Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.
President Obama voted in Chicago today, two weeks before Election Day. He sets a good example by voting, but by voting early he sets a bad example that encourages voters to make their decisions before the campaigns conclude and all the facts and arguments are available.
Democratic leaders like early and absentee voting. The practices, they contend, increase voter convenience, especially for the elderly. Perhaps in some cases that’s true. But those are not the principal reasons Democrats say “vote early, vote absentee.” Early votes are banked votes. Democrats fear some of their voters won’t vote on Election Day, so they work hard to bank these votes through early and absentee voting. That reduces the resources needed to get out the vote on Election Day.
Democrats believe that early and absentee votes were critical to Obama’s victories in 2008 and 2012, and to Montana Sen. Jon Tester’s wins in 2006 and 2012. I’m not convinced of that, but within Democratic leadership circles it’s considered unchallengeable truth, an established fact for which skepticism is proof of disloyalty.
As always, I’m voting on Election Day. I urge you do the same.