Originally written Oct. 12, 2016
“You give a vote for Hillary, if you don’t vote for Trump.” This is flawed logic. (I’m going to get in hot water with my folks for that comment, but I have to say it anyway.)
With all this talk of unendorsing Donald Trump, and the #NeverTrump crowd actually make a difference? The argument keeps coming up from long-time Republicans,
There are 5 legitimate candidates for President this year, Hillary (D), Trump (R), Johnson (Libertarian), Stein (Green), and McMullin (Write-In). So, when someone says, “Not voting for Trump, is a vote for Hillary,” why her? Why not for Jill Stein, or Gary Johnson, or Evan McMullin?
The break down
So let’s break this down. Clearly, if I vote for Hillary, that is one more vote for her and one more closer to winning, and one less for Trump. If I vote for Trump, it’s one more for Trump, and one less for Hillary. If I vote for Johnson, it’s one less vote for Trump, and one less vote cast for Hillary. But, also a vote for Hillary? What if I vote for Jill Stein? That would be one more for Stein, one less for Hillary, one less for Johnson, one less for McMullin. Would it be a vote for Trump? That is still a vote for Hillary, because it is not a vote for Trump, some say.
Maybe I need to vote for Romney. That would be even for everyone. None of the 5 would get my vote. Each of them would not only have one less vote to overcome. But they would all feel happy because I didn’t offend them by picking someone I liked better than them. And we all know how important it is to not hurt someone else’s feelings.
Where are the votes?
But seriously, this is not about anyone’s emotional feelings. This is about the leadership of our country. We are hiring the best person for the job as President of the United States of America. The person who will make decisions on how to avoid, or go to war, who will set the direction on the economy, who will set and manage (in partnership with Congress) the National Budget, who will be mine and your representative to the world. This is not a popularity contest. If it were we would actually get more votes cast (i. e. in the 2012 season of American Idol 132 Million votes were cast, in the 2012 Presidential election it was only 122 Million votes). But that’s a different story.
There are a lot of factors that go into choosing what candidate to cast a vote for. In this election we know that one of those factors is SCOTUS. And two seats that are known that will need to be filled. The economy, immigration/border security, and health care are also very important issues. All the candidates have their own take on each. So balancing the vast number issues and that no one person will agree with everyone, a set of markers needs to be set for each voter as to how they themselves will make that choice.
How do we choose?
In the past, we have had Presidents who were great public speakers, some were not great at speaking, some were great leaders, some were not, some created more damage than they fixed, others fixed more than they damaged. Some had great resumes, but failed in office. Some had only good resumes, but rose to exceed more than anyone had ever even hoped for them. This election is no different. There is a Governor, a Senator/Secretary of State, a Doctor, a Congressional Aid, and a Businessman, all backgrounds that have made it to being elected as President before. So, how do we choose?
The facts are this, we elect our President, as written in the Constitution, though a system called the Electoral College. How this works is, for the most part (some states break up the vote), each state pledges their total of votes to the candidate that wins the most votes in that state. For example, I live in Oregon which has 7 Electoral College votes. If Hillary takes the most votes in the state of Oregon, then all 7 votes go on the board for her. In the State of Oregon, those not voting for Hillary are not harming her chances of getting elected. So, voting for Johnson or McMullin, doesn’t help or harm Trump, and doesn’t help or harm Hillary.
Why even vote in a Blue State?
Why even vote for a not Hillary candidate in a state like Oregon? I see three reasons. First, to be a part of making the decision as to who leads our country, I feel it is part of our duty as Americans, even in, especially in, a losing effort.
Second, to stand up and be counted, to have your voice be heard, even if it’s just to say (in my case) I do not want a candidate like Trump. And third, to stand proud with who you are as a person, to stand up and write down (or press a software button on a screen, or however your state counts votes now) this is who I believe in, I will stand with this person, this person reflects my values and beliefs and I am proud to call this person my choice as President, even if you are only in a 1–2% group of people standing with that person.
Conclusion
Does not voting for one candidate mean you are voting for another? No. It only means you are choosing to not vote for anyone else except for the one you have actually cast a vote for. As for me, I can not vote for an immoral lier, this stance has put me in a very tough spot. But as a believer in God, I know all things are in His hands and He can make anything happen. I do not have to do mental, ethical, or moral gymnastics to be able to make my decision on who I choose to support. I only need to do what is right in my heart and in the sight of God, and he will make the rest happen.
So, my vote will not be for Hillary, and my not voting for Trump, will also not be a vote for Hillary, but I will vote, and pray. I hope you do too.
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