When you vote, do you know the issues, or vote only for your party?

Question

I see all these ignorant arguments between "democrats" and "republicans" and got to thinking- do any of you ever vote for a party you are not affiliated with because you like his stance better. I'm a democrat, but I voted for a republican for senate because he can get the job done best, but it seems like very few people do this.

Answer 1

Hopefully voting the candidate will come back into practice again.

It used to be the norm and was effective. There was always fringe members of the party (liberal republicans or blue dog democrats) who could swing enough votes either way to see the best was done.

With the past 1992 change in power, the GOP went to where it didn't matter how popular a bill was, it needed a "majority of the majority" which later grew into "A clear majority of the majority" to ever reach the floor for a vote - ie - a bill could have the support of over 70 senators and not reach a vote. Even then an issue was sometimes buried if it was againt the parties platform. This was accomplised 2 ways - 1. intimidation from the party leadership 2. control of campaign finances from the party leadership. Because of this, unless the party was in power, it didn't matter what their stances were - if the issue wasn't in line with the main GOP platform, the issue would never come up, so it was important to have your rep part of the controlling party.

Hopefully this will come to an end. The blue dog democrats have a lot of members now and are traditionally not afraid to take on the party leadership, while most of the leadership of the GOP have left or been swept aside.

Answer 2

I always make it a point to go online before an election to find out what and who will be on the ballot. I think it is ignorant for people to go to the polls and then get on their cell phones or just start checking random boxes for people and state bills.

I do believe in voting for the people who will get the job done best, but this time I did vote straight party, and am glad I did.

Answer 3

OK, so if it were an election with Zell Miller running as a Dem and Lincoln Chaffee running as a Republican I might (after sufficient Stoly) cross for Zell (and pray he switches parties before the organization vote). That organization vote may be the most important vote a Senator or Congressman makes since it determines committee chairmanships and ultimately memberships which determine the agenda. He who controls the agenda has his way . . . so if a vote for Zell puts a Charlie Rangle or John Conyers in charge of a committee . . . I just couldn't do it because of the big picture consequences. I vote on ideology and the Dems are totally adverse to all I believe in.

Answer 4

What you speak of is an ideal... something we should aspire to do, but don't. The fact of the matter is that most people vote for their own party. For this particular election, Democrats were driven by the fact that we NEEDED to make an effective statement to Bushitler. In general, though, it is true that dems vote dems, and repubs vote repubs, but that's also because we share the same values. I think that you have a valid point, but you have to realize that the politician who is elected to represent their party is most likely there BECAUSE they believe in what their respective parties believe in (or at least seem like they believe... *cough**cough*) I personally will not see eye to eye with a repub. I do not believe in trigger-happy, Bible-thumping crackpots who want to send our troops to die for oil and kick out the 12 million undocumented immigrants inhabiting the US, not understanding that the United States was founded upon immigrants and competition (not to mention our economy would die without them). What does that leave me with? The Independents and Democrats. Duh.

As far as knowing the issues, I definitely research, but would I vote repub? Doubtful. And that's just the way I am because I believe that repubs won't get the job done. That's that.

Answer 5

If you voted for a Republican to "get the job done", then you clearly don't know what you are talking about. They don't call them the "Do-Nothing Congress" for nothing. The Republicans showed they were far more concerned about getting and retaining power than about actually passing legislation that might help Americans. Instead, they turned the floor of Congress into a sideshow each couple of years to trot out their little "flag-burning amendment" stunt, and their "gay-marriage ban" stunt, and the like. Legislation they discussed for show, but had no intention of passing.

I know the issues which is why I voted Democrat.

Answer 6

Generally, I look at the issues. However, I always vote for Republicans because they support the things I believe are most important. If that ever changes, my vote will also.

Answer 7

I vote conservative, not strictly my party if the other guy/woman can do the job better. My parents were both but always thought we should all go one way and I did for years until I realized I was voting the way they wanted me to. So I've voted for presidents from both parties in the past.

Answer 8

Then you aren't very smart and you voted for the party that has screwed this nation up!

I usually vote democrat, not because I agree with everything they say, but they are people oriented, not rich and business only!

I have voted Repuublican in a primary, and have voted for some local races!

I have never voted for a Republican for President or Senator!

Answer 9

My family and I read and read. We spent time to read about issue and listen to radio as well as watch television every day. We all take election very serious and it is our privilege to vote and we will not throw our vote out. We vote for the best of our country and our people. We believe one vote counts. Any vote in my personal opinion can make a difference in the outcome of election.

Answer 10

Being a conservative in CA. that's a tough thing to do, our state is bluer than blue. But if Zell Miller were to move here and run for anything I would vote for him. I am a political junkie, so yes I know the issues when I go to the voting booth.