Could you vote for someone because they are best for the job, even if you disagree with them on many issues?

Question

Perhaps this question is more hypothetical than real word.

I'm curious to know if you think you could vote for a candidate who was the best qualified and best suited for the office, even if the person had a different position on most issues. Or would you be more inclined to stick with someone who had a similar position even if they were less qualified.

Answer 1

Yes I could. I don't agree with any candidate on all, or even most, of the issues. But I always vote for the person I think is best for the job.

Vote for Rudy!

Answer 2

If I were intuitive enough to be strongly confident in a candidate even though we disagreed on some issues - Yes, I would vote for them.

Unfortunately I'm not well versed in politics, but if it were apparent that my fave would be less qualified, I would go with the more qualified candidate.

I think I'm going to look into the Libertarian (sp?) party...

Love,
Your poorest little republican.

*Note: It was looking like Rudy would get my vote, but he doesn't appear to be feeling well :-(

Answer 3

"Qualifications" for the President are really very short: be born here, live here at least 14 years, and be at least 35 years old. That's it as far as the Constitution states.

After that, then it mostly goes to the person who sides with me on the issues I'm concerned MOST about. In 2008, my big concerns are: unchecked illegal immigration, whittling away of individual liberties through the Patriot Act, leaving Iraq (not the War on Terror necessarily but I don't feel we're doing anything useful in Iraq), and curbing inflation and government spending.

So I guess that's a long way for me to say, no...you can't be "best" for the job in my eyes if I disagree with most of your political positions.

Answer 4

It depends on the issues, are they major or minor?
Also, I am confused on how someone that is best qualified for a job has so much to disagree with on issues. Unless you are saying that they have too many different points of views.

Answer 5

This should be considered a job interview. You choose the best person for the position, not the person who "yes, sir's" you all the time. He or she works (well, supposed to work) for us, not his or her own agenda.

So yes, I would choose the best candidate for the position. Their personal beliefs may influence their job performance, but if they are the best candidate, it shouldn't make too much difference.

Answer 6

Hmmmm, that's a good question, but I agree that it's more hypothetical than real-world. Usually we don't have the luxury of making such finely tuned choices. I just vote for whoever isn't an evil moron and hope for the best.

Answer 7

No, for some of us, it's not hypothetical.

I am a life-long Republican, I mean I have voted for 2 people who were not Republicans on the ballot, Perot in 92, and the county sheriff. Then again, I don't concider the county sheriff to be a political job.

If it comes to Romney, Guiliani, or McCain on the Republican side, and if Obama is on the ticket for the Dems for president, Obama has my vote. I believe that he wants to be a leader, and wanting the leadership role, not the position, everyone wants that, but the ROLE of the leader, means a lot to me. I disagree with most of his views, and believe that he will lead this country straight to hell, but I also believe that when we get to the gates of hell, he will be the one to knock on them.

Answer 8

It would depend on what I disagreed with them on. If we agree on the major issues but disagree on the minor ones then I don't see a problem. However if we disagree on the major issues facing the country then I don't see how I can vote for them.

Answer 9

I vote on subject concerns. international warming isn't a petty concern, btw. nor is Evolution (there does no longer be flu photos without it. So, actual, it does influence the financial gadget (please lookup the guidelines the EPA has put in place through fact of world Warming) and confident, it has plenty to do with my high quality of existence. heavily? you do no longer think of pollutants does something to the prevalent of existence??????? Do you in lots of situations generalize atheists and then think of you look sensible once you do it? reason actual, you look particularly stupid ideal now. pondering a super sort of atheists i understand ARE Republican. i'm no longer the two social gathering. i think of events are stupid and do extra to divide us than conquer us - your question this is a superb occasion of that too.

Answer 10

It really depends on the issue. Because, the way some candidates feel about some issues speak volumes about how they value our rights, and how they will procede in decision making.