Reply #28: If you vote your conscience you're a patriot [View All]

[Selwynn]

.. and you don't get to take that right away from me. If you disagree with my voting choices, then we can respectfully disagree. I'm a member of the democratic party because I generally agree with the platform. There aren't many times when a Republican is going to represent views I believe in more fully. But if the race for a sentate seat in my district was between a republican posing as democrat like Joe Liberman or another person who had more ideas I agreed with - I'd for for that person reguardless of what label he had behind his name.

I agree that being a "Democrat" should mean something. It should mean that the majority of the time, you agree with the platform of the party and support its candidates -- but not because its some "moral obligation" but becasue this is the party that generally represents your views 9 times out of 10.

There's nothing wrong with voting for that "other guy" because that's what you feel is the best choice. But if you find yourself voting more for "other guys" than Democrats, its time to reevaluate what party you would be most happy in.

Voting an unquestioning blindly dogmatic party line is ridiculous and is the same kind of all or nothing dogmatism so detestable in the fanatical right. You are not "either with us or with the terrorists." However, if you find that you are "with them" more often that you are "with us" then it might be time to do a little soul searching.

Sel