I Vote for Losers, Baby (So Why Don't You Kill Me)

I'm starting to think that I'm a bad luck charm. In my almost ten years as a voting citizen, I think I've replaced the rabbit's foot on the key chains of republicans across the country. There's a little plastic me, long brown hair and all, currently clinging to Karl Rove's car keys.

Let me explain: presidents, primaries, propositions. You name them, I voted for them -- and they've all lost. Al Gore. Mark Green. John Kerry. Obama (in California). Even Clay Aiken.

It doesn't stop there: I've grown up in the Age of Unimpactfulness. I stood stage-side at a Bring 'Em Home rally and sung along as Michael Stipe, Peaches and Conor Oberst called out W. So are they home? Um, not last time I checked. I've diligently protested Drop the Rock--and the Rock still ain't dropped. As a writer, I frequently cover "green" issues (and we all know how much has changed in that department). Basically, as a participating American, I've done absolutely nothing with any impact. Zilch. Zero. Nada. But oh, how I've tried.

Have I just been coming of age as a Democrat in an increasingly liberal society? Or are Democrats just losing steam?

Heading into November's general election, I am faced with two choices: vote for Obama and pray that I break my bad-luck record, or vote for McCain and try to trip up the cosmos (not exactly the game theory technique I learned in college). That's bad set of choices, but it's even more disheartening to look at a group of Democrats voting for McCain for another "strategic" reason: spite.

The National Organization of Hillary Clinton Supporters for John McCain is one of such groups that is hard and fast at work to galvanize the troops in favor of John McCain over Obama. Why? They think that Obama won't be able to truck it when it comes to issues of foreign policy and self defense. A fallacy in and of itself (even Clinton herself reassured supporters that the distance between her and Obama is much shorter between her and McCain)--but I can't help but wonder why this odd path of "strategic" voting has emerged from a group of Democrats whom I know, like me, have been suffering a string of disappointments for at least the last eight years.

Perhaps they are reacting to the cycle of rejection by trying to throw support behind the candidate they think might actually win? Is this what happens when groups of people are continually let down and felt that their vote didn't count, again and again?

You can either end up voting for someone who you know won't win but want to support (remember Nader?), vote for the person who you really don't want because you're mad at whoever usurped your first choice (therefore ending up with McCain), or try once again and hopefully, rub your rabbit's foot, we all get it right this time (Obama).

I think we know what to do. Unlike American Idol, the runner-up doesn't get a record deal (bedsides, I'm not sure John Kerry has such a great singing voice).

Back to my bad luck. It's an interesting characteristic of the human spirit to keep trying and not give up hope when the track record proves otherwise. In the same way a lifelong loser keeps throwing out dice at the craps table, I keep heading to the polls, year after year, trying to make that final flick of a chad one that sticks.

So Obama runs on a platform of hope. It's not just what he runs on: it's what I'm running on this year, too.

Comments

[kellygrrrl]

uhm, you voted for Clay Aiken?

you might not want to share that info :)

[Marissa Moss - Huffpost Blogger]

See Marissa Moss's Profile

It was a sad attempt at comedic value. I have to set the record straight on this one: I have not ever voted for an American Idol, nor will I ever.

[kellygrrrl]

phew! you had me scared for a minute there!

[BigSid]

THE DEMS ARE LOSING STEAM

It's hard being a Democrat nowadays. At that seems to be true when you really look at what they stand for...which happens to be nothing at this point in time.

The false comfort of appeasement is the driving force of the Democratic party and it's killing them.

[janedoe37]

How do you figure that? There have been record voter registrations so far this year and the majority have registered as Democrats. Source is cnn.com.

[BigSid]

I don't know how my original post got so mangled...oh well.

Personal feeling is what i was speaking of when I say the Dems are losing steam. I feel that way and a lot of others do as well. They may not frequent The Huffington Post, but they're out there.

Those who support Obama and think he's the shoe-in for the Presidency better remember that what he won was a hard-fought marginal victory -- not the blowout-style mandate that some make it out to be. You may be voting for a loser, again (loser may not have been my word of choice, but I wanted to stay consistent with the original post).

The Dems are scattered...will they all come home is the key question. I think many will not...not because of bitterness, but because many of them simply don't believe in Obama. Combine not believing in their party's nominee with the party not having strong values (IMHO) and turnout will be more vocal this year, but potentially diminished.

I know the pollsters talk about increased registration and whatnot, but they still gotta vote...we'll see if they do or not.

[snarkyspice]

Tell me about it. Also chose Gore, Kerry and Obama (in a state he lost). Picked Bo Bice as my favorite on American Idol the only season I voted, and he came in second.

Oh well, we have to win one eventually, right?

[BobLablah]

wow. It would suck to be wrong about every single thing I believe in.

[munkii]

yeah, imagine how the republicans feel now