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Am I Morally Obligated to Vote for One of These Candidates?

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by swaimj, Feb 7, 2008.

  1. swaimj

    swaimj <img src=/swaimj.gif>

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    Consider the choices of 1972. On the one hand we had George McGovern. He was a socialist who promised national healthcare for all Americans and an immediate withdrawal from Vietnam. On the other hand, we had Richard Nixon who, during the election months, oversaw the Watergate crimes that eventually brought him down. Would it have been morally reprehensible to refuse to vote for either candidate?

    In this election of 2008 we seem to be headed for another choice between bad and worse. Either Clinton or Obama will be a choice for bigger government, higher taxes, and international defeat. McCain is, in my opinion, temperamentally unfit to be president; much as Nixon was. I expect the press to begin hammering him on this once he gets the nomination.

    I plan to vote in the Pennsylvania primary in April and I hope we can avoid these bad choices. But if not, I feel no moral obligation to vote for any of the current front-running candidates.
     
  2. JGrubbs

    JGrubbs New Member

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    I agree, there is no moral obligation to vote for any candidate in any election. The first year I was eligable to vote in the Presidential election, my choices were Bob Dole or Bill Clinton, I left that part of the ballot blank.

    I would rather vote for a candidate who has the best Constitutionalist principles, even if they don't stand a chance of winning, than to vote for the "lesser of two evils".

    Duty is ours, the results are Gods!
     
  3. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    I think Obama has a chance to be a great president.
     
  4. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    I fail to see what this has to do with the OP
     
  5. KenH

    KenH Well-Known Member

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    A discussion of candidates, including Obama. I quote from the OP:

    "Either Clinton or Obama will be a choice for bigger government, higher taxes, and international defeat."

    I was offering a counter view to this comment.
     
  6. JamieinNH

    JamieinNH New Member

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    I don't think you're obligated to vote for people you don't believe in. Like the OP said, vote in everything but the Presidental section.

    BTW, who did you want in the general election?

    Jamie
     
  7. Baptist in Richmond

    Baptist in Richmond Active Member

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    :rolleyes:
    McGovern was NOT a socialist. He is a war hero and a great man (regardless of what you think about his politics, to usurp Sean Hannity, McGovern is a "great American"), but he was not and is not a socialist.

    Here we go again. Folks, PLEASE: research these terms before you utilize them to describe politicians.....

    Regards,
    BiR
     
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Yea we know. And McCain is a conservative. Good luck with that.
     
  9. JamieinNH

    JamieinNH New Member

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    You didn't answer his question. What's your opinion? Also, who did you want in the general election?

    Jamie
     
  10. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Unlike the last poster, maybe this will give an opinion that is relative. I do not believe we are under any obligation to vote for a McCain, if one feels he is not fit, just to stop a Democrat from winning. Votes are suppose to be cast for the person you feel is the best for our country.

    I firmly believe that the numbers are there for an Independent to win. It would take an inspirational leader. Between those not registered, those who do not vote, the independents, and Republicans and Democrats who are sick of the self indulgent power structure, there is more than enough votes to defeat both of the parties that have robbed the American people for decades.
     
  11. Baptist in Richmond

    Baptist in Richmond Active Member

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    Revmitchell, you have never been successful at giving us any evidence that Hillary is a socialist/communist. It's quite apparent that you have no concept of either term. It really comes as no surprise that you would not grasp that McGovern is not a socialist either. Yet you feel compelled to give us further evidence that you do not understand. Um.... thanks again.

    And McCain IS a Conservative. That is a fact that does not require your acknowledgement. Again, you just don't know when to quit, do you?

    Regards anyway,
    BiR
     
    #11 Baptist in Richmond, Feb 8, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 8, 2008
  12. Palatka51

    Palatka51 New Member

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    If you do feel a moral obligation to vote for a President, there is always a write in option. If you feel that you would me the better moral choice than what is offered then write yourself in. You do know yourself better than anyone else so your moral obligation will have been met.

    Then at your next job interview you can say that you ran for President in 2008.:smilewinkgrin:
     
  13. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Either to quit or zip a lip
     
  14. Ivon Denosovich

    Ivon Denosovich New Member

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    One thing is clear: none of us small govt. types like anyone running. :(
     
  15. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    Corn-fused, here!

    Outta' curiosity, does that include the one you are apparently supporting in your tag-line?? He, too, apparently is running for the Oval Office.

    Ed
     
  16. Ivon Denosovich

    Ivon Denosovich New Member

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    Yeppers. You don't think anyone supports an obscure third party be preference do you?
     
  17. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    I am not sure I feel a "moral" obligation to vote for one of the candidates. But as I think about this topic I do feel like I have some type of obligation as a citizen of our country to vote.
     
  18. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    I don't believe we have a "moral" obligation to vote at all.

    That being said, given the same choices of the socialist appeaser McGovern or Richard Nixon with all his faults, Nixon was still the proper choice.

    A vote for any democrat running is will be damaging to our country, both economically and from the standpoint of national security.

    There is no other real choice but the Republican nominee, whether it's McCain or someone else.
     
  19. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    This is from a pastor from the last election -- I think it still rings true today ---

    "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1

    By now you have probably had your fill of the political season. Every four years America has to endure a brutal and bitter time of mud-slinging, and we are left having to sift through the assertions and promises.

    In less than two weeks all that will be laid to rest (hopefully!), as the election will be past and our President and other important officials and measures decided.

    Some decide that they hate politics and as a result they skip the vote all together. For Americans this is a right, but as Christians we don’t have this option. The Scriptures clearly teach that our place in the government is God-ordained, as it is for our leaders. To not participate in the process is to reject God’s rule in your life as it pertains to your citizenship.

    I know, I know – God is Sovereign, so whomever He wants in office will get there anyhow. Yes, God is Sovereign, but He has ordained that you participate in the unfolding of His plan just as He ordains parents to participate in the upbringing of their children (they don’t put them on the streets saying that God is Sovereign and will care for them anyhow, do they?).

    For the Christian, one’s peace is that God IS Sovereign, which allays all fear that if ‘he’ (whoever ‘he’ is) gets into office the nation will go down the drain. The nation will go where God wants it, but even our participation in an election in which our candidate of choice is not elected is His will.

    Through the years I have heard a lot of Christians complain about their elected officials (okay, I admit that I have too – so sue me), and this too is our right, but to not vote and then whine is unspeakable.

    Maybe we as Christians can help the country not be so divided. If we believe in a Sovereign God (and we do), and if indeed our status is ordained by God (and it is), then we can be the gracious ones who demonstrate that there is a higher Authority than a mere mortal (and there is!).

    The question is, ‘Is there ever a reason to not vote?’ The answer is, ‘Yes,’ if you find yourself in a moral dilemma because in good conscience you cannot vote for either candidate. That then becomes a vote of conscience.

    Finally, let the Gospel be the transparency under which you judge who and what you vote for. This is why I don’t tell you who to vote for or who stands for what – you have the information available from any number of resources and you have the Gospel–– so use it. Vote the Gospel in your vote. In the end God gets the Glory, regardless of the outcome. For this we praise Him.

    By the way, I still hope my candidate wins…"
     
  20. Palatka51

    Palatka51 New Member

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    Please note that in our Representative Republic it is we who are "ideally" self governed. I think that Romans 13:1 relates to us. We must pray that God gives us clear direction as to who we might choose. It is because our people are so far from God that we have the choices we have and praying folks like ourselves are really struggling over the choices we have.

    Thus it is that every 4 years nationally and every 2 years locally we are responsible for the govt we choose to have. Thankfully this is done with mud slinging and not by hurling lead thus spilling blood. All mud slinging can do is bust another's pride.
     
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