Which presedential candidate is right for me??
@mrsgoodygoody00 (895)
United States
September 7, 2008 8:47am CST
I'm really on the fence right now. This will be my 1st year voting, and I want to make a decision that I won't regret. I'm an African American woman, and people assume that I will vote for Obama, because we're the same race. I will admit, it would be exciting to have an African American president. lol. But at the same time, It would be nice to have a female president. And since we won't have that option, the vice president is the next best thing. And I will also admit that I became excited as well when McCain chose a woman to be his running mate. lol. So, the best thing I can do is choose a candidate who stands for the issues that are important to me. Last night I was thinking about it, when I should've been sleeping. I'm just now really starting to pay attention to the elections, and I'm hoping someone out there who is really into politics can help me with this. Obviously, it's entirely up to me, and I'm definetly going to be doing a lot of my own research, but I would like to get some opinions. -I'm very pro life. We complain about everyday problems but a lot of babies don't even get a chance. It's unfair. - We really need to find new ways to produce our own energy somehow. I see gas prices are always so high, I'd rather save that extra money for something else. -We need to improve our public education. At first I wanted to send my daughter to a Christian School, or a Private School. But then I realized faith in God is what she'll learn from my husband and I. Then I wanted to send her to private school, because I was thinking she'd get a better education. But then I also realized that public schools should give the same same quality of education as a private one. Public school is great because of all the different kids you get to know, and all the activites available. But I want to be sure her education she gets is even better. She'll spend so much of her time there, I just want it to be the best experience possible. -Somehow, the war should really end. So many people have died, and it seems like it's just gone on forever. But, I think what's even more important is that we prevent going to war because of a terrorist attack. I want a president that has plans in place to prevent America from being attacked again. When it happened, it showed how vulnerable we really are. I think it united everyone, because it took us all by surprise. I'm hoping and praying it never happens again. These things are important to me I guess. I thought of choosing healthcare, but changed my mind. There are a lot of free or low cost options for pregnant women, women in general, and children. I'm not sure about men or the elderly. I think this will be more important to me when I get older. I also thought about helping people pay for college. I've already graduated college, so I know there are many options available to help pay for it. I also plan to continue my education, and I feel very confident that those options will be available to everyone else and I when we need them. Sorry this is so long. I had thought about this earlier, and now I'm really into it. lol. I really want to choose a candidate and be able to explain why I voted for them. I'm nervous because I don't want to choose someone who's getting everyone all fired up, and then he turns out to be a big flop. Then I don't want to choose someone who is going to lead in the same direction as we've been led. Any opinions or decent ideas appreciated. Thanks eveyone.
2 people like this
7 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 Sep 08
From your issues, I'd say you would match the McCain/Palin ticket the best.. although not 100%.
There are a lot of pretty good "quizzes" online that match you to a candidate based on your answers to questions. The questions are sometimes a little general, but if you take several different ones and compare the outcomes, you'll soon see where each of the candidates compare to you.
Here's one at On The Issues.com http://www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/senate2006.asp?quiz=2008 you can find others by by googling, "who to vote for quiz"
1 person likes this
@mrsgoodygoody00 (895)
• United States
7 Sep 08
You're right. And from both quizzes that I've taken so far, they seem to support that. This is what I was afraid of. lol. I'm sure a lot of people will be angry at me, but I know I have to make my own decision.
@chameleonsdream (1230)
• United States
7 Sep 08
I would have said as much from reading your take on the issues, too. Good on you for standing up for what you believe even if others are angry with you. As far as that goes, though, you certainly don't have to tell them where you put your vote.
For some reason, I was just reminded of my mom and dad, who are always on opposite sides in every election. One year, they made a pact with each other not to vote at all because their votes would each cancel the other's vote out anyway - then they each sneaked out of the house to vote for their favored candidate, and returned home smug in the knowledge that they'd each put one over on the other and gained their candidate a vote.
1 person likes this
@chameleonsdream (1230)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Good for you for putting so much thought into your choice! I wish most people would consider all the issues so seriously instead of just listening to the sound bites on the evening news. I know who I plan to vote for, but I won't try to sway you one way or the other. Instead, I encourage you to read up on the issues and look at where each of the candidates - AND THEIR PARTIES - stand on each issue that's important to you.
This quiz has all of the original candidates on it, but it does a pretty good job of helping you figure out which of them is closest to your feelings and ideals on things.
http://www.gotoquiz.com/candidates/2008-quiz.html
It will give you a baseline for where the two candidates stand on the issues, and how closely they come to how you feel.
1 person likes this
@chameleonsdream (1230)
• United States
7 Sep 08
It's an eye-opener, isn't it? I took it back in January after a friend suggested that I wasn't as close in thinking to Hillary Clinton as I thought I was - and he was very right. Unfortunately for me, the candidates whose values I most share didn't survive the primaries process - not even long enough to make it to my state primary. I'm lucky enough to live in a state that is solidly behind the major party I'd rather see in the White House, though, so I'm actually free to consider voting a 3rd party candidate without worrying about how it will affect the overall outcome.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
16 Sep 08
First, congratulations on becoming a first time voter and here's hoping it's a habit you get into that will stay with you for the rest of your life. As you said, this is a decision that's entirely up to you so obviously I can't tell you what to do. I will advise you to review the issues that are the most important to you and research all of the candidates so you know how they all stand on those issues in particular. Also, try to be as sure as possible that you're totally clear on what the President can or can NOT do or change.
I'd advise you to think how public education would be affected by a victory by either of the tickets. I'd also say to really think about the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan, think of who actually did attack us and whether you think the current Administration had done all that's possible to catch him and his followers and whether either ticket running this year will bring new policies or more of the same, then decide which you would like to see. The old question, "Are you better off than ou were four (or eight) years ago?" always comes in handy in an election year, sometimes more than others. Good luck, and remember you don't have to please anyone else with your vote, only yourself!
Annie
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
7 Sep 08
I could tell from your discussion, goody, that you are young. I have the firm opinion that party is very important when it comes to deciding who you will vote for. I take it that you are not affiliated with any one party and that might be why you are on the fence. I have been voting for a very long time, and this year's campaign has been a challenge for me because, while I am loyal to my party I saw much division there. I'm happy to think we've turned that corner now. The best advice I can give you is research, research, research! As you stated, it is vital to choose the candidate who best reflects your values. Also, bear in mind that no one single candidate can deliver everything you desire, so we sometimes must choose the lesser of two evils. As a senior I have to take exception with what you said about not being concerned about issues affecting the elderly. Surely you must have family members who are elderly(or will one day be so). Our nation is not known for its embracing of its elderly population and that is sad. It was the grandparents and great-grandparents who paved the way for us all.
1 person likes this
@mrsgoodygoody00 (895)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Yes, this is my 1st year voting, so I really haven't thought of this party or that one. I guess I don't really have a good or bad opinion about either. But it seems like everyoneelse does! It's another thing for me to think of, thanks. Yes, I do have elderly family members whom I care about, but I was thinking of what was important to me right now. I know what you mean about people not caring about the elderly, but I do.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
8 Sep 08
I'm a pro choice kinda liberal kinda conservative. I'm going with McCain this time around. I haven't voted republican in 20 some years.
I like your attitude and the fact you are being thoughtful about your vote. Researching and doing to thoroughly to get to the facts will aide you more than believing the first thing you hear or read.
@mrsgoodygoody00 (895)
• United States
8 Sep 08
It's so good that you clearly know who you're voting for. I've been spending a lot of time on the net looking for info, and I've also been watching more coverage on the elections.
1 person likes this
@evanslf (484)
•
8 Sep 08
research is very important as has already been said. But before you do loads of research, ask yourself what are the key issues for you and how high or low do you rank them in priority. For the presidential vote in particular, there are also 'character' issues that you may want to consider.
So under the 'character' issues, is experience important, or is judgement more important. Or is it the 'looking presidential' test? Or is it change from the last 8 years, etc.
Under the policy issues, you need to rank your issues by importance. You talked about being against abortion, how important is that to you? If it scores 10 out of 10, you are unlikely to support a pro choice candidate like Obama, and that will push you towards voting for McCain accordingly. (Converserly, for myself, Iraq is the issue I feel very strongly about, so any candidate who supported and still supports the Iraq war is a near automatic no-no for me, so hence this will push me strongly towards Obama).
However, as in all elections, there are other issues (the economy, poverty, healthcare, global warming, education, terrorism, etc). If your stance against abortion is not the only issue for you and you are concerned about Iraq dragging on as you have mentioned, then this might make you tilt towards Obama, though I accept, in view of what you've said, it seems you will likely go for McCain.
Once you have decided what your priority issues are (including deciding whether some issues are of 'vital priority' which means that you would not even consider voting for a candidate who was on the wrong side of your 'vital priority' issue), then you can focus your research, find out the answers and then vote accordingly.
1 person likes this
@mrsgoodygoody00 (895)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Thanks for the info on rating what's most important to me. That's seems to be very helpful. I just want to make a really good decision.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14113)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
7 Sep 08
I'm not going to tell you who to vote for.
I guess it boils down to what you want in a president, what you want from government and how much. Keep in mind that though there are a lot of problems that need fixing, where should the solutions come from? Should the federal government always be the one fixing them? Elections also include state elections, governor, state legislature, etc, these, are as important if not MORE important as we are a federation and the original intent was that the vast majority of power lays in states authority. If you are voting from someone because you are looking for someone to solve lifes problems, then you are voting for the wrong reasons. Vote for someone who will make things easier for a citizen to solve their problems and bring about solutions, who as president and congressional reps will acomplish that?
@mrsgoodygoody00 (895)
• United States
7 Sep 08
I think that you're exactly right to vote for all areas of government I wasn't thinking of that either, but now I am. Thanks.
