When in Doubt, Back the Woman: Part Two

On the heels of the Coakley/ Brown upset in Massachusetts (which I am really not all the disappointed about) I want to say a few things about my own future voting strategy. It's an evolving strategy that I have developed over the last two years, as a PUMA and an Independent.

This kind of voting is new to me. In the past I have always, and I do mean ALWAYS, voted "D." (With the exception of a couple of Charterites on the Cincinnati City Council.) Never, before 2008, have I even *considered* voting for a Republican. But that's all changed, so now I need a new set of voting booth guidelines. You see, I really don't want to *ever* have to go to the polls and make a wrenching decision like the one my PUMA friends were forced to make in Massachusetts on Tuesday. Not without a set of guiding principles.

So here goes.... SYD's voting guidelines in a nutshell.

Principle One: When in doubt, back the woman.

The reason for this is simple. I pay taxes. I deserve representation. Period.

Please note that I did not say "always vote female." The reason is... I can imagine a scenario in which a stellar male that I adore emerges from the pack to run against a woman I don't much care for. Like, say... if my own dear son were running against Jean Schmidt, whom I often disagree with.

But, let's face it. There is a zippo zingo chance that I will ever know any male candidate well enough to erase any and all doubt. So the only way I am likely to be voting for a male politician in an upcoming election is... if he is running against another man. (Sorry fellas, but you have had your turn. And, quite frankly, you have done a lousy job of standing up for my rights.)

Principle Two: When two same gendered individuals run for the same office, do the best you can to select the one who agrees with you the most.

This is a little bit tougher. Because there are always going to be doubts about any candidate. And nobody is going to be on my side 100% of the time. But, generally speaking.... it is most likely that I will be voting for fiscal conservatives and social liberals in the future. If any party or individual moves toward a balanced budget while also supporting equal rights for all people ... they will certainly have my attention.


Principle Three: Vote for the track record.

So let's just say that we now have two same gendered pols who are both fiscally conservative and socially liberal. (Yeah right.) OK. Now how do I choose? Do I revert back to selecting the person who has the "D" behind her name, for old times sake? Or because I think her affiliation with a certain party matters?? NO!!! Now I look for the track record.

This kind of thinking would have been very helpful to social progressives in 2008, even if both Hillary and Barack were women. And even if they were spouting similar rhetoric. The one with the track record was, of course, Hillary Clinton. Had my former party-mates exercised any hint of good judgement at all... they would have backed her. And by now we'd have some realistic health care reform, as well as movement toward a balanced federal budget. We'd also have a President who has stood with social liberals in the past, and could be trusted to stand with us again.


There ya go. SYD's voting booth guidelines for 2009 and beyond. Take 'em or leave 'em.