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Would you consider switching parties if...?

What would it take to switch parties in a Federal election?

  • Depends on candidate's view of Religious Right

    Votes: 1 2.8%
  • Depends on candidate's view of Social Programs

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Depends on candidate's view of Tax Structure

    Votes: 1 2.8%
  • Depends on candidate's view of Military

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Depends on candidate's view of Environment

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Depends on candidate's view of World Affairs

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • It would take more than 1 big issue to sway me from my normal vote

    Votes: 17 47.2%
  • I only vote for my party

    Votes: 1 2.8%
  • I don't vote

    Votes: 2 5.6%
  • You left a necessary choice out for me - I'll explain.

    Votes: 14 38.9%

  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .

GreenvilleGrows

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Would you consider voting for someone in a different party than you normally support during a Federal election? If so, what would it take?
 
I vote on the basis of my confidence in the person's word and their stance on big issues. There's no "different party" voting...it's just voting.
 
Would you consider voting for someone in a different party than you normally support during a Federal election? If so, what would it take?

I do not vote based on party.
 
I do not vote based on party.
Ok then, as a conservative, when was the last time you voted for a Democrat in a Federal election? Or, perhaps, do you vote Republican & 3rd party? If, for example, you haven't voted for a Democrat, what would it take for you to vote for a Democrat?
 
I don't vote party line. I vote for the best available candidate, or more likely in recent years, against the worst available candidate. There hasn't been a Presidential candidate running in decades that I've actually been able to support.
 
Ok then, as a conservative, when was the last time you voted for a Democrat in a Federal election? Or, perhaps, do you vote Republican & 3rd party? If, for example, you haven't voted for a Democrat, what would it take for you to vote for a Democrat?

I'll tell you. I voted for Obama, specifically to keep Palin away from anything remotely resembling the Presidency. I will always vote against religious wingnuts who can't comprehend separation of church and state.
 
I do not identify with any party, so I am registered as an independent (no party, decline to state) voter. I feel so strongly about being independent that I don't want any party to mis-interpret me as a even number on a voting list as somehow approving of their policies.
 
I'll tell you. I voted for Obama, specifically to keep Palin away from anything remotely resembling the Presidency. I will always vote against religious wingnuts who can't comprehend separation of church and state.
Interesting answer to me. Because I think religion is one area of potential swing voting. You might identify somewhat with core Republican beliefs, but because of a candidate's view of "religious right" issues, you've proven you would vote for a Democrat. Even though, in my mind, their views on some pretty large issues were distinctly different.

I'm not saying I accurately described your situation, but that's the train of thought that made me ask the question.
 
Ok then, as a conservative, when was the last time you voted for a Democrat in a Federal election? Or, perhaps, do you vote Republican & 3rd party? If, for example, you haven't voted for a Democrat, what would it take for you to vote for a Democrat?

I'll answer for myself (as a non-party Conservative).....

I have never voted for a Democrat in a Federal election. HOWEVER, of the FIVE Presidential elections I've been able to vote in, I've only voted for the Republican candidate TWICE.
 
I'll answer for myself (as a non-party Conservative).....

I have never voted for a Democrat in a Federal election. HOWEVER, of the FIVE Presidential elections I've been able to vote in, I've only voted for the Republican candidate TWICE.

Assuming we can all believe that Republican candidates and 3rd party candidates have equal chances of being nutty, was there an issue that would have brought you to the Republican table instead of 3rd party in the other 3 elections?

For example, I really wanted to vote for the first black President. I didn't do it (McCain), but I would've considered Obama had in been in favor of small Federal Government. Or, I'd consider a 3rd party candidate if I felt like there was one that had a chance of winning - but why vote for someone who can't win (except in the primaries)?
 
Assuming we can all believe that Republican candidates and 3rd party candidates have equal chances of being nutty, was there an issue that would have brought you to the Republican table instead of 3rd party in the other 3 elections?

For example, I really wanted to vote for the first black President. I didn't do it (McCain), but I would've considered Obama had in been in favor of small Federal Government. Or, I'd consider a 3rd party candidate if I felt like there was one that had a chance of winning - but why vote for someone who can't win (except in the primaries)?

Let's look at the particulars of my voting record....

1992: Ross Perot 1996: DID NOT VOTE 2000: George Bush 2004: George Bush 2008: Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party)

It would be very difficult for me to vote for ANY Democrat because there are SO MANY things that I differ with the party on. In the three cases where I voted against the Republican, I did so because I believed they were no better than the Democrat. In 2008 I MIGHT have held my nose and voted for McCain IF he hadn't chosen a female candidate for his VP. At that point it became totally impossible for me to vote for him.
 
I always vote for the candidate I feel is best for the country regardless of party affliation. Alas, I've had to vote the lesser of the evils in far too many elections.
 
I always vote for the candidate I feel is best for the country regardless of party affliation. Alas, I've had to vote the lesser of the evils in far too many elections.

That is far too often the case. Sadly.
 
I always vote for the candidate I feel is best for the country regardless of party affliation. Alas, I've had to vote the lesser of the evils in far too many elections.
I understand what you're saying- and I totally agree. But, most of the candidates align very closely to the typical party platform. What will draw you to one or push you away from another as far as policies go? Or, is it mostly the "I think I can trust him" factor?
 
I have never... ever... voted for a Democrat for President, and I don't expect to change that habit in 2012. My votes have been about 50/50 Republican/Libertarian. Don't know what I'm going to do this year, though. I've soured on the Libertarian philosophy and the only Republican candidate I want, Huntsman, probably won't be nominated.

I have voted for Democrats a couple times as state governor.
 
Interesting answer to me. Because I think religion is one area of potential swing voting. You might identify somewhat with core Republican beliefs, but because of a candidate's view of "religious right" issues, you've proven you would vote for a Democrat. Even though, in my mind, their views on some pretty large issues were distinctly different.

I'm not saying I accurately described your situation, but that's the train of thought that made me ask the question.

I will absolutely vote against anyone who wears their religion on their sleeve and announces they will allow their religious views to guide their job performance. I don't want those people in office, period.
 
Neither a liberal nor a conservative be.
As I do not wish to do shameful things, I belong to no party...
A "pooper " be I.
When young, I voted for Barry Goldwater; this time around, it will be Barack Obama.
 
I will absolutely vote against anyone who wears their religion on their sleeve and announces they will allow their religious views to guide their job performance. I don't want those people in office, period.

I've heard the same sentiment from many Libertarians and other independents. I've even heard a number of Democrats say the same thing when poor-mouthing a particular Republican candidate (But I never got the feeling that the Republican candidate would have gotten their vote anyway).
 
I will absolutely vote against anyone who wears their religion on their sleeve and announces they will allow their religious views to guide their job performance. I don't want those people in office, period.
I completely understand this, but I also am suspicious of the politician that says, "I am a devout <insert religion here>, but it does not influence my politics.". I see those people as disingenuous at best. If they are truly religious, how can their beliefs not influence what they would do in office? If they sacrifice what they personally believe while governing, how can I trust anything they say? They're not even willing to stand up for their religious beliefs, and those are supposedly the deepest convictions one can have.
 
I understand what you're saying- and I totally agree. But, most of the candidates align very closely to the typical party platform. What will draw you to one or push you away from another as far as policies go? Or, is it mostly the "I think I can trust him" factor?
Like everyone else, I have my views on what is best for the US. My views are not all conservative, moderate or progressive so I don't fit well into any of the parties currently involved.

Political parties are not fixed entities, they evolve over time. I'm closer in general to the current Democrats, but what the current Democrats are bears a lot of resemblance to what the GOP was back in the 1950s.
 
Like everyone else, I have my views on what is best for the US. My views are not all conservative, moderate or progressive so I don't fit well into any of the parties currently involved.

Political parties are not fixed entities, they evolve over time. I'm closer in general to the current Democrats, but what the current Democrats are bears a lot of resemblance to what the GOP was back in the 1950s.

Are there any national Republican candidates you'd vote for this election? If not, is there a candidate you would've voted for if he had a better track record from a particular issue or if he'd distanced himself from a particular issue?
 
It depends on the issue. I'm not above switching parties for one set of issues that are related.

As for myself, even though I cannot completely adopt the culture of the GOP, I feel far less of an identity with the Democratic Party and its base, and consider it necessary to look elsewhere.
 
You left out a necessary choice: Hell freezes over.

Every post so far sounds like the beating of the chest of a true independent. I gauge this as not wanting to be called a partisan on a political board. Mostly BS.
 
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