Reading over the many opinions here on Dailykos, what I have seen as of late is disturbing to me. Someone refuses to vote for Howard Dean, "because of his stance on the death penalty." Another hates Kerry because he is against gay marriage personally. That's fine to have those opinions, but not voting for someone based on one thing that you disagree with him/her on is absolutely stupid.
It is stupid and silly to expect a candidate to endorse 100% of what you believe, all the time. If you plan only to vote for a Democrat that you don't disagree with him/her on anything, then turn in your voter registration card, for you won't be using it. Very few, if any candidates will agree 100% with you on every issue. While running for President, you won't find one. You honestly think that the 51 million people who voted for Gore in 2000 agreed with him on every issue? Is that what you expect out of a presidential candidate? If so, please go back to elementary school.
I know this sounds insulting, but it has to be said. If you sulk b/c Kerry doesn't approve of gay marriage, if you sulk because Kerry is not 100% anti-death penalty, or if your Senate candidate voted for the Patriot Act in 2001, guess what, you will do NOTHING to eliminate the Republican majority in this country. I'm sick of people who whine b/c candidates don't agree with them 100%. If you refuse to vote for Brad Carson in OK b/c of his support for the FMA, well congrats, you are helping elect an extremist like Humphreys or whomever, rather than Carson. Not only will that help the FMA amendment, but it will cost us on taxes, abortion, church/state separation, Medicare, etc... Helping that to happen, simply b/c you are pissed at your guy is outrageous. Quit your damn whining and vote for a Democratic majority. Change has to start somewhere. Let it start, don't bitch b/c it isn't where you expect it to be. It'll get there, but only if heads stay out of asses, and vote the way they should.
I will vote for John Kerry, though I disagree with him on some things. I will vote for Chris John (Louisiana Senate Race), even though he supports the FMA amendment. Chris John in the Senate is a hell of a lot better than David Vitter. He's a vote for a Democratic majority, which, guess what, most likely will not schedule the damned vote on the FMA. That would be great. Think about this, especially if you have the option to vote for people like John, Carson or Knowles for Senate, and Herseth or others for the House.
I'll sum it up quick. If their opponents get elected, not only will you lose on the FMA, or Medicare, you will lose on a whole lot more. If that's what you want, to make a damned point, fine. Just don't bitch when Repubs still control everything next January. It's time for pride to be swallowed. I did. I was a Dean man. But I was always a Democrat first. It worries me that some people here, too many, are not. Because Dean didn't get it, they'll vote for Nader. Well, great, that'll really help the things Dean fought for go through. Sure it will.
Voice your opinions. Tell your candidates what you think. But refusing to support them because of one disagreement or two, is DUMB, STUPID, and IRRESPONSIBLE.