Is it wise to base your voting decisions on a candidate's stance on only one particular issue?

Question

Many people in the 1860s voted for Abraham Lincoln on his position on the slavery issue alone. Today, many voters consider abortion on demand to be FAR worse than slavery; therefore, they focus on the candidates' views on abortion when considering to whom they will give their support. Is this wise?

Answer 1

Actually, the idea of slavery didn't come up and wasn't adopted until after the Civil War had started. It was started over the south having the raw materials and the north having the equipment to make items. Look it up if you don't believe me. In my view, you should pick a candidate from what they have done for the country in the past not for what they lie...I mean say.

Answer 2

No. They should agree with many of your values. I also think abortion is far worse than slavery, but my first election as a voter cannot look at this issue alone. After all, there is a war going on right now. That's just one example of something I have to look at. Slavery was just one issue. The temperance and women's rights movements were also on the back burner at the time. These just took longer to become bigger.

Answer 3

Hmm... I don't agree with abortion but I don't think it's FAR worse than slavery! I don't think they are comparable at all in fact. But anyway, voting for a person based on 1 thing... I don't think it's a good idea but I can see how being so passionate about an issue can lead a person to do so. When I go to vote, I try to research each candidate but I think the most important thing to do (like with any decision in life) is to pray and let God lead you.

Answer 4

You are in a bad position to classify voters so strictly. Slavery was not the only issue driving the 1860 election.



Abortion is also not the only issue here in 2008 campaigns. The nation is at war, and that is the top issue I consider today. Also taxes and foreign policy. I want to see a buildup in intelligence and defense spending, not just my views on abortion addressed.

Answer 5

The question I have is whether or not the new president will utilize his veto power in a way that the country will appreciate and swallow well. Will he keep the Constitutional rights that we feel safe with, intact - and what justices will he place on the Supreme Court that will do the same.



Sure its wrong. No matter what, we know that the president leaving office leaves a ton that is classified, and the new president - no matter what he thinks in his campaign, will be pleasantly or not surprised, with a host of things to do.



It is better to attempt to feel comfortable with the mans presence and how he seems to be in our presence, if he is cordial and not a liar, is what is best to look for. Honesty is the only thing we can hope to see.



Lincoln was a work-horse and gave no duties to his two vice presidents and I don't know why, other than he must have had an incredible ego. And actually, most voted for him because they felt his ego would serve the country well, and he did for that time, as history reads.

Answer 6

If the issue is morally unacceptable then yes the stand against that candidate is valid and should be the major contributing factor to your vote. On moral issues if the candidates views are not the same as yours it is your obligation to vote against the candidate as in the issue of abortion, gay marriage ban, defining marriage as between a man and a woman, gay rights these are all moral issues that if you disagree with a candidates view on then you should use this one issue to factor your vote. If Christians had been voting on the moral values of a candidate, for any public office, we would not be in the political toilet we are now being flushed down.

Answer 7

Danial is correct about the civil war. People didn't vote on Lincoln based on his position on slavery. In fact, Lincoln was very, very unpopular (in the Union) during the civil war.



I don't know if it is wise to vote based on the candidate's stance on a single issue or not. I suppose it would depend upon the issue and how important it is to the voter.



Many people, including me, consider abortion to be murder. Therefore, it is a very important moral issue. I would hope to have a choice to vote for someone who is not ONLY pro-life, but who is also fiscally responsible, has a good handle on foreign policy, and who I feel would be generally competent to run the country.

Answer 8

In some degree, may be??

I thinks today's issue is much more complex compare to the time of Pres. Lincoln. I believe that we should base our vote not only in one particular issue but several issue that the candidate stand for. Like they said " choice the lesser evil among them."

Answer 9

No! The issues are important, but it is more important to look at the overall character of the candidate.



I voted for Clinton the first time he ran based mainly on the fact that he was pro-choice, and so was I (then). This one issue blinded me to all the others. I thought I was making the right choice, but I spent the next 8 years bitterly regretting ever having anything to do with helping to put him in office.



I've since learned more about what each political party (supposedly) stands for, and I've done a lot more reflecting on which party best represents my views & values, rather than simply continuing with the party I was accustomed to from childhood.



It would be good if each person would further their education about politics and how the media & entertainment (such as t.v. shows & movies) are impacted by the writers' political views. It helps to have discernment, & it doesn't hurt to pray!



In an ideal world, there would always be a candidate who accurately reflected all our views & values. But, this world being as diverse as it is, we would need a lot more candidates!



Consider which candidate best represents you, however imperfectly. Also consider that person's past history and evidence of their character (or lack thereof).



Proverbs 18:17 says, "The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him." Read what different sides are saying about the candidates.



Most importantly, ask God to give you guidance about who to vote for, of the options given. He's a lot smarter than us, and He has the inside track. He can see what our human reasoning cannot. (I wish I had done this back then, when I voted for Clinton. It simply didn't occur to me at the time!)



Then, whether the person you voted for gets elected or not, pray for the elected person's welfare and leadership abilities. If you don't like them, at least express respect for the office they hold, and do not call them a bunch of hostile names all the time, as seems to be so prevalent today. Our nation will not be built up by denigrating our leaders.



We would do much better to pray for people than complain about them. Prayer invites God to work, but complaining opens the door for the devil. Let's invite God through our prayers to bless the U.S.!



And don't ever let fear of making the wrong decision hold you back from voting. Make the best choice you can and commit it to God's hands. Let your voice be heard.

Answer 10

While I do not like abortion and I think it should never have been made legal I would not fall for that as you can see Mr. Bush has had 7 years to stop it. Instead after getting elected they say the same thing the other party says "I leaving it up to the individual States to take care of this." They say the same ting about Gay rights. I want to know what the politician will do for our country. We are Trillions of dollars in dept Will a depression then WW III follow?

Answer 11

I look at all the major issues,but abortion is a life-or-death issue that is so crucial that I could not vote for an abortion supporter if there are other options.

Answer 12

I consider it a personal decision to figure out why you choose to support one person and not another. If all you are concerned about is one issue, yes, it would make sense to make your vote based on that issue. For the most part, our lives don't change a whole lot no matter who is in office. But, if you feel strongly about just one thing, vote on it.

Answer 13

Kidd, if I were living in Germany, say in 1942, and if there was a election for Chancellor, would it be wise to cast a negative vote against Adolf Hitler on only one particular issue, i.e., massacre of Jews, the physically handicapped, mentally ill, and others so-called "worthless lives"?



Kidd, would it be wise to base my voting decision in 2008 on a candidate's stance on only one particular issue, i.e. massacre of hundreds and thousands of unborn children, who can’t defend themselves ?



I believe, I made my point.

Answer 14

Yes, We have to give an account to the Lord Jesus for everything we do. If we know that the candidate is not doing what God said is right, then we need to not vote for the person. God wants us to be a Christian nation, and we are failing miserably. We were built on Christian values. God has blessed America for many years, but we are getting to be a nation that is not following Christ. God will not allow sin to keep going. We need to turn back to God. It is getting as bad as it was during Noah's time. Christians need to stand up for the TRUTH. We need to get on our knees and pray. We need to do what is right. God bless you all.

Answer 15

It is not wise to base your voting decision on one issue...Most people do...but like abortion people have differing opinions about this issue..Right, wrong or indifferent, it is best to look at the man as a whole, morally and spiritually.....

Answer 16

Considering that the President doesn't have much influence over Congress and the laws they make and almost none of their campaign promises ever come to fruition, it would be foolish to vote because of a single issue which has a very good chance of never getting resolved by the candidate.

Answer 17

You really need to read the Lincoln-Douglas debates.



I'm impressed by voters that take the time to care about ANY issue - most voters - I venture to say - probably are only party-line voters.

Answer 18

I do not believe that it is wise to vote for someone based on only one particular stance. Instead you should consider all that he or she stands for, and if they have a track record that coincides with what they say.



It's easy to say you believe one thing or another. It's another thing to live what you say.

Answer 19

I agree thee are many issues whch should be considered however I could never in good conscience suport any candidate who was pro abortion.

Answer 20

It is not wise to base our voting decisions on a candidate's stance on only one particular issue. We should carefully study and evaluate his program of government and his sincerity.

Answer 21

Abortion is detestable in my view. Therefore I refuse to vote for someone who is not staunchly pro life.

However just because they are pro life does not mean they automatically get my vote. I'm not inclined to vote for Romney.

I Cr 13;8a

Answer 22

NO, Take a look at the over all candidates picture, as we know today they promise everything now but when in office do a 360!

Answer 23

Simply no, because you have to examine their stance on all issues that are important personally. It sometimes becomes a choice of the lesser of two evils..

Answer 24

Abortion is one issue that is that important (how and why do people support butchering babies).



yes

Answer 25

No; I vote for the lessor of two evils, considering everything I know.

Answer 26

If the Republican nominee is Giuliani, things are gonna be interesting to see how this issue plays out .

Answer 27

look. you might as well shut up about bloody abortion. it's legal now and will not be made illegal because all politicians want to be in power and making it illegal will take away the prochoice votes. even your precious thick as **** republicans, otherwise they would have done it by now if they cared as much as the say they did.

Answer 28

When voting one must look at the whole picture not just the negatives.

Answer 29

no,the persons over all stance on many issues is important,not one,plus there strength and honesty is most important

Answer 30

Yes. Pick the item you think he or she will be least likely to be lying about.

Answer 31

no. war should not be an issue either....there were MORE people killed in Los Angeles THIS YEAR....than in the war so far....Iraq 3,765==Los Angeles 31,846!!!!!

Answer 32

Maby if the issue is big ..

Answer 33

It is to me. I absolutely will NOT VOTE for anyone who is not Pro Life.

Minister

Answer 34

i guess it depends on how wide that stance is...