2008 Woodie Awards
Vote for the right reasons
Paul Crawford
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Opinions
For Minnesotans, Tuesday is the first step in the democratic process of selecting a candidate for the presidency of the United States in 2008.
The mainstream news media has coined the day "Super Tuesday" in an effort to make it seem more like a sporting event, thus boosting television ratings.
But hopefully it has also helped in boosting voter participation nationwide. Those of us who will be participating in the caucus probably already have our minds made up over who we will be supporting. But before we make our selections, let's take a minute to re-examine the reasons for our support of a particular candidate.
Some people support a candidate because of their faith, gender and/or race. These are all terrible reasons for voting for someone, yet common criteria that weighs on the mind of the average American voter. These are discriminatory factors and should have no bearing when selecting a candidate.
In the 2000 election, many people voted for George W. Bush solely because they saw him as a man of strong values and faith. He played it beautifully and got elected because of it.
So, let's not make the same mistake twice.
Supporting a candidate because they belong to a particular group that you identify with is small-minded and irrational.
Instead, let's focus on the issues that matter. What is important to you? Healthcare reform? The environment? The economy? Civil rights? Affordable education? Ending the occupation in Iraq?
Are the issues that matter to you a priority of the candidate you support?
If so, then you are making a rational and informed decision.
The mainstream news media has coined the day "Super Tuesday" in an effort to make it seem more like a sporting event, thus boosting television ratings.
But hopefully it has also helped in boosting voter participation nationwide. Those of us who will be participating in the caucus probably already have our minds made up over who we will be supporting. But before we make our selections, let's take a minute to re-examine the reasons for our support of a particular candidate.
Some people support a candidate because of their faith, gender and/or race. These are all terrible reasons for voting for someone, yet common criteria that weighs on the mind of the average American voter. These are discriminatory factors and should have no bearing when selecting a candidate.
In the 2000 election, many people voted for George W. Bush solely because they saw him as a man of strong values and faith. He played it beautifully and got elected because of it.
So, let's not make the same mistake twice.
Supporting a candidate because they belong to a particular group that you identify with is small-minded and irrational.
Instead, let's focus on the issues that matter. What is important to you? Healthcare reform? The environment? The economy? Civil rights? Affordable education? Ending the occupation in Iraq?
Are the issues that matter to you a priority of the candidate you support?
If so, then you are making a rational and informed decision.