I recently registered to vote again. In the process, I had to declare myself 'democrat' or 'republican.' I hate that. It gives me the creeps. In fact, it gives me the same creepy feeling I get when someone asks me if I am a Calvinist.
I do not owe anything to Republicans or Democrats, per se. I am an issues voter, and I have basically one issue: abortion. If someone is pro-abortion, like Barak Obama, I simply will never, ever vote for them. I have many other things that I care about, but that is a great litmus test for me, and I hold it unashamedly. In fact, if I had to choose between a big government democrat who was staunchly pro-life and a little government, tax-cutting Republican who was pro-infanticide, I would happily vote for the democrat. Other disagreements seem minor by comparison.
It reminds me of one of my favorites scenes from Monty Python's classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." The bridge keeper asks what is the unladened flight speed of a swallow, to which King Arthur replies, "What do you mean, African or European?" So when someone asks me whether I am a Calvinist, or whether I am a Republican, I wonder what they could mean by that. And I generally get a creepy feeling about the whole thing...or did I mention that already?
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Covered in Writing
12 years ago
7 comments:
So which is it? Calvinist or Republican?
What about looking at the net effects? A person may be anti-abortion but quite happy to invade another country, leading to the deaths of one million people there.
And what about the fact that the person you vote for may have no power at all to change abortion policy. Despite all these people in government who have been voted in on an anti-abortion platform, abortion is just as legally free as it used to be. Moreover, it is far more accepted in society. (see gallop poll here which gives views back to 1975).
Would you get your hair cut by a pro-abortionist or an anti-abortionist? Is what they do going to change abortion statistics? Well maybe we should consider that when voting.
One salient oversight,
While you have some interesting points, I think one's position on abortion does speak volumes about their view of life in general. I think that we have to consider if one values life as a foundational issue, values choice over and against life, or waffles on the issue being non-committed to any value whatsoever. One may not be able to stop abortion and still work to limit it or lower its esteem in society as a whole. That is why I agree with Brad on this one.
Party registration is just for selecting the candidate who will run, and that seems to have become a joke with super delegates, etc. On all issues and people, you're free to vote for whomever. Abortion is a factor for me too--why I left the Democrats. The issue is the Supreme Court.
I thought there was gonna be milk and cookies at this blog???? :-)
I agree with Brad.
I would readily vote for someone who is unashamedly pro-life....even if a Democrat. Being "Republican" really means very little in my little opinion.......
adam
OSO: Does it not bother you at all that Sen. Obama is so pro-death/choice that he would deny protection to babies born alive after botched abortions? Is there not some point where you would say "enough is enough?"
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