I find this so nauseatingly repugnant that I thought it might be worth it to explain how I pick candidates--those I work for, volunteer for and/or generally support.
Arguing with those
who are so clearly set in their opinions (not backed by any facts or reason, I
might add) isn't worth my time. But responding to this is important
because it is foundational to what I do and what, in many ways, I think sets me
apart from other "operatives" in this state. I believe very
strongly in principle and character, and to claim something that calls either
my character or principles into question is something I take very seriously and
is not wise to do. Politics 101 says don't piss off potential allies
unless there is a very good reason to do so--I've done this many times, so it’s
not that you shouldn't do it. Just have a
good reason first.
When I hear about
a race or meet a candidate, the first thing I do is look at their website.
What a candidate chooses to tell the world is important. What they
say, or often... what they don't say, is huge. I also ask others who know
them (political folks I trust and know from the area, etc.). I usually
get a pretty good sense of a candidate after meeting them anyways, and so far,
I'm only rarely proven wrong about my initial impression.
Before I would
ever consider volunteering or working for a candidate, I do a little more
extensive research. I want to make sure that, beyond all reasonable
doubt, I have no concerns about supporting that candidate in that particular race. I have a hard time doing anything I can't put my all into, so it would be very difficult for me to work for a
campaign that I didn't thoroughly and whole-heartedly support. If I can't
do that, I'll elect (pardon
the pun) to stay out of that
race. I don't generally like being approached by someone to work for or
support them and then going to work for their opponent if I have already
decided I can't support that candidate (unless there's a really, really
compelling reason to do so--but those are rare).
You'll notice, for
example, on my Primary recommendations, there are some that I didn't give an
opinion on. I know most of the candidates running this year, but I don't
know some well enough to completely and totally support some of them over
another in their specific race.
Of course, my support of a candidate in a race doesn't mean that
their opponent is bad--it just usually means they aren't qualified for that
particular job (granted... there are some who are just total sleaze-buckets,
but that's not always the case). In fact, there are many times I think reasonable Conservatives can disagree over who is the Right Republican in a race--and there are times that it's hard to decide who is the best candidate. On the other hand, there are times when a candidate is
so bad that if they end up winning... rather than supporting them over the
Democrat in a race, it's better to let the 'lesser' of evils in that one win.
Simply put, there are some candidates, Republican candidates, who
I will not support and, in fact, secretly hope lose. The only way to bring this Party back to its
roots of principle is to make sure those who have none are not reelected.
Ultimately, I form
my opinions (which are entirely my
own--anyone who knows me knows that I am not easily swayed once I form my
opinions) long before I would work for or even support a candidate in a race
for any office. Any insinuation otherwise shows a lack of knowing me and how I operate, and even, maybe, is a projection of character deficiency on their part--but perhaps that's just the cynical side of me speaking.
There are many
whose opinions, endorsements and work can be bought (too many, in fact).
I am not one of them. Those who do hire me do so for my expertise
once I have already decided to support them. It's certainly never to
"buy" my support. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just plain
ignorant.
Oh, and since I'm also apparently a paid blogger (ha... with 10 posts over 4 months? I must be really good...), feel free to send in your checks. Cos I haven't gotten any of them yet--for what are you waiting?
