Saturday, October 18, 2008

Radical

Most of the people who know me now might not believe this, but I minored in Political Science in college (major in history). I took as many constitutional law classes as I could; I just ate that stuff up. I was also much more idealistic then.

As I've gotten older, I have to admit that I have grown much more cynical. Not that I consider that a good thing. I really don't. However, it seems justified. I think of it as a constant reminder that this world is not my home, lest I grow too attached to it. This has translated, unfortunately, into a tendency to bury my head in the sand. Some weeks, the only news I get is what my husband tells me or what I read on my friend Cathi's blog.

I say this because I don't comment on politics too much here. However, I am going to do something so radical - at least to me - that I felt compelled to post it. (My husband accuses me of blogging about our entire lives, but I think he exaggerates.)

I am not going to vote Republican in the presidential election this fall.

I've been voting for quite a few years now, and I have voted Republican 99% of the time. It is the party which most closely reflected my political ideology. However, I am very dissatisfied with the way the Republican party has drifted further and further away from its roots of limited government. As far as I can tell, the only real difference between most Democrats and Republicans is the fact that most Republicans are pro-life and more friendly towards the 2nd amendment and homeschooling than most Democrats. In other words, Republicans are for "big" government and Democrats for "bigger" government.

Now don't get me wrong, those are the top three concerns in my book. However, I don't believe John McCain is strong enough in these to offset my concerns about his other policies. I voted in the Republican primary, and McCain would have been the last or next to last on my list at that time (because of his pro-choice stance, Guiliani would have ranked lower than McCain).

Now, this does not mean I'm voting for Obama. No siree. The thought of him as president makes me glad I'm a Calvinist.

So I'm going to do something I never thought I would do. I'm voting for a third party candidate. Kelly has been talking to me for a few years about the Constitutional Party. In fact, he has this listed as his party affiliation on Facebook. (I also like the looks of the American Independent Party, with Alan Keyes as its candidate.) I have decided to vote for Chuck Baldwin who, unfortunately, in Texas is a write-in candidate. For those of you who supported Ron Paul during the primary, Paul has endorsed Baldwin.

May God have mercy on us.

14 comments:

Candace/Chloe said...

Yep.....the Sabos are going third party too. Yeah, yeah, we've already been told we're "throwing away our vote", but just can't go Republican this year. Sorry folks!

Chuck Baldwin's our guy!

Kelly said...

I believe if you vote Republican this year you are voting for principles that are not only wrong, but un-Godly. I'm sorry for my friends who don't agree, but you cannot look at the platform of the Republican party and say that it matches Christian principles of ethics, morality and government and be truthful.

As for throwing away your vote, I thought we lived in a Democratic Republic where we ALL got to vote the way we see it. Someone telling me I am throwing away my vote is someone who wants me to follow the same milk-wagon they are chasing...

Gumby's Gang said...

Tami,

As you already know, if more people would follow God on this one, and not be a slave to the fear of Obama, it wouldn't look like we are throwing our votes away (we aren't, but fear clouds our judgment). Our family prefers to vote with an eternal perspective :>

Baldwin '08!

Ryan said...

I have been thinking about this for the past couple weeks. You guys are right! But like Candace said, I was worried that I would be throwing away my vote if we voted third party. But your right, we must vote for who we think would be the most Godly. That's why we are voting for Russell/Smith for President! ;-D

Candace/Chloe said...

Okay, just to clear things up here, WE don't think we're throwing away our vote!!! That is why it's in quotes, other people have told us that! We've never believed for one second that we were throwing away our vote. That was a bit of sarcasm in case anyone missed it! We have been confident in our stance since DAY ONE! As a matter of fact, WE were for Baldwin before MOST people even knew who he was!

Had to clear this one.....in case anyone else misunderstands!

Candace/Chloe said...

Oh, and Kelly, we weren't bothered AT ALL by people telling us we were throwing away our vote. When you're firm in your stance, you don't let things like that bother you, hence the sarcasm of the quotes! However, I have been given the opportunity to share our stance with these friends and hopefully, have conjured up some thinking on their part!

Ryan said...

Candace, I didn't mean to imply that you guys were worried about throwing away your vote. And as I read my comment I see how you came to that conclusion. What I meant to say was that I was one of those people that was worried. Sorry bout that. You guys are right, we just need to stand with God and trust that he will work it out to his glory!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Kelly said...

Candace, that wasn't pointed at you. I have had a couple of people say it to me as well. While it won't change my stance, it does make me a little angry that people will say it, mostly out of their fear of a certain person getting elected.

I didn't know Baldwin's name until recently, mainly cause I'm terrible with names, but I have been a Constitution Party supporter for a while now.

Candace/Chloe said...

Ryan and Kelly,

Thanks for your responses....the pregnant lady feels better now! ;-)

It's always comforting to know that you're not alone in your stance....so I enjoy finding out (via blogs) who's in the same court!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Tiffany said...

...shhhh... we're voting Baldwin, too! ....

Stacey said...

Ok, I am late on this one...but I have to disagree with you guys! I think Cathi put it better than I could in her latest post, but I actually don't believe it is throwing away your vote. I believe it is a vote for Obama. (sorry!!) I mean, if so many pro life christians vote third party instead of republican, then I betcha that is just what Obama wants! It could actually help the dem. party take the white house! It seems this election is very close. It is time to make a difference, NOT a statement. Ok, off my soapbox now.

Stacey said...

Oh, and I don't think you have to agree with a candidate on every issue to vote for them. I think every candidate is a human being and sinful. I doubt there would be a candidate that I agree with on EVERYTHING! I want my vote to count and I really want it to count for those who can't defend themselves!

Tami said...

Stacy, thanks for the comments - I love it when Christians can discuss things like this without the name calling and tactics that politics often bring out in people. That's what I really appreciated about Cathi's post, even though I disagreed with parts of it.

And just for the record, I have voted for people I disagreed with on things. I disagree with GWB about many things, but voted for him anyway. (Don't think I would if he were up for re-election though. No, I definitely wouldn't.) I don't believe that we have to vote for Christians, or agree 100% with people I vote for.

And to be 100% honest, I don't know what I would decide to do if we lived in a state that is close. Texas will go for McCain, which is one reason I feel I can make a statement. This is my conviction for this election. If the election isn't important, it's not much of a statement, is it?

Ultimately, the outcome is in God's hands. I can only do what I feel like He would want ME to do in this matter.

Stacey said...

I do agree with you about the fact that is God is in control! I think the most important thing we can do is pray for our country and our leaders! We all have to vote how we feel God is leading us! :o) I do appreciate that we can discuss these things and still be friends and love each other even when we agree to disagree!