General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Considering what's at stake, can we put the Obama criticisms on hold until after the election? [View all]Sirveri
(4,517 posts)A vote for Jill Stein (Green) is not a vote for Rmoney. A vote for Obama is a vote for Obama. A vote that would have gone to Obama that goes 3rd party is one less vote for Obama. A vote for Rmoney from Obama is TWO votes away from Obama, because Obama goes down one and Rmoney goes up one (net swing of two as opposed to one).
So by simple math they are not the same as a 'direct' vote.
The next issue is the message this sends in states that are 'secure', if we actually were to see large pick ups of 3rd party Liberal/progressive parties it might actually send a message to the Democratic party establishment to start moving back to the left before they totally disenfranchise their base. I say secure because there is no way in hell I'd advise this to anyone living in a swing state. So basically Washington (state and DC), CA, NY (most of New England), and Hawaii, hey why not, even with a ten point swing towards a liberal 3rd party Obama still wins the state (in my case with a comfortable 13 point lead, if they voted Romney instead it would be a tight 3 point lead), this also encourages voters to get out and actually go and vote and since they're voting pull the lever for the other Democrats on the line even if they're pissed at Obama.