Can I choose between the greater of two goods? Please.

October 5, 2006 11:23 AM

If a political canididate demonstrates that he or she is most definitely not cut out for the job but is running with the political party which you find most inoffensive, what if any options exist?

I was recently contacted (via door to door campaigning of all things) by a political candidate. Well actually my roommate talked with him. My roommate being new to the area asked the candidate where the polling place for the neighborhood was located. The candidate did not know. The roommate related this story to me and showed me the campaign literature was so poorly written and so uniformative as to his stand on given issues I was driven to his website.

His website I found was equally ill excecuted, but there was a section for comments. I left one stating I could not possibly vote for him as his literature was not compelling enough. I left my phone number. He called later that day. I informed of the issues that I saw with his campaign materials. And he started making excuses. Pretty poor ones I might add. Bottom line I guess is: Am I asking too much that a local politician be able to go toe to toe with an average schmuck like me. I mean I knocked him off his talking points with ease. Do I have to vote for the other guy on principle? I need to vote for someone who debates more adroitly than myself. Am I wrong?

posted by SinisterPurpose to law & government (18 comments total)

Vote third party. It's good for the soul.

Alternately, maybe it's better to elect someone who ISN'T a great politician. Politicians may be charming, but you have to wonder who else they're smarming up to.
posted by muddgirl at 11:27 AM on October 5, 2006

Well, you should probably just take a deep breath and vote for the douche anyway.

On the other hand, turd sandwich makes some good points...

(This is a real answer, despite it's appearance. Option 3 - vote for someone else entirely. Option 4 - don't vote. How many options do you need?)
posted by Aquaman at 11:35 AM on October 5, 2006

Have you considered disregarding party politics altogether?

It disturbs me that his complete ineptitude doesn't quite offset the fact that you have bought his product branding hook line and sinker.

Perhaps it would serve you best to research all running candidates, regardless of party or lack thereof.
posted by Willie0248 at 11:41 AM on October 5, 2006

(was there a response deleted?)

1) don't vote
2) vote 3rd party
3) vote Write-in
4) vote the party ticket


not much else is there?
posted by edgeways at 11:42 AM on October 5, 2006

One thing to remember is the guy applying for the job to represent you, not win a contest on style points. It's to his credit that he called you to discuss your web comment. And since local politics usually don't pay well if at all, the time and money he spends on his campaign and the time he spends at local meetings are his own, so at least you know he wants the job.

As long as this candidate understands the issues and aligns with your position, he should be okay to vote for. It's also your "job" to get involved by giving him feedback once elected.

As an aside, many local and state reps where I live are retired folks or students.
posted by SteveInMaine at 11:42 AM on October 5, 2006

A lot of it depends on the office. Is the schmoe running for a body where individual merit counts for something, or one where it's all about numbers and party discipline (think US Senate vs US House for examples, although you say the person's "local")? If the only bottom-line consequence is how many votes Party X can count on for a given bill/ordinance/what have you, then hold your nose and vote for the guy.
posted by COBRA! at 11:44 AM on October 5, 2006

If he lets you get a word in edgeways and doesn't parrot a prepared line then he may well be worth another look. Where I live I'd be happy if they were all able to locate a clothes shop, a barber and a dentist before going into the public sphere.
posted by biffa at 11:47 AM on October 5, 2006

just remember that the other guy may be just as poorly equipped for the job but may have more professional people helping his campaign ... on the plus side, those more professional people may also help him do his job once he's in ... on the minus side, those more professional people may have their own agenda ...
posted by pyramid termite at 11:48 AM on October 5, 2006

Edgeways is right, you are definitely free to abstain or write someone in if you're unsatisfied with the slate of candidates on the ballot.

But this guy wants your vote enough to have called you! Even in local elections, that kind of thing is very rare, and bodes well for your future hope of influencing his position. Most politicians -- even local politicians -- couldn't care less about what their constituents think, at least beyond how it impacts their ability to get elected. Even if his literature is unrefined, this sounds like the best kind of politician: someone who will talk to and actually listen to a constituent. I'd put extra weight on this when making a decision.
posted by dseaton at 11:54 AM on October 5, 2006

Who cares how nice or awful his campaign materials were or what party he belongs to? The issues you should be concerned with are the ones he will be making decisions on if elected. Do you agree or disagree with him on those?
posted by revgeorge at 11:58 AM on October 5, 2006

Don't vote FOR someone you like. Vote AGAINST people you don't like.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:24 PM on October 5, 2006

You seem very caught up in this man's candidacy. Why not volunteer to help him improve his campaign materials?
posted by Carol Anne at 1:43 PM on October 5, 2006

Party Shmarty! Vote for the person you think will make the best decisions.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 1:46 PM on October 5, 2006

"My roommate being new to the area asked the candidate where the polling place for the neighborhood was located. The candidate did not know."

I'm sorry, but what?

That seems like a really crazy little thing to get upset about. You don't want to vote for the guy because he's can't give you directions to the polling place? Unless he's running for the office of That Guy Who Gives Directions, it's probably not integral to the job he's running for. Tell your roommate to call the City Clerk.

Do you know anything about this candidate, other than that you don't like his conversational style? Does he have a track record in another office? Has he been taking consistant stands on important issues, or does he tell people what they want to hear? Does he have a post-victory agenda, or is he just running to fill a line on the ballot?

Those are the kind of things you should be worried about. Honestly, it sounds like you're getting ready to cast your vote based on petty reasons. In that case, you are wrong.
posted by faster than a speeding bulette at 1:47 PM on October 5, 2006

I'm impressed by any candidate who does his own door-to-door, and who calls back the electorate personally in regards to feedback (one more reason for everyone in the Iowa 1st to vote for James Hill) but I understand your frustration. In last years NYC mayoral election I was stuck with a douche/turd sandwich choice myself, as Ferrer, the democratic candidate, limited his entire platform to the fact that he's latino, and the other choice was Mike Bloomberg. I ended up voting for MacMillar of "The Rent is Too Damn High" party, and I'm happy with it, but I didn't have the opportunity that you have.

This is a guy who's party platform you ostensibly agree with, and your frustration comes from his inability to sell it. However, he's interested in feedback, and so it seems like he'd be down with you helping him. Principles are more important than style, and if you've got a guy who shares your principles, and is willing to accept help in the style contest, I think you've got to do what you can.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:12 PM on October 5, 2006

In my opinion, the things you are upset about are insane. And most of them do not seem relevant to how well he would do his job.
posted by grouse at 5:07 PM on October 5, 2006

you prefer his party, and he bothered to call you back... i think those are reasons enough to vote for him!

i mean, the president isn't even cut out for the job, so can you really expect this local guy to be?
posted by tabulem at 7:02 PM on October 5, 2006

Go help the guy, and feel good about your participation in the process.
posted by Goofyy at 11:43 PM on October 5, 2006