Is it responsible for Limbaugh to encourage Republicans to vote for Clinton to cause chaos in the process?

Question

In the recent Indiana primary, Rush Limbaugh encouraged Republicans to vote in the Democrat race. The idea, if they vote for Hillary, she would win and the Democratic race would go on. Hoping to create chaos in the other party, it seems that many Republicans followed Limbaugh's plan.

Is this a fair way to exercise the obligations of a voter in a democratic system? What ramifications can it have long term?

Answer 1

this is hard... pass me the beer pls........

Answer 2

Yes it is. If one truly believes that McCain should be president, or at least that neither Democrat should, it is certainly responsible to use all legal means available to ensure that happens.

Answer 3

Don't forget that a lot of republicans are voting for Hillary because Obama scares the sh*t out of us....and he should you as well.

Answer 4

Why not? Democrtats have ACTIVELY crossed over and tried to influence republican primaries for years including this one so it is about time the republicans started playing the same game- Ideally it would be nice if the democrats just stopped doing it and everyone did the right thing but as long as they do it election after election- turn about is fair play

Answer 5

As long as both sides can do it... which they can and have throughout the years, then "responsible" is really not the appropriate word. It's fair and legal.

It's rather like playing a game of football. The NFL frequently changes the rules when flaws or weaknesses are identified in the process, BUT they don't change the rules in the middle of the game. If you don't like this rule, petition your representatives to get it changed, but don't complain because someone is doing something that is legal... right now. It's in the rules, so it's fair... By definition, it's a responsible exercise of democracy, and as such there will always be sore losers.

Edit: Medically-speaking, your analogy to drinking and driving is flawed. But for the sake of discussion, there was no impaired thinking involved in "Operation Chaos." It is a calculated decision based on an analysis of the rules governing elections. Limbaugh encourages Republicans to cross over... he doesn't force anyone... it's the voters' decision. It's irresponsible" to yell FIRE in a crowded theater, it's not irresponsible to point out an alternative that LEGALLY  can be done.

Answer 6

So, my question is:  Do you condone the Democrats doing it?  It has been their practice for years and years.  Why do you single out Limbaugh  and the Republicans for finally waking up and playing the game on a field the Democrats put down?  Hey...if we are going to play the games, then throw the ethics and morals out the window and let the games begin!  

Americans, I hope, are smart enough to see through most of the smoke and mirrors and do the right thing....

Answer 7

Yes its very fair.It was Ok for the moderates and independants along with thedemocrats and the media to give us(conservatives) McCain.Why cry if we use the same tactics.I think its about time the right has put a black eye on the left.I am also laughing that it is showing both democrat candidates for who they are and what there party represents.

Racism,sexism.socialism,and all theother 'isms out there.

As far as long term ramifications,there will be none,the democrats have been doing this for years,they are only crying because the Right is using one of their standard tactics and its killing them.

Answer 8

Your confusion is because you think that there is anything inherently "democratic" about our system of having two parties that have mutually engineered the entire political process to exclude any other party from participation in elections and government.  

Get clear on that point first.  The Republicans and Democrats have worked together for over a century to prevent anyone not a member of one or the other from having a chance at being elected to anything, as far as they have been able to do so.  In most states, elections are overseen by these two parties, not by the government, nor are they elected in open and free elections. The Parties decide who makes the procedural rules.  The Parties also divide up Committee membership in Congress between the Majority and Minority, and simply exclude any third party member who happens to beat the system and get into government.

So you know what?  This Libertarian doesn't care if the Democrats chose the Republican nominee, or if the Republicans chose the Democrat nominee, or if it makes chaos of your little political cartel that forces people to decide based on the "lesser of two evils".  It isn't "democracy" in the first place. "Democracy" would be if there were no special favors given to any political party, no party affiliation listed next to candidate names, and anyone could run for anything just by registering as a candidate.  We don't have any of that.

Democracy has NOTHING to do with it.  Your parties made the system, don't whine about it when the Law of Unforeseen Consequences bites you in the rear.

Answer 9

Considering President Bush's low approval rating, dissatifaction with the war and the economy, wouldn't it be natural to assume there would be Republican voters looking to switch sides?  Why does anyone assume it's because of a nefarious plot devised by Rush Limbaugh?