STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

Do endorsements contribute to your voting decisions?

relrel · Marc Jacobs

I'm like you Farrah, I've never had to rely on an endorsement. I've always made my own mind up. But, I will say that I do tend to feel "reassured" when people that I respect endorse my choice and vice versa, when people I don't respect endorse the candidate that I didn't choose.

I'm always really interested in how endorsements come about though, especially political figures like Powell endorsing Obama. It seems relatively late in the game for Powell to come forward to endorse Obama. Was he offered a cabinet position for coming out? I couldn't care less about celebrities, for the most part, and who they endorse but I do look at groups such as unions and large non-profits. I think endorsements like those are really handy during primary runs where it's sometimes harder to pick a candidate.

HeatherLynn · Gucci

relrel wrote:

I'm like you Farrah, I've never had to rely on an endorsement. I've always made my own mind up. But, I will say that I do tend to feel "reassured" when people that I respect endorse my choice and vice versa, when people I don't respect endorse the candidate that I didn't choose.

I agree. I make up my own mind, but I am also reassured when people I respect or think do a great job agree with me.

relrel- looks like he would have a spot in Obama's administration:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_el_pr/obama

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

relrel wrote:

I'm always really interested in how endorsements come about though, especially political figures like Powell endorsing Obama. It seems relatively late in the game for Powell to come forward to endorse Obama. Was he offered a cabinet position for coming out? I couldn't care less about celebrities, for the most part, and who they endorse but I do look at groups such as unions and large non-profits. I think endorsements like those are really handy during primary runs where it's sometimes harder to pick a candidate.

I actually watched Powell on Meet the Press yesterday and he had good and bad things to say about both Obama and McCain. He said that the reason why he took so long to make a decision was because he wanted to see how both candidates would do in clutch situations. If you can find video of it I would take a look. It was very educational and Powell is a very smart man. I'm not a Republican, but I have respected him for many years and it is clear that he makes decisions based on fact and his own research. He also admits his mistakes and doesn't try to pass the buck on them.

He did say that he would not accept any appointments to an Obama cabinet should he win because he is retired. He did say that he would consider an advisory position though. Probably because that is more of a freelance type job.

Suasoria · Chanel

I'm not very interested in candidate endorsements, but I find endorsements helpful for propositions. If I read that the League of Conservation Voters, Environmental Defense Fund, NRDC and Union of Concerned Scientists is against a prop, it's safe to figure it's bad for the environment. Often the best way to get information is to research who is for and against something.

I'm not sure Powell is that relevant in the eyes of the public anymore, but I loved when he said this:

"I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, 'Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.' Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, 'He's a Muslim and he might be associated with terrorists.' This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

"I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life."

To which I say: WORD.

Kelly · Hermes

I am SO GLAD you posted that, Suasoria. My cousin recent sent out an anti-Obama joke to my whole family and everyone he works with. I've gotten them before, so I just deleted it and went on as normal, but then someone he worked with hit "reply all" and started ranting about what would happen if "that muslim got into the White House."

Regardless of whether you support Obama or McCain, you have to recognize the fact that even **IF** Obama were Muslim, that would be irrelevant. Hitler was a Christian, after all. Religious affiliation doesn't mean much. And Obama isn't Muslim anyway, so even **IF** religious affiliation meant everything, another Christian man wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

I emailed him back a terse message and included a link to that same quote that I found on a newspaper's website.

Elle · Hermes

I like to gather as much information as I can before I make a decision, so some endorsements are considered in that. Like Suasoria said, it can be telling to see who is in support or against a particular measure or candidate. The ones I like the most are those that come from nonpartisan experts in whatever field is in question (IIRC, many economists have endorsed Obama's economic plan), because they're theoretically more reliable than those who may have an agenda to push.

I do think endorsements might be more important to undecided voters though ...?

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

relrel wrote:

I'm like you Farrah, I've never had to rely on an endorsement. I've always made my own mind up. But, I will say that I do tend to feel "reassured" when people that I respect endorse my choice and vice versa, when people I don't respect endorse the candidate that I didn't choose.

I'm always really interested in how endorsements come about though, especially political figures like Powell endorsing Obama. It seems relatively late in the game for Powell to come forward to endorse Obama. Was he offered a cabinet position for coming out? I couldn't care less about celebrities, for the most part, and who they endorse but I do look at groups such as unions and large non-profits. I think endorsements like those are really handy during primary runs where it's sometimes harder to pick a candidate.

Ditto to the first part.