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I am not sure if this properly belongs in "Debates," so I won't be offended if the Forum monitor moves it. I just guessed...since it relates to politics.
As a lot of you may know, I am a political conservative. I generally vote Republican, even if simply because there is no other, more (or actual) conservative option. Of course, barring anything unforeseen now, I'll vote for McCain in the national election in November.
So I guess folks might wonder if I am "rooting" for one candidate or another to win the Dem primary race (some conservatives are hoping that one particular person will win, on the belief that such person will be easier for McCain to defeat). I don't really subscribe to that school of thought. I am not sitting around praying that Clinton will win, or that Obama will win, because I think s/he'd be a more likely target to defeat. I think both have strengths and weaknesses and that both will be tough competition, each in his/her own way.
Lately, I have noticed a number of polls which indicate that some (certainly not a majority, or anything, but a statistically noticeable number) current Obama supporters plan to vote for McCain if Clinton gets the Dem nomination. I have struggled to "get" that--Obama and McCain are so far removed from one another on the political spectrum, I couldn't see how someone who subscribed to Obama's politics could flip and support McCain. I just assumed that people who would do this don't understand what EITHER candidate stands for. But, I have reconsidered that assessment in the past couple of weeks. First, it is intellectually dismissive. Second, it blinds me to the considerations of voters who vote based on something other than policy-wonkish loyalties--not everyone votes through a policy consistent pair of spectacles (and there's certainly no requirement that one must!) because there are other factors that just mean more to them when choosing a candidate.
So, does anyone have any thoughts on this--why some Dems have indicated that there second choice to Obama would be McCain, not Clinton? I would really like to understand this, because I think that it would help me to understand the broader appeal of McCain in the first place. I think I may approach voting too cerebrally, and miss the emotional, personal connection people can feel in choosing a candidate. For example, on a personal level, I am voting for McCain because he is the more conservative option--not necessarily because I find something else (something "not defined") about him to be appealing. But I get the feeling that, if you flip from Obama to McCain, you must see a shared, common trait between them that makes you think that, whatever his politics, he would be a better choice than Clinton. What is it? That both are sort of "outsiders" in a sense? That both, each in his own way, breathes a bit of fresh air, through his respective style?
As a lot of you may know, I am a political conservative. I generally vote Republican, even if simply because there is no other, more (or actual) conservative option. Of course, barring anything unforeseen now, I'll vote for McCain in the national election in November.
So I guess folks might wonder if I am "rooting" for one candidate or another to win the Dem primary race (some conservatives are hoping that one particular person will win, on the belief that such person will be easier for McCain to defeat). I don't really subscribe to that school of thought. I am not sitting around praying that Clinton will win, or that Obama will win, because I think s/he'd be a more likely target to defeat. I think both have strengths and weaknesses and that both will be tough competition, each in his/her own way.
Lately, I have noticed a number of polls which indicate that some (certainly not a majority, or anything, but a statistically noticeable number) current Obama supporters plan to vote for McCain if Clinton gets the Dem nomination. I have struggled to "get" that--Obama and McCain are so far removed from one another on the political spectrum, I couldn't see how someone who subscribed to Obama's politics could flip and support McCain. I just assumed that people who would do this don't understand what EITHER candidate stands for. But, I have reconsidered that assessment in the past couple of weeks. First, it is intellectually dismissive. Second, it blinds me to the considerations of voters who vote based on something other than policy-wonkish loyalties--not everyone votes through a policy consistent pair of spectacles (and there's certainly no requirement that one must!) because there are other factors that just mean more to them when choosing a candidate.
So, does anyone have any thoughts on this--why some Dems have indicated that there second choice to Obama would be McCain, not Clinton? I would really like to understand this, because I think that it would help me to understand the broader appeal of McCain in the first place. I think I may approach voting too cerebrally, and miss the emotional, personal connection people can feel in choosing a candidate. For example, on a personal level, I am voting for McCain because he is the more conservative option--not necessarily because I find something else (something "not defined") about him to be appealing. But I get the feeling that, if you flip from Obama to McCain, you must see a shared, common trait between them that makes you think that, whatever his politics, he would be a better choice than Clinton. What is it? That both are sort of "outsiders" in a sense? That both, each in his own way, breathes a bit of fresh air, through his respective style?
).
. If Hillary wins I would bet my life savings he will vote for McCain.
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