Here at TMV we often link to posts that deal with independent voters, since our ranks of writers and readers include independent voters. So here’s a must-read from a conservative perspective.
My favorite section is this:
Successful appeals to independent voters must begin with the understanding that, contrary to common media portrayals, they’re not all the same. The composition of the independent voter pool changes over time – it’s not the same today as it was in 2008.
A fair number of “independents” are better described as ignorant. They don’t follow the issues closely. They describe themselves as moderate or independent because they think it makes them sound intelligent and open-minded. Those who really would consider voting for either party’s candidate tend to make up their minds late in the election cycle.
This assessment might sound dismissive, but I have no contempt for these people. In a free country, they shouldn’t have to become experts on a hundred complex topics to cast an informed vote. A just and disciplined Republic does not punish those who express no great interest in charting its course. No one should have to worry that a poorly researched vote will lead to the seizure of his property or business.
Oh.
And:
The radical expansion of the State has left no room for thoughtful moderates. If they wish to have any meaningful choices in the future at all, the reckless bloat of the Obama years must be forcefully cut away.
Thanks for pointing out that so many of us who write on and visit this site are ignorant and only say we’re independent since it makes us look good (even though many on the right and left call independent voters dumb when they don’t like polls that don’t show independent voters throwing their support to their side but when independent voters support them then we are suddenly brilliant, principled and well-informed like they are).
Why, we learn something new every day (if we’re smart enough to be able to learn it)!
Go to the link and the post in its entirety.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.