General Discussion

onenote

(46,204 posts)

122. She has the right not to answer, just as Mittens had the right not to disclose his taxes

Wed Oct 15, 2014, 08:49 AM

Oct 2014

Doesn't make it a smart move.
While I very much hope Grimes can pull off the upset, she has made her distance from Obama a feature of her campaign. If you run an ads that essentially say "I'm not Barack Obama" then you essentially have put the issue of whether you supported him in the election into play.

Put another way, if some repub candidate from Texas was trying to distance him or herself from the Tea Party and his or her Senator was Ted Cruz, I would imagine most of us wouldn't be upset if that candidate was asked whether they voted for Cruz and would be all over his/her ass if they refused to answer.

You may not give up your "right" to privacy when you run for office, but for all intents and purposes you give it up as a practical matter.

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Who Cares who Alison Lundergan Grimes Voted For? [View all] riqster Oct 2014 OP

This is a silly defense of a campaign faux pas tritsofme Oct 2014 #1

She has the same rights as you or I. riqster Oct 2014 #2

LOL, what a silly response..... Logical Oct 2014 #15

Not at all. The right to privacy is not all-encompassing. riqster Oct 2014 #17

I agree 100%! peace13 Oct 2014 #106

Yep. riqster Oct 2014 #107

She has the right not to answer, just as Mittens had the right not to disclose his taxes onenote Oct 2014 #122

I think she's handled the questions very well. Paladin Oct 2014 #3

Bullshit, imagine a GOP candidate doing that about Bush, we would.... Logical Oct 2014 #18

I don't understand what her problem is... abakan Oct 2014 #44

And not true tazkcmo Oct 2014 #80

In my entire life I have never voted for a republican and I am not afraid to tell anyone who asks. abakan Oct 2014 #94

I responded to your statement tazkcmo Oct 2014 #110

She doesn't want the soundbite of "I voted for President Obama" branford Oct 2014 #111

She really dropped the ball on it. Idiotic. Nt Logical Oct 2014 #14

Why are candidates obligated to reveal their voting history? riqster Oct 2014 #21

aargh. one more time. candidates are not being forced to reveal their voting histories cali Oct 2014 #28

Acting as though she is obligated to answer sets up a false paradigm. riqster Oct 2014 #33

what on earth does that even mean?? cali Oct 2014 #40

I'll break it down. riqster Oct 2014 #45

It's almost like taking the 5th Amendment dumbcat Oct 2014 #65

Well put. In fact, I wish I had said it that way. riqster Oct 2014 #68

She is being criticized for THE WAY SHE ANSWERED, not because she has the right to keep it secret. Dawgs Oct 2014 #67

Because of two things: riqster Oct 2014 #69

Everyone already knows that she voted for Obama. Dawgs Oct 2014 #71

No, no one knows that. You assume it. riqster Oct 2014 #74

Lol, they are not. Just like they don't have to answer any policy question..... Logical Oct 2014 #57

Personal information is neither policy nor public information. riqster Oct 2014 #62

Such a narrow view tazkcmo Oct 2014 #78

not according to Chucky Todd Supersedeas Oct 2014 #123

If I told you I voted for Reagan... brooklynite Oct 2014 #4

A good point, but that is more tactical realpolitik. riqster Oct 2014 #5

what specific rights are you talking about? asking her if she voted for Obama cali Oct 2014 #8

Being compelled to answer makes it no longer a secret. riqster Oct 2014 #13

She is not being compelled. To compel means forced to. cali Oct 2014 #24

Poor choice of words on my part, there. Point taken. riqster Oct 2014 #31

"so many people"? Mitchy and his crew? cali Oct 2014 #43

That is a valid critique, but doesn't invalidate my point. riqster Oct 2014 #46

There are a great many rights you give up (voluntarily) when you run for office... brooklynite Oct 2014 #47

Expectations in some cases, law in others. riqster Oct 2014 #52

...and they HAVE that right...with the risk that comes with it. brooklynite Oct 2014 #56

Oh, I agree. riqster Oct 2014 #61

But tazkcmo Oct 2014 #84

I agree, it's as relevant as the examples you cite. riqster Oct 2014 #89

In an election there is nothing else but tactical realpolitik hack89 Oct 2014 #39

Short term, perhaps. riqster Oct 2014 #48

It's a sign her advisors are incompetent Proud Public Servant Oct 2014 #6

That is electoral tactics, and you may be correct on that level. riqster Oct 2014 #12

The Republican ads would conveniently cut-off the " . . ., but let me tell you . . ." branford Oct 2014 #112

Unfortunately.. sendero Oct 2014 #121

describing Mitch McConnell as "bitchy"? really? cali Oct 2014 #7

I think the question of our rights is a valid one. riqster Oct 2014 #10

It's sexist and it's against DU rules. I won't alert, but I'm sure you know this. cali Oct 2014 #26

Point, thanks. I'll edit. riqster Oct 2014 #32

Glad it wasn't just me that thought it was hyper-partisan. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2014 #153

Mitch voted for Sarah Palin in 2008. He should be disqualified. JaneyVee Oct 2014 #9

Or at least have his head examined. nt riqster Oct 2014 #11

I don't care. bigwillq Oct 2014 #16

Good on you! That is the point. riqster Oct 2014 #19

Well, I am sure some will disagree. bigwillq Oct 2014 #20

Just so. That's debate, and it's healthy. riqster Oct 2014 #22

Oh, I agree. bigwillq Oct 2014 #25

Yup. Entertaining and enlightening. riqster Oct 2014 #35

What if she voted for Bush? Nuclear Unicorn Oct 2014 #23

As I said, I don't care. Warren once voted Repub, as she herself said. riqster Oct 2014 #37

who she voted for is nobodys business belzabubba333 Oct 2014 #27

Damn straight. riqster Oct 2014 #38

The voters of KY, however, are free to disagree with that opinion. branford Oct 2014 #113

privacy in the voting booth is not an "opinion" belzabubba333 Oct 2014 #133

You cannot demand what voters should believe is important in an election. branford Oct 2014 #138

But there is no evidence that the majority disagree with her? kentuck Oct 2014 #144

respectfully this is utter nonsense. imo belzabubba333 Oct 2014 #157

She was correct not to fall into McConnell's framing of this election. merrily Oct 2014 #29

I suspect you are correct about her tactics. riqster Oct 2014 #41

I'm starting to care about who ordered her to distance herself from the President. LawDeeDah Oct 2014 #30

Is Reading Comprehension a lost art? MM said explicitly and clearly, "to not ANNOUNCE...." WinkyDink Oct 2014 #34

Well, I don 't care Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #36

I think how she's tried to distance herself from the President... TDale313 Oct 2014 #42

A fair point. But I still don't care who she voted for. riqster Oct 2014 #50

This is such dangerous territory imo. jen63 Oct 2014 #93

Just so. riqster Oct 2014 #96

"But I still don't care who she voted for." Seeking Serenity Oct 2014 #102

Nope. Kentucky Dems chose her as their nominee. Their call. riqster Oct 2014 #104

Best answer would be, "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't, and that's the truth". Tierra_y_Libertad Oct 2014 #49

I myself prefer "None of your business". But that's just me. riqster Oct 2014 #53

Wendy Davis became famous for standing in opposition to abortion restrictions... brooklynite Oct 2014 #51

I can see that, but I don't think it's analogous. riqster Oct 2014 #55

Possible answers... NCTraveler Oct 2014 #54

Shouldn't be a big deal. That is why I wrote my OP. riqster Oct 2014 #59

Gotta tell ya regster...... NCTraveler Oct 2014 #60

Because she could clear it up so easily with "Yes, yes I did." Arkana Oct 2014 #58

But that requires her to give up her privacy. riqster Oct 2014 #64

So, what's wrong in telling everyone what they already know? Dawgs Oct 2014 #70

I disagree. Our privacy rights are in such tatters now. riqster Oct 2014 #72

You might applaud it, but others may not, and it might cost her the election. Dawgs Oct 2014 #73

Her answer is simple. "NOYFB". Phrased differently, of course. riqster Oct 2014 #75

I get it. You're concerned with the way she answered the question. Dawgs Oct 2014 #79

No, I'm not really concerned with how she answered the question. riqster Oct 2014 #85

I'll let someone else explain it for me. Dawgs Oct 2014 #108

Hence, the sad state of political debates... LanternWaste Oct 2014 #76

I don't see it as relevant. It was a bear trap that she wisely chose not to step into. riqster Oct 2014 #82

Do you really believe it was about privacy IL Lib Oct 2014 #139

We can bet she voted Dem. But she isn't obligated to help the Repubs create misleading sound bites. riqster Oct 2014 #141

Agree. kentuck Oct 2014 #145

I think it's now defined as, "anything Mitch says is a gaffe ". riqster Oct 2014 #147

My question was if it was about privacy why did she offer that she was a Clinton Democrat? IL Lib Oct 2014 #158

You can volunteer to give the people all the information you want... kentuck Oct 2014 #159

And depressing that so many would rather help Mcconnell win than vote for a Dem. riqster Oct 2014 #160

What is too bad is that she is being disingenuous. n/t IL Lib Oct 2014 #161

Yep, and I'd take it as an opportunity to rail against both parties on class issues Hippo_Tron Oct 2014 #148

Yertle was trying to get Alison to say the O-word KamaAina Oct 2014 #63

Most likely. Good on her for not playing into his hands. riqster Oct 2014 #66

i have to quibble with ur op's wording questionseverything Oct 2014 #86

Good clarification on voting processes. riqster Oct 2014 #87

np questionseverything Oct 2014 #88

Yep. It's why we need an explicit affirmation of our right to a secret ballot. riqster Oct 2014 #92

agreed questionseverything Oct 2014 #95

Election integrity is not sufficiently prioritized here, or in the nation as a whole. riqster Oct 2014 #97

and yet we keep trying questionseverything Oct 2014 #98

The question is fadedrose Oct 2014 #77

"What did she vote and when did she vote it?" riqster Oct 2014 #90

I agree fadedrose Oct 2014 #99

. AngryAmish Oct 2014 #81

If we have no right to a secret ballot, then why do they have curtains around the booths? liberal N proud Oct 2014 #83

Sadly, they have not. Too busy crapping on Grimes. riqster Oct 2014 #91

Apparently the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is pulling out of Kentucky kelly1mm Oct 2014 #100

I felt just sick when I saw the article a bit ago. riversedge Oct 2014 #103

Me too. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. riqster Oct 2014 #105

Reading beyond the headline, riqster.. Alison's campaign is reported to have lots of money and Cha Oct 2014 #120

The perfect reply would be, I voted with the majority of people! B Calm Oct 2014 #101

What was wrong with just stating Maedhros Oct 2014 #109

What's wrong is it's none of our business. riqster Oct 2014 #116

I'm personally not concerned with how she voted. Maedhros Oct 2014 #117

Yeah, she could have told them to mind their own business in a forceful manner. riqster Oct 2014 #118

Obama's job approval in Kentucky is a little over 30%... Hippo_Tron Oct 2014 #149

Um...then don't run as a Democrat? Maedhros Oct 2014 #150

The idea is to champion the principles but mention the brand name as little as possible Hippo_Tron Oct 2014 #151

So you are, in essence, advocating that the voters should be misled Maedhros Oct 2014 #156

Excellent question. kentuck Oct 2014 #155

Politicians run on their goddamned voting records. Orsino Oct 2014 #114

The voting records you cite are not the same, and I suspect you know it. riqster Oct 2014 #115

That does not make her dodge any less stupid or cowardly. Orsino Oct 2014 #119

Who the fuck cares. JEB Oct 2014 #124

From your lips to God's ear. riqster Oct 2014 #125

If she didn't vote for Obama, it shows incredibly bad judgement on her part muriel_volestrangler Oct 2014 #126

I assume she did. It just ain't none of our nevermind. riqster Oct 2014 #127

She's standing for public office muriel_volestrangler Oct 2014 #128

I disagree. The secret ballot is for us all. riqster Oct 2014 #129

The political beliefs of a candidate aren't our business? muriel_volestrangler Oct 2014 #130

Yep. Because the Dem voters of Kentucky picked her as their candidate. riqster Oct 2014 #131

It's relevant information for the voters of Kentucky muriel_volestrangler Oct 2014 #134

I think privacy trumps such requests. riqster Oct 2014 #135

This is not about 'privacy', it's about her politics muriel_volestrangler Oct 2014 #136

Crap. The Repubs care not a bit about Dem loyalty. riqster Oct 2014 #137

If Democrats cringe so much they won't admit to voting Democratic, then they need bashing muriel_volestrangler Oct 2014 #142

She did. She said her ballot was a secret ballot. riqster Oct 2014 #146

Petty rock Oct 2014 #132

I partially understood the first gaffe, but making the same ecstatic Oct 2014 #140

What evidence makes it a "gaffe"? kentuck Oct 2014 #143

Well our track record on privacy is not much better. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2014 #152

It would fit the pattern. riqster Oct 2014 #154