What political issues are your 'deal breakers'?

All of the above and then some. Solution? Don’t vote Republican. Money and how to get more for their corporate cronies at working class expense is all they are about. That’s who they are, that’s where they’re coming from.

Probably more Social. My solution is don’t vote democrat.

Immigration deal breaker: Any physical barrier (read wall) that would disrupt the natural ecology of the region.

I don’t have any specific dealbreakers. So far, there has not been ONE ISSUE that would entirely negate a candidate, on a national level at least. In recent elections, all candidates have been awful, and it’s a matter of balancing the awfulness between them. I voted for Clinton in 2016, but only because she was less awful than Trump.

Locally, it’s a different story. Here in Georgia, we have tons of local politicians saying “they are the Christian candidate” or they play up the fact they are deacons of their churches, or whatever. (My current congressman is a clergyman by training. Yuch.

So locally, my red line is this: If you have to bring religion in, as a reason for me voting for you, you have LOST my vote.

Environment. I’ve voted for the strongest environmental candidate ever since I was allowed to vote. Not just because I care about it, but because human industry and other land uses are driving non-human species to extinction, and causing problems that are difficult or impossible to reverse, and all life on the planet is interconnected, and so future generations will be more and more miserable and closer to our own extinction the more we keep doing this.

But also, more and more in recent years, corruption, meaning being in the pocket of big corporate/industrial interests, which includes almost everyone in both major parties. It tends to have me vote the same way (pro-industry tends to mean anti-environmental protection anyway), except that now I strongly prefer the pro-environment candidate who seems least corrupt in this way.

I have other issues as well, but those are the strongest. Often it’s very clear who I’ll vote for, though sadly in recent years and especially during the 2016 primary, it’s become clear that there are quite a few Democrats who are mostly pro-environment and try to act progressive, but then vote for corporate interests on key issues, and/or endorsed Clinton over Sanders.

Any attempt at legislation that does not treat all people as equals loses my vote immediately.

If there’s a whiff of homophobia, racism, anti or pro any religion…I’m gone.

So a few of you mentioned religion. What would your ideal candidate say when asked? The perfect answer for YOUR vote.

That he or she is going to keep religion away from the state. Everyone is allowed to believe whatever they want but when you make a law against something simply because of your personal religion, it’s stupid and unfair.

Like with the gay marriage thing. Many politicians wanted to keep that illegal because of their religion. I’m not religious and gay marriage doesn’t bother me. So it’s unfair to make decisions based on your views without thinking of the other sides (especially when it affects people of many different background and views)

That the candidate is a secular humanist. I would give my support not only because that is my view, but also because of the courage it would take to make such a statement, given that a Muslim would probably stand a better chance of getting elected.

My top issue would be global warming.

If you don’t mind, @SergeantQueen, can I ask you what social positions you view as reasons to not vote Democrat? I’m not looking to debate the reasons, I’m just curious, because the two examples you mentioned above are positions that Democrat candidates hold more consistently than Republican candidates.

@KNOWITALL – I don’t care if he/she is religious. What puts me off is if the candidate uses religion as means of ‘selling’ himself. That’s what is so objectionable. And to those of us who are other religions (in my case Judaism), having a someone says he will bring ‘christian values’ to Congress is scary. Like concentration camp scary.

What I want to hear:

“I may be a Christian in my private life, but I recognize and embrace that America is made up of people of dozens of religions and creeds. I will govern and cast votes and work for the improvement of our society, regardless of what religion you are.”.

@Soubresaut Yes, I do understand that. I view myself as more conservative but there are plenty of things social and not social that I don’t agree with most conservatives on. Gay marriage and religion being one of them along with drug laws. I think most drugs that are illegal shouldn’t be. Other things like education costs, abortion, and gun laws are examples of what I don’t agree with Democrats on (Education should not be free, abortion shouldn’t be legal, and guns should not be banned.

Also, that was kind of just a statement mocking what @NomoreY_A said about republicans.

@SergeantQueen, thank you for explaining, cleared up my confusion.

My ideal candidate would say that “It is really none of your business, that is between me and my god” when asked.

I love that those answers are all about embracing all beliefs regardless of the candidates personal religion.

For me a candidate must support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality.

@KNOWITALL I agree. I would like a candidate that puts his own personal views aside if they aren’t for the greater good of the nation/state/whatever.

Healthcare. I will not vote for any candidate who supports policies that make it harder for people to access the care they need to stay alive. Period.

@KNOWITALL the perfect answer from a candidate questioned on his/her religious views is “none of your business”. The only exception is around adherence to practices which violate the laws.

Accepting campaign contributions from cigarette companies.

@stanleybmanly That wouldn’t go over with the Religious Right very well….poor Mitt never stood a chance lol.