Have you *ever* voted for a GOP candidate? If so, why?

[Ms. Toad]

214. Yes (more than one), and I campaigned for one.

I worked for a Republican judge (as a judicial clerk). I admire him tremendously. There were times when I had to draft an opinion I ultimately disagreed with. Our work pattern was for him to suggest to me after oral arguments the way he wanted the case decided. I reviewed the case file and the caselaw. If the way he wanted the case decided was consistent with my research I drafted the case that way for his review. If it wasn't, I took my work to him and explained why his result wasn't supported. He never once suggested I twist the law or facts to get the result his initial impression led him to. I voted for him twice and campaigned for him once. (Incidentally, even though one of those campaigns took place while I was working for him I had to active seek out the opportunity to work the campaign.)

He was, and is, a man of integrity. Even though there are cases where the law is unsettled and he would decide the case in the opposite way I would, unless he was opposed by a candidate of equal integrity I would vote for him again for judge in a heartbeat.

Similarly, in local politics, because I covered the local political beat I knew the local candidates quite well. The first time a particular Democratic candidate ran for state-wide office I voted for him even though he was an idiot because I figured I could count on him to follow the party line - which I generally favor if the alternative is the Republican party line (neither is generally progressive for me). I wish I had not. He did follow the party line, but he also introduced some idiotic and damaging legislation which passed. The second time around I voted for his intelligent Republican opponent. I don't know that I would do that now, since now party line currently trumps intelligence - but back then party lines were not so rigid, I had a chance of reasoning with someone who at least had intelligence going for them.

Locally (city/township/school board) and judges I purely vote on the person without regard to party label. Beyond that, at least these days, I would be hard pressed to vote for a Republican - even for state legislature. I might, as long as the race is not close, vote for a third party candidate who was more progressive than either major party candidate.