The Times I Voted Republican

I grew up in a house where we commonly discussed politics at the kitchen table over dinner.  I can't say that my parents were die-hard Democrats.  The first election I remember was when I was 10 and in the 5th grade.  We followed the election at the time and I was enamored of Jimmy Carter.  I think he appealed to me in a Fred Rogers sort of way.  The next election, I can remember a discussion one night when my father announced he was voting for Reagan.  Both my mother and I were aghast.  I don't think we ever let him live it down.  He had his reasons, which at the time had largely to do with Iran.  My father did become a huge fan of Carter's after he left office and I do think he regretted that vote even without our continual harping on it.

From a young age, I had empathy for those on the bottom.  I was always looking for those less fortunate and those who had been left behind, for whatever reason.  At the same time, I looked hard at the candidates and was very aware of what was going on around me.  My first election was 1984 and I can say I was in the minority for sure that time around.  I tried to volunteer to work for the Democratic Party in Nassau County (NY) but they didn't have their act together and didn't know what to do with the young volunteers offered to them.  I gave up in that regard, although I stayed a nearly faithful Democrat my whole life.

The few times I crossed the aisle to vote Republican, I had my reasons.  One time was in a local race where the Democratic candidate was someone I knew well around town.  My encounters with her led me to believe she was a little crazy and her motivation had more to do with promoting herself and her ego rather than doing what was best.

The more noticeable time was when I voted for George Pataki over Mario Cuomo in the New York State governor's race in 1994.  The main issue for me was the separation of church and state and the death penalty.  I had liked Mario Cuomo as a governor, but was troubled by saying he could not sign the death penalty into law due to his Roman Catholic faith.  There had been several cases where people were screaming for the death penalty and Cuomo let his religion stand in the way.  It rubbed me wrong in much the same way people were worried about JFK being President and "taking orders from the Pope."

I've since changed my mind about the death penalty, but not about keeping religion out of making laws.  Yes, it is a part of us as human beings.  Our faith or our moral compass guides us.  At the same time, it can't prevent us from doing our job.  If it does, then it's time to find another job.  Our faith is about how we live our lives, not about how we force others to live theirs.  Just as we cannot enact laws that force people to have basic human kindness, we cannot enact laws that force people to live according to any one individual's (or religion's) morality.  My faith denomination is understanding of why a woman might seek an abortion and does not look to sit in judgment, just to pray for people and support them in making the decision that's right for them, no matter the circumstances.  Why should anyone else be able to force a differing faith on me?  That is the point of religious freedom.  We are all free to worship and follow the faith that we choose - or not to worship or have any faith at all.

Just as we have freedom of speech the allows us to speak how we want without the government arresting us, we have a limit on that where it effects others - we cannot shout "fire" in a theater.  We have the right to practice our religion, but that ends where it effects others. 

That was why I voted against Cuomo.  Would I do it again?  I think so.  I dislike hypocrisy above all else and I would vote against a Democrat who was trying to force his religion or atheism on me (indeed, I have heard some militant liberals call for the "outlawing of religion").  I strive to be consistent.

As for the death penalty, that's a area where as time wet on I grew and learned more and changed my view on it.  I still believe there are some crimes that are so hideous they deserve the death penalty.  I just don't trust our justice system to be unbiased enough to differentiate between justice and a conviction.  Solving a crime should be a search for the truth, not trying to pin guilt on the easiest target so a case can be cleared and statistics look good.

Human beings should seek to grow and change throughout our lives.  This is when our views change, our lives change, and perhaps our political parties change.  Many people don't like change, though, and just keep on doing what they've always done.  To those that have found the courage to change as our world changes, I salute you.