Tuesday, November 04, 2008

YES, I VOTED

.....but I didn't vote for Barack Obama.
I've been voting since 1980. In that election, I cast my vote for John Anderson. he was an independent, much like Ron Paul, who ran in the primaries as a Republican, generating a large following, then losing the nomination to Ronald Reagan. So, in my first election, I voted for the loser.
I then began to see no real clear difference between the two major parties. They existed as other duopolies exist in our country; to shut out the other guys. Coke or Pepsi? Why not Dr. Pepper? McDonald's or Burger King? Why not Subway? National League or American league, tastes great or less filling, America the land of abundant choice had now been reduced down to the lesser of two evils. Which, if you do the math, is still evil.
So I voted third party. In 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996, I opted out of the Democrap/Republicant part and instead chose to cast my ballot with the Libertarian Party. Of course, it helped that at the time, I was a major stoner and liked their stance on the decriminalization of marijuana. And I accepted that my candidate wouldn't win, because I knew that I only got one vote, and if I didn't use it, it would be gone. You can't accumulate them and cash them all in on one election. And I figured not voting was as bad as voting for the major parties, it would be like saying, I accept what either party has to offer.
But in 2000, something changed. As bad as other candidates had been in the past (and remember, I had the opportunity to vote Democrat against Ronald Reagan, easily one of the most vile presidents we had ever had, twice), that year, the Republicans offered a candidate that actually made Reagan seem appealing:George W Bush.
So, in the primaries, I voted Republican against George Bush ( for, you guessed it, John McCain) not only because I found him to be morally reprehensible then, but because Michigan's then Governor, Republican John Engler, had promised to deliver Michigan to Bush in the primaries. (He didn't. McCain actually won it) And in November of that year, I voted, for the first time, for a major party candidate.
Well, we all know what happened. The vote was stolen, which only served to infuriate me more because the first time I ever vote for the winning candidate, and the opposition steals the election. So, in 2004, I voted against Bush again.
I'm not playing that game any more. While I certainly prefer Barack Obama over John McCain, I'm fairly confident that Obama will win Michigan, with or with out my vote. McCain conceded Michigan long ago, when he pulled his advertising. If the popular vote counted, I might have been persuaded to vote for Obama, but since it all depends on who wins the electoral votes, I returned to voting my conscience.
I voted for Cynthia McKinney. I liked her when she demanded an investigation into 9/11, and I liked her even more when she slapped that cop. And I know she'll never win, if white America feels nervous about electing a black man president, a black female probably scares them more.

8 comments:

Kathy said...

My son-in-law happened to call yesterday and we talked about the election. He mentioned that he voted for Barr and apologized to me for making that choice. As I told him (and this is for you too), the fact that he voted and participated in our democracy is what counts. It's the people who bitch about our country but never go to the polls that make me mad.

Snave said...

There is never anything wrong with voting one's conscience. Bravo to you for doing just that! Our vote is a gift to us, and we can use that gift however we please. Like Kathy wisely says, as long as we exercise this special right we have, with which we can express an opinion and maybe help make a difference, that's what is important whether it's a vote for Barr, Obama, McKinney, McCain, Hockey Mom, or whoever.

Is this a great country, or what? I'm proud to be part of it, anyway.

Lew Scannon said...

Okay, Kathy, Snave, I confess. While standing in the voting booth, I tried to make my mark for McKinney, but just couldn't, so I did in fact vote for Barack Obama. Yes, this is a great country, and I am proud to be part of it.

PTCruiser said...

Hmm. Sometimes I think we share the same brain, Lew.

Tom Harper said...

I also voted for McCain in 2000 in the California primary. I figured he'd be easier to beat than Bush, and if the Republican candidate won, I'd rather have it be McCain.

Lew Scannon said...

pt,
Maybe that explains why sometimes I'm at a loss for words
Tom
That's exactly why I voted not only for McCain in 2000, but Ron Paul this year (Obama wasn't on the MI Dem primary ballot)

The Culture Ghost said...

1980 - John Anderson (I)
1984 - Gus Hall (C)
1988 - Ron Paul (L)
1992 - Ross Perot (ref)
1996 - Probably Libertarian
2000 - Nader (G)
2004 - Kerry (D)
2008 - Dead Gus Hall (write in)

The vote i regret the most: Kerry

libhom said...

Good for you. I voted for McKinney.