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2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: In a democracy, are minority party candidates "bad"? Is Stein-Baraka "bad"? Is Johnson-Weld "bad"? [View all]Bernardo de La Paz
(49,001 posts)15. No not bad. What is bad are protest voters who vote against their own party.
Like disaffected Democrats voting for Stein. Not because they think Stein is great but because they think sticking a vote in Hillary's eye will "send a message". If Trump does get elected, it will probably be by a margin of the "protest vote".
If you want to send a message, write a telegram.
If a vote is actually cast for the person / party, then it has real power. If a third party candidate gets 10% of the vote legitimately, then that is 10% that needs to be listened to more than if it were 5%. Just like Bernie was listened to at the platform meetings and rule meetings and had an effect on the career of Wasserman-Schulz.
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In a democracy, are minority party candidates "bad"? Is Stein-Baraka "bad"? Is Johnson-Weld "bad"? [View all]
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
OP
I keep seeking these threads that are saying "Stein is bad" or "Johnson is bad." Third parties are a
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#8
Jill Stein was on C-SPAN and basically basically parrotted the Democratic Platform.
politicaljunkie41910
Aug 2016
#98
This is Democratic Underground. You're not going to get a lot of support for 3rd party candidates
Fla Dem
Aug 2016
#104
I would say that anything that furthers the candidacy of a candidate like Trump is bad.
Tal Vez
Aug 2016
#2
Or W or anybody worse than the going candidate, which means, people will always have a reason
JCanete
Aug 2016
#44
Anderson '80, Perot '92, Nader '00, Johnson and Stein '16 did not (and will not) TAKE anyone's votes
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#14
What evidence do you want? Are you asking for evidence that third parties do not steal votes from
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#30
Protest votes are for those who are privelged and can afford to deal with bad consequences
Demsrule86
Aug 2016
#58
They can't win, but they sure as hell can doom us all to a psycho POTUS who can't wait to use nukes
onecaliberal
Aug 2016
#10
No not bad. What is bad are protest voters who vote against their own party.
Bernardo de La Paz
Aug 2016
#15
What are you talking about? This isn't about having the Presidency decided by Congress.
baldguy
Aug 2016
#55
It sounds to me like you're DEFENDING Stein and Johnson in the most subtle ...
NurseJackie
Aug 2016
#17
Let's be clear: Neither Stein nor Johnson are qualified to be president and neither has a snowball's
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#22
You skate on thin ice and walk a razor's edge when you flatter these spoilers by making …
NurseJackie
Aug 2016
#32
Defending the concept of democracy isn't flattering spoilers. Neither Johnson nor Stein is qualified
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#39
Yet you choose to flatter the spoilers in your attempts to "defend the concept of democracy".
NurseJackie
Aug 2016
#74
If you think "UNQUALIFIED" and "ZERO CHANCE OF WINNING" is flattery, I hesitate to guess what you
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#78
It would be much better that way. I wouldn't be a Democrat probably though.
DemocraticWing
Aug 2016
#45
A viable third-party candidate would be scary. Johnson-Weld and Stein-Baraka are no more than an
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#26
How does voting for the candidate of one's choice distort the will of the people? Neither Stein nor
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#28
Presumably Stein voters want the country to move leftward. But Stein won't win ...
dawg
Aug 2016
#29
What if you want smaller government, less taxes, legal weed, and repeal of the Patriot Act? Neither
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#35
In Texas, you could argue that you "only have two realistic choices ... Republican or Tea Party" so
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#46
Really appreciate your post. A dose of reality about Texas Dems, Texas Dem Candidates and
emulatorloo
Aug 2016
#103
Let's agree on ten points: 1. Trump, Stein and Johnson are all unqualified to be president;
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#65
If Sanders was our nominee, I'd be even more concerned that mocking and disparaging third party
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#54
Agreed. Greens and Libertarians are tiny minorities in a zero sum game. But in many races there are
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#47
Is the phrase "helping Trump by splitting the anti-Trump vote" in any way hard to understand? (nt)
Nye Bevan
Aug 2016
#48
Johnson & Stein aren't splitting the anti-Trump vote any more than splitting the anti-Clinton vote
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#70
Neither one of the third party candidates can really be compared to the others you listed.
Agschmid
Aug 2016
#60
What kind of democracy is it that offers only two choices? It is the system that is bad. Imagine
Doodley
Aug 2016
#66
In a change versus status quo election, they divide the change vote. Pretty sure that helps us.
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#71
OK - use your term. In a sane versus insane election, I'm pretty sure they divide the insane vote.
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#76
Stein-Baraka are EVIL. Johnson-Weld are EVIL, They are also being pushed by Russia.
MohRokTah
Aug 2016
#72
Considering the Green Party isn't in it to win the election, they're in it to be professional
bananakabob
Aug 2016
#86
By the same logic, the Democratic Party is just a spoiler party in deep red states like Texas. Also,
Attorney in Texas
Aug 2016
#90
I noticed you conveniently forgot to list 2000 Ralph Nader...why? As it's the perfect
beachbumbob
Aug 2016
#89
no matter how many ways you guys try to defend this, Jill Stein is an irresponsible asshole. nt
La Lioness Priyanka
Aug 2016
#92
The American propensity to turn into blithering idiots whenever the subject of race comes up
Bucky
Aug 2016
#102
I imagine there is a relevant difference between a moral absolute and a political opponent
LanternWaste
Aug 2016
#106
The 2 party "system" is the number one thing wrong with American politics. .
CBGLuthier
Aug 2016
#108