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The Voters Who Stayed At Home
Political Realities ^ | 11/09/12 | LD Jackson

Posted on 11/09/2012 4:51:01 AM PST by LD Jackson

Perhaps I should have changed the title of this post to "The Americans Who Stayed At Home". That's really where this all lies. In the aftermath of the election, I was reading some posts on Facebook and came across one from someone I am related to. He and his wife shall remain nameless, but what they posted troubled me greatly. They basically congratulated President Obama for his victory and then wrote that they were proud of the fact that they did not vote. I could not believe what I was reading. How can any American citizen not have the desire to exercise the voice granted us by the United States Constitution? How can any American citizen not have the desire to vote in our electoral system?

I couldn't let that pass by (probably should have), so I commented that they should be ashamed of themselves. You know, with my usual discrete tactfulness. I was quickly informed that it was not an obligation that Americans vote. That if it were an obligation, it would not be freedom. Of course, they are technically right. It is a freedom of choice, whether we choose to vote or not. I responded that they were throwing away the sacrifices already paid so we could have that freedom and they said it was still their right and we would have to agree to disagree. I left well enough alone and did not respond, but my mind has been rolling, trying to get a handle on the attitude I saw displayed.

We all know many elections have a very small turnout. In an election of such importance, one would think that Americans would want to voice their opinion in the most powerful way available, but that is not the case. Mitt Romney received fewer votes than did John McCain. Barack Obama received fewer votes than he did in 2008. Do the majority of Americans simply not care about the direction of our country? I do not know the percentage of Americans who are actually registered to vote, but according to voting statistics that were certified early this year, there is a gap of 60 million people between the number of Americans who are eligible to vote and those who are not registered. There is a difference of over 15 million people between the number of Americans who are registered to vote and those who choose not to vote.

Some of these people are not doubt, disillusioned by the system. Many of them probably believe that it does no good to vote. Some of them probably do not care, as long as they are not troubled from their busy schedule. Almost 18% of those who choose not to vote cite conflicting schedules. With the number of ways we have to vote in America, that is a shame. There are also those who did not vote on November 6 because they did not like the choices. That is their privilege, but it does not take away from the fact that many of them chose not to make their opinions known by voting.

Where does that leave our country? I firmly believe America would not be in the shape it is in, if the people who should be voting actually exercised that right and voiced their opinions at the ballot box. We can complain about the system all we want, that it does not good to vote, but it would make a vast difference, if more of us came out to vote. For that, we have no one to blame but ourselves.


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: bho2012; gotv; romney2012; voters
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To: MeOnTheBeach

I thought Romney was breezing to victory also. Unreal.


61 posted on 11/09/2012 7:16:14 AM PST by Nascar Dad (ItÂ’s not the votes that count, itÂ’s who counts the votes.)
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To: Hoodat

The author is ignorant. There is no constitutional right to vote. Universal suffrage is a communist tool.


62 posted on 11/09/2012 7:19:48 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Leep

Your post has a familiar ring. “Hell no, we won’t go.”....and it’s ok because. Nobody thrust Romney on us. We had more people from every persuasion in our primaries than ever in history. Sarah Palin could have thrown her hat in and she didn’t do it. Instead she sat in the comfort of a tv studio and piously declared two of our distinguished candidates were involved in capital cronyism. She and her husband had it her way in South Carolina. Newt wasn’t really their guy, SHE was their guy, but they endorsed him based on anyone but the other guy. If an American citizen didn’t vote, there is no excuse. A former SEAL painted a target in Benghazi. No one came.We painted a target and people stayed home. I could throw up.. The kids stationed in Afghanistan needed us to cover their backs. They needed us to come out. You sit there giving excuses for those who failed them. . Mitt gave his all. He would have put our economy on track so those kids could have jobs when they get home. Paying attention to the creation of jobs is far more important than paying attention to the few who call themselves Gay. Mitt has five children and sixteen grandchildren. You think he SUPPORTS abortion, for God’s sake?? Mitt and Paul gave everything to this campaign and would have fought like hell to right our lost ship. You blame Romney for not “seriously including” your buddies. How sick is that? In the meanwhile, investigations into Fast and Furious and Benghazi will stall now. I don’t think I can stomach you “understanding” types anymore. You’re as bad as the 47%. What did the non voters achieve? What do they tell their kids?


63 posted on 11/09/2012 7:22:46 AM PST by FryingPan101 (Thanks, Mitt and Paul! Honest. Sincere. Patriots.)
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To: 5thGenTexan
You seem to have forgotten the more conservative candidates the GOP attacked in cooperation with the liberal media that many did not get a chance to vote for. He became the defacto candidate as the others were run out of the race. He was not elected by reason of popular vote - he was at or below 30% in the primaries.

Are you saying that we were not allowed to vote for the more conservative candidate?

I don't remember Newt or Santorum being run out of the race. I don't remember Bachmann being run out of the race.

He was not elected by reason of popular vote - he was at or below 30% in the primaries.

So you're saying that another candidate got more votes? Which?

Do you see all that Mitt has had to endure? All the lies. All the criticism?

How could those other candidates have survived the Obama attack machine when they couldn't even survive going head to head with other Republicans? Mitt Romney is squeaky clean and look what they did to him.
64 posted on 11/09/2012 7:27:08 AM PST by MeOnTheBeach
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To: Daveinyork

You’re probably right. Still, 100% in any precinct seems unlikely and 23 precincts with only 1 opposing vote seems statistically impossible.


65 posted on 11/09/2012 7:28:54 AM PST by econjack (Some people are as dumb as soup.)
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To: LD Jackson

I see no virtue in ignorant people voting. We have far too much of that right now. BTW, where do I go to get my Obamaphone?


66 posted on 11/09/2012 7:32:59 AM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: Daveinyork
What GOP leadership foisted Romney on you? I can tell you I live in Iowa and there was fierce competition for my vote. I was free to vote for anyone I wanted.

The kabuki dance is already starting and I'm not ready for it but it's time to stop blaming "the establishment" if you're unhappy and realize that Romney was chosen by primary voters. If the evil "establishment" controlled this, the parade wouldn't already be beginning.

67 posted on 11/09/2012 7:38:36 AM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: FryingPan101

I only gave that as a possible ratinale..that is if the election wasn’t a complete voter fraud.
Like I said in my next post if it was fraud..even if we could prove it ..it seems like we are powerless to do anythng about it.
We got nowhere with the 0’s Birth Cirtificate or Fast and Furious or the crazed spending..??? Noone in this whole admin has been accountable for anything.
Again, if it is not voter fraud or manipulation..IF someone can prove it please do..than another good possibility is we lost fight between “freebies” vs freedom.

yep, I had a sick stomach for a couple days,too.
Our Military as well as ObamaCare and SC appointments.


68 posted on 11/09/2012 7:38:49 AM PST by Leep (Are you smarter than a 7th grade math student and or Barack 0bama?)
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To: MeOnTheBeach

110% of the total voting age population from what I understand


69 posted on 11/09/2012 7:40:42 AM PST by trussell (I carry because...When seconds count between life and death, the police are only minutes away)
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To: Cboldt
The author is ignorant. There is no constitutional right to vote.

The author never offered the premise that voting is a constitutional right.

70 posted on 11/09/2012 7:45:11 AM PST by Hoodat ("As for God, His way is perfect" - Psalm 18:30)
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To: Hoodat
-- The author never offered the premise that voting is a constitutional right. --

They basically congratulated President Obama for his victory and then wrote that they were proud of the fact that they did not vote. I could not believe what I was reading. How can any American citizen not have the desire to exercise the voice granted us by the United States Constitution? How can any American citizen not have the desire to vote in our electoral system?

71 posted on 11/09/2012 7:55:31 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: MeOnTheBeach
Are you saying that we were not allowed to vote for the more conservative candidate?

Yes, I am saying that I did not have any choices in the Tezxas primary.

I don't remember Newt or Santorum being run out of the race. I don't remember Bachmann being run out of the race.

You don't remember the Republican Establishment attacking Bachmann? You don't remember Cain being run out? You don't remember Perry being run out?

You don't remember all the pundits parroting the "electability" shtick against whoever was in the lead until Romney was all that was left?

72 posted on 11/09/2012 8:26:49 AM PST by 5thGenTexan
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma

BTW, where do I go to get my Obamaphone?

http://obamaphone.net/


73 posted on 11/09/2012 8:30:13 AM PST by Neidermeyer
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To: MeOnTheBeach

those results of Mia’s do not add up and she should have demanded a recount and inspection of the votes as no one can be in double digits two days before an election and then lose like she did


74 posted on 11/09/2012 8:42:36 AM PST by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: Leep

we get no where and stopping this corruption because our side likes ot attack our own, our side is scared of upsetting the left as they know the left gets their attack dogs called the media to go after them.

If we had Allen West, Sarah and many more like them then we’d have a party of guts instead we get that millions did not vote , that republicans did not vote and ignore our eyes and how the crowds were or how the counties got all votes for obama, no sir we get lets reach out

and if I hear FOX saying compromise one more frigging time the TV gets kicked in


75 posted on 11/09/2012 8:48:14 AM PST by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: Neidermeyer

agreed there is no way obama got FL, he came to Tampa and got less than 5000 and yet he wins that area, NO CHANCE.


76 posted on 11/09/2012 9:54:26 AM PST by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: 5thGenTexan
You don't remember the Republican Establishment attacking Bachmann? You don't remember Cain being run out? You don't remember Perry being run out?

You don't remember all the pundits parroting the "electability" shtick against whoever was in the lead until Romney was all that was left?


What I'm getting from this conversation, is that the rest the candidates couldn't handle any criticism. No one was "run out". They quit.

The pundits shouldn't have given their opinion? They are citizens and are paid to give their opinions. It's up to the candidate to answer criticism.

IMO, Rich Perry is an awesome governor. I loved what he told the UN observers. But he has a public image problem. And he totally lost it in the primary debates.

And...sending your preacher out to say that 6 or 7 million of your own voting base is part of a cult and going to hell was just pure stupid. Especially when you're going to need their vote in the general election.

You need to remember something, those people have family, they have neighbors, they have friends, and work colleagues. Not to mention people that just don't like hearing another group getting berated.

So, if the candidate gets up and insults a group of people like Perry's campaign did, that has an effect on everyone that group has contact with.
77 posted on 11/09/2012 9:59:00 AM PST by MeOnTheBeach
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma

By the time I got to vote in a primary, the only candidates left were Paul and Romney. Gingrich and Perry embarrassed themselves with their attacks on Bain. All the conservatives were out.

And, yes you, in Iowa, had all the choices, but what did any of them matter? Half of all delegates are chosen by party regulars, not primaries.


78 posted on 11/09/2012 10:04:33 AM PST by Daveinyork (."Trusting government with power and money is like trusting teenaged boys with whiskey and car keys,)
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To: manc

Secede from the Union?

We seriously expect the same people who brought of to economic collapse to fix the mess they created?
Actually, they are not fixing it..they are adding to our misery.


79 posted on 11/09/2012 10:06:58 AM PST by Leep (Are you smarter than a 7th grade math student and or Barack 0bama?)
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To: MeOnTheBeach
Do you really think candidates should endure the level of attack that Palin did?

Yes, they quit. They saw the writing on the wall; saw we conservatives would not stand with them, and chose to not sacrifice themselves for those who would sit silently and watch them and their families be publicly lynched.

Yes, pundits can have their opinions. They are also responsible for the reactions to those opinions. They demanded a RINO and got one. But they cannot coerce people to vote. And they wer etold loud and clear after 2008 "NO MORE".

But you seem to not hold them to account for ignoring the will of the conservative voter; you only criticize the conservative voter for having the courage to vote his or her convictions.

Sounds like the Republicans want a voter plantation like the Democrats have, but are trying to use the fear of "greater evil" rather than "lost entitlements" to keep them in line.

80 posted on 11/09/2012 10:11:34 AM PST by 5thGenTexan
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