volunteer, and/or donate, and/or simply read and keep up to date on the party, who apparently agree with mostly everything the dems stand for, do we have more of an obligation to vote for the party (presidential, congressional, local) than we do to vote for the individual, regardless of party, we think best suited for the job (running the country, representing us in congress, etc)? Does voting outside the party, whether it be republican or independent or whatever, automatically render us either disloyal or not supportive of the party? And if so, why then do we criticize those who blindly support the President, or their religion, or the country as a whole, when, in essence, we would be blindly supporting our party and our President?

[MissWaverly]

1. I understand what you are saying but it's different now

It's obvious that the Republicans have built this huge machine which
has spread money, favors, lies, appointments through cronyism not
qualifications, around throughout the government infrastructure local, state, federal. If we are to have a democracy
back we must dismantle the machine. We must get rid of the bushbots
in both parties.

[jobycom]

2. Welcome to DU!! Now, about your assumptions

First, we have no obligation to vote for anyone. We vote for who we believe is best. The fact that most of the time that person is a Democrat is why we are Democrats--it doesn't work the other way around. I'd have no trouble voting for a Republican or Independent or Green or whatever if I believed they were the best candidate. It has happened, too, but not in a long time.

Second, voting outside the party doesn't render anyone anything.

Third, hang around and read DU and you'll see there is no blind support for any party around here. There is no Democrat who isn't blasted when someone thinks they are doing a bad job. And being loyal to a party does not justify blindly supporting someone who fails at everything they attempt, and lies every time they speak. In short, being a Republican does not justify supporting a murderous monster like Bush any more than being a Christian would justify supporting Eric Rudolph or Timothy McVeigh.

Blind party loyalty is like nationalism or "patriotism." If it is done with the belief that your party or nation can do no wrong, it is certain to lead to mindless support of atrocities.

Good questions, thanks for posting.

[mainegreen]

3. I think most people here would vote independant

if the candidate was right. Its just that most of the time you have two choices:
1) Evil son-of-a-gun
2) Other
or if your lucky:
1) Evil son-of-a-gun
2) Good guy
or in my case:
1) Evil son-of-a-gun
2) Other
3) Local greeny cuddly-man peacenik
Where I live there are almost no republicans, and as a result we have a healthy back and forth between the greens and democrats. Most people don't have that, so what are you going to do? Your right in seeing what could be hypocracy in march-stepping behind the party, but I think right now so much is at stake, it must be done. Should the dems ever regain control (soon please) you'll see us all go back to being less like dogs and more like a pack of house cats (unorganizable, un-herdable, and independant to a point of fault).

Interesting post. Thanks.

[bonito]

4. Good thought

But the Republican party has been hijacked by the pnac, it's not the republican party anymore, but the blind do not see.

[SeaNap05]

5. You are loyal to your own conscious

It's not the NAZI party no one is going to shoot you if you vote againist party lines. Just don't tell anyone.