Vote against your candidate who doesn something you don't like or not vote?

Question

I usually vote Republican because I tend to agree with Republican issues and differ from the Democratic stance on certain issues. What do you do if your party candidate does something you really don't like or don't agree with but you don't like the other person either? Do you vote against your cadidate just to teach them a lesson, vote for them anyway or not vote? I have written letters and made phone calls none answered.

Answer 1

Quite a predicament isn't? Unfortunately, when no clear choice is given I often have to choose the lesser of two evils, weigh the pros and cons of each candidate and whomever is heavier on pros vote for that candidate even if that candidate is not in my party affiliation or even stands a chance of winning (third or fourth party). At least then my conscience is clear, I've voted and done my civic duty.

Answer 2

Ultimately, the answer lies in politicians representing the majority opinion of their constituents rather than the party line.
How do you let them know the majority opinion?
One cumbersome method would be for everybody to contact their representative, informing them of their views, on every issue and for the politician then to count those views and act accordingly. An unlikely scenario.
An alternative exists.
myverdict.net has been set up to address this problem. Billed as an exercise in direct democracy, you can post questions and arguments, vote and even change your vote should the arguments persuade.
You can raise issues at local to international level. The site covers over 25,000 administrative divisions in all 244 inhabited countries. Results are live and ongoing. MPs in the UK are already joining and expressing their opinions on some of the issues within their remit.
When representatives know the majority opinion of their constituents, on every issue, they will be better able to properly represent them and less likely to argue against those opinions knowing their seat is on the line.
myverdict.net is free, anonymous, carries no advertising and does not try to sell you anything. Worth a look.

Answer 3

Interesting question. I've often wondered why, in a field of supposedly diverse candidates, a vote sometimes comes down to "the lesser of two evils."

Although I was a registered Republican, I voted for Clinton in the '90s, because I felt he was the best qualified. In 2000, I was exasperated with the Republican party's silliness, so I registered Democrat and wrote in John McCain's name -- even though he abandoned Americans because of KKKarl Rove's "push polls." This time, still as a Democrat, I like Fred Thompson, so far.

Vote for the person you feel is best qualified. Don't forfeit your right to vote. Doing so only mutes your voice in our democracy.

Answer 4

I always vote for the person I think will be the best choice--even if it means crossing party lines. If I don't like either candidate, I make a decision anyway as to who wouldn't be as bad as the other :)

Answer 5

I vote for what is best for the country, even if it doesnt fit with what I want.

I am politically conservative, but I dont think we would survive 4 years of actual conservative policies after Bush's fake conservative policies.

As for punishment, I dont vote for them again, but political parties dont matter much to me anyway, so I dont feel like Im betraying anything. I also write letters and make phone calls-Im opened to them redeeming themselves, but none have thus far.

Answer 6

I pick the candidate whose political views and decisions are the closest to those I'd pick if I were in office, realizing that NO ONE will ever align with my views 100 %.

Answer 7

I am voting for an American and not an Israel dog

= Denise Kucinich