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Reasons that conservatives and Republicans might consider voting for Joe Biden, a thread.
As a moderate, middle-of-the-road American, I’ll be voting for Joe Biden for President. However, I recognize that many of my friends have not (or will not) reach the same conclusion.
I sincerely respect those individuals and will continue to enjoy their friendship despite differences of opinion.
However, in the interest of supporting a candidate that I believe should win—and as a fun academic exercise—I have compiled a list of reasons that I believe conservatives and Republicans should consider voting for Mr. Biden.
I hope all that read them will receive them in the same spirit of civility and respect with which they were written.
Reason 1: Institutions are more important than issues. Mr. Trump routinely attacks, erodes, and derides the political institutions upon which America was built: the peaceful transfer of power, the integrity of our elections, term limits, a free press,
and the separation of official power from personal interests, to name a few. I respect the devotion that some people feel to certain, specific issues.
But until these institutions have been protected and preserved, we cannot get back to debating normal issues because normal issues—no matter how important—cannot take precedence over our institutions.
Reason 2: Your candidate is hurting your causes. Donald Trump isn’t just harming our institutions, he is harming the conservative movement and its causes. People are leaving the Republican party, many driven away by people more than policies.
As people, especially young people, move away from the party, many will also move away from traditionally conservative causes.
Reason 3: Good Republicans are suffering from political guilt by association. Today, every Republican running for office inevitably encounters a litmus test: “Do you support President Trump?”
In their distaste for Mr. Trump, moderates and undecided voters are turning away from otherwise great candidates who must profess their support for the president or lose the backing of their party.
Those candidates are being caught in the collateral damage of Mr. Trump's chaotic style, forced to answer for his every off-the-cuff remark or untoward tweet.
Reason 4: Until you stop tolerating the intolerable, you will keep getting more of the same from your party. Even if given unenthusiastically, your votes signal a willingness to support future candidates of Mr. Trump’s ilk.
A vote for Joe Biden lets the Republican Party know that your votes are not guaranteed and that your consideration of future candidates is contingent upon the party’s willingness to nominate men and women who satisfy your expectations for decency and decorum.
Reason 5: Character matters. Historically, the Republican Party has been a party of principles that produced candidates of admirable character. That reputation has been diminished as party officials have rushed to excuse every bad behavior of the current president.
The constant rationalization of his behaviors as simply “a different style” or as “disruptive to the establishment” doesn’t pass the smell test.
Presidential character matters because it earns the respect of foreign powers, it cultivates patriotism, and it builds credibility that leads to trust on matters of public health, safety, and other domestic policies.
If you have found any of these arguments persuasive, consider the cleansing effect that a decisive Biden victory could have on the Republican Party and on the conservative movement.
It would serve as a lesson and a warning against nominating unqualified, un-Republican candidates in the future. If nothing else, I hope some have found this thread interesting and thought-provoking.
More than that, I hope that my approach has been civil and that all of us can learn to discuss these topics with respect for one another. To reiterate, these are just my humble opinions and I respect those that have or will arrive at different conclusions. Happy voting!
