Principle vs. Power
Another thread features an article about how some Democrats up for re-election in stark red states (and one purple state) voted to confirm the dangerously unqualified Mike Pompeo. I can't help but question the notion that voting against Pompeo's confirmation would really make a difference in terms of their chances at being re-elected. I guess I find it hard to believe an ad campaign about how "Senator X voted against Pompeo's confirmation" is going to deter votes or inspire the opposition (for one thing, I don't think most people pay enough attention to know who Pompeo is). I suppose the ad would phrase it differently ("Senator X is an obstructionist who continually votes against confirming highly qualified persons for partisan reasons," or some such garbage). Can't Senator X respond with an ad campaign about how she or he will always vote on principle? Will that not mitigate the potential loss of votes? Obviously, the Dems who voted to confirm Pompeo don't think so...either that or those Democratic Senators don't actually have any problem with Pompeo becoming Sec. of State, which I doubt.
Putting aside that specific example, though, what does everyone think about this issue more generally? Yes, we want Democratic control of Congress. Yes, we want a Democrat in the White House. Yes, even a Blue Dog is better than any Republican. But is a person of conscience not duty-bound to vote on principle?
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