Make Money on your blog or
site with Snowton
Speaking With Our Vote
Dateline: 03/13/98
Elections are popping up all over the United States. Here in California I'm finally going to get rid of Governor Pete Wilson (due to term limits), and replace him with any one of a number of other imperfect people who are running in an "open" primary (the first time that California has had this form of primary, where one votes for a candidate regardless of party, with the top vote getter for each party then runs in the general election).
In deciding how to cast my votes, I take a lot of factors into account. An initial consideration is always party affiliation. Not because I'm tied into a party, but rather because one party has always seemed closer to my belief system than any other. I am, and always have been, a registered Democrat. I have voted for one Republican in my life, the current mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan.
Looking at the party affiliation generally provides me with a starting point for issues.
Here are my stands on some of the issues that are important to me, in alphabetical order:
Abortion - Pro Choice
Death Penalty - Against
Education Funding - Our future
GLBT Rights - Pro
Gun Control - Pro
Health Care - For all
Additionally, I have problems with candidates who are going to "reform welfare" without a plan that protects people like the parents of my son's friend, who have looked for work for well over a year, and are now losing their home. I believe that society as a whole has an obligation to those who have less and/or are in trouble.
I also won't cast my vote for anybody who believes that all our ills can be solved by getting rid of "them" aka immigrants. Legal or otherwise, I believe that the Statue of Liberty means something, and that the poem doesn't read, "Give me your wealthy, your well-rested and dressed....." This country gained its strength from immigrants and immigration. We got ours, so nobody else should? No, it says, "...Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
What becomes difficult is that it is rare that a candidate agrees with me on all my important issues. As it is, I'm probably going to be casting my primary vote for Governor for a woman (Jane Harman) who, for example, is pro-choice, but also supports the death penalty. My biggest problem with Ms. Harman is her support of "Three-Strikes" which might have been well-intentioned but in action has wronged many.
If I had to be a "one-issue" voter, I would very likely choose GLBT rights. Not only is it a very personal, therefore important, issue, but any candidate who was willing to openly and firmly support our rights, is most likely a candidate with whom I would agree on most other issues. A candidate who is not swayed by prejudice, and willing to take stands that might hurt them come election time is my kind of candidate.
Excellent ways to obtain more information about the candidates from whom you get to choose, so that you may make your informed decision, include:
A state by state review of all GLBT legislation in 1997.
Emily's List
Calling itself a "Political Network for Pro-Choice Democratic Women" there are endorsements and position papers for candidates nationwide.
Human Rights Campaign: Take Action
Look up how your representatives voted on GLBT issues.
Log Cabin Republicans
The national gay Republican club allows you to link up with a local chapter. Perhaps that conservative candidate
is right for you.
Project Vote Smart
Tracking the performance of over 13,000 political leaders, you can use this resource to find out how you are being represented.
Stonewall Democratic Club (California)
National GLBT Democratic club's California branch. I couldn't find a national site, but I couldn't leave Stonewall off the list.
Remember my motto: Vote early and vote often.
In Pride,
Deborah
