honestly..........

[lillygator]

I think a TON of people voted for reasons other than issues.....that is my thought, you can think what you want.

Doesn't mean I don't agree.....

 

[Pigeon]

As a college student, it's sad to say that I know many people who voted for Obama without knowing why. A few said because he's black, and a few friends just muttered that they didn't know, but they were voting anyways. This isn't sour grapes; this is being sad at the fact that our college people, who are supposed to be decently smart, voted for someone BECAUSE of his skin tone! To me, that's insane.

I'm faculty at a university, and I've witnessed some highly energized, passionate and thoroughly intellectual debates among these "new voters" that lead me to believe that the issues were foremost in their voting decisions.

 

[BratTink]

why

Because your original post made you sound horribly racist.

 

[Breezie]

I'm pretty sure the "new" voters WERE voting for the issues....However, it's pretty clear that that's not what YOU'RE concerned about.

Agreed! I am also offended by the OP's post. I am a new voter, and the ONLY reason I voted for Obama was because I agreed with his stance on the issues.
So thank you for trying to belittle that.

 

[lillygator]

Because your original post made you sound horribly racist.

gee thanks - not racist at all.....do you know who I voted for?


my complaint is, well guess it will be lost on you.

 

[NMAmy]

I'm faculty at a university, and I've witnessed some highly energized, passionate and thoroughly intellectual debates among these "new voters" that lead me to believe that the issues were foremost in their voting decisions.

I agree. I work at a college and have seen the same thing.

I'm very proud of my dd who is a high school senior and missed being able to vote by a week. She helped form a Young Democrats Club at her school, she organized fundraisers for Obama, and she and her fellow students worked the phone banks two or three nights a week. She was extremely well educated on the issues and I am very proud of her for getting so involved even though she was not able to vote. This election has reinforced what I've told her and tried to show her through the years--voting is important. Getting involved is important.

 

[lillygator]

Agreed! I am also offended by the OP's post. I am a new voter, and the ONLY reason I voted for Obama was because I agreed with his stance on the issues.
So thank you for trying to belittle that.

AGAIN, as I have posted....

I wasn't talking "you" DIS " you, but people I KNOW in person....geeeeeeeeeeeeeeez

 

[BratTink]

gee thanks - not racist at all.....do you know who I voted for?


my complaint is, well guess it will be lost on you.

I'm not trying to argue or make you mad. You asked a question and I answered it.

 

[lillygator]

I'm not trying to argue or make you mad. You asked a question and I answered it.

thanks for answering.....and everyone else.....

I am sorry, I am not trying to be a.....

like I said it's no where near any number to matter, and I guess you can
vote for what ever reason, IDK.

 

[Luv2trav]

Who really cares WHY people voted.. The success is Obama INSPIRED people to vote.. That hasn't been done a in a long time. The energy in this country right now is amazing... Why 2nd guess why people voted?

 

[allison443]

I absolutely cannot say what I am thinking

Why can't you say what you are thinking? Is it racist or otherwise offensive, or some other reason?

 

[genius118899]

Who really cares WHY people voted.. The success is Obama INSPIRED people to vote.. That hasn't been done a in a long time. The energy in this country right now is amazing... Why 2nd guess why people voted?

See, I don't get that. This past weekend, I went with some friends to hold signs for McCain on the street. One of them pointed out that I was wearing a short skirt, and maybe that would make people vote for him. I was offended (not because I'm a feminist or anything, I think I look darn good in that skirt) but because people would vote for a president because of something petty like that.

 

[coolshannie]

I'm a first time voter, and you know what, I voted on the issues, I did indepth research, we discussed the pros and cons of each candidate in my government class, were required to watch the debates, I did research on my own, and I voted for Obama. Not everybody is ignorant.

 

[Luv2trav]

See, I don't get that. This past weekend, I went with some friends to hold signs for McCain on the street. One of them pointed out that I was wearing a short skirt, and maybe that would make people vote for him. I was offended (not because I'm a feminist or anything, I think I look darn good in that skirt) but because people would vote for a president because of something petty like that.

I believe the majority of the non-educated voters voted because SOMETHING inspired them to do so... They may not be able to tell you everything they stand for or debate all the details of their plans but they believe in them. Perhaps an African American voted for Obama because he's bi-racial or some woman stepped up and voted for McCain because of Palin. Maybe some new voter stepped up and voted just because they were sick of the current administration and wanted change and they really didn't know all the facts.. The fact is they VOTED.... For whatever reason they did it! That in itself is a step in the right direction.. Maybe this election inspired them to pay just a little more attention to their freedoms! That is a GOOD thing and not to be 2nd guessed...

 

[Angelhalo]

I wasn't aware that there was a right and a wrong reason to vote. I don't feel that people who have different opinions than me just shouldn't be allowed to vote. People are absolutely able to "spout their thoughts" even if those thoughts are different than yours.

I think part of the reason for the huge influx of voters this year is due just as much to the people's great disappointment with Bush at this time as it is to the hope and change they see in Obama. People are angry about the way this country has been heading and that motivates them to vote.

 

[Angelhalo]

You don't get to decide whether other people have "good enough" reasons to vote. You just don't. This country is built on the idea that everyone gets to participate in the civic process, black and white, smart and dumb, old and young, informed and not so informed. I agree with you that there are a ton of people out there who aren't as informed as I wish they were. But neither of us get to determine who is "worthy" or "not worthy" enough to vote. And that's a good thing! That is one of the wonderful things about our country!

There is another way of thinking about all those "new voters". A lot of them are people who were turned off of the civic process in the past. They thought their vote didn't matter, they thought their "representatives" didn't represent them, they thought the issues brought up by the representatives weren't relevent to their lives, etc. Now they are excited! They are so darn excited that they invested in being a part of the civic process! And maybe in the future, they'll continue to be invested in politics and in being citizens.

All the new folks getting out there is a good thing. It's a GOOD thing for America.

 

[Angelhalo]

gee thanks - not racist at all.....do you know who I voted for?


my complaint is, well guess it will be lost on you.

Your "point" doesn't make any sense. Your "point" is really just your GUESS as to why YOU think people voted the way they did. The truth is there is absolutely no way whatsoever that you can possibly KNOW why people voted the way they did. So to automatically assume that millions of new voters went out and voted without any care for issues, is rude, and condescending. Not to mention frankly irrational.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

I'm faculty at a university, and I've witnessed some highly energized, passionate and thoroughly intellectual debates among these "new voters" that lead me to believe that the issues were foremost in their voting decisions.

I agree. My two college kids and their friends are much more savvy on all the candidates issues than most of the older and wiser adults I know.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

I absolutely cannot say what I am thinking....but gee, look at all the "new" voters....so sure they are here out voting for the "issues".

So will Obama go back to his life long friend Rev Wright's church?

gee thanks - not racist at all.....do you know who I voted for?


my complaint is, well guess it will be lost on you.

Not hard to guess with the snide Rev. Wright remark included.

 

[Kathi OD]

I wasnt talking about "you" but all the people I have spoken with in person who have no clue about any issues, and obviously so.

There have always been people who vote on reasons that have nothing to do with the issues but more to do with how much they identify with the candidate. This happens in almost every election. We were talking in school today about the 1960 presidential election, where many Catholics voted for John Kennedy simply because he was Catholic. Many of them (my grandmother included) were against almost everything he stood for, but they didn't take the time to look at the issues and voted for him because they had something in common with him and identified with him.

Maybe, this phenomenon was magnified this time around due to the historic nature of the election.