How do you pick your candidates in an election? (Al Gore, party affiliation, vote)

[Fun2Day]

How do you pick your candidates in an election?

This is a fundamental question rarely asked. What do you look for?

Do you pick someone based on their beliefs/ideas?

Do you go for honesty?

Do you just vote whomever the media selects/endorses?

Do you go for race/ethnicity?

Do you look for a candidate that makes you "feel good"?

Do you select a candidate that would prove something or make a statement?

Would you pick someone who would harm the USA, just because that candidate would make a statement?

Do you vote based on party line basis only?

I am asking because I keep hearing from 2 black co-workers and a white older lady that they are voting Obama to "right wrongs of a racist past" and "because he is black and that will show the world America is not a racist country".


This disturbs me. A LOT!! Shouldn't people be "color blind" and select their candidate not because he is black or white or Hispanic, but rather based on their abilities, experience, honesty, and how much good that person would try to do for the country?????

I am frankly horrified that 91% of blacks are voting Obama because Obama is black. They should pick Obama because he has the qualities needed to help the USA, not because he is black.

And PLEASE, don't tell me that delivering a pre-written speech by a speech-writer on a teleprompter is a skill! It might sound good, but that should not be the reason someone is elected president!

[Joe_Ryder]

I can't vote since you didn't include 1) Flip of the coin or 2) The lesser of two evils.

[OgleCo]

First, I get a "vibe" from each candidate.

Then, if I get a positive vibe from a certain candidate, I look at their other qualities and decide if they are suitable.

John McSame and his smug attitude... don't give me a good vibe. When John McSame speaks, I lose interest, and end up hearing "blah...blah blah"

When Obama speaks, it is like he is speaking to my ideals. He is inspiring and lifts up Americans to be all they can be regardless of race/gender, etc., and his political stances are those of which I favor.

[Fun2Day]

Originally Posted by Joe_Ryder

I can't vote since you didn't include 1) Flip of the coin or 2) The lesser of two evils.

Maybe I should ahve also added "close eyes and pull lever randomly" on election day!!! I hear ya, McCain seems to be the lesser of two evils this time.

Originally Posted by OgleCo

First, I get a "vibe" from each candidate.

Then, if I get a positive vibe from a certain candidate, I look at their other qualities and decide if they are suitable.

John McSame and his smug attitude... don't give me a good vibe. When John McSame speaks, I lose interest, and end up hearing "blah...blah blah"

When Obama speaks, it is like he is speaking to my ideals. He is inspiring and lifts up Americans to be all they can be regardless of race/gender, etc., and his political stances are those of which I favor.

A VIBE?!?! You decide to vote for someone on a hunch... a vibe?!?!

I think the American Civilization is headed for doom.... people vote based on a vibe....what a sad day.

[UB50]

You didn't mention voting record... That's important to me.

[ocexpo]

Which election, primaries or general?

Well, first I see if they have any real ideas. If they do, they bore me so I dont vote for them. I like the ones that have no substance.
Then I see if their wives are attractive.
Then I look at their websites and pick which one that has the prettiest colors.
Then I see how my taxes will be affected.
And last, I try out their last names by saying them outloud "President X" or "President Y" and choose the best sounding one.

Oh, and most important, I tune into CNN and see who the media is voting for. I MUST see who Al Gore, Al Sharpton, and all the other Al's are voting for. Their opinions are so dear to me.

[ocexpo]

Originally Posted by UB50

You didn't mention voting record... That's important to me.

Voting record? I would guess 2% or less of Democrats know Obamas voting record. How silly.

[One Thousand]

If I was asked this question during the last presidential election, party affiliation would of been my response. However, because of the types of Repubes that gained power, I think I'd of stayed home this time if it wasn't for McCain.

This is the first time in ten years I'm not contributing to the RNC because I don't want to risk my funds going to the turds of the party... I even cut my NRA contribution in half.

I don't like how the government looks right now-- Dems or Reps. They're both under the control of extremists. We see it everyday with the refusal to compromise on energy.

I don't yet understand what the Reps did to blow their position-- Well, I do know what they did, I just don't understand how the slime that rose to the top did when guys like McCain and Flake were left relatively sidelined.

Hillary Clinton's defeat gives me hope that the acrimony of memory is over... but Obama's vote against Roberts tells me that extremism over progress isn't out of sight yet.


I'm voting McCain because he's real. As is the case with every politician, he's not perfectly matched to my beliefs. However, I trust that guy. I feel like if we were on a job site and he screwed up, he'd acknowledge it and we'd all work together to get out of it.

I don't know what that means exactly, but that's what I think... and it seems right to me.