Photo credit: Dave Davidson (Prezography.com)
I’ve been asked several times whether or not I would vote for real estate magnate Donald Trump should he win the Republican nomination.
Out of Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump, Trump is the candidate I would have the most difficulty voting for in a general election. I never want to say never as a mitigating circumstance could compel me to change my mind, but it is highly unlikely that Mr. Trump will get my vote this November should he be the Republican nominee for President. That would mark the first time I have not voted for the Republican nominee since my first Presidential election in 1992.
Some may say, but do you want to see Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders win? That would be an unequivocal no. I see precious little difference between Hillary and Trump. If Bernie Sanders was the Democrat nominee it would be a Democratic socialist vs. an autocratic nationalist – oh goody. Option C anyone?
So why not? Here are some reasons:
- Trump has been all over the map on the life issue. He consistently defends Planned Parenthood. This is the no-brainer issue. He has recently said he would defund Planned Parenthood, he also said he was in favor of late-term abortion and now he says he is not, but I just don’t believe him at this point.
- His ties to the mob which you can read about here, here, here, here, and here. I’d prefer to vote for a candidate who does not have those sorts of associations thank you very much.
- He is a serial adulterer. If his wife (or in Trump’s case – wives – both ex and current) can’t trust him to keep his marital promises, how can I trust him to keep his campaign promises? Look, I am not looking for someone who is perfect. This man has admitted that he has never asked God for forgiveness so there has been no repentance. Which means he lacks character and there is no humilty.
- Speaking of humility, the next President needs to be confident, but humility is essential and Trump doesn’t appear to have any. That gravely concerns me.
- I don’t believe he has the temperament needed for the White House.
- His conduct around and comments toward women have been absolutely shameful.
- He has a track records as a bully toward people who oppose him. Right now he threatens frivolous lawsuits, but can you imagine if he were President? That would bring a whole new meaning to the “bully pulpit.”
I could go on and on. There is nothing in his record that has me convinced he’s nothing more than a liberal Democrat masquerading as a Republican and an unstable one at that. So my vote for a 3rd party would be an act of protest.
Shane Vander Hart
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Your article makes sense. However, here’s what I don’t understand. Mitt Romney was also basically a liberal in conservative’s clothing, and many conservatives (including me) considered him not much different from Obama. So, I don’t get how anybody who voted for Mitt Romney in 2012 could have a problem voting for Trump this year. The only thing Romney seemed to have over Trump is that he wasn’t a known adulterer and didn’t have vulgar public behavior. OTOH, I think he was even more dishonest than Trump.
I didn’t vote for Romney in 2012, nor will I vote for Trump if he becomes the nominee. I also wouldn’t vote for Cruz or Rubio either. The only Republican even halfway worth voting for IMO was Huckabee, and now that he’s out, I plan to vote third-party too. Tom Hoefling seems like a great alternative, but the biggest problem I have with him is that he is divorced and remarried, going against his stated biblical principles. Even worse, he only revealed that fact to his supporters right after the election in 2012, saying that the time to tell them about his remarriage “never seemed right.” If he truly felt he had nothing to hide, why would he have pulled a dishonest trick like that?
Anyway, even though I wouldn’t vote for Trump, if elected, could he really be any worse than the last 3 two-term disasters we’ve had? I don’t think so. In fact, as Huckabee pointed out recently:
“It’s rarely mentioned but one of the reasons that [Trump] is a force is that he and Ben Carson are the only GOP candidates left who aren’t funded by the same corporatists/globalists/special interests that fund candidates from BOTH parties (Bernie the exception on the Dem side).”
Fair question, I struggled whether or not to vote for Mitt Romney as well. There was some record of achievement from when he was Governor of Massachusetts some good, some bad. Some of his policy positions I thought were sound even though I certainly didn’t agree with everything. He was competent and presidential. I also thought he would have been far better than Barack Obama. I guess the primary difference is one of temperament.
Like I said in the article there could be some mitigating circumstance that happens during the campaign that would compel me to change my mind, I’m not discounting that. I also want to be clear that I don’t intend on convincing people to do the same. This is a matter for my individual conscience. I’m not going to judge anyone who feels differently.
I would obviously disagree with you re. Cruz and Rubio if they were to win the nomination. I can vote for both with a clear conscience.
So when I voted for Dole, McCain, Romney all people I didn’t like, nor did I trust, but for the sake of the “party” I voted for them, because even though they were RINO’s I figured they were better than any Demacrook! So now when it’s your turn to vote for someone you don’t really like you are whimping out! This is what I hate …..as long as I vote your way it is okay…but when the shoe is on the other foot, count you out….terrible!
Why are you addressing me as though I am part of the party establishment and pushed people to vote for those candidates? I am not, and I never did. I voted for Romney, but I didn’t endorse him, put up a yard sign, volunteer, etc. I have huge issues with Trump, I’ve never knocked anyone for voting their conscience so drop the attitude.
My attitude? My attitude is when people don’t get their man they stay home and let a known, proven crooked politician win [democrat]. We are hating a man, judging a man who has not had a chance to prove himself !
I have no intentions of staying home. There will be plenty of down ballot races for me to vote for. By the way, in 1996, 2008, and 2012 the guy I voted for in the general wasn’t “my guy.” I backed someone else in the Indiana Primary in 1996 and Iowa Caucus in 2008 and 2012. The attitude I referenced was you accusing me as though I’ve encouraged people to vote for Dole (wasn’t blogging back then), McCain and Romney in order to follow the party line. I haven’t. People should vote their consciences. I also didn’t judge people who decided to vote vote 3rd party because they couldn’t support nominee, neither should you.