I can't decide whom to vote for: Kerry or Clark

[WillyBrandt]

As a long-time Clarkista, I can't decide whether I should cast my CT ballot for Clark, who has my political heart, or Kerry who now has my political alleigance (and whom I think highly of).

The thing is, that after my disastrous Nader vote in 2000, I've sworn to myself to always judge my political actions by the outcome they make more likely. More broadly, I never want to act for fuzzy ideals that aren't grounded in reality; rather, I want to act to achieve those fuzzy ideals here on Earth.

A vote for Clark, I worry, would be a vote for myself rather than for the public good. (Unlike many here, I do NOT think that you vote for who you like best. Instead, an honorable vote must be cast such as to do what is best for the public as a goal, with ideals informed by head and heart.)

Nontheless, after all that work for Clark, I really want to vote for him. . . since Kerry is almost certain to win, it doesn't matter . . . but I've got to be true to earthboundedness.

I'm stuck. What do I do? (And don't say vote Edwards, good guy though he is! :) )

[jmaier]

1. If you feel your state could be close

then vote for Kerry, otherwise follow your heart. :-) Good luck!

[Leilani]

9. I agree!

If Kerry has a safe win, then vote for who you really supported.

Have fun voting!

[Renew Deal]

2. Go with Clark.

I am for the same reasons. I worked hard to get him on that ballot, I might as well vote for him. I am in NY. Kerry is winning by like 40 here (BTW, that's how Nader did so well, but this isn't the GE).

[MurikanDemocrat]

3. Well, Clark has no chance of gaining a delegate, so what would

be the point? He can't pass the 15% threshhold.

[WillyBrandt]

4. Um, that's kind of the point of the original post...

[MurikanDemocrat]

5. Here's some poll data

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=415543

[jmaier]

10. Getting a delegate isn't really the point

You've earned the right to vote for Wes if you want -- fall in love in the primaries!

[WillyBrandt]

12. Thanks! The point was precisely the tension between passion

and pragmatism, in a case where it is almost certain not to matter. It's a war between two conflicting principles, in which the outcome is already certain.

[Dookus]

6. well

I was one of the earliest Clarkies around. I was rooting for him even before the Draft Clark movement started.

I will be voting for John Kerry tomorrow. I just see no reason at all to vote for people who aren't running.

[Jim Sagle]

7. Spllit the difference and vote for Dean.

;)

[BootinUp]

8. Willy, does Kerry have it sewn up?

You're in NY right?


Here in GA, my wife and I are going to vote for Kerry because we think it is important that Kerry gets the nom over Edwards. I really wanted to vote for Clark in the primary, but it is too close here to play around. For the good of the many, I must vote for Kerry tomorrow.

:)

[WillyBrandt]

13. I'm in Connecticut... Kerry country, I think

[JI7]

11. vote for Clark

i think a primary is a time when you should vote for who you really want to. and Kerry should win connecticut anyways. if he can't win connecticut then it would mean his campaign has serious problems. maybe you can vote clark, but try to get others who aren't decided to vote Kerry ? there are a few kerry supporters on here who ended up voting for kucinich but still are kerry supporters.

[MrSlayer]

14. Kerry at this point.

I wanted to vote for the General too but my election isn't until April 27th. I think it's probably best to help Kerry win by a larger margin in your state. Voting for Clark now doesn't really do anything. Go Kerry and hope for the chance of voting Clark in the GE. I could see myself tempted though if Clark's name was in front of me in the booth. I really wanted him to win.

[corporatewhore]

15. arent the primaries for votin your heart does it really matter if you do

or do not vote for kerry in primaries hell

[JI7]

18. well, it matters if

you have a second choice that you prefer over the others left in the race. but in this case, it's connecticut, and kerry should do well there anyways (if not then there is a problem in his campaign). so i think he should vote for clark since he really wants to.

[Tom Rinaldo]

16. I am voting for Clark tomorrow in NY

My spirit needs that vote more than Kerry does. There is no way Kerry won't carry New York tomorrow. I likely would act otherwise if I had not been so active in the Clark campaign, if I were simply a voter like I have been in so many elections before this. Then I would vote for Kerry as a symbolic turning of the page, a formal entry into the next stage, the one where I know I will be fighting for Kerry's election in November,

But this time I need to cast my vote for the man who drew me so deeply into caring about this election, into working and fighting for what I believe in. I need to do that as an act of closure, and then I can let go and fall into line for the good of the Party and our country. My apologies to John Kerry, but I know I will be better prepared to climb on board and work for his victory if I first grant myself this last expression of my true allegiance in the 2004 campaign.

[WillyBrandt]

19. Thank you, Tom: It's catharsis, isn't it?

I'll feel better about jumping on the Kerry bandwagon if I could at least give electoral expression to my political activism.

It's my first campaign, so hell, I'll vote for Clark!

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. Yes. That's it exactly. n/t

[Renew Deal]

39. I voted for Clark today also.

But I spread the delegate votes around a little. I was very happy to do it.

[BootinUp]

21. Damn it

You are makin it hard for me to vote Kerry tomorrow :)

[Tom Rinaldo]

23. Living in GA where Kerry actually "needs" your vote...

Damn, that's heavy Karma. What did you do wrong in a past life to put you in such a bind? If you end up voting for Kerry I would send you a copy of my voting stub, or whatever they give me, if that helps. Of course it won't prove that my vote wasn't cast for Lieberman.

[BootinUp]

25. I got into plastics I guess

Big mistake huh!?


We will vote our consience tomorrow just like everyone else. I might not tell you who I voted for! ;)

[incapsulated]

24. Me too..

Kerry won't miss my vote.

I wanna vote for Wesley! :)

 
 

[DjTj]

17. Go into the polling booth with a coin!

Heads you vote for Kerry, Tails you vote for Clark.

If it lands on its side, vote for Edwards, okay?

[BootinUp]

22. Deal

If it lands on its side, its Edwards!

:toast:

[Blayde Starrfyre]

26. Suggestion

Vote for Ed . . . McMahon! Fooled you! :)

[arewethereyet]

27. in CT it doesn't matter

throw a dart

[mikehiggins]

28. A long term Clarkista?

Dude. He's only been in politics for less than a year. That's hardly enough time to qualify as "long term".

Whether the primary is close or not, you should vote for Clark. Not that it will make a difference to Kerry or Edwards, but it will help to testify to the fact that there were/are a lot of us who really thought/think Clark was the best man for the job.

The fact that others don't agree with us doesn't change a thing.

As to "personal satisfaction" vs "public good", this is ONLY the primary. If it was a question of choosing between Kerry vs George Bush then of course you should vote for Kerry. Ditto if the race becomes Edwards vs Bush, you vote for Edwards.

In the primary, though, you can still vote for the man you think is best suited to run this race and win in November.

That's what I'm going to do, you betcha.

[WillyBrandt]

29. You and Tom Rinaldo convinced me.

And long time is relative. Still, I'll be pissed off forever if I don't vote for Clark now, so hell with it! I'm voting Clark.

[troublemaker]

30. CT is a Kerry Blowout.

The best way to help Kerry there is to vote Clark which is essentially a ballot cast for VP

[newyawker99]

32. Hi troublemaker!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[John_H]

31. Depends on who you want for VP

If you want Clark to be VP, I say go ahead and vote for him, although the one or two percent he'll get in St states is highly unlikely to influence Kerry's decision.

[Nazgul35]

33. Vote your heart in the primary

but your head in the general...

No reason to shift your support from you desired candidate if they are on the ballot....

What are we all afraid of, that all 50 states will get a say in our candidate selection instead of 20?

[Polemonium]

34. Vote Clark

this things nearly wrapped up anyhow, you might as well vote for some representation in Boston.

[Lindsey]

35. When I think of the harm done since * was appointed...

I realize that we must deal with reality. NO ONE (except Ralph Nader) can POSSIBLY believe that the dems. would have done 1/2 of the harm to this planet that * has done. Therefore, I suggest you vote for Kerry (since you asked). We must all think of what's best for everyone.

[BL_Zebub]

36. If you're a Clarkista, vote for Clark.

And yes it would be a vote for the public good. Because the more facts are revealed, the more obvious is that a forced nomination of Kerry is absolutely NOT in the public good :evilfrown:

[HootieMcBoob]

37. I'm a long time Clark supporter

But I very happily voted for Kerry today. It wasn't the thrill I was hoping to get by pulling the lever for Clark, but I feel that I chose the best candidate to put up against Bush* next fall among those still running.

[Tom Rinaldo]

38. And I'm a long time Clark supporter also

Who just got back from voting for Clark in New York. It wasn't the thrill I was hoping to get by pulling the lever for Clark when he was actually fighting for the nomination lol. But I felt good about my vote. I don't think Kerry has to worry in New York. Now I completed Stage One of my personal Clark journey. I wrote to him asking him to run, and I voted for him when he did. For me it's Kerry from here on out as far as the 2004 Presidential race is concerned.

[TheDonkey]

40. As a Kerry supporter I'd say vote Clark

JK has Conn. in the bag and I'm sure Clark will appreciate your honorary vote.

[mgarretson]

41. My vote counts for all ya'll Clarkies...

I was lucky enough to be able to vote for Clark here in OK and watch the victory speech he made at a local hotel. If it helps, i'll share my vote with ya'll.

Wes Clark Democrats, :yourock:

Kerry and Clark in '04 baby!! All the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!

From Clark Country,
I'm Another Clarkie for Kerry!

[Auntie Bush]

42. I just voted for CLARK in VT

He was on the ballot! :) Didn't even have to write in his name.
But my DH voted for Dean. :( However my son voted for Clark too.
I converted him...:-) He used to be a Dean supporter.

I had such pleasure voting for Clark. Found myself with a smile from ear to ear. But as Tom said...now I'm ready to go all out for Kerry without feeling disloyal.

I wish Clark, Dean and Kerry good luck tonight. (DK too)

[Mz Pip]

43. I read this thread

before I voted, I decided to vote for Clark as my last hurrah. Here in CA Kerry will win no matter what anyway, so voting for Clark today was kind of an act of closure for me.

Tonight I've been invited to a Primary Party hosted by some Kerry people. They've been gracious in including us Clarkies so I will attend and give my support to Kerry here on out.

MzPip
:dem:

[tameszu]

44. Vote for Clark!

I live in CT, and I'm sure that Kerry has this state locked up nice and tight!

Where do you live, BTW--I helped coordinate New Haven.

Go Clark!

[NV1962]

45. In the primaries, vote for the General - in the GE, go ABB (Kerry) - n/t