Undecided

In the 2004 Election Cycle, Samantha Bee of the Daily Show did a quick segment on undecided voters.  By the end of the piece, she was yelling at them because none of them could make up their minds.  I laughed, because I knew there was no way I could ever be an undecided voter.  In an election cycle that plays out on TV and online you can find out a candidates opinion on anything and everything with a click of the button.  There's NO WAY anyone can be an undecided voter in 2016.  

I’m an undecided voter.  

About a month ago I went to hear Bernie Sanders speak.  I enjoyed what he had to say and then two weeks ago I went online an endorsed him for President.  I say endorsed, but it’s not like I have any power, so ‘endorsed’ really is I just said my opinion on social media.  I did it for two reasons.  The first was that I had bought in to Bernie Sander’s future and thought that he can accomplish a lot of what he says he’ll do.  The second was to get people off my back.  Since I am an Iowan, now more than ever, people care about who I’m caucusing for on Monday.  I said, “I’m feeling the Bern,” and moved on with things of importance like laundry.  However today, I am once again undecided.  

In a way I was always undecided because even when I said I would support Bernie, I didn’t even mean that I would support him first.  You see, I’m planning on caucusing for Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Senator, who I adore.  If you’re wondering is she on the ballot?  Nope.  I figured I would walk into the caucus, say my peace, have no one agree with me, and then go over to the Sanders camp.  I take the caucus very seriously, in fact, it is my favorite part about being an Iowan.  I believe a person should vote for the candidate that best represents the America that they believe in whether they have a chance at winning or not.  I like certain aspects of all the candidates, but Warren, I believe, is the best combination of them both, and since she won’t garner enough attention, there is little harm in caucusing for her and then moving on to another candidate.  The only change is that I don’t know if that candidate will be Bernie Sanders.  

My problem with Bernie Sanders is the same problem I’ve always had with him.  The majority of what he says represents empty rhetoric.  It feels like very little of what he says could actually ever be accomplished.  His ideas feel too “pie in the sky” for modern America.  And I know that Bernie proponents will quote his line on wall street or talk about how as Mayor he worked well with Republicans or his VA bill with John McCain shows real bi-partisian leadership, but none of those situations involves the United States Congress.  A congress that in the last few years has made it abundantly clear that being on opposite sides of the party line is evil.  Bernie’s America reminds me of President Santos in the West Wing and while my heart years for his future, my brain knows better.  

My problem with Hillary is that she’s packaged, bought, and payed for.  She is a true politician that runs with hypocrisy lining many of her campaign promises.  She’s no longer the Hillary Clinton of 1993 (Who I loved).  She’s become like a Nascar vehicle, with hands in too many money jars, but still part of a pastime.  I like Hillary Clinton, but my eighteen year old idealist self would’ve loved Sanders.  

My recent return to the undecided column stems from two very important endorsements.  The first was in October and was made by Howard Dean.  I love Howard Dean.  To this day I still claim that if Dean had won the ’04 nomination, he would’ve beat Bush in a landslide.  Dean’s endorsement carries a lot of weight in my mind.  The second came today with the endorsement by Gabrielle Giffords.  Those who know me don’t need me to tell you how much sway Giffords opinions have over me.  Besides the fact that she was once my boss, she still represents what I believe is the perfect American Candidate.  Giffords ran as a moderate Democrat in a red state and put personality before politics.  Her opinion matters to me a lot.  

As Democrats this election comes down to a decision between our hearts and our minds.  Our hearts believe in Sanders, but our minds know that Clinton has the best chance to beat the Republicans come November.  For me, the decision comes down to issues like Gun Control, where Clinton leads the pack and Sanders has a less than stellar background (Don’t tell me you have a D from the NRA, I think the NRA is insane so why would I listen to their grading system).  Issues like campaign finance, where Sanders is far in front and Clinton is somewhere in the PAC in the back.  And issues like education reform, where I think both Clinton and Sanders don’t know what they’re talking about and O’Malley has the only logically sound plan (my opinion).  

This is why I'm an undecided voter for the first time in my life.  I can honestly tell you that I have no idea who I will caucus for on Monday night.  For the first time in my life, I’m just the voter being laughed at by Samantha Bee, but I think I’m ok with that because whoever I decide to caucus for, I know will be the hardest political decision I’ve ever made.  And I’m proud that I take something as “silly” as one, individual vote so seriously.  

Can’t we just Draft Warren?