My four year old and I just voted. She actually pushed the button so she technically voted. (Is that legal?) And by the way, she voted pro-life. All the way.
We walked up to our voting place and I had a question about one candidate at the bottom of the ticket. So I asked the guy I assumed was a Republican committeman who was sitting outside handing out Republican pamphlets if a certain candidate was pro-life. I told him that I’d looked it up online and called the Republican headquarters but I didn’t get an answer. So I was asking him.
And he treated me to a look that pretty much said I was a looooooonatic. He explained to me, adopting a slow voice because I was obviously deranged, that it didn’t matter because office holders at that level don’t vote on that issue.
Oh, I said.
So I pretended to change the subject. I asked him about running for Congress. I told him I may want to run for Congress some day in the near future. I asked him should I just run for Congress right away?
No, he told me. The best thing to do is run for local township office, develop a fundraising base and gain committee support, and then run for state representative or something at the county level.
“So,” I reiterated, “running for lower office is the best way to have success eventually running for higher office?”
Yes, he said.
“That’s why it matters if these lower ticket candidates are pro-life,” I said. And I walked in. I nearly broke out in a touchdown dance on the way in but I held myself back because I’m cool like that.
So my four year old and I didn’t vote for anyone for that race. We skipped it.
Just so you know, the guy didn’t talk to us when we left. I blame the four year old. She’s the one who voted.
November 8, 2011 at 5:40 pm
School board races – more than one powerful politician has started there.
November 8, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Principles are either exhibited or not in the 'small' things — be it a lower office or any position of trust. If you are faithful in small matters then you likely will be faithful in large ones.
November 8, 2011 at 6:57 pm
hahaha awesome story
November 8, 2011 at 6:58 pm
I know someone who started out as a mere community activist and became President of the United States. Yes. It matters.
November 8, 2011 at 7:00 pm
Good for you! I skipped quite a few judicial rentention votes today since I had no information on the judges.
November 8, 2011 at 7:16 pm
This is one reason why responsible Catholic voters should try to know enough about their local community to know if a good Democrat is running for a minor office. Reforming our country must be a bipartisan effort!
November 8, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Very well-played, Matt. As po'd as the guy may have been at the time, I hope he filed that conversation away for later, deeper thought.
November 8, 2011 at 9:44 pm
The would-be city councilman (for example) may not be able to vote on abortion and he may never run for higher office, but whether or not a person supports the taking of innocent life says a lot about his moral character. Can you really trust someone who thinks abortion is OK?
November 8, 2011 at 10:28 pm
I have a few non-negotiables. I don't vote for pro-choice candidates over pro-life candidates, and I don't vote for people who support intelligent design theory.
November 8, 2011 at 10:32 pm
I am going to buy your four year old a beer.
What?
November 9, 2011 at 3:49 am
PWND!