pro-life dem write-in candidates in No. Va.?

[2cats]

Hi, this question is specific to any forum members who live in Northern Virginia/Fairfax County. I’m looking for SOMEONE I can write in, in good conscience, as a candidate in the 2010 midterm House election. I’m strongly Democratic on all issues except abortion. Trust me, there is NO ONE on the ballot who is palatable. As a Catholic, I can’t vote for the incumbent Dem. But I refuse to vote for his extremely right-wing opponent. I can’t believe it comes to this, but my choices to avoid possible mortal sin are (1) abstain, or (2) write somebody in. I have no idea how to go about identifying a suitable write-in candidate. Any resources you can direct me to would be greatly appreciated! (I also e-mailed Democrats for Life and hope they can give me some info.) Thanks!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Is the Republican pro-life? If so, you need to get over your labels of extremely right-wing and vote for him.

 

[ProVobis]

Hi, this question is specific to any forum members who live in Northern Virginia/Fairfax County. I’m looking for SOMEONE I can write in, in good conscience, as a candidate in the 2010 midterm House election. I’m strongly Democratic on all issues except abortion. Trust me, there is NO ONE on the ballot who is palatable. As a Catholic, I can’t vote for the incumbent Dem. But I refuse to vote for his extremely right-wing opponent. I can’t believe it comes to this, but my choices to avoid possible mortal sin are (1) abstain, or (2) write somebody in. I have no idea how to go about identifying a suitable write-in candidate. Any resources you can direct me to would be greatly appreciated! (I also e-mailed Democrats for Life and hope they can give me some info.) Thanks!

They should help you out at the polling place or you can find out beforehand. Usually there is a list of candidates and you can always research the individuals. There was one time when they allowed to write anyone’s name in but it had to be spelled right, legible, with the person’s address on the back of the ticket.

I have an easier job. I have a Democrat on the ballot who’s more pro-life than the incumbent Republican who does nothing but negative campaign. Slam dunk for me.

 

[RosaryFan]

Hi, this question is specific to any forum members who live in Northern Virginia/Fairfax County. I’m looking for SOMEONE I can write in, in good conscience, as a candidate in the 2010 midterm House election. I’m strongly Democratic on all issues except abortion. Trust me, there is NO ONE on the ballot who is palatable. As a Catholic, I can’t vote for the incumbent Dem. But I refuse to vote for his extremely right-wing opponent. I can’t believe it comes to this, but my choices to avoid possible mortal sin are (1) abstain, or (2) write somebody in. I have no idea how to go about identifying a suitable write-in candidate. Any resources you can direct me to would be greatly appreciated! (I also e-mailed Democrats for Life and hope they can give me some info.) Thanks!

Hi. I don’t believe you need a name of an actual person. For instance, I heard of someone in our State voting for “Pro-Life Annie”, or something like that. Obviously, it’s to make a point, not to actually elect this person (since you’re the only one voting for them), but I am pretty sure you can do that.

 

[2cats]

RealJuliane, I find it interesting that you know absolutely nothing about the candidate I’m describing, yet you assume that “extreme right wing” is merely a “label” that I need to “get over.” I do not need to “get over” it. What I need to do, and am permitted to do by my own conscience AND the Church, is write in a candidate I DO believe in or abstain from voting period if I can’t support either candidate.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Why are you refusing to vote for a candidate if he is pro-life? Are you doing the twist and turn that many Catholic Democrats do - if you can’t vote for a Democrat because he or she is pro-abortion, you will never cross the line and vote for a Republican? Even if that Republican will fight to save the unborn? I find this fascinating. I don’t really consider myself of either party, but I do find that the Republican Party usually includes those who are pro-life, while the Democrat Party platform includes unlimited access to abortion on demand. I suppose in theory there could be a pro-life Democrat, but that would mean going against the party’s stated platform. I haven’t found a Democrat who would stand up for the unborn yet.

I don’t like to hear anyone say they are not going to vote. Our duty to vote is part of our precious freedom in this nation, and many have died to preserve that liberty. It doesn’t matter what side you are on, you should vote…

 

[PetersKeys]

Hi, this question is specific to any forum members who live in Northern Virginia/Fairfax County. I’m looking for SOMEONE I can write in, in good conscience, as a candidate in the 2010 midterm House election. I’m strongly Democratic on all issues except abortion. Trust me, there is NO ONE on the ballot who is palatable. As a Catholic, I can’t vote for the incumbent Dem. But I refuse to vote for his extremely right-wing opponent. I can’t believe it comes to this, but my choices to avoid possible mortal sin are (1) abstain, or (2) write somebody in. I have no idea how to go about identifying a suitable write-in candidate. Any resources you can direct me to would be greatly appreciated! (I also e-mailed Democrats for Life and hope they can give me some info.) Thanks!

I have to agree(although being a democrat you don’t really help fight abortion as the Democrat cause is for abortion). I’m a paleo-conservative and the only candidates that I liked were Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter. Although I mostly proscribe my political views closest to Pat Buchanan. I’m not gonna go against my values to vote for someone I don’t believe in. Obama was a pro-abortion nut and McCain was a war-monger. Why should Americans have to settle for less?

 

[2cats]

RealJuliane, a couple of points about what you characterize as the “twist and turn” of a Catholic Democrat.

First, I never said I would never vote Republican (and in fact I have, though not often). What I said is that I would not consider voting for this particular Republican.

Second, when you cast a vote, you’re making an affirmative statement of support for that candidate. Neither candidate on the ballot in this race is someone I can support – the Dem because of his views on abortion, the Repub because of his views on everything else. Both candidates are abhorrent to me, for different reasons. I shouldn’t have to “settle” for one of them. That’s the whole point of writing someone in - and the point of my original post.

Third, it’s easy for people to say just “get over it” (your exact words in your first response to me) if the pro-life candidate is someone they probably would have supported anyway on other issues. I don’t know if that’s the case for you generally, but I’m just saying that it’s not so easy for some of us who have strong views the other direction.

Finally, I apologize to everyone on this forum for discussing politics here. I just saw the instruction that said don’t discuss politics! Oops.

 

[Aboveallbereal]

RealJuliane, I find it interesting that you know absolutely nothing about the candidate I’m describing, yet you assume that “extreme right wing” is merely a “label” that I need to “get over.” I do not need to “get over” it. What I need to do, and am permitted to do by my own conscience AND the Church, is write in a candidate I DO believe in or abstain from voting period if I can’t support either candidate.

In what ways is he extreme right wing?

Do you really disagree with him on “everything”?. EG do you disagree with what I assume are his pro life views? If the answer is no as I assume it is then you do NOT disagree with him on Everything.

 

[2cats]

AboveAllBeReal, you misread my post. I didn’t say I disagreed with him on “everything.” I said I disagreed with the Dem on abortion and disagreed with the Repub on “everything else.”

 

[Ridgerunner]

Second, when you cast a vote, you’re making an affirmative statement of support for that candidate. .

I would respectfully disagree with this, at least in part. When you cast a vote, no matter what it is, the affirmative statement element of it is lost to all but yourself. What it really is, is an affirmative act. Candidate “X” is pro-abortion, let’s say. You vote against him in order to defeat him and to keep him from doing things to promote abortion, not to make a statement.

Statements, we make in places like CAF. What we do in the voting booth is an affirmative act directly intended to promote life or defeat the culture of death, or both. If we vote for “prolife Annie”, the statement is lost and the act is useless.

 

[Aboveallbereal]

AboveAllBeReal, you misread my post. I didn’t say I disagreed with him on “everything.” I said I disagreed with the Dem on abortion and disagreed with the Repub on “everything else.”

Thank you. On re reading your post I see that I did indeed mistake what you said.

Remember that the Dem. suppport for abortion is not the only anti family position they hold. Remember that the Rep dislike of abortion is not the only pro family position they hold. Please do not think I am patronising in saying keep in mind that defence of family is largely characterised as “right wing nuttery” in the liberal media.

Is that what the Rep is guilty of?

I ask this with no party affiliation. I am not American and am uninterested in Dem V Rep per se.

 

[2cats]

Calling it an act rather than a statement, just because it’s done in secret ballot, doesn’t change anything for me. It would still be an act of support for someone whose views I find abhorrent.

 

[RosaryFan]

What we do in the voting booth is an affirmative act directly intended to promote life or defeat the culture of death, or both. If we vote for “prolife Annie”, the statement is lost and the act is useless.

Well, maybe writing in a vote for fictitious “Prolife Annie” would be more approriate if BOTH candidates were pro-abortion. However, sometimes we accomplish very little by voting for the candidates that are offered to us and we need to make a statement… such as “I’m not voting for the garbage choices you give me, so I’m writing in ‘Prolife Annie’, a fictitious character who is better than what is being offered, whoever she is.”

 

[Ridgerunner]

Well, maybe writing in a vote for fictitious “Prolife Annie” would be more approriate if BOTH candidates were pro-abortion. However, sometimes we accomplish very little by voting for the candidates that are offered to us and we need to make a statement… such as “I’m not voting for the garbage choices you give me, so I’m writing in ‘Prolife Annie’, a fictitious character who is better than what is being offered, whoever she is.”

I understand your point, if both were pro-abortion. I have yet to see what the OP considers unacceptable positions to the point that he finds voting for the prolife person morally repugnant. But my understanding of what the Church teaches is that the position of the prolife candidate has to be equally evil to abortion before we can vote for the pro-abortion candidate or fail to vote against him. It’s possible, I guess, that some right winger might espouse something equally evil to abortion, but I haven’t seen one yet.

I’ll add that it has been my observation that most Catholics who have moral objections to some prolife conservative are really basing their objections on something that is within our “prudential judgment” to decide; like the war in Iraq or the amount of welfare benefits or unionization or something like that. There is no room for “prudential judgment” regarding abortion. The same would be true of opposing a pro-abortion Republican running against a prolife Democrat (if there really are any)

The real question in this thread, though, is whether failing to OPPOSE a pro-abortion candidate is morally acceptable. To me, throwing away one’s vote is failing to oppose indisputable evil; comparable to failing to stop someone from murdering “X” because “X” throws his trash out on the highway, and reporting “X” for littering instead. Throwing away one’s vote because of disagreements about “prudential judgments” is not, in my opinion, anywhere close to a sufficient reason to refuse to oppose evil. And, I think the Church’s position is exactly that.

I doubt it will matter to the OP, because I doubt he can overcome his repugnance to the Repub candidate. But I’m going to at least say that I am a “cradle Democrat” and held party office. The Democrat party has changed a lot since I was an activist, but I still believe in many of the old principles, though, I’ll admit, not with the actual practices of the party as it now is. But once the Democrat party married itself to abortion, I could no longer support it, hold office in it, or vote for its candidates, nor could I fail to vote against them or support their opponents. If a prolife Democrat came along, particularly if he espoused the policies of the “old party” in which I once held office, I would do differently, but there hasn’t been one on my ballot for years and years.

 

[2cats]

The issues on which I disagree with the Repub candidate are not the “non-negotiable” life issues. Instead, they are war, immigration, gun control, taxes, social welfare programs, repeal of the amendment allowing direct election of senators, etc. Some of you may scoff at these, but they are important to me. They are, however, issues the Church considers matters of prudence. As such, they aren’t sufficient to allow me to vote for the Democrat. I get all that! But that is not what I’m proposing to do. My original post asked if there are any pro-life Dems I could write in. I’m not at all sure that the Church requires me to affirmatively vote for the Repub. No one has yet given me a reason why writing in the name of a pro-life Democrat (if I can find one) would not be morally permissible!

Also, see the “Ask an Apologist” answer to “What if the candidate supporting the non-negotiables is bad,” which seems to suggest that voting for an unwinnable candidate or abstaining are both permissible options. That question involved issues of competency rather than personal repugnance, which is why I don’t think it is on all fours with my question. But for those of you who think there is a no-holds-barred, no-exceptions rule that we must always affirmatively vote for the pro-life candidate, I beg to differ.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Thanks for being honest and open about your mental process, 2cats. I apologize for my short and flip answer to you about “getting over it.” You see, my frustration is that Catholics voted for Barack Obama in about the same percentage as the general public, yet that man is the most pro-abortion Senator ever, and even voted to deny any medical care to a baby born alive during an abortion! He referred to a baby as “punishment!” NO CATHOLIC should have voted for that man!



The way I am understanding the subject is that by voting against the pro-life candidate you are by default, voting FOR the pro-abortion one. Especially by withholding your vote from a candidate who does believe in the 5 non-negotiables, you then help ensure that his opponent is elected.

And here’s how I understand it, anyone is free to correct me if I am wrong. If there is a candidate who is pro-abortion, pro-stem cell research, etc. and one who is not, you are as a Catholic obligated to vote for the one who does not support any of the 5 non-negotiables. If neither candidate supports the 5 non-negotiables, then you are free to consider other factors such as social policies, and find the one that is most in agreement with the Church. But if one candidate (or more than one) supports euthanasia, abortion, stem-cell research, etc. you MUST NOT vote for that person and you MUST support the one who is against them.

No one can force you to vote in any way, it is your private decision. But you do need to understand why you are voting politically and not as a Catholic first and foremost.

 

[2cats]

Thanks, RealJuliane. I see what you’re saying - that failing to vote for one indirectly supports the other. Still, I’ve read plenty saying that I must not vote for the pro-abortion candidate. But I haven’t seen anything from the Church saying I must vote for the pro-life candidate. I think it’s interesting that the Catholic voters’ guides I’ve seen, and all the various bishops’ statements about what a Catholic voter can and can’t do, seem to stop short of that. And then there’s the apologist post I mentioned above. If it sounds like I’m being hypertechnical and looking for a loophole here, well, maybe I am. I just refuse to vote for this guy unless it would be a mortal sin not to. Anyway, thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[PetersKeys]

The issues on which I disagree with the Repub candidate are not the “non-negotiable” life issues. Instead, they are war, immigration, gun control, taxes, social welfare programs, repeal of the amendment allowing direct election of senators, etc. Some of you may scoff at these, but they are important to me. They are, however, issues the Church considers matters of prudence. As such, they aren’t sufficient to allow me to vote for the Democrat. I get all that! But that is not what I’m proposing to do. My original post asked if there are any pro-life Dems I could write in. I’m not at all sure that the Church requires me to affirmatively vote for the Repub. No one has yet given me a reason why writing in the name of a pro-life Democrat (if I can find one) would not be morally permissible!

Also, see the “Ask an Apologist” answer to “What if the candidate supporting the non-negotiables is bad,” which seems to suggest that voting for an unwinnable candidate or abstaining are both permissible options. That question involved issues of competency rather than personal repugnance, which is why I don’t think it is on all fours with my question. But for those of you who think there is a no-holds-barred, no-exceptions rule that we must always affirmatively vote for the pro-life candidate, I beg to differ.

Its because many voters “settle” for the lesser evil is the reason why we have so many bad candidates in the first place.

Can you imagine if everyone refused to vote because neither candidate was acceptable? The system would change for the better. But because we settle the government is able to force the voters…

So while some may think not voting is counterproductive the same exact opposite could be said too. People shouldn’t have to choose between a pro-abortionist and a war monger. That is simply unacceptable and people should withhold their votes until something changes.

Although this would work much better if Catholics followed the precepts of the Church in their voting booths. With over 50% of American Catholics thinking contraception is ok and voting for Obama I don’t think we will ever be able to get a candidate that truly reflects Catholic morality unless these cafeteria Catholics wake up. Some Catholics have been enormous contributors to the support of abortion, like Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Kennedys, and William Brennan.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The way I am understanding the subject is that by voting against the pro-life candidate you are by default, voting FOR the pro-abortion one. Especially by withholding your vote from a candidate who does believe in the 5 non-negotiables, you then help ensure that his opponent is elected.

And here’s how I understand it, anyone is free to correct me if I am wrong. If there is a candidate who is pro-abortion, pro-stem cell research, etc. and one who is not, you are as a Catholic obligated to vote for the one who does not support any of the 5 non-negotiables. If neither candidate supports the 5 non-negotiables, then you are free to consider other factors such as social policies, and find the one that is most in agreement with the Church. But if one candidate (or more than one) supports euthanasia, abortion, stem-cell research, etc. you MUST NOT vote for that person and you MUST support the one who is against them.

No one can force you to vote in any way, it is your private decision. But you do need to understand why you are voting politically and not as a Catholic first and foremost.

I agree with this. If you’re going to fight evil, then FIGHT it! Making a personal statement by throwing your vote to the wind is ducking the real fight and is, in my view, an expression of personal vanity.