Is it more important to have a candidate who can win or one who will represent your beliefs?

[jorno67]

Poll question: Is it more important to have a candidate who can win or one who will represent your beliefs?

It seems these days that we can't have a "peoples champion" who is also electable...so
since we can't have both (cause it doesn't exists) which is more important:

[CakeGrrl]

1. How well did Grayson and Feingold represent on the debt deal?

[drpepper67]

8. Far left or far right will never get their way 100%

A wise person knows to pick their battles.

Progress is made one step at a time.

Getting on base is better than striking out swinging for a homerun.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Both of them, Feingold in particular, have won elections

so you can not say 'they can not be elected'. Because they were. And my elected officials did pretty well on the debt deal, thanks, two out of three voted No. DeFazio and Merkley. Love them.

[jwirr]

22. In their own states. That said I would vote for either of them. I agree

though that we need to win to be able to influence anything. We have spent most of the years since raygun setting in the back seat while they ignored us. I do not believe at this point that we have anyone who will challenge Obama and I do think he can win if we all come out and vote for him. And I am frustrated with that.

[catbyte]

2. Wow, what a choice. Both are soul-sucking.

[William769]

3. Other.

I believe we can still have a candidate who will serve the people and still win.

If I didn't believe that there is no sense in living.

[Marrah_G]

4. with a choice like that why bother?

[SidDithers]

5. A candidate who can win and represents some of your beliefs...

is better than a candidate who represents all of your beliefs, but loses.

Sid

[Bluenorthwest]

12. And yet, that was not the question asked at all....

nt

[SidDithers]

20. And yet, there is clearly an "other" option in the poll....nt

Sid

[woodsprite]

6. Right now, I don't care whether it would be a Dem or Repub

if they cared about our country and could get it to make a U-turn from this hell-hole we're heading into. Now, saying that, I don't know of any repub who cares enough to do that. The problem seems to be there are only about half (or less) of the Dems in Congress that care enough also.

You can't do anything unless you win. And sometimes you can't do anything even if you do win.

[Solly Mack]

7. siding with the darkside ( "too often" or enough) IS giving power to the darkside.

[PeaceNikki]

9. There will NEVER be one who I align with 100%. Ever. Feingold is closest.

So... I want a candidate who will win and is closest to my beliefs.

[seeker4ever]

11. You slowly end up with the same destination as the "Dark Side" except your eyes have time to adjust

This is in essence a lobby to vote "lesser-evil". As I see it, it only works when there can be an END to it. When you continue this tact you slowly end up with the same destination as the "Dark Side" except your eyes have time to adjust.

On the other hand... let's say the Dark Side wins (ie as with George W. Bush on '00), would the Left allow this Dark Side to play around with Social Programs, continue torture, leave war crimes unpunished?

I'm just askin'

[MineralMan]

13. Other: I don't like push-poling.

Hobson's choice is no choice at all.

[TheKentuckian]

14. If a candidate doesn't represent my values there is no winning for me.

[Old Codger]

23. but

Jf the candidate that wins is a total opposite of your beliefes and principles you lose big time, if the winner is at least 50% onyour side you win some. Seems like somewhat of a win then, you or I willnecer get someone who is 100% in line with us. IMHO, I would actually be leery of someone who was just what I wanted them to be.

[TheKentuckian]

25. I feel fairly similar. The problem is 50% isn't within eye shot.

[Old Codger]

26. agreed

Lucky to get 25% and that's a stretch.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. I'm with these guys and their thoughts on the question posed.

"Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man." Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." John Quincy Adams

[MineralMan]

16. Having never found a single politician who represents all of

my beliefs, it is impossible to vote anything but "Other" in this poll. Maybe someone has found a politician who represents all of his or her beliefs. I'd like to hear from that someone.

[killbotfactory]

17. Getting as many people in power who are favorable to left-wing causes is what matters.

You can't do that by only running people who parrot the left-wing line but have no ability to win an election.

[ixion]

18. Push poll much?

The 'Dark Side' thanks you for your support.

[jorno67]

19. is it really a push poll when there is an "other" option with the opportunity to say

whatever you want as part of the poll - available to everyone to read. The poll question is asked in that manner because I believe many people feel the same way. I know not everyone does - but then I guess that's why people can post their thoughts and share what they believe is true.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

21. Vote my conscience and see the other side win or vote for those who make the other side win

I'm sleeping in the 1st tuesday of every other november

[Lucinda]

24. Other obviously :)

I'd like someone who is honest about what they support, vocal about it, and actually follows through while in office. Will they always succeed? No. But they were elected because of what they said they believed. They should honor that, and if their opinion changes, they should make it clear WHY. I'm seriously tired of the games.

[Raine]

27. Couldn't respond to poll because of non-serious options

:-(