Can you vote your conscience for "the wrong reason?"

[Atman]

I never thought I'd be writing this...and it's not even a Penthouse letter...

We get our chance to vote Tuesday, here in CT. Only 29 delegates, so no one is paying any attention to us. But it presents me with an opportunity to truly vote my conscience now, and not worry about ABB and "electability." Cleary, not much is going to change at this point, right? And if it really does, and my vote is on the right side of it, all the better. So...

I've been giving it a lot of thought. The debate last night, and some more research and soul searching, I've decided I'm voting for Dennis Kucinich on Tuesday. I don't think he appears "presidential," but I can't rail on about the American public's superficiality and media-decided votes if I just follow the heard to play it safe. I want to vote for the guy that makes the most sense, has the most honest track record, and holds positions I can support. I'd readily, unapologetically vote for any of the dems at the table last night, come November. But this coming Tuesday, dammit, I've voting for the person whose views I respect, not a person I can merely tolerate because I have no other choice.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Welcome to DU

[Atman]

13. Welcome, Face Up!

I didn't see the post count...welcome to DU! Glad to have you join the tea party.

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. There is little evidence to support the theory of a causal relationship

between which candidate gets the most votes and who takes office. If voting makes you feel good, voting your conscience will make you feel better.

[Atman]

3. Ouch

"There is little evidence to support the theory of a causal relationship between which candidate gets the most votes and who takes office."

Great line!

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Atman]

9. That's why I didn't include it as part of the quote!

But it doesn't invalidate the first sentence, which is still a great line. Besides, it's only a message board, and I don't know the poster. I'll simply take it as another comment to be processed, and weigh it as such.

[DuctapeFatwa]

12. Not at all. It is a basic principle of Democracy that dates back to

the ancient tradition of the Iroquois, so cleverly expropriated by Mr. Jefferson.

Maybe you can't change the way Diebold implements it, but you alone can change how you do.

[rucky]

6. Eggsactly

It's a win-win situation.

:yourock:

[mgc1961]

7. Hell yes!...

You will feel so much better about yourself having voted for what you truly believe rather than placing a bet on "electability" nonsense. It's empowering and it sends a very clear message to the party establishment that despite the fact Dennis' face is not splashed all over the t.v. and newspapers we know who the best candidate is. They can't hide him from us.

We want real change, not a continuation of business as usual!

Power to the people!

[WitchWay]

10. And Damn Right!

Dennis is a great choice! I think he is much more electable than the powers that be would like you to believe (after all, that is why they are trying so hard to make you believe that he is not).

He is against the war and NAFTA and he truly has come from humble begginings. Plus, he has principles, and that goes far.

It took me a little to warm up to Kucinich, but once I did, I was bought over. So, I think that he is electable, and will have great appeal albeit in a bit of a quirky way.

[NicoleM]

8. Don't sweat it.

No matter what happens, there is no way that the DNC would allow Kucinich to be the nominee. So you're not going to screw anything up by voting for him.

[Padraig18]

11. It's YOUR vote, and you should cast it for reasons that make sense to you.

:)

[scarletwoman]

14. YES! This IS the time to vote your conscience!

Every delegate that Dennis picks up for the national convention means that much more of voice we progressives might have at the table!

For four years we've been hearing people gripe about how the Democratic Party has ceased to represent them. Well this is our opportunity to BE THERE with our message by voting for a DEMOCRATIC candidate!

However much it appears that Kerry will get the nomination, we have an opportunity to do something more proactive than just bitch among ourselves. We can show the Party that progressives are a block that's NOT going to be ignored!

I hope more people will see this as you do. We have the best opportunity we've ever had to pull the Party back from the right, and to do it from the INSIDE, and WITHOUT endangering a Democratic victory in November.

You're not just doing it for your OWN conscience, you'll be doing it for the common good -- for all the people whose voices have been drowned out by the corporatocracy.

Thank you so much for choosing hope over fear!

sw

[blue agave]

15. Hear, Hear !

I have been troubled with the same decision lately. I was favoring DK from the start, but have been losing faith in him lately after he was dissed by the media and suffered poor primary election results. I suppose that I have been tempted by the "most electable" argument, and have chosen strategy over conscience in the past for dire situations.

But now that Kerry is polling at %60 in California, I no longer feel constrained by the "most electable" question. I am feeling good about voting for DK again. I just can not get past the IWR votes by Kerry and Edwards. This is really an important issue for me, being a veteran and having two teenage sons facing their own uncertain futures.

Dennis Kucinich has truly earned my vote, and I will give it without regret. It is heart-warming to know that we finally have a chance to vote for a politician with such integrity. But with it comes the bittersweet realization that the DLC will not allow us our voice yet.

In the end, it must be ABB.

[redqueen]

17. Posts like yours break my heart

When what we're facing is more wars for empire, what could possibly be more important?

I sincerely hope for your and your son's sake that whatever plans are being developed will be derailed this time around.

[redqueen]

16. God bless ya!

Glad you came to this decision. As you said, if it's a done deal, what's the harm in voting your conscience? At least you'll feel better about your vote, right?

Welcome to the Movement!

:hi: