To GOTV or Not to GOTV?

My son Political Sphere has expressed a different view of Get-Out-the-Vote campaigns than most people do, and I am persuaded to agree. GOTV drives are used by both sides. In theory, you have a large supply of engaged, informed citizens who haven’t been voting simply because they have not known how to get through the bureaucracy of registering to vote and then getting to the polls. So, you help with that and serve the country. In an ideal world.

But this is not an ideal world.

There are times and places I think voter registration drives, followed up with encouragement to get to the polls, are entirely appropriate:

·         Where a lot of people have moved recently, such as in a new neighborhood or a relatively transient apartment neighborhood;

·         Where young people, often going off to college, are voting for the first time, or for the first time away from home and need some guidance;

·         Where immigrants have recently completed the naturalization process and now, as citizens, get to exercise their right to vote.

But rounding up uninformed voters, doing something for them and persuading them to vote for whom you say—even if this may be a legal tactic, it does nothing to bring more informed voters to the polls and does dilute the vote of informed, engaged voters.

Back in the summer of 2010, before I set up this blog, I wrote a piece about GOTV, some of which I published in a Facebook note. The early part of the piece relates to a situation specific to Houston at the time (but a pattern used across the country by trained “community organizers”). The second half recommends who should recuse themselves from voting for the sake of the country. I would never advocate any voting test, or any suppression of legal votes. I simply suggest what thought processes ought to be adhered to by voters. Let me add this caveat: there are many 2008 Obama voters who have since seen the light. If their repentance is sincere, and they can see clearly the principles to base a vote on this time, I do not insist on their self-recusal.

This day before the biggest election of my half-century life, I hope that every single thinking, informed, principled voter will cast their vote, while anyone who has up until now neglected their civic duties might do that for yet one more day—for all our sakes. And may the best candidates win.

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Questionable GOTV

The opposition has used get-out-the-vote drives as a way of enhancing their chances to win. [As I write this, in July 2010, they have shipped in voter registrars and activists from Chicago and elsewhere for a project called Turn Texas Blue. They’re here in Harris County, in and around Houston, to multiply their voting position as many times as they can.] They find the portion of the population that is least informed, and then they essentially buy their votes. “I’ll drive you to the polls and treat you to lunch; oh, by the way, vote for the Democrats.” “Here’s a new trash can; remember when you vote it’s the Democrats who provided it, because we know your needs and meet them.” “You’re too weak to leave the assisted living center and get to the polls? No problem. Here, I’ll help you fill out your absentee ballot. You haven’t studied the candidates? No problem. Trust me, you want to vote for the Democrats.”

There’s something perverse about it. If you attack them for it, they can claim they’re just doing a service so that everyone can have a voice. But they’re not actually giving voice to more informed votes; they’re giving additional voice to their own vote. They add numbers to their side without actually adding any more informed voters to their side.

So what can we do except try to get out a higher percentage of voters likely to vote conservative? We do it differently. No buying votes. We canvas neighborhoods, try to locate conservatives, and provide information that will allow them to make an informed vote. It’s not an approach that appeals to stupid or buyable voters; it is merely an attempt to get the attendance of good citizens higher on voting days. It’s how it should be on both sides, but isn’t.

If a person isn’t motivated enough to get themselves registered to vote and make a decision about candidates, do we really want them having a say in who gets to make our laws and levy our taxes? In truth we’d be better off if they just followed their usual pattern of ignoring civic duty.

Who Should Vote

There is no voting test. We don’t do that here in America. But with great power (to vote) comes great responsibility (to vote responsibly). Those of you who can’t do that, we’d all be better off if you didn’t have a reckless say in who gets to make our laws and levy our taxes. How about some self-restraint, for all of our sakes?

You should recuse yourself from the upcoming election if…

• You voted for Obama because you wanted to be part of the historic vote that put the first black president into office. This means you are racist, voting for a person because of his skin color instead of the content of his character or even shared political beliefs. That was irresponsible. You’re not capable of casting an informed vote.
• You voted for Obama because you believed “hope” and “change” meant something good for America, just because you wanted it to mean something good, and not because you looked into what this man was hoping to change. Your lack of attention to detail was irresponsible. You’re not capable of casting an informed vote.
• You voted for Obama because you believed his policies would be best for the economy and the safety of the country and you do not regret your vote. But his policies are disastrous for the economy, for our nation’s safety and sovereignty, and for maintaining of God-given inalienable rights. If you are unaware of the damage he is causing, then you are not sensible enough to vote in an election that affects the rest of us. You’re not capable of casting an informed vote.
• You voted for Obama because you believed transforming us from a constitutional republic into a semi-dictatorial socialistic state would make America better, then it is understandable why you voted for him; you are as seditious as he is. But people who hate the republic of America should not consider themselves worthy of voting in our elections, since they are America’s enemies, so you should recuse yourself. You’re not capable of casting a vote in the best interests of America and Americans.