I felt like it’d be appropriate to post my view of the presidential race since it’s Election Day.  I’m not a political person.  There’s just too much conflict and bickering that ensues from discussing the differences in opinion about the needs of the citizens of the United States.  I’m not going to change someone’s opinion if they’re strong in their own convictions.  Why argue about it?  Even though I’d like to say that others with the same morals I have should vote the same way I do, that’d be a very close-minded view of the world.  The truth is everyone interprets their beliefs differently.  Because I feel I have the right to stand by my own convictions and make my own choices, I’m going to show the same respect to others.

As I said in the post All About Me, if I had to choose between McCain and Obama, I’d vote for Obama.  Even though Obama and I don’t have the same views on abortion or traditional marriage, his views on national defense, foreign policy, health care, and the recession are closer to my views.  Yes, the issues of abortion and traditional marriage are important to me and a lot of people.  However, whatever the individual states decide to do with those issues, I don’t think these issues will ever be decided on a national level, at least within the next four years.  Unfortunately, if I have to choose between supporting a candidate with the same views on abortion or traditional marriage versus national defense, foreign policy, health care, and the recession, I’ll choose a candidate that supports my views of the latter.

Back in November 2007, I made a post about me supporting Ron Paul for president.  Even now that he isn’t a major presidential candidate, I still stand by my decision to support him.  If he would’ve been chosen as the Republican candidate, then I wouldn’t have had to choose a candidate with only most of the same views I find critical during this election.

It was with a heavy heart that I approached this election.  I didn’t want to vote for a candidate just because I didn’t want to vote for the other one or because I was voting for the “lesser of two evils.” Honestly, until last night, I was still thinking about writing in Ron Paul if the electronic system would let me.  If not, then Obama it’d be.

Luckily, Corey came across an old announcement a couple of days ago in which Ron Paul pledged his support to Charles Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate.  Because I avoid politics like the plague, I didn’t really pay attention until last night.  I looked up Charles Baldwin and read about his views.  Once I read his views, I knew I had found my candidate.  Also, because I believe the Constitution was inspired by God, the fact that he’s a member of the Constitution Party is an added bonus.

Some of you may think I threw away my vote by voting for a third-party candidate.  I don’t see it like that.  I actually like the way Charles Baldwin stated it:

When asked why they will not vote for a third party candidate, many people will respond by saying something like, “He cannot win.” Or, “I don’t want to waste my vote.” It is true: America has not elected a third party candidate since 1860. Does that automatically mean, however, that every vote cast for one of the two major party candidates is not a wasted vote? I don’t think so.

In the first place, a wasted vote is a vote for someone you know does not represent your own beliefs and principles. A wasted vote is a vote for someone you know will not lead the country in the way it should go. A wasted vote is a vote for the “lesser of two evils.” Or, in the case of John McCain and Barack Obama, what we have is a choice between the “evil of two lessers.”

Charles Baldwin is referring to Abraham Lincoln in the first paragraph.  What better example could you have?

When I walked away from the polls this morning, I felt like I stood up for my beliefs.  Even though it’s very unlikely Charles Baldwin will win, I feel like I didn’t compromise my values by voting for the “lesser of two evils.”  I can hold my head high and be proud that I stood up for what I believe.

When you vote, you should be able to hold your head high too.  Whether you vote for McCain, Obama, or a third-party candidate, just vote for the person you feel represents your beliefs the best and don’t degrade others that don’t feel or believe the same way you do.