“As I said, just one time I would really like to hear someone refusing to vote for one candidate acknowledging that their refusal helps the other guy get elected.”
I’ll admit it. You also need to admit that not voting for Obama, like most of us here, helps McCain. And that’s more help than he deserves.
Then I commend you.
And I ask that you speak up when others who refuse to vote for McCain blame (fill-in-the-blank -— the MSM, the GOP, the RNC, blah blah blah -— in other words, anyone not including themselves) for, thereby, helping Obambi get elected.
Of course I readily admit that not voting for Obambi helps McCain. That’s integral to my whole point. It’s also ONE of the reasons I am voting for McCain: to STOP Obambi. You and I apparently disagree on whether that is good or bad for the country, but I do readily admit it.
People have different views on who should and should not be president. That’s normal. What’s not normal, in terms of logic, is claiming that one’s refusal to vote for one candidate *in no way* facilitates the election of the other candidate.
So, hat’s off to you. Thanks.
AuntB wrote: I’ll admit it. You also need to admit that not voting for Obama, like most of us here, helps McCain.
AuntB, a few more thoughts on your post. (And this time a copy to B4, as you had done.)
Here's the thing:
1. We agree that not voting for Obambi helps McCain get elected.
But--
2. Voting for McCain also helps McCain get elected (so no change in outcome there) AND it helps defeatT Obambi, by cancelling out someone else's vote for Obambi.
Either way (not voting for Obambi or voting for McCain), a person is helping McCain get elected. But there is only way to ALSO help Obambi get defeated. That is by voting for McCain.
Of course, as I said previously, the converse is true:
1. Not voting for McCain helps Obambi get elected.
2. Voting for Obambi helps Obambi get elected (so no change in outcome there) AND it helps defeat McCain, by cancelling out someone else's vote for McCain.
My only point is this:
Those who refuse to vote for McCain, whatever their reasons and no matter how legitimate their reasons are, are helping Obambi get elected and doing nothing to help defeat him.
Moreover, unless that person votes for Obambi, he is helping McCain get elected anyway.
So, it's really not logical to claim that one is refusing to vote for McCain because one doesn't want to help him get elected. The only way to "not help" McCain get elected is to vote for Obambi. The only way to "not help" Obambi get elected is to vote for McCain.
If a person refusing to vote for McCain is honest about that result and comfortable with it, so be it.
But to somehow attempt to claim that, by voting for neither McCain or Obambi, one is absolved from responsibility for the outcome of the election is disingenuous.
The fact is it is impossible to simply wash one's hands of the election. So long as a person is eligible to vote, how one uses his vote (either as a vote or as a protest) does, in fact, have an impact on the election that is traceable to that individual.
Again, if a person is honest with himself that, by refusing to vote for McCain, he helps Obambi get elected and he does nothing to help defeat Obambi, and the person is comfortable with that, so be it.
If a person truly wants to stop McCain, he should vote for Obambi.
If a person truly wants to stop Obambi, he should vote for McCain.
A person who votes for neither effectively does nothing to help either candidate lose, but does help the winner win.
Remember the "Don't blame me: I voted for Bush" bumper stickers that were popular in the 'Toon years?
There's a reason there were no "Don't blame me: I didn't vote" stickers.
Bottom line: Unless you vote for Obambi, you can't avoid helping McCain. So the question is, do you think you should do something to help defeat Obambi? Would that be a good thing for the nation or not?